ROSEMONT – Want to see the Illinois men's basketball team play a Big Ten opponent at Madison Square Garden? The conference has made it possible. In a few years, at least.
Illinois will face Maryland in New York City at the iconic arena in the 2018-19 season as part of the Big Ten's “Super Saturday – College Hoops & Hockey" announced Wednesday afternoon. A date is not set yet for the Illini and Terrapins, who have met once before at Madison Square Garden, with the Illini winning 80-76 on Nov. 19, 2010.
The first basketball-hockey doubleheader is set for this Saturday with Michigan playing Penn State in both sports.
The addition of Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten spread the conference's footprint to the east coast, something the league is trying to capitalize on by having mroe games at Madison Square Garden. The Big Ten men's basketball tournament will be played in New York City for the first time in 2018.
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