University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers to Host Virginia in 2010 Challenge
5/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The University of Minnesota men's basketball team will host the University of Virginia in the 12th Annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the conferences announced today. The Gophers and Cavaliers will square off on Monday, Nov. 29, at Williams Arena. The time has not been determined.
Minnesota and Virginia have met a total of six times in each school's history, with the Cavaliers leading the series 3-2 (the 1993 matchup has since been vacated). The Gophers' last victory came during the 2008 Big Ten/ACC Challenge, a 66-56 triumph at Williams Arena. Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith is 1-1 all-time against the Cavaliers.
The Gophers are 4-7 in the challenge following last season's 63-58 loss to the University of Miami in Coral Gables. The Michigan State Spartans (5-5) and Wisconsin Badgers (5-6) are the only Big Ten teams with more victories than Minnesota in the 11 years of the challenge. Illinois (4-7), Northwestern (4-7) and Ohio State (4-5) each have four wins followed by Indiana (3-6), Michigan (3-6), Penn State (3-6) and Purdue (3-7) with three and Iowa (2-7) with two. Duke holds the best record at 10-1.
For the sixth consecutive year, the Challenge will feature 11 games and include two telecasts on ESPNU with ESPN and ESPN2 combining to televise the remaining nine games. ESPN3.com, the broadband sports television network from ESPN, will simulcast the ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts.
The Big Ten is the defending Challenge champion, defeating the ACC by a 6-to-5 margin a year ago. Road teams won six of the 11 games in 2009 and seven of the contests were decided by seven points or less, including four games by four points or fewer.
2010 Big Ten/ACC Challenge Schedule (times and networks are TBD)
Monday, Nov. 29 | Virginia at Minnesota |
Tuesday, Nov. 30 | Iowa at Wake Forest |
| | Michigan at Clemson |
| | Ohio State at Florida State |
| | North Carolina at Illinois |
| | Georgia Tech at Northwestern |
Wednesday, Dec. 1 | Indiana at Boston College |
| | Purdue at Virginia Tech |
| | Michigan State at Duke |
| | North Carolina State at Wisconsin |
| | Maryland at Penn State |
