First ever meeting between the schools to take place at Welsh-Ryan Arena Tuesday, Nov. 30
Northwestern went 20-14 during the 2009-10 season, including 7-11 in Big Ten play. The Wildcats advanced to the National Invitation Tournament for the second consecutive season. NU returns four starters next season, not including Kevin Coble, a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2009 who missed the most recent campaign due to injury.
Georgia Tech posted a 23-13 overall record and a 7-9 mark in ACC play last season. The Yellow Jackets reached the title game of the 2010 ACC Tournament where they were edged by eventual national champion Duke. Georgia Tech advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, defeating Oklahoma State before falling to Ohio State.
Northwestern is 4-7 in its first 11 ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchups, including three wins in the last four years. The Wildcats defeated NC State 73-59 in Raleigh, N.C., last season to help the Big Ten earn the Commissioner’s Cup with the Challenge victory.
This year’s event, featuring top college basketball programs playing for conference supremacy and the Commissioner’s Cup, will include 11 teams that played in the 2010 NCAA Tournament: Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin from the Big Ten and Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Wake Forest from the ACC.
For the sixth consecutive year, the Challenge will feature 11 games and include two telecasts on ESPNU with ESPN and ESPN2 combining to televise the remaining nine games. ESPN3.com, the broadband sports television network from ESPN, will simulcast the ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts.
The Big Ten is the defending Challenge champion, defeating the ACC by a 6- 5 margin a year ago. Road teams won six of the 11 games in 2009, and seven of the contests were decided by seven points or less, including four games won by four points or fewer. Wisconsin handed Duke its first loss in Challenge history, defeating the then-No. 6 Blue Devils 73-69. The ACC has won 10 Challenges.