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The Big 12 and SEC announced the schedule for their 2013 inter-conference basketball event -- brilliantly named the Big 12/SEC Challenge -- on Monday, and the big news is that Auburn and Iowa State will meet in a rematch the nation has long been craving.
Everyone remembers the 2000 NCAA Tournament, when the Tigers and Cyclones met in the second round of the Midwest Regional. Iowa State, the 2-seed, knocked off 10th-seeded Auburn, 79-60, in one of the biggest games in college basketball history. The game sparked a massive rivalry spanning half the country, which ultimately led to the Tigers stealing Cyclones head football coach Gene Chizik following the 2008 season.
Ever since that NCAA tourney game, national pundits and fans have been clamoring for Round 2. They're finally getting their wish.
The Big 12/SEC Challenge will also feature a few lesser matchups, including Florida-Kansas, Kentucky-Baylor and West Virginia-Missouri. But make no mistake: All eyes will be on the contest between powerhouse coaches Tony Barbee and Fred Hoiberg.
The complete event schedule is as follows:
Thursday, Nov. 14
Texas Tech at Alabama
Monday, Dec. 2
Vanderbilt at Texas
Auburn at Iowa State
Thursday, Dec. 5
Ole Miss at Kansas State
West Virginia at Missouri
TCU at Mississippi State
Friday, Dec. 6
South Carolina at Oklahoma State
Kentucky vs. Baylor (Arlington, Texas)
Tuesday, Dec. 10
Kansas at Florida
Saturday, Dec. 21
Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma (Houston, Texas)