October 20, 2010

Matchups set for 2011 Big East/Big Ten Challenge

The pairings for the 2011 Big East/Big Ten Challenge have been released.

The third annual event, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, will be held the opening weekend of the 2011 season, Feb. 18-20. Eight teams from each conference will participate.

Minnesota, the Big Ten regular-season and tournament champion, will face St. John’s, the Big East tourney champ, Connecticut and Louisville, the Big East regular-season champ. The Red Storm and Cardinals will also meet Michigan and Ohio State.

The Big East went 14-6 over the final two days to win the 2010 challenge, taking 17 of the 30 games. The Big Ten won the initial challenge in 2009.

Friday, Feb. 18

Al Lang/Progressive Energy Park (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Penn State vs. Seton Hall 10 am

Cincinnati vs. Ohio State 1 pm

Louisville vs. Michigan 4 pm

Dunedin Stadium (Dunedin, Fla.)

Michigan State vs. Notre Dame 4 pm

Connecticut vs. Purdue 7:30 pm

Jack Russell Memorial Stadium (Clearwater, Fla.)

Iowa vs. West Virginia 10 am

Minnesota vs. St. John’s 1 pm

Illinois vs. Pittsburgh 4 pm

Saturday, Feb. 19

Al Lang/Progressive Energy Park (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Michigan State vs. Seton Hall 10 am

Michigan vs. St. John’s 1 pm

Notre Dame vs. Purdue 4 pm

Bright House Field (Clearwater, Fla.)

Louisville vs. Ohio State 4 pm

Iowa vs. Pittsburgh 7:30 pm

Jack Russell Memorial Stadium (Clearwater, Fla.)

Cincinnati vs. Illinois 10 am

Penn State vs. West Virginia 1 pm

Connecticut vs. Minnesota 4 pm

Sunday, Feb. 20

Al Lang/Progressive Energy Park (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Louisville vs. Minnesota 10 am

Illinois vs. West Virginia 1 pm

Jack Russell Memorial Stadium (Clearwater, Fla.)

Connecticut vs. Michigan 10 am

Cincinnati vs. Michigan State 1 pm

Raymond A. Naimoli Complex (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Notre Dame vs. Penn State 10 am

Ohio State vs. St. John’s 10 am

Iowa vs. Seton Hall 1 pm

Pittsburgh vs. Purdue 1 pm

(photo courtesy of Minnesota Media Relations Office)