Busting Brackets
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ACC Basketball: 10 questions looming for the 2021-22 season

By Jerran Anderson

Feb 8, 2018; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski and assistant coaches Jeff Capel and Nate James during the national anthem at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2018; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski and assistant coaches Jeff Capel and Nate James during the national anthem at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Clemson ACC Basketball Basketball 2018 Clemson
Clemson ACC Basketball Basketball 2018 Clemson /

10. What’s the forecast for this year’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge?

There are some intriguing matchups in the 2021 ACC/Big Ten Challenge for the upcoming 2021-2022 season which spans from November 29 to December 1 this year. For the past two seasons, Big Ten Basketball has held the advantage over ACC Basketball after winning the 2020 Challenge with a 7-5 record.  The ACC still holds the overall series lead at 12-7-3 but, they haven’t won the Challenge since 2017.

Looking at the matchups, the “tone-setter”, so to speak, is on Day 1 on Nov. 29 when the Virginia Cavaliers host the Iowa Hawkeyes. On Day 2, the Clemson Tigers will get a rematch against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights after falling to them in the 2020 NCAA Tournament 60-56, so expect that game to have some added energy. The Syracuse Orange host the Indiana Hoosiers and the Duke Blue Devils visit the Ohio State Buckeyes on Day 2 on as well.

On the final day, the North Carolina  Tar Heels hosts the Michigan Wolverines the Virginia Tech Hokies will travel to face the Maryland Terrapins

There are five first-time ACC/Big Ten Challenge contests this year, at least, when it comes to meeting in the Challenge. Iowa-Virginia, Minnesota-Pittsburgh, Miami-Penn State, Nebraska-NC State and Maryland-Virginia Tech will all meet for the first time, though Maryland and Virginia Tech are familiar foes given their Big East ties. Georgia Tech will host Wisconsin for the first time since 2001 as well.

All in all, it’s a season that the 2021 ACC/Big Ten Challenge needs a win for bragging rights purposes. The Big Ten Conference led all conferences last season in NCAA Tournament bids with nine while the ACC was second alongside the Big 12 Conference. Let’s see if the ACC can end the two-year drought in this year’s challenge.