GREENSBORO, N.C. – Virginia Tech will host Iowa in the 14th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods on Tuesday, Nov. 27. Game time and network will be announced at a later date.
The Hokies, who finished the 2011-12 season 16-17 overall and 4-12 in ACC action, will play the Hawkeyes for the third time in the Challenge, with Tech holding a 2-0 advantage. Tech defeated Iowa, 70-64, in Iowa City in the 2009 Challenge and defeated the Hawkeyes, 69-65, in Cassell Coliseum in the 2006 Challenge. Iowa was 18-17 overall and 8-10 in the Big 10 Conference last season. The Hokies will be led by first year head coach James Johnson in the 2012-13 season.
The Hokies are 2-0 all-time against Iowa and 18-14 all-time against schools currently in the Big 10 Conference. Tech is 2-5 all-time in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge.
ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will combine to televise all 12 games of the two-day event matching top college basketball programs playing for conference supremacy and the Commissioners Cup.
All 12 games will also be available via WatchESPN, which delivers live access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3 on PCs, smartphones and tablets to fans who receive ESPN’s linear networks as part of their video subscription from Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks or Verizon FiOS TV.
The 2012 Challenge involves nine teams ranked in an ESPN.com early preseason top 25, including five of the top nine: No. 1 Indiana, No. 5 Michigan, No. 6 NC State, No. 8 Ohio State and No. 9 Michigan State.
The ACC won the first 10 Challenges while the Big Ten captured the Commissioner Cup for the third consecutive event, including an eight to four win advantage over the ACC last year. In the event of a 6-6 tie, the Commissioner’s Cup will remain with the conference that won the previous year.
2012 ACC/Big Ten Challenge schedule (times and networks are to be determined):
Tue, Nov 27
North Carolina at Indiana
NC State at Michigan
Minnesota at Florida State
Maryland at Northwestern
Iowa at Virginia Tech
Nebraska at Wake Forest
Wed, Nov 28
Ohio State at Duke
Virginia at Wisconsin
Michigan State at Miami
Purdue at Clemson
Georgia Tech at Illinois
Boston College at Penn State
For updates on Virginia Tech men's basketball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_MBBall).