2014 ACC-Big Ten Challenge Matchups Announced

Pairings for the 2014 ACC-Big Ten Challenge were released on Thursday, with each of the Big Four schools being included in the annual affair for bragging rights for college basketball supremacy.

Duke, playing in what could a game with two top-five or top-ten ranked teams, will travel to Madison, Wisconsin to take on the Badgers on December 3.

Wisconsin was a Final Four team this season and returns six of its top seven players, including 7-0 center Frank Kaminsky.

The road has not been kind to Duke in recent ACC-Big Ten challenges, as the Blue Devils have lost their last two road games in the series.

North Carolina will host Iowa on December 3, marking the first time the teams have met since 1989. Iowa has a 2-1 edge against North Carolina all time, which should give UNC point guard Marcus Paige, an Iowa native, plenty of motivation to drive the Tar Heels to a win.

N.C. State will play at Purdue on December 2 in a game that should feature plenty of new faces on both teams. The Wolfpack lost ACC Player of the Year T.J. Warren to the NBA, and point guard Tyler Lewis transferred to Butler.

Purdue lost its two top scorers but always plays tough at home for Coach Matt Painter. The Boilermakers have won five straight games in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

Wake Forest, in Coach Danny Manning’s first season, will host Minnesota on December 2. The Golden Gophers, coached by Richard Pitino, finished last season at 25-13 and won the NIT. They will return four starters.

The Deacons return their two top scorers from last season, Codi Miller-McIntyre and Devin Thomas.

Wake beat Minnesota in the 2001 Challenge and has a 10-3 overall record in the event, including wins in four of its last six appearances. The Deacons are also 6-1 at home in the event.,

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports