ACC Basketball: 5 key storylines for 2020 ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Mar 2, 2020; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski (right) directs guard Cassius Stanley (2) and forward Matthew Hurt (21) during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke won 88-69. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

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ACC Basketball ACC-Big Ten Challenge logo (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

The ACC Basketball/Big Ten Challenge is right around the corner with the first seven games kicking off on Tuesday night.

Two of the strongest Power 5 conferences square off on Tuesday night for bragging rights in the 2020 ACC/Big Ten Challenge. So far through the first two weeks of the college basketball season, the Big Ten Conference is looking very strong, which should pose some challenges for ACC basketball in this year’s matchups.

Through Saturday, the ACC boasts an overall record of 32-10 while the Big Ten holds the most victories as 42-5. Granted, Covid has limited the activities of some teams in the ACC, but still, this isn’t a season to press the snooze button on the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

The North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils will both have their hands full as Duke will face the Iowa Hawkeyes and North Carolina squares off against the Illinois Fighting Illini in what should be two can’t miss matchups.

In one of the more underrated matchup of teams in the Northeast region of the United States, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Syracuse Orange put their unbeaten records of 3-0 on the line in what should be a back-and-forth matchup of old Big East rivals.

The Michigan State Spartans and Virginia Cavaliers square off in a family affair as the Hauser brothers face each other in their new threads since leaving Marquette University.

There’s a ton to look forward to in the 2020 ACC/Big Ten Challenge, as long as things happen under protocol and in a safe environment. Here’s a look at the 5 key storylines to keep an eye on.