April 17, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland men's basketball team will host the University of Illinois as part of the ninth annual Big 10-ACC Challenge. The Terps and Fighting Illini will square off Wednesday, November 28 at Comcast Center. The game will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

The Terrapins lead the all-time series with Illinois, 4-2, including a 72-66 victory in Champaign during the 2006 Big 10-ACC Challenge. Maryland also posted a 76-63 victory over Illinois at Cole Field House in the 2001 Big 10-ACC Challenge.

"Last year's game was a great game for college basketball," said head coach Gary Williams. "I expect this year's game to be another great contest between two tradition-rich programs. It should be an exciting game for our fans."

Maryland is 5-3 in the event, while the Atlantic Coast Conference has won the Commissioner's Cup all eight years. For the third consecutive year, the event will feature 11 games (an increase from nine in the six previous years) from 11 different college campuses and include two telecasts on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network. ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise the remaining nine games. This year's Challenge will be played on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after Thanksgiving (November 26-28).

2007 Challenge highlights:
Challenge Rematches: Ohio State, a participant in the 2007 National Championship game, will play North Carolina, an Elite Eight team in the 2007 Tournament, in a rematch of last year's Challenge game, won by North Carolina 98-89. Another rematch from last year will pit Illinois at Maryland. Last year, Maryland won 72-66 and also defeated Illinois 76-63 in the 2001 Challenge.
Unfamiliar Opponent: Georgia Tech and Indiana's first Challenge matchup will also mark the first time the teams have met since 1969, an 87-65 Georgia Tech victory.
ESPNU Televises Two Games: For the third consecutive year, ESPNU will televise two games, both at 8 p.m.: Northwestern at Virginia Tuesday, Nov. 27 and Boston College at Michigan Wednesday, Nov. 28. Commissioner's Cup: The ACC has won the Commissioner's Cup the previous eight years.

Since 2000, these two conferences have combined to make 14 Final Four appearances and captured four of the last eight NCAA Championships. In addition, the ACC and Big Ten rank either first or second in all-time NCAA Tournament bids, victories and Final Four appearances.

2007 Big 10-ACC Challenge
Monday, Nov. 26 Wake Forest at Iowa - 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

Tuesday, Nov. 27 Georgia Tech at Indiana - 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Minnesota at Florida State - 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Northwestern at Virginia - 8:00 p.m. (ESPNU)
Wisconsin at Duke - 9:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Purdue at Clemson - 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Wednesday, Nov. 28
NC State at Michigan State - 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Illinois at Maryland - 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Boston College at Michigan - 8:00 p.m. (ESPNU)
North Carolina at Ohio State - 9:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Virginia Tech at Penn State - 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)