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The pairings for the 2013 Big Ten-ACC Challenge are slowly leaking out on Twitter today and we already know a few. First, Northwestern will face off against North Carolina State:
MT @jwgiglio: N.C. State draws Northwestern in the Big Ten - ACC Challenge
— Dylan Burkhardt (@umhoops) May 8, 2013
Next, Syracuse (who is now in the ACC, remember) will get a home game rematch of the gigantic favor they did for Purdue fans when they play Indiana:
Inside the Hall has learned that Indiana will play at Syracuse in this year's Big Ten-ACC Challenge. #iubb
— Alex Bozich (@insidethehall) May 8, 2013
Wisconsin will go to Virginia:
RT @davidteelatdp: #UVa to host Wisconsin in #ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Cavaliers won in Madison last season.
— Ben Swain (@thedevilwolf) May 8, 2013
Next up are two of the biggest matcups, as Michigan will face Duke and North Carolina will go to Michigan State:
RT @laurakeeley: Put me on the record #sources RT @thedevilwolf count it: #Duke vs. Michigan. Also, UNC at Michigan State
— Mike Wilson (@SpartansOrDie) May 8, 2013
The challenge was won by the Big Ten for three years in a row, allowing the conference to retain the title last year in the first ever tie. The expansion of the ACC to 14 teams means two of their schools will sit out next season, while the 2014 event will expand to 14 teams when Rutgers and Maryland arrive in the Big Ten.
One of those teams sitting out will be Clemson:
RT @psikes21: ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchups announced today. Sad to report #Clemson not in it for first time since its inception.
— Orange and White (@orangeandwhite) May 8, 2013
Purdue has won four games in a row in the challenge for the conference, beating Clemson last season behind D.J. Byrd's early three-point barrage. Purdue has beaten Miami, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest in the previous three years and is 6-6 all-time in the event.
Purdue will likely play at home having played on the road last year at Clemson. The Boilers' last loss in the Challenge was when we hosted Duke in the 2008-09 season. Purdue is 4-2 all-time at home in the event.
Miami is also now off the board as it looks like they will head to Ohio State after winning the ACC last season:
Nothing confirmed, but Twitter conjecture has #OhioState basketball playing Miami in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge this season in hoops.
— Rob Kunz (@Rob10TVSports) May 8, 2013
As far as Purdue's opponent, Boston College seems very likely given where the Boilers finished in last season's Big Ten. Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are all on the board still. Purdue also recently hosted Miami and Wake Forest, meaning a visit from Maryland, Georgia Tech, or Boston College seems likely.
UPDATE: It looks like Boston College at Purdue:
ACC/Big Ten matchups starting to leak out today. Have seen Boston College at Purdue and IU at Syracuse. Official release later today.
— Jeff Washburn (@JeffWashburnJC) May 8, 2013
Purdue and Boston College last played on 11/26/2008 in New York as part of the preseason NIT, with Purdue winning 71-64. Purdue is 2-0 all-time against BC, winning the other game in 1978 in Hawaii.
It looks like Notre Dame is headed to Iowa too:
@hawkeyereport: Source says Iowa will host Notre Dame in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Game on Dec. 3rd. @ajwhalen5 ND is in trouble!!
— Jeris Niemeyer (@JerisN51) May 8, 2013
The rest of your games:
Penn State at Pirrsburgh
Illinois at Georgia Tech
Maryland at Ohio State (contrary to previous reports)
Miami at Nebraska
Florida State at Minnesota
Full Schedule:
Tuesday, Dec. 3
Florida State at Minnesota
Illinois at Georgia Tech
Indiana at Syracuse
Michigan at Duke
Notre Dame at Iowa
Penn State at Pittsburgh
Wednesday, Dec. 4
Boston College at Purdue
Maryland at Ohio State
Miami, FL at Nebraska
North Carolina at Michigan State
Northwestern at North Carolina State
Wisconsin at Virginia