Kentucky MBB to Face Clemson in Second SEC/ACC Challenge

Kentucky is set to travel to Clemson for the second installment of the SEC/ACC Challenge on December 3 at Littlejohn Coliseum, as announced by the leagues on Wednesday. The TV designation and tip time will be announced later.

UK holds a 12-4 all-time record against Clemson, but the teams have not faced each other since November 29, 1997. In that last encounter, the Wildcats secured a 76-61 victory over the Tigers during the Premier Classic in Phoenix, a part of their 1998 National Championship season. This upcoming game will revive a series that was prominent in the early stages of Kentucky’s program. UK has played at Clemson four times, leading the series 3-1, but has not traveled to South Carolina since the 1933-34 season.

In the first year of the SEC/ACC Challenge, the Wildcats defeated No. 8 Miami 95-73 at Rupp Arena. Both the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Southeastern Conference won seven matchups each in the 14-game event. With the expansion of both conferences in 2024-25, the event will feature 16 games.

Kentucky head coach Mark Pope’s inaugural schedule is shaping up with the announcement of the road date at Clemson. In May, the SEC revealed home and away designations for its 18-game slate. Additionally, the Wildcats will participate in the Champions Classic on November 12, facing Duke in Atlanta at State Farm Arena. The tip time will be announced later.

Pope and his staff have assembled a dynamic roster for the 2024-25 season, featuring a mix of six fifth-year players, one senior, one junior, one sophomore, and three freshmen. UK’s veterans have combined to play in 845 collegiate games and have scored nearly 8,000 career points. Notable players include 1,000-point scorers Ansley Almonor, Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr, and Amari Williams, who have collectively made 1,033 career 3-pointers at a 37.0% rate.

Butler and Williams were named their league’s Defensive Player of the Year, while Koby Brea and Jaxson Robinson have earned Sixth Man of the Year honors in their careers. Almonor was recognized as a Most Improved selection, and Brandon Garrison is a former McDonald’s All-American. Kerr Kriisa, with 99 career games and 238 3-pointers, and Otega Oweh, Oklahoma’s second-leading scorer last season, add significant experience to the team.

Kentucky’s freshman class includes Travis Perry and Trent Noah from Kentucky, and Collin Chandler, a former top-35 signee in the class of 2022. Perry is the state’s all-time leading scorer, while Noah set the Sweet 16 state record for most 3-pointers in a single run with 19 this season.

With this exciting lineup and challenging schedule, the Wildcats are poised for an eventful 2024-25 season.