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Illinois Basketball: Spotlight likely back on Illini in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

By Rees Woodcock

CORAL GABLES, FL - NOVEMBER 28: The ACC-Big Ten Challenge logo on the floor of the BankUnited Center prior to the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Michigan State Spartans on November 28, 2012 in Coral Gables, Florida. The game is part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
CORAL GABLES, FL - NOVEMBER 28: The ACC-Big Ten Challenge logo on the floor of the BankUnited Center prior to the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Michigan State Spartans on November 28, 2012 in Coral Gables, Florida. The game is part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /
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The ACC/Big Ten Challenge is always an exciting time of year for the Illinois basketball program.

This is a series where the Big Ten gets a chance to match up with the ACC in a head-to-head conference clash. Usually, the teams are paired up by skill and where they rank nationally. Sadly, Illinois hasn’t been a highly-regarded team in this series in quite some time.

You would have to go back to the 2014-15 campaign to find the last time Illinois was ranked heading into the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. That season, the Illini cracked to the top 25 at No. 24 in the nation the day before their game against No. 15 Miami (FL). Illinois would go on to lose that game and never see the top 25 again that season.

Illinois failed to make the top 25 at any point in the following four seasons but finally got back into the rankings this past year. But it wasn’t until January 13 when the Illini saw the No. 24 ranking. So, the last five years the ACC/Big Ten Challenge has been held, the Orange and Blue weren’t in the top 25.

The 2020-21 campaign is looking to be a little different, though. Illinois is poised to start the season off in the top 10, let alone the top 25. Andy Katz of the Big Ten Network and the NCAA published his predictions for the prestigious clash on Wednesday. Who does he have as the two best teams matching up?

Illinois vs. Duke

That is right, Katz has Illinois taking on the Duke Blue Devils in the No. 1 game of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. This is a sign of respect from one of the most respected analysts in the college game.


For some of you who are too young to remember, this is how it used to feel to be an Illinois basketball fan. We would get matched up with some of the best teams in the country.

In 2005 and 2010, Illinois took on North Carolina and beat them both times. During the national title season, the Illini took on No. 1 Wake Forest and beat them down by 18 points. The year before that was No. 10 North Carolina. The year before that was No. 12 North Carolina. The year before that was No. 5 Maryland. The year before that was No. 1 Duke. I could continue on but you get the point.

My dream class of 2021 for the Illini. dark. Next

Illinois was one of the powerhouse teams in the nation, and we were matched up against other great programs in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The fact we are probably going to play Duke is exciting. I want that spotlight again. I want this for myself but, more importantly, I want this for the program.

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