Illinois to Play Villanova in 2014 Jimmy V Men's Classic Field

The Illinois men's basketball team will play Villanova in the 2014 Jimmy V Men's Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 9. The teams will square off in the first game of a doubleheader at 7 p.m. ET from New York City's famed Madison Square Garden. ESPN will televise both games, which also includes Indiana vs. Louisville at 9 p.m. Illinois replaces Maryland - which due to scheduling issues - will now play in the 2016 Jimmy V Classic.

The Fighting Illini returns all five starters and a total of nine letterwinners from last year's club that won 20 games and advanced to the NIT Second Round. The Fighting Illini also posted a 7-11 record in a deep Big Ten Conference. Highlighting the returnees are seniors Ravyonte Rice, Tracy Abrams and Nnanna Egwu.

"Illinois is a great addition to the 2014 Jimmy V Men's Classic doubleheader," said Nick Dawson, ESPN senior director, programming and acquisitions. "Their matchup against Villanova, followed by Indiana facing Louisville, gives the event two competitive games that will to drive tremendous awareness to The V Foundation and the mission to beat cancer. We are also glad to have Maryland in the 2016 Jimmy V Classic."

The Illinois-Villanova series dates back to 1938 with the two teams meeting six total times each winning three games. Villanova has captured the last two meetings, most recently a 66-63 victory in the 1988 NCAA Championship quarterfinal round. Villanova will play in its third Jimmy V Classic, losing the previous two games: 67-58 to Texas in 2008 and 81-71 to Missouri in 2011. Illinois faced Providence in the 2003 Jimmy V Classic, falling 70-51.

The early-season event will conclude the eighth annual Jimmy V Week, a weeklong initiative across multiple ESPN platforms and programs featuring special content to help raise funds for cancer research. In seven years, Jimmy V Week has generated $8,246,000 in total contributions for The V Foundation for Cancer Research, including a record-setting number of $1,827,000 in 2013.

Tickets for the Jimmy V Classic will go on sale at a later date this fall. Ticket prices range from $15-$275 and will be available for purchase at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, Ticketmaster charge by phone at (866) 858-0008 and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com.

About The V Foundation

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has funded more than $115 million in cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations to cancer research and related programs. Due to generous donors, the Foundation has an endowment that covers administrative expenses. The Foundation awards peer-reviewed grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Advisory Board. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.

ESPN Events

ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes two Labor Day weekend college football games; 11 college bowl games and eight college basketball events, which accounts for approximately 200 hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over a half a million attendees each year. With satellite offices in Boca Raton, Boise, Birmingham, Dallas-Fort Worth, Albuquerque, St. Petersburg and Las Vegas, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

ESPN Events also manages the Big 12 Corporate Partner Program.

Collegiate Football

AdvoCare v100 Texas Bowl (Houston); AdvoCare Texas Kickoff (Houston); Birmingham Bowl (Alabama); Boca Raton Bowl (Florida); Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise); Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Hawai'i Bowl (Honolulu); Heart of Dallas Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth); Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth); MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney (Orlando, Fla.); Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.); Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl (Nevada); St. Petersburg Bowl (Florida) and The Home Depot College Football Awards (Orlando, Fla.)

Collegiate Basketball

Armed Forces Classic (US Air Station Borinquen, PR); Gildan Charleston Classic (South Carolina); Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Wooden Legacy (Orange County, Calif.); Jimmy V Men's & Women's Basketball Classics (New York City & South Bend, Ind.); Orlando Classic (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); Puerto Rico Tip-Off (San Juan, PR) and State Farm Champions Classic (Indianapolis)

For more information, visit www.espnevents.com or follow on Twitter and Facebook.