University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers to Host Virginia Tech in 2011 Challenge
5/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The University of Minnesota men's basketball team will host Virginia Tech in the 13th Annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the conferences announced today. The Gophers and Hokies will square off on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at Williams Arena. The time has not been determined.
Minnesota and Virginia Tech will be meeting for the first time in each school’s history but head coach Tubby Smith has a perfect 2-0 record against the Hokies. Smith's Georgia Bulldogs defeated Tech in back-to-back seasons, 85-72 during the 1995-96 season and 60-57 in 1996-97. The Gophers’ last victory in the challenge came in 2008, a 66-56 triumph over Virginia at Williams Arena.
The Gophers are 4-8 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge following last season’s 87-79 loss to the University of Virginia at Williams Arena. The Michigan State Spartans (6-5) and Wisconsin Badgers (6-6) each have six victories in the history of the challenge. Illinois (5-7), Northwestern (5-7) and Ohio State (5-5) have five wins followed by the Gophers, Michigan (4-6) and Purdue (4-7) with four. Indiana (3-7) and Penn State (3-7) each have three victories while Iowa (2-7) has two. Duke holds the best record in the challenge at 11-1.
Thanks to the addition of Nebraska to the Big Ten Conference, the Challenge will feature 12 games for the first time in the history of the event, all of which will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU & ESPN3.com).
The Big Ten is the defending Commissioner's Cup champion, defeating the ACC by a 7-to-4 margin a year ago. Road teams won six of the 11 games in 2010.
2011 Big Ten/ACC Challenge Schedule (times and networks are TBD)
Minnesota and Virginia Tech will be meeting for the first time in each school’s history but head coach Tubby Smith has a perfect 2-0 record against the Hokies. Smith's Georgia Bulldogs defeated Tech in back-to-back seasons, 85-72 during the 1995-96 season and 60-57 in 1996-97. The Gophers’ last victory in the challenge came in 2008, a 66-56 triumph over Virginia at Williams Arena.
The Gophers are 4-8 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge following last season’s 87-79 loss to the University of Virginia at Williams Arena. The Michigan State Spartans (6-5) and Wisconsin Badgers (6-6) each have six victories in the history of the challenge. Illinois (5-7), Northwestern (5-7) and Ohio State (5-5) have five wins followed by the Gophers, Michigan (4-6) and Purdue (4-7) with four. Indiana (3-7) and Penn State (3-7) each have three victories while Iowa (2-7) has two. Duke holds the best record in the challenge at 11-1.
Thanks to the addition of Nebraska to the Big Ten Conference, the Challenge will feature 12 games for the first time in the history of the event, all of which will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU & ESPN3.com).
The Big Ten is the defending Commissioner's Cup champion, defeating the ACC by a 7-to-4 margin a year ago. Road teams won six of the 11 games in 2010.
2011 Big Ten/ACC Challenge Schedule (times and networks are TBD)
| Tuesday, Nov. 29 | Miami at Purdue |
| | Northwestern at Georgia Tech |
| | Illinois at Maryland |
| | Michigan at Virginia |
| | Clemson at Iowa |
| | Duke at Ohio State |
| Wednesday, Nov. 30 | Indiana at North Carolina State |
| | Penn State at Boston College |
| | Florida State at Michigan State |
| | Virginia Tech at Minnesota |
| | Wake Forest at Nebraska |
| | Wisconsin at North Carolina |
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