MADISON, Wis. — The entire non-conference portion of Wisconsin's 2012-13 men's basketball schedule isn't yet known, but the first piece to that puzzle features an intriguing matchup.
Wisconsin will take on Virginia at the Kohl Center on Wednesday, Nov. 28, as part of the 14th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The game will take place on the second evening of the two-night showcase. Game time and television network are still to be determined.
Virginia coach Tony Bennett will have plenty of familiarity with Wisconsin and coach Bo Ryan. Bennett served as a manager on Wisconsin's staff under his father, Dick Bennett, in 1999-2000. He was an assistant coach at UW under Brad Soderberg in 2000-01 and spent two more seasons as an assistant coach under Ryan.
Both Wisconsin and Virginia advanced to the 2012 NCAA tournament based largely on the strength of suffocating defense. Wisconsin and Virginia finished first and second, respectively, in scoring defense last season. The Badgers allowed just 53.2 points per game, and the Cavaliers surrendered 54.2 points per game.
The Badgers and Cavaliers have met twice before, with each school recording a win. Virginia won the first meeting in 1974, while Wisconsin won in 1998. Both of those games took place on neutral floors.
Wisconsin is 6-7 all-time in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, but the Badgers are 4-1 at the Kohl Center. Last season, Wisconsin nearly toppled fifth-ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., before falling 60-57.
Wisconsin reached its second straight Sweet 16 for the first time in program history last season. The Badgers finished the 2011-12 season with a 26-10 record, the third-most wins in school history. Wisconsin's season ended with a 64-63 loss against Syracuse.
Virginia, which is 7-5 overall in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and 1-3 on the road, is coming off its first NCAA tournament appearance since the 2006-07 season. The Cavaliers finished 22-10 overall and lost, 71-45, to Florida in the round of 64.
The ACC won the first 10 Challenges, but the Big Ten has since responded with three consecutive wins.
Follow Jesse Temple on Twitter.
