Matchups, dates announced for SEC ACC challenge in December

(Southeastern Conference/Facebook)

College basketball season feels like it’s a lifetime away, but it won’t be long before the best conference in the nation is hitting the hardwood once again this November.

In the last several years, one of the most looked forward to events of the season in terms of SEC basketball is their matchups on the court against ACC teams in the SEC/ACC Challenge each December.

The matchups have been revealed by ESPN for the third annual edition of the event, and there are some terrific ones:

For Alabama and Auburn, it will be two home games after they each had to travel to the state of North Carolina last season. The Tigers lost a thriller to Duke while the Tide defeated UNC on the road.

This time around, Alabama gets to host the Clemson Tigers while Auburn will be hosting the North Carolina State Wolfpack.

Both teams in the Yellowhammer State will be playing on the second day on Wednesday, December 3.

The marquee showdown of the week is of course the defending national champion Florida Gators traveling to Duke, but there are some very intriguing games as well such as Louisville @ Arkansas, Tennessee @ Syracuse, and North Carolina @ Kentucky.

It’s still a ways away, but college hoops diehards are certainly marking their calendars now.

 Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.