Illinois at Miami Dec. 2 at 9 p.m. on ESPN2/U

The University of Miami will host Illinois on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 9 p.m. on ESPN2 or ESPNU in the 16th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, ESPN announced today.

ESPN networks will combine to cover every game of the event during the first week of December. ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will televise the 14 games of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge – including all 14 Big Ten schools and 14 of 15 ACC teams – from Monday, Dec. 1 through Wednesday, Dec. 3.

The UM game is a rematch of the 2013 NCAA Tournament Third Round game when the Canes defeated the Fighting Illini, 63-59, to advance to the Sweet 16. In that game, Rion Brown knocked down five 3-pointers on his way to a team-high 21 points. The only returning Cane from that team, then-freshman Tonye Jekiri, had four points, two rebounds, a steal and an assist in seven minutes.

Since joining the league for the 2004-05 season, the Canes have played in seven of the 10 Challenges. Overall, Miami is 2-5 in the Challenge, with a 2-1 record at home and 0-4 mark on the road. In Larrañaga’s three seasons at Miami, the Canes defeated No. 13/14 Michigan State in 2012, and traveled to Purdue (2011) and Nebraska (2013) as part of the Challenge. UM’s first victory in the event was against Minnesota in 2009.

The ACC and Big Ten have split the past two events, winning six Challenge games each in 2012 and 2013. In the event of a tie, the Commissioner’s Cup remains with the conference that won the previous year, which was the Big Ten in 2011. The ACC won the first 10 Challenges (1999-2008), while the Big Ten won the next three (2009-2011).

– Nine teams in the ESPN.com men’s preseason top 25 poll: No. 2 Duke, No. 4 Wisconsin, No. 6 North Carolina, No. 7 Virginia, No. 8 Louisville, No. 18 Michigan, No. 21 Syracuse, No. 24 Michigan and No. 25 Iowa.

– The potential of three top-25 matchups:
No. 21 Syracuse travels to No. 24 Michigan on Tuesday, for a 7:30 p.m. tilt on ESPN.
No. 25 Iowa at No. 6 North Carolina on Wednesday, also at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
A Challenge culmination of No. 2 Duke at No. 4 Wisconsin on Wednesday, at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN.

– No. 8 Louisville – in its first year as an ACC member – hosts Ohio State on Tuesday, at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN.

– Also competing in the Challenge, No. 7 Virginia plays at former ACC opponent Maryland at 9:15 p.m. on ESPN2.

– Wednesday night also features No. 18 Michigan State at Notre Dame at 7:15 p.m. on ESPN2.

– Nine ACC and eight Big Ten teams participated in the 2014 postseason:
The ACC had seven teams – Duke, Louisville, North Carolina, NC State, Pitt, Syracuse and Virginia – earn NCAA Championship berths, while Clemson and Florida State advanced to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) semifinals.
The Big Ten saw Wisconsin advance to the Final Four, in addition to Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska and Ohio State earning NCAA berths.
Minnesota captured the 2014 NIT title and Illinois was a second-round participant.

2014 ACC/Big Ten Challenge Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods Schedule (subject to change)

Mon, Dec 1
7 p.m.
Nebraska at Florida State, ESPN2
Rutgers at Clemson, ESPNU

Tue, Dec 2
7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Indiana, ESPN2
Minnesota at Wake Forest, ESPNU

7:30 p.m.
No. 21 Syracuse at No. 24 Michigan, ESPN

9 p.m.
Illinois at Miami, ESPN2 or ESPNU
NC State at Purdue, ESPN2 or ESPNU

9:30 p.m.
Ohio State at No. 8 Louisville, ESPN

Wed, Dec 3
7:15 p.m.
No. 18 Michigan State at Notre Dame, ESPN2
Virginia Tech at Penn State, ESPNU

7:30 p.m.
No. 25 Iowa at No. 6 North Carolina, ESPN

9:15 p.m.
No. 7 Virginia at Maryland, ESPN2
Georgia Tech at Northwestern, ESPNU

9:30 p.m.
No. 2 Duke at No. 4 Wisconsin, ESPN