It's hard to believe that the ACC-Big Ten Challenge has been around this long, but when the two conferences matchup in late November/early December, it will be the 11th installment of the Challenge. For the past few years, it seems like the same teams always played each other, but this year there a few showdowns that we have yet to see over the years.

Maryland has played Illinois, what seems like seven times (it's only three), and this year they travel to Indiana for a rematch of the 2002 National Championship game. Minnesota and Miami will face up for the first time ever, and UNC will tackle Michigan State in a rematch of the Championship Game earlier this month.

The SEC-Big East Challenge enters its 3rd year of existence, and is highlighted by UConn taking on Kentucky and Florida playing Syracuse.Here's are both schedules....

ACC-BIG TEN CHALLENGE

Monday, Nov. 30th

Penn State at Virginia

Tuesday, Dec. 1st

Maryland at Indiana
Michigan State at North Carolina
Northwestern at N.C. State
Virginia Tech at Iowa
Wake Forest at Purdue

Wednesday, Dec. 2nd

Boston College at Michigan
Duke at Wisconsin
Florida State at Ohio State
Illinois at Clemson
Minnesota at Miami

SEC-BIG EAST INVITATIONAL

Wednesday, Dec. 9th (New York, NY)

Georgia vs. St. John’s
Kentucky vs. Connecticut

Thursday, Dec. 10th (Tampa, FL)

DePaul vs. Mississippi State
Syracuse vs. Florida

At the beginning of the Football season, I linked to a wonderful Big Ten Network commercial that featured all of the coaches giving recruiting speeches on camera. Well the channel has come out with another spot for Basketball season, and while it's not as hilarious as Joe Paterno yelling at you to come to Penn State, it still gets the message across....

I still believe that less is more when it comes to spots like these and the BTN definitely has that down. Again, it would have been better if they got Tubby Smith to yell into the camera like Joe Pa, but it's enjoyable none-the-less.

Joe Paterno Now Creeping Out Recruits Via The Big Ten Network (Awful Announcing)

Gus Johnson obviously felt that he needed to fill that 12th open job spot, that was left open after Elite XC folded last week. The ever-busy Johnson has been hired by the Big Ten Network to work College Basketball broadcasts this season. Not only that, but the network is also bringing back two of the conference's more famous alums. Kendall Gill (Illinois) will be working in studio and former Atlanta Hawks' announcer Steve Smith (Michigan State) will be an analyst for games....

CHICAGO – Nationally renowned play-by-play man Gus Johnson will join the Big Ten Network for men’s basketball telecasts this season, network executives announced today, along with former Big Ten stars Kendall Gill of Illinois and Steve Smith of Michigan State.

“We couldn’t be more excited about having such a talented lineup for our studio and game coverage. These play-by-play announcers and analysts have a great understanding of the history and tradition of the Big Ten and many of these individuals themselves are a part of that legacy,” said Leon Schweir, Big Ten Network Executive Producer and Vice President for Production.

Johnson will be joined on many Big Ten Network broadcasts by Smith, the former Michigan State All-American, NBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist. Smith was selected in the first round of the 1991 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat. He enjoyed a 14-year NBA career before starting a career in broadcasting. Smith has served as an analyst on Atlanta Hawks television broadcasts.

I'm not sure that this hire will make people "demand" the BTN now, but it certainly doesn't hurt. And not that he needs it (because the guy is a machine), but it will also allow Gus to get some CBB work in before the Tournament. The Big Ten keeps trying to tap into the younger audience, and one of these days, they might actually pull it off. Here's how their lineup will look come this winter....

Studio Team: Dave Revsine, Gene Keady, Jim Jackson, Tim Doyle and Gill
Play-by-Players: Wayne Larrivee, Gus Johnson, Craig Coshun, Tom Hamilton, Mark Neely and Revsine
Analysts: Steve Smith, Greg Kelser, Tim McCormick, Trent Tucker, Shon Morris and Spencer Tollackson

(Via BTN PR)

I let you know which teams were playing which a few months back, so I figured I'd give you the times and locations so you can start planning your month of December now.
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Mon., Dec. 1

Wisconsin at Virginia Tech (ESPN2, 7pm)

Tue., Dec. 2

Ohio State at Miami (ESPN, 7pm)
Iowa at Boston College (ESPNU, 7pm)
Clemson at Illinois (ESPN2, 7:30pm)
Duke at Purdue (ESPN, 9pm)
Virginia at Minnesota (ESPN2, 9:30pm)

Wed., Dec. 3

Indiana at Wake Forest (ESPN, 7:15pm)
Penn State at Georgia Tech (ESPN2, 7:30pm)
Michigan at Maryland (ESPNU, 7:30pm)
North Carolina vs. Michigan State (ESPN, 9:15pm)
Florida State at Northwestern (ESPN2, 9:30pm)
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The UNC-State game again is going to be at Ford Field so that's pretty neat, but other than that I'm not really excited by any of these matchups. We'll see what ESPN does with them, but the final standings really screwed them this year.

There's nothing like Football news five months away and now College Basketball news almost seven months out. ESPN has released the wonderful lineup of ACC/Big Ten contests coming to you in December 2008!

For the fourth consecutive year, the event will feature 11 games and include two telecasts on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network. ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise the remaining nine games. The event will be played on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after Thanksgiving (December 1-3).

2008 ACC/Big Ten Challenge Schedule

Monday, Dec. 1

Wisconsin at Virginia Tech

Tuesday, Dec. 2

Duke at Purdue
Clemson at Illinois
Ohio State at Miami
Virginia at Minnesota
Iowa at Boston College

Wednesday, Dec. 3

North Carolina vs. Michigan State (from Ford Field)
Indiana at Wake Forest
Michigan at Maryland
Florida State at Northwestern
Penn State at Georgia Tech

I could care less about most of these games to be honest, but I'm extremely excited that Maryland doesn't have to play Illinois for what seems like the 5th year in a row.

(Via ESPN PR)