Ranking the Big 12-SEC Challenge games from most to least compelling
A rematch between powerhouses Kansas and Kentucky highlights the newly announced slate for next year’s Big 12-SEC Challenge. All 10 games will take place Jan. 28. Here’s a look at the matchups ranked from most to least intriguing:
1. Kansas at Kentucky: These blue bloods will both appear the preseason top five in most polls, but they’ll also field vastly different rosters than they did at Allen Fieldhouse last January when Kansas edged Kentucky 90-84 in overtime. The Wildcats will lean on another loaded freshman class headlined by guards Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox, while the Jayhawks will turn to heralded freshman wing Josh Jackson and veteran guards Frank Mason and Devonte Graham.
2. Texas A&M at West Virginia: While the Big 12 has dominated this series since its inception, West Virginia has been the exception to that rule. The Mountaineers are 0-3 with losses to Missouri in 2013, LSU in 2014 and Florida last January. West Virginia’s next chance to finally earn a victory will come at home against a Texas A&M team that loses standouts Jalen Jones, Danuel House and Alex Caruso from last year’s Sweet 16 squad yet should be able to reload behind a talented sophomore class.
3. Florida at Oklahoma: Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger will face the program he led to the 1994 Final Four when Florida visits Norman. Kruger has only faced the Gators once since he left in 1996, a 93-76 loss in the second round of the 2000 NCAA tournament when he was at Illinois. Oklahoma won 29 games last season and reached the Final Four, but the Sooners will need big years from Jordan Woodard, Khadeem Lattin and Christian James as they try to adjust to life without Buddy Hield and two other senior starters.
4. Texas at Georgia: With leading scorer Isaiah Taylor opting to turn pro and a handful of senior standouts also leaving, the Longhorns will rely on a promising freshman class and some unproven returners next year. They’ll need heralded freshman Andrew Jones to have found his stride by midseason if they’re going to go to Athens and knock off a Georgia team that returns a formidable one-two punch in J.J. Frazier and Yante’ Maten.
5. Iowa State at Vanderbilt: Bryce Drew will make Vanderbilt competitive in the SEC before too long, but his debut season in Nashville may be a transition year for the Commodores. They’ll be moving on without point guard Wade Baldwin and 7-footer Damian Jones, both of whom left early for the NBA draft. Thus this seems to be a winnable road game for an Iowa State team that will build around point guard Monte Morris next year with Georges Niang graduating this spring.
6. Baylor at Ole Miss: The departures of Taurean Prince, Lester Medford and Rico Gathers will leave Baylor in jeopardy of a rare rebuilding season under Scott Drew. The Bears could struggle to earn an NCAA bid unless 6-foot-9 Johnathan Motley evolves into an interior star and promising sophomore guard King McClure produces a breakout season. Ole Miss should be a mid-tier SEC team once again, but the Rebels will need New Mexico transfer Cullen Neal to fill some of the volume-shooting void left by Stefan Moody.
7. LSU at Texas Tech: Even though Ben Simmons is NBA-bound, a lack of talent won’t be a problem for LSU. Former McDonald’s All-American Antonio Blakeney, forward Craig Victor and wing Brandon Sampson form a strong enough nucleus for the Tigers to contend for a top-three SEC finish, yet the key will be whether coach Johnny Jones can get that nucleus to play cohesively. The Tigers will get a nice midseason test at Texas Tech, which lost its coach but returns a couple key players from an NCAA tournament team.
8. Arkansas at Oklahoma State: While Arkansas has only made the NCAA tournament one time in Mike Anderson’s five seasons, the Razorbacks have reason for optimism next year. Three of their four leading scorers are expected back and they welcome a strong recruiting class that includes junior college All-American guards Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon. Arkansas’ opponent is an Oklahoma State team that will try to build around point guard Juwan Evans in Brad Underwood’s debut season.
9. Kansas State at Tennessee: Kansas State’s visit to Knoxville is familiar for both teams. Tennessee beat the Wildcats 65-64 in the 2014 Big 12-SEC Challenge in Knoxville. Next season is a big one for Kansas State coach Bruce Weber as he seeks to justify his administration’s decision to retain him rather than making a run at Brad Underwood. The Wildcats lose leading scorer Justin Edwards but return four starters including forward Wesley Iwundu.
10. Auburn at TCU: Bruce Weber’s talented but young Auburn team may still be a year away from ascending in the SEC pecking order. Jamie Dixon was a great hire for his alma mater TCU, but it will also take him some time to build behind a strong incoming freshman class. This is a game that would be much better in 2018 than it is likely to be next January.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
