Big Ten/ACC Challenge schedule set
Matchups for the 15th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge for men’s basketball are set, and Illinois will travel to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech, with Northwestern traveling to North Carolina State.
The Illini game is set for Dec. 3, and Northwestern will play on Dec. 4.
Illinois and Georgia Tech will meet for the ninth time overall, as well as the second straight year in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge after the Fighting Illini defeated the Yellow Jackets last season in Champaign by the score of 75-62. Illinois holds a 7-1 advantage in the all-time series, including five straight wins.
Northwestern and the Wolfpack will be meeting for the third time in the Challenge. The two teams split their previous meetings in the event, both in Raleigh. N.C. State posted a 74-49 victory Dec. 4, 2002 before Northwestern notched a 65-53 win Dec. 1, 2009.
The contest will mark a return to Tobacco Road for new Northwestern head coach Chris Collins, who played collegiately at Duke and then served on the Blue Devils’ coaching staff for the last 13 seasons.
Illinois owns an all-time record of 7-7 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, with its seven Challenge wins the most by any Big Ten team. The Illini also carry a four-game winning streak in the Challenge, tied with Purdue for the longest active streak by a team from either conference.
NU is 6-8 in its first 14 Challenge matchups. The Wildcats won four straight contests in the event before dropping a 77-57 home decision to Maryland last season.
ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will again combine to televise all 12 games of the two-day event. Game times and network designations will be announced at a later date.
2013 Big Ten/ACC Challenge schedule
Tuesday, Dec. 3
Ÿ Illinois at Georgia Tech
Ÿ Indiana at Syracuse
Ÿ Michigan at Duke
Ÿ Notre Dame at Iowa
Ÿ Florida State at Minnesota
Ÿ Penn State at Pittsburgh
Wednesday, Dec. 4
Ÿ Northwestern at N.C. State
Ÿ North Carolina at Michigan State
Ÿ Maryland at Ohio State
Ÿ Miami at Nebraska
Ÿ Wisconsin at Virginia
Ÿ Boston College at Purdue