Auburn gets to represent the SEC in the SEC/Big 12 challenge this season.
Auburn gets to represent the SEC in the SEC/Big 12 challenge this season.
Auburn will take on the Oklahoma Sooners at 1 p.m. central time on January 29th, 2022 on ESPN/2, per the SEC.
The SEC won the 2021 SEC/Big 12 Challenge by winning five of the nine games played. The SEC holds a 25-24 advantage over the last five years of the event, according to the SEC’s press release. Auburn is 2-1 vs. Oklahoma all-time with all three matchups having being played at neutral sites. The Tigers are 2-4 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge all-time but have won two of their last three. Auburn won at TCU in 2017 and vs. Iowa State inside Auburn Arena in 2020.
Tennessee’s men’s basketball team will play in the 2022 Big 12/SEC Challenge.
Tennessee will play at Texas on Jan. 29. The contest is one of 10 games of the Big 12/SEC Challenge, which will be televised on the ESPN family of networks.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes served in the same capacity at Texas’ from 1998-2015.
Barnes’ record at Texas was 402–180. He won four Big 12 championships and advanced to the 2003 Final Four.
Tennessee has played Texas six times. The all-time series is tied, 3-3.
Big 12/SEC Challenge (Jan. 29, 2022):
Baylor at Alabama
West Virginia at Arkansas
Oklahoma at Auburn
Oklahoma State at Florida
Kentucky at Kansas
LSU at TCU
Kansas State at Ole Miss
Mississippi State at Texas Tech
Missouri at Iowa State
Tennessee at Texas
UF is undefeated versus Oklahoma State and last beat the Cowboys in 2015.
The Florida men’s basketball team learned about another tough non-conference opponent it will have to face next season — Oklahoma State. The SEC/Big 12 Challenge slate was announced Wednesday, though game time and television information will be revealed at a later date.
The Gators played No. 11 West Virginia on the road and defeated the Mountaineers 85-80 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge last season. It was the team’s largest upset victory of the season before coach Mike White‘s squad was bounced out of the NCAA tournament in the second round by Oral Roberts.
In the previous eight challenges, Florida has faced five top-25 opponents. Its record in those five games sits at 3-2.
The Orange and Blue has also gone up against the Cowboys on three separate occasions and once under White’s watch. UF is undefeated versus Oklahoma State and last beat the Cowboys in 2015.
Oklahoma State should take a step back in the 2021-2022 season without presumed No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft Cade Cunningham, making it vulnerable against a Florida team that will also have some new faces.
Tennessee (2-0) will return to action Sunday at West Virginia for the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. EST and the game will be streamed on Big 12 Now/ESPN+.
Ahead of the Lady Vols’ game, second-year Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper previewed the matchup. Below is a transcript provided by the University of Tennessee.
KNOXVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 01, 2020 – Head Coach Kellie Harper of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers during the game between the East Tennessee State Buccaneers and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers at Thompson–Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
On how much better Jordan Horston is when she lets the game come to her:
“She’s really talented. I think she’s talented when she’s free, when she can play and she’s not stressing or pressing. I felt like she’s had some really good practices and then we get to that first game and I thought she was really tied up. That was my message to her. I wanted her to just let loose and play – not worry so much about the outcomes. And do so with a big smile on her face. I did add that. I thought that was important too. I thought she looked much more comfortable, much more relaxed. Again, the same thing, I thought she had a good practice on Tuesday. It was a complete carry over. That’s been a message in the past. We’ll just keep reiterating it and try to give her ways that she can feel confident and comfortable on the court.”
On what stands out about West Virginia on film:
“First off, you start with their transition offense. They are very athletic and aggressive. They get a lot of opportunities in their transition. If you’re not quick and you’re not alert getting back, you’re going to give up a lot of easy buckets. They’re going to go get them. The other thing that stands out to me with them is that they can really shoot the 3 and they can really get to the basket. I think their athleticism really lends itself to getting some penetration, drives and getting themselves to the free throw line. They shoot a lot of free throws, but you can’t just back up because they can knock down the open shot. This is a pretty well-balanced offense and an aggressive offensive attack. That is going to be a huge focus for us today. They keep that aggressiveness at the defensive end as well. They’re pretty physical and athletic. We’re going to see the pressure. We’re going to see them denying and getting out in the passing lanes. That’s going to be an area where we have to take care of the basketball.”
The Tigers will face a huge challenge at Baylor in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Last year it was Iowa State in Auburn Arena. This season for the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, Bruce Pearl’s team will be traveling to Waco, Texas to face Baylor.
The announcement came out on Wednesday morning along with the other matchups in the annual event. The Bears are expected to be one of the top teams in the country this under. In a way-too-early ranking released by ESPN, Scott Drew’s team came in as the top-ranked team for 2020-21.
Baylor finished last season 26-4 (15-3 Big 12) and ranked No. 4 when the season was suspended due to COVID-19.
