The SEC dominated this challenge in 2024; the men's programs went 14-2, and the women's went 10-6. Last year, it was a dead even split on both sides of 7-7, but the SEC is proving its dominance in the sport with an assertive taking down of the ACC. It was an impressive showing from top to bottom for the SEC, and even the teams that lost for the SEC weren't embarrassed; they battled.
Kentucky basketball is one of the few universities in the nation with ranked teams in both men's and women's hoops. Yet, it also has the distinction of being the only university that did not win this challenge. The men lost in a frustrating road game to Clemson, and the Lady Cats lost to #16 North Carolina on the Tar Heels' home court.
The consolation is that the SEC and ACC worked to pair up the top programs with each other, and both Kentucky teams had to take on some of the ACC's best on the road. While it is fun for Big Blue Nation to see the SEC become the top basketball conference, it was frustrating to be the only program with a loss in this challenge in both men's and women's programs.
Men's head coach Mark Pope and women's head coach Kenny Brooks continue to mirror each other in remarkable ways. They both took over a program with bare cupboards, quickly putting together a good team. Both coached these good teams into great teams, becoming ranked and then climbing the rankings this season. They have taken down high-level competition, Pope with Duke and Brooks with Louisville. Now, each coach lost in the same week in the same challenge.
For Pope and his squad, the road only got harder as they take on #7 Gonzaga on Saturday, December 7th, in Seattle. Brooks takes the Lady Cats back home to play in a buy game on Monday, December 9th, against Queens University.