Basketball to Play PSU in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

---

GREENSBORO -- The pairings for the third annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge have

been set, and the event will once again feature some of the top college

basketball programs in the country battling for conference supremacy and

the Commissioner's Cup. The nine-game Challenge will be televised by

ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television on Tuesday and Wednesday,

November 27 and 28 from seven different college campuses and two neutral

sites. The Challenge will feature three of last year's NCAA Final Four

(Duke, Maryland, Michigan State); the past two NCAA Champions, Duke

(2001) and Michigan State (2000), and only the second meeting between

Indiana and North Carolina since 1988.

ESPN and ESPN2 will each present doubleheaders on both days of

the event. The ninth game will be produced and syndicated by ESPN

Regional Television in the markets of the competing teams; it will also

be offered nationally through ESPN FULL COURT (out-of-market pay

subscription package).

2001 ACC/Big Ten Challenge Notes:

* Conference Champs Meet: Defending National Champion and ACC

Tournament champion and regular-season co-champ Duke will square off

against Big Ten Tournament champion Iowa at the United Center in

Chicago, one of two neutral site games in the Challenge.

* Indiana vs. UNC: When Indiana meets North Carolina in Chapel

Hill, N.C., it will be only the second matchup between two of the most

storied men's college basketball programs since 1988 (Indiana defeated

North Carolina 82-73 in the 1999 Jimmy V Classic). The Tar Heels boast

the 3rd most NCAA Tournament appearances (34), 2nd most Tournament

victories (80) and most Final Four appearances (15) of any team. The

Hoosiers rank 4th (29), 6th (51) and 7th (7), respectively in the same

categories. Indiana leads the all-time series, 6-4.

* Challenge Firsts: Both Indiana and Ohio State will appear in the

ACC/Big Ten Challenge for the first time in the event's three-year

history.

* ACC Looks for Three in a Row: Last year, the ACC took home the

Commissioners Cup, finishing with a 5-4 edge in Challenge victories for

the second straight year.

* Other highlights include: Big Ten regular-season co-champion

Illinois playing at ACC power Maryland...the other neutral site contest

(in addition to Duke/Iowa) between Big Ten regular season co-champion

Michigan State and Virginia at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond,

Va....Minnesota at Wake Forest and new coach Skip Prosser...Wisconsin

and new coach Bo Ryan at Georgia Tech.

	Tuesday, Nov. 27	                        Wednesday, Nov. 28


	7 p.m. ET	ESPN	Illinois @ Maryland	7 p.m.     	ESPN    Wisconsin @ Georgia Tech


	7:30 p.m.	ESPN2	N.C. State @ Ohio State	7:30 p.m.       ESPN2	Michigan State vs. Virginia (Richmond Coliseum,Richmond, Va.)


	9 p.m.     	ESPN 	Duke vs. Iowa           9 p.m.        	ESPN    Indiana @ North Carolina


                        (United Center, Chicago, Ill.)	


        9:30 p.m.	ESPN2	Minnesota @ Wake Forest	9:30 p.m.       ESPN2	Florida St. @ Northwestern


			TBD	ERT*	Clemson @ Penn State


	* Syndication by ESPN Regional Television. Also offered nationally by ESPN FULL COURT. 


Date/time will be determined at a later date.

ESPN's Dick Vitale on the ACC/Big Ten Challenge:

"The ACC/Big Ten Challenge is great because it eliminates a lot of

cupcakes and makes you play a bona-fide game early. It has a

Tournament-type atmosphere and it features two of the premiere

conferences in the nation, year in and year out."

John Wildhack, ESPN Senior Vice President, Programming, on the

Challenge:

"Once again, these two great conferences will square off in what is fast

becoming a top early-season event for the college basketball fan. Over

two days, viewers will see compelling matchups, involving recent NCAA

champions, legendary programs, great arenas and premier players and

coaches."

Jim Delany, Big Ten Commissioner, on the Challenge:

"We look forward to the third year of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The

first two years were outstanding for the players, coaches and fans as

the event provided an opportunity for two of the outstanding basketball

conferences in Division I to challenge each other. It is also a great

way for players and coaches to evaluate their teams early in the season.

When the Challenge was initiated two years ago, we had very high

expectations and they have been fulfilled. We believe the third edition

will be just as successful."

John Swofford, ACC Commissioner, on the Challenge:

"The ACC/Big Ten Challenge has developed into one of the most

anticipated events of the early college basketball season. The Challenge

provides our teams with outstanding television exposure and the

opportunity to play top-caliber opponents prior to conference play. We

are excited to be partners with the Big Ten, another conference which

has a great basketball tradition and ESPN."

Trending on TigerNet

Clemson lacrosse takes OT regular season finale win at Pitt

No. 4 Tigers welcome back starter to rotation, hosts Pittsburgh

All-conference post player signs with Clemson

Clemson ACC road trip named Top 10 'most meaningful' matchup of 2024 season