Sifting through expected matchups for next season's SEC-ACC Challenge on the hardwood.
Brad Crawford
Next season's matchups for the ACC-SEC Challenge are set, according to CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein, who reported on the 16 games this week. As far as quick takeaways go, organizers provided fans with several appetizing matchups, but many will not move the needle, as was the case during the 2023 season prior to both leagues putting numerous squads in the NCAA Tournament including Final Four teams Alabama and NC State.
Last season's games were split down the middle with each conference winning seven games. It marked the first year of the two power conferences battling one anotherand replaced the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and the Big 12-SEC Challenge.
Considering these games come during the non-conference portion of the season, RPI will come into play with quality-win potential for the programs who are matched up with high-end opponents.
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Here are a couple of the best matchups, the biggest storylines and a missed opportunity according to the projected ACC-SEC Challenge field:
Possible No. 1 seeds battle in Chapel Hill
Off the bat, Alabama traveling to North Carolina jumps off the page as the most talent-rich matchup in the SEC-ACC Challenge, a rematch of last season's Sweet 16 tussle. The point guard matchup alone between Mark Sears and R.J. Davis is worth the price of admission alone, but these are two heavyweights who expect to be in the mix for No. 1 seed-billing next spring ahead of the NCAA Tournament given each program's successful campaigns in 2023. Alabama is coming off its first Final Four appearance in school history and is the preseason frontrunner to take the SEC under Nate Oats.
Bruce Pearl vs. Jon Scheyer
Expect a lot of points at Cameron Indoor when Auburn and Duke face off in one of the most exciting matchups of the challenge.Johni Broome is returning for a third season with the Tigers after being named All-SEC in consecutive years on The Plains. He'll be one of the focal points for a team itching to prove its worth in March after an unexpected early exit this spring. Duke welcomes the No. 1 signing class in college basketball, featuring Cooper Flagg and Khaman Malauch, the top incoming players at their respective positions in the country.
Golden opportunity missed
First-year Arkansas coach John Calipari and the Razorbacks will play Miami on the road, but the showdown that would've brought tons of eyeballs would've been a date with Louisville — Coach Cal's old arch-rival at Kentucky. Instead, the Cardinals are expected to host Ole Miss in a battle of teams hoping to be in the NCAA Tournament mix next March. Calipari has assembled an impressive roster through the transfer portal in short order during his brief time in Fayettevilleand Jim Larrañaga always fields a competitive team with the Hurricanes. Still, this feels like a whiffed opportunity for organizers.
Polarizing styles of play
For Tony Bennett and Virginia, the Cavaliers' version of slow-down basketball is a pain to watch at times, a defense-first philosophy with the goal being the first team to 50. At Florida, judging by the lack of defensive intensity shown often last season with rapid-fire tendencies at the other end of the floor, the Gators just want to score and score often. Todd Golden getsrising seniors Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard back to lead the scoring punch for the Gators. Clayton Jr. averaged 17.6 points per game, which was the highest for a Florida player in two decades. FAU transfer Alijah Martin adds a complete skillset offensively, too.
Kentucky and Clemson finally meet
These two programs haven't played since 1979 and new Wildcats coach Mark Pope will be facing an adversary on the other sideline who enjoyed a resurgence of sorts last season after Brad Brownell took the Tigers to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1980. Kentucky will look a lot different under Pope, who has a transfer-laden roster within a signing class rated just outside of the top 25 nationally for 2024. These are two evenly-matched teams, but Clemson likely gets the edge playing at home. Chase Hunter is back for the Tigers, but they do lose All-ACC center PJ Hall.
New-look NC State faces stiff test
One of the most physical ACC-SEC Challenge matchups on paper, Texas-NC State should be a fun one in Raleigh.Texas welcomes back Chendall Weaver and Kadin Shedrick while the Wolfpack, fresh off an unexpected ACC Tournament title and Final Four trip, will look a bit different without DJ Horne in the backcourt and DJ Burns manning the middle of the lane. NC State took four transfers this cycle, including two from Louisville, and expect freshman Paul McNeil to provide immediate assistance.
Portal rosters on display in Knoxville
When Syracuse and Tennessee get together, we could see as many as eight transfer starters between the two teams. The Vols replace eight contributors including SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht. Felix Okpara,Darlinstone Dubar, Chaz Lanier and Igor Milicic Jr. are all new additions for Tennessee and hope to lead the program's quest for another SEC title. According toBart Torvik'sprojections, Tennessee should have a top-10 roster despite the personnel losses. The Orangeare anxious for the arrival of Colorado transfer Eddie Lampkin, among other potential impact gets.
