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The 2023 ACC/SEC Challenge lineup was revealed on Tuesday, but it hasn’t seemed to spark the interest of college basketball fans online. Many hopped on social media to post reactions of indifference upon seeing the matchups.
Those responses cite a lack of compelling contests as the leagues apparently missed out on the opportunity to pair the top programs.
The challenge was initially formed in 2022 with the ’23-’24 season representing the first annual meetings of the conferences. Prior, the SEC faced off against the Big XII while the ACC matched up with the Big Ten. Each of these games are slated to be aired on an ESPN platform.
Both men’s and women’s teams will participate in the challenge, though we’re focused on the men’s side of things in this particular instance.
That lineup is listed below.
2023 ACC/SEC Men’s Challenge
Tuesday, Nov. 28
LSU at Syracuse, 7 p.m.
Missouri at Pitt, 7 p.m.
Mississippi State at Georgia Tech, 7 p.m.
Notre Dame at South Carolina, 7 p.m.
Miami at Kentucky, 7:30 p.m.
NC State at Ole Miss, 9 p.m.
Clemson at Alabama, 9:30 p.m.Wednesday, Nov. 29
Tennessee at North Carolina, 7:15 p.m.
Texas A&M at Virginia, 7:15 p.m.
Florida at Wake Forest, 7:15 p.m.
Duke at Arkansas, 9:15 p.m.
Virginia Tech at Auburn, 9:15 p.m.
Georgia at Florida State, 9:15 p.m.
Boston College at Vanderbilt, 9:15 p.m.
While there are a few interesting matchups, most notably Arkansas vs. Duke and Tennessee vs. North Carolina, many believe the leagues missed the mark.
Here’s what fans were saying online after seeing the slate.
These stink
— Anthony Cinello (@AnthonyCinello) June 28, 2023
“They really did manage to screw everything [up],” this fan said.
they really did manage to screw everything bruh
— Aden Holloway Enthusiast (@bcamp016) June 28, 2023
The opportunity for top-notch meetings was there for the taking.
We got robbed of good matches
— Mr.Nobody (@HiMyNameis0722) June 28, 2023
Many pointed at the Kentucky-Miami matchup, wishing the SEC’s premiere program would’ve been paired with an ACC blue blood.
“HOW does ESPN whiff that badly when Duke/Kentucky is staring them right in the face???” one fan asked.
Would have loved to see UK play UNC, Duke, or even Virginia
— Dylan Gregory (@DylanGr91329461) June 28, 2023
There was also an opportunity to pair Virginia Tech and Texas A&M with Aggies head coach Buzz Williams having ties to both programs.
“It’s actually impressive how bad this is overall,” one tweet read.
Whoever made these matchups should be fired
— Taylor (@taylor0097) June 28, 2023
Other responses included, “The SEC/Big12 challenge was at least interesting across the board,” and “These matchups are pretty dull.”
Initial reviews haven’t been kind to the first annual ACC/SEC Challenge.