The final edition of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge begins Monday with two games as Minnesota takes on Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. followed by Pitt vs. Northwestern at 9 p.m. It was announced Monday that this would be the last ACC/Big Ten Challenge and the series this year includes 14 games over a three-day span, spread out with six games on Tuesday and six more games to close it out Wednesday.
Monday is a nice sampler for the main course with Minnesota and Virginia Tech on tap to open up the festivities. In a matchup that pits two similarly-styled, plodding teams who slow the pace and drag out games, the game on paper figures to offer a stark contrast with a vet-heavy Virginia Tech team welcoming a young, inexperienced Minnesota team that ranks among the very bottom in college hoops in total minutes continuity — a stat from KenPom.com that (more or less) determines how much continuity a program has based on last season’s roster and production.
At 9 p.m., Pitt and Northwestern will present a nice litmus test for both programs. Pitt scheduled aggressively in its nonconference schedule and is 4-3 entering the game while Northwestern, which scheduled softer before gradually playing tougher games leading up to Monday, is 5-1 after suffering its first loss of the season Wednesday to Auburn.
Here is a look at the full schedule for the week from Monday through Wednesday with all times ET.
Monday’s Big Ten/ACC Challenge schedule
Minnesota at Virginia Tech
7 p.m. | ESPN2 and fuboTV (Try for free)
Featured Game | Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota thus far ranks third-slowest among power conference programs this season in adjusted tempo. And Virginia Tech? It ranks eighth-slowest using those same parameters. So this game should be a slugfest. Both teams have impactful transfers leading the way for them with Virginia Tech riding former top-40 talent Dawson Garcia and Virginia Tech using long-time Wright State star Grant Basile as its go-to shooter and scorer. The pace may not be quick but the talent and skill level should make this a close one. Lean Virginia Tech with a Minnesota cover. Pick: Virginia Tech 64, Minnesota 58
Pitt at Northwestern
9 p.m. | ESPN2 and fuboTV (Try for free)
Featured Game | Northwestern Wildcats vs. Pittsburgh Panthers
Northwestern played a pretty soft nonconference schedule up until last week where it fell 43-42 to Auburn after going 5-0 to open the season. So it’s hard to tell just what to make of this Wildcats team so far; defensively they seem to be nails but offense is . . . quite another story. Contrast that with Pitt’s trajectory and it couldn’t be more different. The Panthers gave themselves a brutal early-season sched to test themselves and paid the price, opening their season 1-3 before reeling off three straight wins entering Monday. They’ll be a slight dog in this one but if they give the Wildcats a push late, it wouldn’t be a surprise. Pick: Northwestern 75, Pitt 70
Tuesday’s Big Ten/ACC Challenge schedule
Penn State at Clemson | 7 p.m. | ESPNU
No. 22 Maryland at Louisville | 7 p.m. | ESPN2
Syracuse at No. 16 Illinois | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
Wake Forest at Wisconsin | 9 p.m. | ESPN2
Georgia Tech at Iowa | 9 p.m. | ESPNU
No. 3 Virginia at Michigan | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
Wednesday’s Big Ten/ACC Challenge schedule
No. 25 Ohio State at No. 17 Duke | 7:15 p.m. | ESPN
No. 5 Purdue at Florida State | 7:15 p.m. | ESPN2
Rutgers at Miami | 7:15 p.m. | ESPNU
No. 18 North Carolina at No. 10 Indiana | 9:15 p.m. | ESPN
No. 20 Michigan State at Notre Dame | 9:15 p.m. | ESPN2
Boston College at Nebraska | 9:15 p.m. | ESPNU
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