The ACC claimed the Commissioner's Cup in the seventh version of the annual clash between the Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conferences, earning a 6-5 advantage in the series in the final night of competition. Michigan State gave the Big Ten an early lead Wednesday with a win against Georgia Tech, but ACC squads Virginia and Maryland countered to put their league in the lead. No. 1 Duke sealed the victory with a thrilling win against No. 16 Indiana, while Iowa fended off N.C. State in the final contest.
The Big Ten claimed an early lead when Ohio State downed Virginia Tech on Monday night, but the ACC leveled the series in Tuesday's action. Wisconsin nearly upset No. 23 Wake Forest at home, but fell just short as time expired in the evening's first contest. In a rematch of the 2004 NCAA Championship game, Illinois topped defending national champion North Carolina at home, 68-64. Clemson edged Penn State, and Florida State's early lead was too much for Purdue to overcome in the night's most lopsided outcome. Michigan evened the series score at 3-all with a victory against Miami (Fla.) in the final game of the night.
The 2005 edition featured a record 11 games between the two titans of college basketball. Prior to the ACC's recent expansion, previous Challenges had been limited to nine games with all ACC teams participating and two Big Ten teams sitting out annually. This year's battle consisted of all 11 Big Ten teams and every ACC team, except newcomer Boston College.
