Hurricanes to Compete in 2011 Big Ten/ACC Challenge
May 17, 2011
CORAL GABLES, FLA. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team will head to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue in the 2011 Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Tues., Nov. 29. Game time and television coverage will be announced at a later date.
“We have high expectations and goals for our team this season, and this is going to be a great opportunity for our players to go up against a successful program like Purdue early in the year,” said head coach Jim Larranaga, who is entering his first season with the Hurricanes. “To reach the NCAA Tournament, it is essential that we take advantage of a great non-conference road game like this, and I have no doubt that our staff and players will be up to the challenge.”
Miami and Purdue last met in the second round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament, with the Boilermakers coming away with the 73-63 win in Boston en route to the Sweet 16.
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 with the addition of Nebraska to the Big Ten. The Miami-Purdue game will be among six games on the Challenge’s first day, as the two leagues battle for conference supremacy for the 13th season. The ACC won the Commissioner’s Cup for the first 10 seasons, while the Big Ten has won the last two Challenges.
The 2011-12 season will mark the fifth time that Miami will be participating in the Challenge, with prior appearances in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009. After dropping their first three Challenge appearances – including road games at Michigan in 2005 and at Northwestern in 2006, the Hurricanes earned their first Challenge victory in their last appearance, defeating Minnesota, 63-58, on Dec. 2, 2009, in the BankUnited Center.
Purdue is 4-6 in 10 Challenge appearances, earning its first road victory last season – a 58-55 overtime win at Virginia Tech.
This marks the first Big Ten/ACC Challenge meeting between the Hurricanes and Boilermakers and the third all-time meeting between the programs, with Purdue leading the series 2-0.
Miami returns all but one player from its 2011 squad that went 21-15 and reached the NIT quarterfinals. The Hurricanes return their top three scorers in All-ACC Third Team pick Malcolm Grant, Durand Scott and All-ACC honorable mention selection Reggie Johnson, while adding 6-11 redshirt sophomore Kenny Kadji (Florida), 6-5 redshirt junior Trey McKinney Jones (UMKC) and 6-2 freshman guard Bishop Daniels.
Purdue, who finished No. 13 in the final AP poll last season, went 26-8 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 where it fell to VCU. The Boilermakers will return three starters, in addition to Robbie Hummel who is expected back after missing most of the last two seasons due to injury.
2011 Big Ten/ACC Challenge Schedule
Tues., Nov. 29
Miami at Purdue
Northwestern at Georgia Tech
Illinois at Maryland
Michigan at Virginia
Clemson at Iowa
Duke at Ohio State
Wed., Nov. 30
Indiana at N.C. State
Penn State at Boston College
Florida State Michigan State
Virginia Tech at Minnesota
Wake Forest at Nebraska
Wisconsin at North Carolina
