SEC/ACC Challenge outcome already settled heading into day two

By SAM LANCE

There are still games to play on Wednesday, but the SEC has already clinched the SEC/ACC Challenge after night one. On Tuesday, the SEC went 9-1 against the ACC to win the event and now moves to 21-2 vs. the ACC in 2024-25.

Pure domination.

The ACC’s lone win, all be it, was a big one. Clemson knocked off undefeated and No. 4-ranked Kentucky, 70-66, in front of a ruckus home crowd. A court storming ensued.

THERE'S A COURT STORMING IN CLEMSON ⛈️

THE TIGERS UPSET NO. 4 KENTUCKY 😤 pic.twitter.com/LsNJkplzG7

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) December 4, 2024

The other SEC/ACC challenge games from Tuesday went as follows:

• Tennessee 96, Syracuse 70
• Oklahoma 76, Georgia Tech 61
• Texas A&M 57, Wake Forrest 44
• Ole Miss 86, Louisville 63
• Arkansas 76, Miami 73
• Georgia 69, Notre Dame 48
• Missouri 98, Cal 93
• South Carolina 73, Boston College 51
• LSU 85, Florida State 75

Wednesday’s SEC/ACC challenge games (to finish the event):

• Alabama vs. North Carolina – 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Virginia vs. Florida – 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN2
• Auburn vs. Duke – 9:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Pitt vs. Mississippi State – 9:15 p.m. ET on SEC Network
• Texas vs. NC State – 9:15 p.m. ET on ESPN2
• Vanderbilt vs. Virginia Tech – 9:15 p.m. ET on ACC Network

The days of the ACC ruling the college basketball world may be in the past. Since 2000, the ACC has had nine national championships, most of any conference. That includes Virginia (2019), North Carolina (2017, 2009, 2005), Duke (2015, 2010, 2001), Maryland (2002) and Syracuse (2003). But this year, the conference ranks worst among power leagues on Kenpom and Torvik, and it features seven teams outside the top-100 of the NET.

On the other hand, the SEC is on the rise. It ranks as the best conference via the metrics websites and the SEC leads the country with four teams in the top-10 of the NET (Tennessee, Auburn, Florida and Kentucky). The last national title from an SEC program was Kentucky in 2012. Could this be the year the conference breaks through? If the SEC/ACC challenge is any indication, it just might be.

This isn't my father's ACC…

The league was ambushed last night in the "Challenge".

SEC wins 9 of the 10 contests…the average margin of victory was 15.3 points.

The ONLY bright spot for the ACC was Clemson knocking off #4 Kentucky.

SEC is 21-2 vs ACC this year in MBB.

— Mark Packer (@MarkPacker) December 4, 2024

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