Neither team walked away victorious the last time the MSU men’s basketball team and Virginia took the court. But thanks to the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the two squads will get another chance to prove their superiority.
The Spartans and Cavaliers will meet for the second consecutive year in the fourth-annual challenge at 9 p.m. Dec. 4 at Breslin Center. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Last year’s neutral site matchup in Richmond, Va., was canceled with 15:04 remaining in the second half when the floor was deemed unplayable because condensation coming from ice below the court made the floor slippery. The ice was to be used for a minor league hockey game two nights later.
At that time Virginia led 31-28.
“We are very excited to be playing Virginia in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge,” Spartan head coach Tom Izzo said in a statement. “Virginia is a great program and Pete Gillen is one of the premier coaches in the country.
“Playing them last season was a great opportunity, but this year, I’ll look forward to playing a complete game.”
Big Ten spokesman Scott Chipman said the pairing had more to do with the possibility of a competitive contest than the cancellation of last year’s game.
“That may have played a part, but the most important thing is to provide the best matchup for the ACC, the Big Ten and ESPN,” Chipman said. “The two conferences work along with ESPN to provide the most desirable matchups.”
Last season, MSU had a 19-12 record and made the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive year, while Virginia made it to the postseason NIT with a 17-12 record.
The Spartans are 2-0 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge courtesy of two wins against North Carolina. In 1999 MSU defeated the Tar Heels 86-76 on UNC’s home court, and the following year 77-64 at Breslin Center. The 1999 win was the Tar Heels first home-opening loss since 1928.
In the previous three years the ACC has won the challenge, claiming the Commissioner’s Cup. Last year it won five of eight games.
One matchup will pit the defending conference tournament champions - Ohio State and Duke - against each other at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.
But the highlight of the challenge will be a rematch of the 2002 NCAA Championship game, when Indiana and defending national champion Maryland go head-to-head at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
