Time for some college basketball matchups like the 13th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The networks of ESPN will carry the games, mostly ESPN and ESPN2. Times will be announced later, but we know the games will be played on Tuesday, November 29 and Wednesday, November 30. With Nebraska coming into the Big Ten this year, a total of 12 games will be played among the two conferences. Let’s take a look at the matchups and the press release from ESPN.
Thirteenth Annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge Matchups Set for Nov. 29-30
12 Games for First Time with Addition of Nebraska
The 13th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Nov. 29-30 will be highlighted by Duke at Ohio State and Wisconsin at North Carolina — four traditional power programs expected to be highly ranked entering the 2011-12 season – and an expanded format with new Big Ten member Nebraska. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com will combine to televise all 12 games of the two-day event, one more than in the previous 12 Challenges.
The 2011 Challenge involves six teams ranked an early preseason top 25 by ESPN.com senior college basketball writer Andy Katz, including three in the top five: No. 1 North Carolina, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 5 Duke, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 21 Florida State and No. 23 Michigan.
This year’s event – top college basketball programs playing for conference supremacy and the Commissioner’s Cup — will include 11 teams that played in the 2011 NCAA Tournament: Clemson, Duke, Florida State and North Carolina from the ACC, and Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin from the Big Ten.
The Big Ten won the Commissioner’s Cup for the second consecutive year while the ACC won the previous 10 Challenges. In the event of a 6-6 tie this year, the Commissioner’s Cup will remain with the conference that won the previous year.
- Following a First with a Rematch: Georgia Tech and Northwestern will follow the first meeting between the programs (Northwestern 91-71) with a second consecutive Challenge showdown.
- Pursuing Perfection: Boston College will look to continue its undefeated streak in the Challenge when the program hosts Penn State. The Eagles have won their previous five games.
- Going for 12: Duke, which lost its only Challenge game in 2009, will look for its event-record 12th win. Duke also won its previous Challenge game against Ohio State, 91-76 in 2002.
- First Challenge Matchups: Nine of the telecasts will feature first-time Challenge matchups: No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 1 North Carolina, No. 21 Florida State at Michigan State, No. 23 Michigan at Virginia, Miami at Purdue, Clemson at Iowa, Indiana at North Carolina State, Penn State at Boston College, Virginia Tech at Minnesota and Wake Forest at Nebraska.
- Four’s a Charm?: Illinois and Maryland will meet for the fourth time in the Challenge with the Terrapins winning the previous three matchups (2007 – 69-61; 2006 – 72-66; 2001 – 76-63).
2011 Big Ten/ACC Challenge schedule (times and networks are to be determined):
Date Game Tue, Nov 29 Miami at Purdue Northwestern at Georgia Tech Illinois at Maryland No. 23 Michigan at Virginia Clemson at Iowa No. 5 Duke at No. 3 Ohio State Wed, Nov 30 Indiana at North Carolina State Penn State at Boston College No. 21 Florida State at Michigan State Virginia Tech at Minnesota Wake Forest at Nebraska No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 1 North Carolina Since 2000, the ACC (10) and the Big Ten (nine) have combined for 19 Final Four appearances and six national titles: North Carolina (2009 and 2005), Maryland (2002), Duke (2001 and 2010) and Michigan State (2000). The ACC leads in NCAA Tournament victories and Final Four appearances while the Big Ten is first in Tournament appearances.
More coming up later.
