SEC wins the Big 12/SEC Challenge (because it means more)

S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C!

Already a widely-known fact, the Southeastern Conference proved it is the best conference in college basketball by winning this year’s Big 12/SEC Challenge. The final count says the SEC captured a 6-4 victory in the series of 10 games between the schools of the Big 12 and SEC conferences on Saturday. Kentucky clinched the traveling trophy for Greg Sankey’s office by winning Game 9 against Kansas, coincidentally, the marquee matchup of the whole thing and all anyone is talking about right now. Kansas isn’t supposed to lose by 18 in the Phog.

Also in the win column, No. 1 Auburn defended Auburn Arena against unranked Oklahoma, 86-68; while Alabama hosted and defeated No. 4 Baylor in Tuscaloosa, 87-78. Ole Miss, Florida, and Arkansas also won home games.

The four other road teams came up short in enemy territory, including Tennessee after a 16-0 run set up a shot to win it at the buzzer in Austin. Josiah-Jordan James’ last-second attempt was a great look, but rimmed out to give Texas the win over a ranked opponent.

WINS
(1) Auburn vs. Oklahoma, 86-68
Arkansas vs. West Virginia, 77-68
Alabama vs. (4) Baylor, 87-78
Ole Miss vs. Kansas State, 67-56
Florida vs. Oklahoma State, 81-72
(12) Kentucky @ (5) Kansas, 80-62

LOSSES
(19) LSU @ TCU, 68-77
Missouri @ (23) Iowa State, 50-67
Mississippi State @ (13) Texas Tech, 76-50
(18) Tennessee @ Texas, 51-52

Four in a row for UK

For Kentucky, the Big 12/SEC Challenge win was the fourth straight:

2018: Kentucky @ West Virginia, 83-76
2019: Kentucky vs. Kansas, 71-63
2020: Kentucky @ Texas Tech, 76-74 (OT)
2021: Kentucky vs. Texas, CANCELED
2022: Kentucky @ Kansas, 80-62

Next year, the Wildcats will host a team to be named later, likely Kansas.