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 Duke Blue Devils Mike Krzyzewski Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Duke goes for 5 in a row

Top-ranked foes in the ACC and Big Ten will collide when the Duke Blue Devils and Illinois Fighting Illini square off on Tuesday night in the 2020 ACC/Big Ten Challenge. In their first meeting since 2007, the Blue Devils will look to make it the fifth-straight victory against Illinois.

Duke holds an all-time record of 7-2 against Illinois in the head-to-head match. Although, Duke has already fallen to one Big Ten foe in the Michigan State Spartans and the Illini are right up there with the Spartans in terms of conference favorite to win it all.

It brings an interesting dynamic to the table on Tuesday night, pitting veterans Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn against Matthew Hurt and an upstart forward in Jalen Johnson in what should be an up-and-down battle.

The last time these two teams met was back on November 20, 2007, when Duke defeated Illinois 79-66 in the semifinals of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. A lot has certainly changed at both programs since then, although Coach K is still the head coach of the Blue Devils.