Coach Todd Golden and his team look to go 9-0 for the first time since 2005 when the Gators get Virginia Wednesday night in the O'Dome for the second ACC/SEC Challenge.
Charting the Gators: A History of Challenges
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On paper, they look like routine games that represent half of a home-and-home series, the likes of which are played all around the country this time of year. But they're actually one-off matchups devised by the folks in Bristol, Conn..
We've seen the ESPN-generated ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the Big 12/Big Ten Challenge, the Big East/Big Ten and so forth. The Southeastern Conference joined the cross-regional fun in 2011, with the Big East/SEC Challenge that lasted two years, then migrated to a Big 12/SEC Challenge that went for 10 years. Now, it's the second year for the ACC/SEC Challenge, with Florida, called to represent in all 14 to date, and Wednesday night getting its first turn at a home game since 2022.
The No. 13 Gators (8-0), undefeated this late in a season for the first time since 2009, gets Virginia (5-2) at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center, with a chance to atone for a neutral-site loss to the Cavaliers last season. More importantly, UF has a chance to build on the momentum of its early season success that went next level over the Thanksgiving holiday with two blowout wins over Wake Forest and Wichita State in the ESPN Events Invitational at Kissimmee, Fla.
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" setup here]
"We've played with great energy," senior guard and team scoring leader Walter Clayton Jr. said Tuesday. "I think as a team we have found ways to impact winning outside of scoring and without making shots."
Most notably, on defense, which has for years been a specialty of UVA, annually one of the best on that end in the country. That the Cavaliers are bringing their national brand to the O'Dome – Virginia won the 2019 NCAA championship, the last ACC or SEC team to do so – makes for a unique opportunity for the home team and its fans.
Like when Marquette, Kansas, West Virginia, Baylor (twice) and Oklahoma State came to town under the "Challenge" banner in previous years. Or when the Gators went to Syracuse, Kansas, Oklahoma (pre-SEC, of course), Texas Christian, WVU, Kansas State and Wake Forest.
The UF-KU game of 2013 was memorable in that the Jayhawks boasted two of the top three picks in the NBA Draft seven months later. The Gators' come-from-behind win started a 30-game winning streak that ended in the Final Four. They later split two home games with Baylor, one when the Bears were No. 1 in the nation. UF had an historic win at OU on the way to the Elite Eight and poignant, knee-knocking reunion with Keyontae Johnson at K-State.
Marquee teams. Marquee match-ups.
"These games help prepare us for league play, for sure," Florida coach Todd Golden said.
From 2016-23, the games – the Big 12/SEC challenges – actually came during league play. ESPN made a shrewd marketing decision to switch the games from December to the last Saturday in January. The move allowed the two leagues to provide a unique college basketball option on the only weekend of the month when the NFL wasn't playing on Saturdays. The games were played the day before the AFC and NFC championships.
High-level hoops from noon to nearly midnight.
The Big 12/SEC contract ended in '23, leading to the ACC/SEC match-ups. The first wave of 10 games Tuesday night could have been branded as the ACC/SEC Not-Much-of-a-Challenge, as the SEC obliterated the folks from Tobacco with nine victories, with -- get this -- only blue-blood Kentucky on the losing end with a defeat at Clemson. The Gators and Cavs will lead off the second night of games (four games), alongside a pairing of No. 10 Alabama against No. 20 North Carolina.
After that, check in on No. 2 Auburn at No. 9 Duke at 9:15 p.m.
For passionate college hoops fans, staying shouldn't be a challenge.
CHARTING THE GATORS: A Baker's Dozen of Challenges From the Big East to the Big 12 to the Atlantic Coast, here's a look back at how Florida went 7-6 over the last 13 seasons in the ESPN-created conference challenge series.
UF guard Scottie Wilbekin navigates Kansas star Andrew Wiggins (22) during the 2013 inaugural Big 12/SEC Challenge. Wilbekin went on to be 2014 SEC Player of the Year and guided the Gators to the Final Four. Wiggins was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Date
Opponent
Outcome
The buzz
Dec. 2, 2011
at No. 4 Syracuse (Big East)
L 72-68
Four UF starters combine for 16 of team's 20 turnovers, as the Orange win despite poor shooting night (40.6 pct, 3-17 from 3) at Carrier Dome. Brandon Triche with 20 pts, 9-9 FT for 'Cuse. Kenny Boynton with 22 for Gators.
Nov. 29, 2012
Marquette (Big East)
W 82-49
Freshman Michael Frazier II leads six of his No. 7 Gators into double-figure scoring. Patric Young, benched from starting lineup for practice disruption, answers with beastly 10 pt, 10 reb, 3 ast, 3 blk performance.
Dec. 10, 2013
No. 13 Kansas (Big 12)
W 67-61
No. 19 Gators use 21-0 first-half run to open lead, then hold off Andrew Wiggins (26 pt, 11 rebounds), Joel Embiid. and Jayhawks' frantic second-half rally. Scottie Wilbekin 18 pt, 6 ast, 4 stl.
Dec. 5, 2014
at No. 11 Kansas (Big 12)
L 71-65
Florida blows 18-point second-half lead at Phog Allen Fieldhouse, as KU returns the big-run favor of the year before with 17 straight points to storm from behind. Wayne Seldin leads Jayhawks with 21 pt. Gators' 3-4 start to season is program's worse in 24 years.
Jan. 30, 2016
West Virginia (Big 12)
W 88-71
Dorian Finney-Smith scores 24 points, with five 3s, as Gators snap 12-game losing streak against AP Top 10-ranked teams. UF goes 12-for-20 from deep (60 pct). Freshman KeVaughn Allen 19 pt, 4 ast.
Jan. 28, 2017
at Oklahoma (Big 12)
W 84-52
Sophomore Kevarrius Hayes scores a career-high 20 points to go with 9 reb and No. 25 Gators hand Sooners (and former UF coach Lon Kruger) their worst home loss in 95 years. OU shoots 24 pct in first half and 1-for-16 for game from 3.
Jan. 27, 2018
Baylor (Big 12)
W 81-60
Senior point guard Chris Chiozza 20 pt, 6 reb, 6 ast to pace red-hot No. 20 Gators, who shot 58 pct in first half (9-12 from 3) to wax the Bears. Jalen Hudson (17 pt) with 10 straight second-half points. Egor Koulechov 16 pt, 8 reb.
Jan. 26, 2019
at Texas Christian (Big 12)
L 55-50
UF starts 1-for-15 from the floor and falls behind 18-3, fights back to tie the game twice at 34 and 36, then goes another 5 second-half minutes without scoring. Kouat Noi 22 pt for Horned Frogs. Allen tops Gators with 11.
Jan. 25, 2020
No. 1 Baylor (Big 12)
L 72-61
Gators actually favored at tip-off, but top-ranked Bears in control throughout behind Davion Mitchell (12 pt, 6 ast). Bears led by 19 in second half, as UF fell to 2-17 all-time vs. teams ranked No. 1, including 10 consecutive losses.
Jan. 30, 2021
at No. 11 West Virginia (Big 12)
W 85-80
UF sophomore forward Colin Castleton scored 15 of his 21 pt in the second half and the Gators enjoyed one of their best non-conference wins of the Mike White era. Guard Noah Locke 19 pt. Florida outscored Mountaineers 26-5 in transition.
Jan. 29, 2022
Oklahoma State (Big 12)
W 81-72
Fifth-year senior Tyree Appleby scored 13 of his season-high 21 in the second half to complete rally from 15 down in first half. White benched his entire starting lineup for subs, whose energy helped ignite a comeback. Gators outscored Cowboys 49-27 in second.
Jan. 28, 2023
at No. 5 Kansas State (Big 12)
L 60-54
Wildcat forward Keyontae Johnson had 13 pt, 11 reb in his emotional reunion against his former team (and several teammates). Diminutive point guard Markquis Nowell flirts with a triple double (13 pt, 9 reb, 8 ast) in a game that was never close. UF trailed 37-16 at the break.
Nov. 29, 2023
at Wake Forest (ACC)
L 82-71
Hunter Sallis pours in 24 pt, Demon Deacons shoot 64 pct in second half and outscore the Gators 44-24 over the final 14 minutes. Riley Kugelhad 24 pt with four 3s for UF.
* Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
