Clemson to Take on Purdue at Home in 2012 ACC/Big Ten Challenge

May 14, 2012

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson men’s basketball team will take on Purdue at Littlejohn Coliseum on Wednesday, Nov. 28 in the 14th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. Time and network designations will be determined at a later date. The ACC won the first 10 challenges, while the Big Ten has won the last three.

All 12 games will also be available via WatchESPN, which delivers live access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3 on PCs, smartphones and tablets to fans who receive ESPN’s linear networks as part of their video subscription from Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks or Verizon FiOS TV.

Clemson has a 9-4 record in the history of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Tigers have won six out of their last eight games in the event, including four straight as the road team. Last season, the Tigers won their fourth straight on the road with a convincing 71-55 triumph at Iowa. Clemson has also won at Penn State, Minnesota and Illinois during the four-game road winning streak in the challenge. Clemson is 4-2 at home in the history of the event.

This will serve as the fifth meeting between the two schools, and third matchup in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It will also be the first game played between the head coaches, Clemson’s Brad Brownell and Purdue’s Matt Painter. Brownell is 205-112 (.647) in 10 seasons, 38-27 (.585) in two years at Clemson. Painter has a career record of 185-82 (.693) in eight seasons, 160-77 (.675) in seven years at Purdue.

Brownell, a native of the Hoosier State, has never faced Purdue in his coaching career. His wife, Paula, earned her undergraduate degree from Purdue in 1991. Brownell grew up in Evansville, IN and played Division III basketball at DePauw University.

The first meeting between the two teams took place in 1971-72, with Clemson claiming a 72-66 win in overtime at home. The two programs met again in 1973-74, where the Tigers won at Purdue and again in overtime, 81-80. Clemson and Purdue have won a game apiece in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, with the Boilermakers winning at home, 76-64 in 2003, and the Tigers defeating an eventual NCAA Tournament team 61-58 in 2007.

Clemson will return two starters in 2012-13, senior forwards Devin Booker and Milton Jennings. The Tigers will have 10 underclassmen among 12 scholarship players, five first-year freshmen and five sophomores. The Tigers went 16-15 in 2011-12, Brownell’s second season, including 8-8 in the ACC. It was the fifth consecutive season the Tiger program was at least .500 in conference play, a first in school history.

Purdue went 22-13 last season and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers lost three of their top four scorers, including All-Big Ten performer Robbie Hummel, to graduation. Purdue has advanced to the NCAA Tournament each of the last six seasons.

2012 ACC/Big Ten Challenge Schedule

Tuesday, Nov. 27 North Carolina at Indiana NC State at Michigan Minnesota at Florida State Maryland at Northwestern Iowa at Virginia Tech Nebraska at Wake Forest

Wednesday, Nov. 28 Ohio State at Duke Virginia at Wisconsin Michigan State at MiamiPurdue at Clemson Georgia Tech at Illinois Boston College at Penn State