John Calipari has started a series with Gonzaga and now likely will be playing Duke often in the ACC/SEC Challenge. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Finally, there might be a Duke-Kentucky regular season home game on the horizon. The Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, and ESPN announced Monday there would be an ACC/SEC Challenge for men’s and women’s basketball starting with the 2023-24 season.
That will end the SEC/Big 12 challenge that will match Kentucky against Kansas again this season.
But starting with the 2023-24 season, UK will be matched against an ACC team. It could be North Carolina. Maybe Virginia. But the marquee men’s basketball game for ESPN and the rest of the country is UK-Duke.
Both SEC and ACC officials know this challenge — which will have every game televised — is a great way to promote their brands nationally.
“We look forward to showcasing the talented men’s and women’s programs throughout the ACC and SEC in the years ahead through this exciting new collaboration with both conferences,” said Nick Dawson, ESPN Vice President, Programming. “Since establishing the very first interconference challenge in 1999, these events have been a staple of our college basketball schedule for more than two decades.”
But there will not be a game that will stir interest across the country like Kentucky-Duke whether it is in Rupp Arena or Cameron Indoor. Both Kentucky and Duke fans will go wild for this game and ticket prices could be astronomical, especially at the smaller Cameron Indoor arena.
Kentucky and Duke have met recently in early-season showcases at neutral sites. The ACC/SEC Challenge would not be at neutral sites but at home arenas for conference teams and that could be a big, big deal.
No way anyone at ESPN is going to let this series start without Kentucky and Duke playing each other the first two years. Think of the national hype for both games.
That could mean a game in Rupp Arena against Duke — perhaps in the same season when UK hosts Gonzaga.
4 Responses
Probably the year that that gave away the home Gonzaga game to Nashville. Yeah, I’m a little bitter about that as a season ticket holder.
As well you should be Bill.
You are probably right Bill
It’s becoming more apparent why Calipari refuses to resume the Indiana rivalry. Mike Woodson has Indiana playing solid basketball as is evidenced by their undefeated top 10 ranking. Where are we ranked with our 2 November losses…and then comes December??? Let’s not even talk about SEC play in 2023. This is hard to figure since we have more talented players and the National Player of the year returned. Could it be the coaching??? The Billy Clyde phobes say HUSH, it could be worse! Unless the end of the world comes in the next 90 days, it looks like it’s going to get worse just the same.