Michigan to face Duke in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge
The Wolverines drew a big name for next season's Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
Michigan will travel to powerhouse Duke for the Challenge, drawing a team from the state of North Carolina for the second straight season. The Wolverines beat North Carolina State in Crisler Arena last season, 79-72.
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The Blue Devils hold an all-time 21-8 advantage over Michigan, and the Wolverines are 3-8 all-time in Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke's famous basketball arena.
The Wolverines last played at Cameron Indoor Stadium in 2007, losing 95-67 in Michigan coach John Beilein's first season.
Duke has beaten Michigan in nine of the last 10 meetings between the teams, including a 73-71 win in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
The last time Michigan beat Duke was Dec. 6, 2008, when the Wolverines upset the Blue Devils 81-73 at Crisler Arena. The early season win was a catalyst for Michigan's run to the NCAA Tournament, its first berth in the tournament since 1998.
The players are already pumped about the matchup, with freshman point guard Spike Albrecht Tweeting this message just minutes after the news broke:
We play at Duke this year for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge! How hype is that game about to be!!- spike albrecht (@SpikeAlbrecht) May 8, 2013
The Big Ten-ACC Challenge will include several other interesting matchups.
InsideTheHall.com, an Indiana basketball blog, is reporting that the Hoosiers will play Syracuse this year. The Orange, who will move from the Big East to the ACC next season, will make their first-ever appearance in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
Michigan State will host North Carolina, according to Ben Swain, the host of the Walk-Ons Podcast.
The matchup with Duke is not the Wolverines' lone high-profile matchup next season.
Michigan will return to the Barlcays Center, the Brooklyn Nets' glossy new arena, to take on Stanford in December. The Wolverines beat West Virginia in a neutral site game at Barclays last season.
The Wolverines will also play in the 2013 Puerto Rico Tip-Off in November, against VCU, Georgetown, Kansas State, Florida State, Auburn, Charlotte and Long Beach State.