You're probably not familiar with the Commissioner's Cup, and that's OK.

It's a meaningless trophy created for a made-for-TV event, the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. But the significance of the event — if not the trophy — is obvious this season.

After George Mason's run to the Final Four last season, mid-major teams are staking their claims for more at-large NCAA tournament bids.

The ACC and Big Ten coaches would like to hold them off—and winning the ACC-Big Ten Challenge in all seven years of its existence has become a talking point for the ACC's coaches.

Another ACC-Big Ten win could benefit the ACC when the brackets are released in March. And that's a lot more important than keeping possession of some silly trophy.

Here's how the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, which begins Monday, breaks down:

Can't miss

MICHIGAN AT N.C. STATE, 7 P.M. MONDAY, ESPN2: Michigan coach Tommy Amaker, who played point guard at Duke, is back in town. Coach Sidney Lowe, another former point guard, is off to a better start than expected at his alma mater, N.C. State.

MARYLAND AT ILLINOIS, 7 P.M. TUESDAY, ESPN: Two years removed from a national title game loss, Illinois is still tough. Five seasons removed from a national title, Maryland has good, veteran players again led by Ekene Ibekwe and D.J. Strawberry.

FLORIDA STATE AT WISCONSIN, 7:30 P.M. TUESDAY, ESPN2: Wisconsin's Alando Tucker — maybe the Big Ten's best player — meets Al Thornton. This could be a treat.

INDIANA AT DUKE, 9 P.M. TUESDAY, ESPN: Kelvin Sampson gets a good look at Duke's Josh McRoberts, one of the many excellent players from Indiana that former coach Mike Davis let get away.

MICHIGAN STATE AT BOSTON COLLEGE, 7 P.M. WEDNESDAY, ESPN: This looked like a big game before the season. Now it's a chance for Boston College to shed its label as the ACC's biggest disappointment.

VIRGINIA AT PURDUE, 7:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY, ESPN2: After christening their new arena with a defeat of Arizona, the Cavaliers look like an NCAA contender. Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds might be the ACC's best guard tandem.

OHIO STATE AT NORTH CAROLINA, 9 P.M. WEDNESDAY, ESPN: Even though freshman center Greg Oden won't play for Ohio State. Even though Gonzaga showed that the Heels' talent isn't yet on the same page. This is still a great game.Can't watch

PENN STATE AT GEORGIA TECH, 8 P.M. TUESDAY, ESPNU: Freshman Thaddeus Young and Georgia Tech could turn this into a rout before halftime.

MIAMI AT NORTHWESTERN, 9:30 P.M. TUESDAY, ESPN2: Miami has lost to Buffalo and Cleveland State. Good thing Miami fans were so mad at Larry Coker that they barely noticed.

IOWA AT VIRGINIA TECH, 7 P.M. WEDNESDAY, ESPNU: Because of its veteran talent, Virginia Tech was supposed to be an NCAA contender. But the Hokies lost to Western Michigan. Yuck.

CLEMSON AT MINNESOTA, 9:30 P.M., WEDNESDAY, ESPN2: Clemson is undefeated and has a win against Old Dominion that became more impressive when ODU downed Georgetown. Marist and Southern Illinois have defeated Minnesota.