Pairings Set for 2000 ACC/Big Ten Men's Basketball Challenge
6/23/2000 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 23, 2000
The pairings have been set for the second annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge, a two-day competition matching two of the nation's top men's college basketball conferences. The nine-game event, which will be televised by ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television, will take place the first Tuesday and Wednesday following Thanksgiving, November 28 and 29, from seven campus sites and two neutral sites. These two conferences were represented by three of last year's men's Final Four teams.
On both days, ESPN and ESPN2 will each present doubleheaders, while ESPN Regional Television will produce and syndicate the ninth game in the markets of the competing teams. ESPN and ESPN Regional Television (ERT) will again manage and market the event.
2000 ACC/Big Ten Challenge Notes:
Tuesday, Nov. 28
7 p.m. ESPN Wake Forest at Michigan
7:30 p.m. ESPN2 Northwestern at Clemson
9 p.m. ESPN Illinois vs. Duke
(Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, N.C.)
9:30 p.m. ESPN2 Georgia Tech at Iowa
Wednesday, Nov. 29
7 p.m. ESPN Purdue at Virginia
7:30 p.m. ESPN2 North Carolina at Michigan St.
9 p.m. ESPN Maryland vs. Wisconsin
(Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisc.)
9:30 p.m. ESPN2 Penn State at N.C. State
TBD ERT* Minnesota at Florida 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 offered these thoughts on the ACC/Big Ten Challenge: "The most special thing about the ACC/Big Ten Challenge is that it creates marquee matchups early in the season when we usually see blowouts, bargain-basement goodies and cupcake city. It gives both leagues a chance to showcase their talent in different situations. An event like this creates a lot of basketball fever."
Dick Vitale's pre-season Top 10 (subject to change pending freshman eligibility, injuries, etc.) for 2000-2001 includes three ACC and two Big Ten teams: 1. Duke, 2. Arizona, 3. North Carolina, 4. Kansas, 5. Stanford, 6. Maryland, 7. Michigan State, 8. Illinois, 9. Seton Hall, 10. Temple.
