SEC Basketball: Ranking the 2023-24 ACC/SEC Challenge matchups
By Matt Melton
5. Missouri at Pittsburgh
A pair of teams who have never met on the hardwood, we begin the top five with Missouri going on the road to face Pittsburgh. Both the Tigers and Panthers reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago, with the duo also likely to be tournament teams once again this season.
4. Texas A&M at Virginia
The first of two road matchups for the SEC in the 2023-24 ACC/SEC Challenge featured in the top five comes through Texas A&M traveling to Virginia for a matchup of two strong defensive teams. Texas A&M and Virginia have met only once ever, with the Aggies defeating the Cavaliers by a final score of 60-59 back in 1962.
3. Kentucky vs. Miami
A pair of NCAA Tournament teams a year ago, Kentucky will welcome Miami, who reached the Final Four last season, to Rupp Arena for the 2023-24 ACC/SEC Challenge. The Wildcats and Hurricanes have faced off only four times ever, with the most recent coming back in 2008.
2. Tennessee at North Carolina
Arguably the top road matchup for a SEC team comes in Chapel Hill, where Tennessee travels to face North Carolina in what could potentially be a Top 25 matchup. A head-to-head series that North Carolina has dominated (10-2 all-time advantage), the Volunteers and Tar Heels last met during the 2021-22 season on a neutral-court, with Tennessee winning by a final score of 89-72.
1. Arkansas vs. Duke
As mentioned at the start, the No. 1 spot goes to this showdown between Arkansas and Duke in Fayetteville, two teams that could both potentially be ranked highly in the Top 25 when the 2023-24 ACC/SEC Challenge rolls around. With the two teams owning a 2-2 split in the all-time head-to-head series, each of which have also been neutral-site games, this is a rematch from the 2022 NCAA Tournament in which Duke defeated the Razorbacks, 78-69, as well as the 1994 national title game.