Maryland To Host Michigan In ACC-Big Ten Challenge
4/15/2008 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 15, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland men's basketball team will host the University of Michigan as part of the 10th annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The Terps and Wolverines will square off Wednesday, Dec. 3 at Comcast Center.
Michigan leads the all-time series between the two schools, 3-2, but the Terrapins claimed the last meeting in 2000 (82-51). Maryland is 1-1 against the Wolverines at home, but has not played host to Michigan since 1937.
"The ACC-Big Ten Challenge is always an important early season game," said head coach Gary Williams. "This game will give us an indication of where we are as a team and will be a benefit to us as we move through the season."
Maryland is 6-3 in the event, including a 4-0 mark at home, while the Atlantic Coast Conference has won the Challenge all nine years. For the fourth consecutive year, the event will feature 11 games and include two telecasts on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network. ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise the remaining nine games. The event will be played on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after Thanksgiving (December 1-3). Times and networks for each of the 11 games are to be determined.
2008 Challenge highlights:
First Time Around: Six of the 11 games will feature the first Challenge matchup between the schools: Michigan at Maryland, Wisconsin at Virginia Tech, Clemson at Illinois, Ohio State at Miami, Iowa at Boston College and Duke at Purdue.
First-Ever Meeting: Wisconsin and Virginia Tech will square off in the first meeting between the two programs.
Pursuing Perfection: Two teams will look to continue their undefeated streaks in the Challenge: Duke is 9-0 while Boston College is 2-0.
Unfamiliar Opponent: Iowa and Boston College's first Challenge matchup will also mark the first time the teams have met since 1974, a Boston College victory.
Since 2000, the ACC (8) and the Big Ten (7) have combined for 15 Final Four appearances (42 percent of the Final Four field) and four national titles - North Carolina (2005), Maryland (2002), Duke (2001) and Michigan State (2000). The ACC and the Big Ten also rank 1-2, respectively, in all-time NCAA Tournament bids, NCAA Tournament victories and Final Four appearances.
2008 ACC-Big Ten Challenge
Monday, Dec. 1
Wisconsin at Virginia Tech
Tuesday, Dec. 2
Ohio State at Miami
Clemson at Illinois
Duke at Purdue
Virginia at Minnesota
Iowa at Boston College
Wednesday, Dec. 3
Michigan at Maryland
Indiana at Wake Forest
North Carolina at Michigan State
Florida State at Northwestern
Penn State at Georgia Tech
