As conference play creeps closer, non-conference schedules are finally getting consistently competitive. Teams from two of the nation’s top conferences, the ACC and SEC, are meeting for some promising marquee matchups in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Wednesday’s games are:
- No. 11 Oklahoma at No. 22 Louisville (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- Vanderbilt at Miami (5 p.m. ET, ACC Network)
- Virginia Tech at Georgia (5 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
- Florida State at Tennessee (7:15 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
- Mississippi State at Georgia Tech (7:15 p.m. ET, ACC Network)
- Syracuse at Texas A&M (7:15 p.m. ET, ESPNU)
Here’s a closer look at two of the games we’ll have our eyes on:
Mississippi State vs. Georgia Tech
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Neither Mississippi State (8-0) nor Georgia Tech (7-0) have been ranked by the AP at any point this season, but both programs certainly are trending towards that level of recognition. In the most-recent poll, Georgia Tech received the second-most votes of any team that didn’t make the top-25 cut, while Mississippi State was the eighth team off the list. However, there’s a more important number on the minds of both teams: zero.
Zero losses, that is. Of the 362 Division I basketball teams, Mississippi State and Georgia Tech are two of the 22 remaining undefeated programs. One won’t be on that list come Thursday morning. Mississippi State hadn’t faced remarkable competition until the Cayman Islands Classic last week; they left the Caribbean battle-tested after single-digit wins against both Utah and South Florida. Georgia Tech has won every game by 14 or more points—but dominant performances against Georgia and Oregon suggest that the Yellow Jacket’s aren’t just feasting on lesser programs. Both teams are legit.
It’s near impossible to predict which squad has an edge in Atlanta. Georgia Tech has weathered a tougher schedule thus far, but they’re generally less experienced. Freshman guard Dani Carnegie leads the team in points despite not starting a single game. Mississippi State hangs their hat on the defensive end of the floor. The Bulldogs boast the eighth-best defensive rating in the country. They’re led by senior Kentucky transfer Eniya Russell, who’s averaging 14 points while shooting over 50 percent from the floor. Expect fireworks on the court at McCamish Pavilion on Wednesday night.
Oklahoma vs. Louisville
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Citing Louisville (5-2) for two November losses would be dishonest. They fell to now-No. 1 UCLA by just seven points in their season opener, and couldn’t best No. 14 Kentucky in an overtime thriller just two weeks later. Closely competing with some of the country’s best talent is a good sign for the Cardinals, and they’re steadily keeping pace with the ACC’s best.
A matchup with No. 11 Oklahoma (6-1) will give Louisville a third shot at felling a ranked opponent, but topping the Sooners is a tall task. Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers, who was named to the AP All-American Third Team last season as a sophomore with Oregon State, is one of the most dominant paint scorers in the nation. She’s averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, and leads all of Division I in field goal percentage, hitting over 72 percent of all her shots.
The isolated stain on Oklahoma’s record is a 109-99 overtime loss to Duke last week. While Louisville has the talent to beat the Sooners, Duke’s formula can’t be easily replicated. Evidenced by the shockingly high final score, the Blue Devils couldn’t contain Beers and her scoring prowess. They relied on lapping Oklahoma from the 3-point line, shooting 55 percent from beyond the arc in the matchup. Louisville only shoots a modest 33 percent from distance, so they may have to find some miracles on the margins to match the Sooners efficiency. Their hands will be undoubtedly full on Wednesday night.
Game information
No. 11 Oklahoma (6-1) vs. No. 22 Louisville (5-2)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. ET
Where: KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY
How to watch: ESPN2
Vanderbilt (8-1) vs. Miami (7-0)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. ET
Where: Watsco Center in Coral Gables, FL
How to watch: ACC Network
Virginia Tech (6-2) vs. Georgia (5-4)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. ET
Where: Stegaman Coliseum in Athens, GA
How to watch: SEC Network
Syracuse (4-4) vs. Texas A&M (4-4)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7:15 p.m. ET
Where: Reed Arena in College Station, TX
How to watch: ESPNU
Florida State (8-1) vs. Tennessee (5-0)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7:15 p.m. ET
Where: Food City Center in Knoxville, TN
How to watch: SEC Network
Mississippi State (8-0) vs. Georgia Tech (7-0)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7:15 p.m. ET
Where: McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, GA
How to watch: ACC Network
