By: NU Media Relations
Lincoln – The Big Ten and Big East Conferences announced Wednesday that the Huskers will travel to defending Big East champion Villanova in the inaugural Gavitt Tipoff Games this November.
The Big East home games will be telecast on Fox Sports 1, while Big Ten home games will air on BTN or an ESPN Network.
The event is named after Dave Gavitt, the late Big East commissioner and Basketball Hall of Famer, and features eight matchups a year between Big Ten and Big East teams over the next eight seasons beginning with this November. Big Ten members will participate a minimum of four times over the next eight seasons, while Big East Teams will play at least six times in the event.
Villanova went 33-3 and won the Big East title for the second consecutive season with a 16-2 mark in 2014-15. The Wildcats were upset by North Carolina State in the round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament. Villanova is led by Ryan Arcidiacono, who shared Big East Player-of-the-Year honors, averaging 10.1 points and 3.6 assists per game in 2014-15.
Villanova leads the all-time series, 2-0, posting natural site wins during the 1987-88 (Maui Classic) and the 1998-99 (Top of the World Classic) seasons.
The Huskers have fared well in conference challenges dating back to its days in the Big 12 Conference. NU went 3-1 in the Big 12/Pac 10 Hardwood Series, while also going 3-1 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Under Head Coach Tim Miles, NU is 3-0 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, including a 2-0 road mark.
The Huskers welcome back a pair of starters in 2015, including rising senior Shavon Shields (15.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg) as well as a nationally ranked recruiting class which includes freshmen Ed Morrow Jr. and Glynn Watson Jr., both of whom are ranked in the top-75 nationally by ESPN.com. In addition, the Huskers also gain the services of guard Andrew White III, who sat out last season after transferring from Kansas.
Gavitt Tipoff Games Schedule
Tuesday, Nov. 17
Georgetown at Maryland
DePaul at Penn State
Nebraska at Villanova
Wednesday, Nov. 18
Illinois at Providence
Thursday, Nov. 19
Creighton at Indiana
Iowa at Marquette
Rutgers at St. John’s
Friday, Nov. 20
Xavier at Michigan