Buckeyes and Blue Devils Set for Nov. 29 in Columbus – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
COLUMBUS, Ohio–The 13th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods Nov. 29-30 will be highlighted by Duke at Ohio State and Wisconsin at North Carolina — four traditional power programs expected to be highly ranked entering the 2011-12 season – and an expanded format to include newest Big Ten member Nebraska. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com will combine to televise all 12 games of the two-day event, one more than in the previous 12 Challenges.
Thad Matta, head coach of the Buckeyes, has a 4-3 record in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and has won the last three games in the event. The game against the Blue Devils will be an enjoyable experience for the Ohio State fans, he said.
“It is a great honor to be selected to play what I consider one of the premier programs in the country in Duke University,” Matta said. “I have great respect for Coach Krzyzewski and his many accomplishments. I’m looking forward to our fans being a part of such a great game here in Columbus.”
BUCKEYES IN THE CHALLENGE
Ohio State is participating in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge for the 10th-consecutive year and has a 4-5 record in the event. The Buckeyes first participated in the event during the 2002-03 season against Duke in Greensboro, N.C., a 91-75 Blue Devils’ victory. Georgia Tech traveled to Ohio State in 2004 and won 73-53. The Buckeyes traveled to Clemson in 2004-05 and fell to the Tigers, 80-73. Ohio State defeated Virginia Tech in Columbus in 2005-06, 69-59, for its first victory in the event. Ohio State traveled to Chapel Hill in 2006-07 where the Tar Heels defeated the Buckeyes, 98-89. UNC brought its No. 1 ranking to Columbus in 2007-08 and won 66-55. The Buckeyes then claimed a come-from-behind victory at Miami (73-68) in November 2008, a 77-64 home win vs. Florida State in 2009 and a 58-44 win over the Seminoles in Tallahassee last November.
Ohio State vs. Duke
Ohio State and Duke have met five times previously with the Blue Devils earning victories three times. The Buckeyes have won two of the last three meetings, which includes a 90-84 victory over the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils Dec. 29, 1978. Duke has been ranked among the Top 10 in four of the five meeting with the Buckeyes.
12/6/63 L 1-vs. Duke 75(7)-76(4)
12/30/64 L Duke (2ot) 89-94(8)
12/29/66 W 2-vs. Duke 83-82
12/29/78 W 3-vs. Duke (ot) 90-84(1)
12/3/02 L 4-vs. Duke 76-91(4)
1-Centennial B-ball Classic, Morgantown, W.Va.
2-at Greensboro, N.C.
3-ECAC Holiday Tournament, New York
4-ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Greensboro, N.C.
2010-11 Final Notes
Final Record: 34-3
Final Big Ten Record: 16-2/First
Final Rankings: No. 1 in Associated Press
No. 5 in ESPN/Coaches
Final RPI: 2
Lettermen Ret/Lost: 7/5
(Sullinger, Buford, Thomas, Craft, Sibert, Smith Jr., Weatherspoon/Diebler, Lighty, Lauderdale, Days, Kecman)
Starters Ret/Lost: 2/3 (Buford, Sullinger/Diebler, Lighty, Lauderdale)
Returning for Ohio State in 2011-12
Points 63 percent (1,783)
Rebounds 63 pct. (805)
Assists 63 pct. (370)
Steals 64 pct. (169)
Blocks 36 pct. (42)
Minutes 58 pct. (4,306)
The 2011 Challenge involves six teams ranked in an early preseason Top 25 by ESPN.com senior college basketball writer Andy Katz, including three in the top five: No. 1 North Carolina, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 5 Duke, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 21 Florida State and No. 23 Michigan.
This year’s event – featuring top college basketball programs playing for conference supremacy and the Commissioner’s Cup — will include 11 teams that played in the 2011 NCAA Tournament: Clemson, Duke, Florida State and North Carolina from the ACC, and Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin from the Big Ten.
- Commissioner’s Cup: The Big Ten won the Commissioner’s Cup for the second consecutive year, while the ACC won the previous 10 Challenges.
- Following a First with a Rematch: Georgia Tech and Northwestern will follow the first meeting between the programs (Northwestern, 91-71) with a second consecutive Challenge showdown.
- First Challenge Matchups: nine of the telecasts will feature first-time Challenge matchups: No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 1 North Carolina, No. 21 Florida State at Michigan State, No. 23 Michigan at Virginia, Miami at Purdue, Clemson at Iowa, Indiana at North Carolina State, Penn State at Boston College, Virginia Tech at Minnesota and Wake Forest at Nebraska.
- Four’s a Charm?: Illinois and Maryland will meet for the fourth time in the Challenge.
2011 Big Ten/ACC Challenge schedule (times and networks are to be determined):
Date Game
Tue, Nov 29 Miami at Purdue
Northwestern at Georgia Tech
Illinois at Maryland
No. 23 Michigan at Virginia
Clemson at Iowa
No. 5 Duke at No. 3 Ohio State
Wed, Nov 30 Indiana at North Carolina State
Penn State on Boston College
No. 21 Florida State at Michigan State
Virginia Tech at Minnesota
Wake Forest at Nebraska
No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 1 North Carolina
Since 2000, the ACC (10) and the Big Ten (nine) have combined for 19 Final Four appearances and six national titles: North Carolina (2009 and 2005), Maryland (2002), Duke (2001 and 2010) and Michigan State (2000). The ACC leads in NCAA Tournament victories and Final Four appearances while the Big Ten is first in Tournament appearances.
