The ISU Athletic Department announced today that the men's basketball team will play Duke this upcoming season at the United Center in Chicago. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN on Jan. 6 2010. The official press release from ISU Athletics can be seen here.

Pollard is excited because of the extensive alumni base in Chicago, and McDermott seemed almost overwhelmed that ISU could book such a game. I think this is a great opportunity for Brackins to show what he is made of and for the team to get some solid competition and exposure going into Big XII play.

The game will be somewhat of a homecoming for Chris Colvin (Whitney Young) and Duke's Jon Scheyer (Glenbrook North), two former Illinois State champs and competitors in the Proviso West Holiday Tournament that has seen the likes of Kevin Garnett and Quentin Richardson. I'm already thinking upset, and looking at some of Duke's early-season blunders (Michigan last year) even though the game is months away.

There will be a slightly larger story tomorrow on iowastatedaily.com.

My only wish now is that the Clones would break out the yellow jerseys they used to sport when they were on national tv...