June 26, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Atlantic Coast and Big Ten Conferences on Monday announced the dates for the 19th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Penn State is set to take on NC State on Wednesday, Nov. 29, on the third day of the four-day challenge.
The Nittany Lions and the Wolfpack will be meeting in the Challenge for the second time, with the Wolfpack posting an 84-76 win in Raleigh in the 2000 Challenge. NC State leads the all-time series, 16-3, with the last meeting coming in the 2012 Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament.
Directed by head coach Patrick Chambers, Penn State has won three consecutive and seven of its last 10 Big Ten/ACC Challenge games. Last year, the Nittany Lions defeated Georgia Tech, 67-60, in the Bryce Jordan Center, giving Penn State wins over Virginia Tech, Boston College and the Yellow Jackets during the past three seasons. The Nittany Lions hold an 8-8 record in 16 Challenge appearances.
ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will combine to televise all 14 games of the event matching top college basketball programs playing for conference supremacy and the Commissioner's Cup. All 14 games also will be available via WatchESPN.
Penn State returns all five starters and over 80 percent of its scoring for next season, including top-three scorers Tony Carr (13.2 ppg), Lamar Stevens (12.7) and Shep Garner (12.0). Defensive standouts Mike Watkins and Josh Reaves round out the starting lineup from a year ago and will anchor the Nittany Lions in the upcoming campaign.
The dates for the 2017 Challenge appear below. Tip times and specific network assignments will be announced at a later date.
Monday, Nov. 27
Maryland at Syracuse
Wisconsin at Virginia
Tuesday, Nov. 28
Northwestern at Georgia Tech
Louisville at Purdue
Florida State at Rutgers
Illinois at Wake Forest
Iowa at Virginia Tech
Wednesday, Nov. 29
Duke at Indiana
Miami at Minnesota
Boston College at Nebraska
Michigan at North Carolina
Penn State at NC State
Clemson at Ohio State
Thursday, Nov. 30
Notre Dame at Michigan State