ILLINI ARE BACK No. 22 Illinois perpetually is the Big Ten dark horse because it always has talent. When coaches can put it together, like Bill Self a decade ago, the Fighting Illini are a national player. When they can’t, like Bruce Weber recently, they end up mediocre. Right now, it looks like the 8-0 [...]

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Fran McCaffery has little history associated with the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, other than his time as Iowa’s head basketball coach. But with two losses in the annual jamboree, McCaffery now has joined his predecessors in Iowa challenge futility. Steve Alford was 2-4. Todd Lickliter was 0-3. Iowa as a whole is 2-9, [...]

The Iowa men’s basketball team will play at Virginia Tech on Nov. 27, as part of the 2012 Big-Ten-ACC Challenge. Iowa has played Virginia Tech twice before, losing both meetings in Challenge games.  The Hokies edged Iowa, 69-65, on Nov. 29, 2006 in Blacksburg, Va., and 70-64 on Dec. 1, 2009 in Iowa City. Virginia [...]

Most successful sports leagues release their schedules in piecemeal to heighten anticipation for their product. That’s why television networks air 3-hour shows that coincide with the NFL’s yearly schedule announcement and message boards sizzle with the prospect of high-profile college football games. College basketball generates muted buzz with non-conference matches. With a 30-plus game schedule, [...]

IOWA CITY — The Big Ten-ACC Challenge remains, well, a challenge for the Iowa basketball program. The Hawkeyes (4-3), which own the worst winning percentage in the series’ history, lost yet another Big Ten-ACC Challenge match-up in excruciating fashion Tuesday night. Clemson (4-2) this time knocked off Iowa 71-55 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa now has [...]

After getting socked in the first 10 years of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, the Big Ten has won two straight in the annual series. Both years the Big Ten has won by 6-5 margins. In fact the last three challenges have been decided by a 6-5 margin. This year’s flagship matches include No. 3 Duke [...]