Michigan State University Athletics
Men's Basketball To Host North Carolina
6/23/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 23, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - 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.
Michigan State will host North Carolina on Wed., Nov. 29, 2000 in a rematch from last year's challenge. On Dec. 1, 1999, MSU defeated UNC, 86-76, in Chapel Hill, N.C. The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. and be televised by espn2.
"We are excited to be hosting North Carolina in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge," said Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo. "They are one of the great programs in college basketball history and we look forward to their visit to the Breslin Center. North Carolina promises to be one of next season's top teams because it returns a lot of talent from its Final Four squad."
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:
? There will be two rematches from last year's Challenge. Each will take place at a different venue from 1999, including Illinois vs. Duke on ESPN from Greensboro Coliseum (last year, Duke defeated Illinois 72-69 at Chicago's United Center).
? The second rematch will feature two Final Four teams when North Carolina plays at National Champion Michigan State on ESPN2, which recently crossed the 70 million household mark faster than any network in cable history. In last year's Challenge, Michigan State knocked off No. 2-ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
? Two neutral site games will take place, including Maryland vs. Final Four participant Wisconsin from Milwaukee's Bradley Center. (The other -- Illinois vs. Duke from Greensboro).
? Last year, the ACC captured the Commissioner's Cup by winning five of the nine games in the Challenge.
? Other highlights from last year's inaugural event included the first college basketball game in Atlanta's Philips Arena (an 80-77 Michigan win over Georgia Tech), Maryland's first regular-season game against a Big Ten opponent since the 1985-86 season (a 83-65 win over Iowa), and an exciting 61-59 upset victory by North Carolina State over Purdue.
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. His top dozen: 1. Duke, 2. Arizona, 3. North Carolina, 4. Kansas, 5. Stanford, 6. Maryland, 7. Michigan State, 8. Illinois, 9. Seton Hall, 10. Temple, 11. Tennessee, 12. Florida.
Tuesday, Nov. 287 p.m. ESPN Wake Forest at Michigan7:30 p.m. ESPN2 Northwestern at Clemson9 p.m. ESPN Illinois vs. Duke (Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, N.C.)9:30 p.m. ESPN2 Georgia Tech at Iowa
Wednesday, Nov. 297 p.m. ESPN Purdue at Virginia7:30 p.m. ESPN2 North Carolina at Michigan State9 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. Date/Time will be determined at a later date.
