Men’s ACC/SEC Challenge guide: What UNC, Duke, Syracuse wins tell us

Multiple players included in 2025 ACC/SEC Men’s Challenge ap top 25 Men’s college basketball teams in action.

First night with number 4 did not disappoint ruler Avoiding an attempt to get back into double digits at No. 15 Florida By one point, followed by another possession win for No. 16 North Carolina above number 18 kentucky,

ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf break down what was important in each game, as well as the upset of No. 13 Syracuse. Tennesseethen preview number 6 louisville vs number 25 arkansas Plus two more games from Wednesday below.

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tuesday results

North Carolina was not the most efficient team (41% from the field), but the Tar Heels slowly played the right game. Caleb Wilson (6 assists) He was a playmaker when shots weren’t falling. henry vissar (17 points), luka bogavac (12) and derek dixon (9) There were impressive moments. And the Tar Heels did it without Seth Trimble,

North Carolina lost the game under similar circumstances last season, which makes this win significant.

Kentucky, on the other hand, has not been in rhythm in its biggest moments this season. The Wildcats’ scoring drought in the second half lasted 10 minutes and 25 seconds, and included 13 consecutive missed shots – the program’s longest drought in the past eight seasons, according to ESPN Research. There’s no evidence they can beat quality teams, which is a concern for a squad that will face Gonzaga, Indiana and St. John’s this month before beginning SEC play against Alabama in January. — medcalf

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North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Kentucky Wildcats: Game Highlights

North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Kentucky Wildcats: Game Highlights

The first part seemed like a continuation of the narratives from both teams’ first month: cameron boozer Playing as the front-runner for every award, Duke dominated on both ends and looked for answers in the Florida backcourt. But Todd Golden and the Gators came back from a 15-point deficit to take the lead in the final minutes. Boogie Land 3 Before the Blue Devils Responded Isaiah Evans Finished it off with a 3 and two big defensive plays.

Boozer did nothing to slow his pace, finishing with 29 points and 6 rebounds and providing the game-winning assist to Evans. Credit to Boozer’s frontcourt teammates Patrick Ngongba II And malik brownAlso, who played important roles at both ends in the second half.

Florida had some encouraging developments: Fland had two strong performances in a row, scoring 16 against Duke after scoring 17 against Providence on Friday. The Gators were also able to take better care of the ball in the second half – at least until the final two possessions. And thomas hoff (24 points) One of the best players in the country, looks like a legitimate All-America candidate.

It is worth noting that Golden chose urban clawzar Above xavien lee Long time in the second part. The Gators need Lee to reach his potential, but he is struggling right now. — Borzello

game

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Syracuse Orange: Game Highlights

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Syracuse Orange: Game Highlights

After a week of misery after going 0-3 in the Players Era in Las Vegas, Syracuse returned home and pulled off an upset over No. 13 Tennessee in the program’s second win over a ranked opponent under Adrian Autry. The same grit that kept this team alive in last week’s overtime battle with No. 8 Houston – Nate Kings Had 19 points in the first half Tuesday — fueling the win for the Orange, who has the potential to develop into a bubble team, especially once he’s the leading scorer. donnie freeman Return from injury.

For Tennessee, there are only questions. Projected NBA Draft Lottery Picks Nate Ament It was his second disappointing effort in three games, going 2 of 10 from the field. More than anything, the loss demonstrated the limitations of a Vols squad that needs ament and Ja’coby gillespie (0 for 3 out of 3) Will have to play well together to win big. Still, why couldn’t Tennessee stop a Syracuse squad that gave up 95 points to Iowa State a week earlier? — medcalf

wednesday games to watch

7:15 PM ET | espn

how is the trio Projected first round NBA draft picks – louisvilles mikel brown jr(6th), plus Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr.(14th) and melek thomas (27th)–This game will be decided. They do not have many weaknesses, but they will have to play according to their strengths to lead their respective teams to victory.

For Brown and Thomas, that means not forcing perimeter shots. Brown occasionally passes up easy drives to the rim for 3s (30.6%) while Thomas sometimes takes the same shot (34.5%) instead of relying on his explosiveness in the lane. And Acuff has been fantastic but didn’t make enough efforts to make many shots around the rim in the second half of last week’s loss to Duke. He needs to get off to a fast start after missing five of his first six shots against the Blue Devils. — medcalf

7:15 PM ET | espnu

Alabama has played one of the toughest schedules in the country, with wins over No. 14 Illinois and No. 23 St. John’s, while suffering losses to No. 1 Purdue and No. 11 Gonzaga. But the Crimson Tide have been firing on all cylinders offensively, scoring a combined 220 points in their last two Players Era games. Meanwhile, Clemson looks to move up another notch on its schedule next Tuesday with a showdown against BYU at Madison Square Garden.

Pace will play a key role in this, as Alabama likes to push the ball up the floor and bring some chaos to the game, while Clemson will prefer a half-court game without many turnovers. It’s hard to see the Tigers having the firepower to keep up with Nate Oats’ team, especially the way lebron fillon jrAnd aden holloway Are playing. — Borzello

9:15 PM ET | espn

Both teams entered the field for the famed Feast Week tournament, with Auburn having the better time of the two. The Tigers, like every Wolverines opponent, were destroyed by Michigan en route to winning the Players Era Championship last week, but the Tigers posted double-digit wins over Oregon and St. John’s while in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, NC State suffered a surprising quarterfinal loss to Seton Hall at the Maui Invitational and gave up 102 points in a loss to Texas.

It’s easy to claim that Will Wade’s team needs this win more than Steven Pearl’s group. At this point in the season, both offenses are ahead of their defense, which should make for a fun affair. head-on collision between Darrian Williams And Keyshawn Hall This is as good as it gets, while the difference will be whether Tahad PettifordEarly-season slumps are a thing of the past. He had a great performance in Las Vegas, averaging 22.3 points over three games and shooting 7 of 14 from 3 in his last two games. — Borzello