The matchups for the ACC-SEC Challenge have been revealed, and Kentucky will face Clemson. This game, set for Tuesday, Dec. 3, marks the Wildcats’ second appearance in the event. Last year, Kentucky triumphed over Miami with a score of 95-73 at Rupp Arena.
The last encounter between Kentucky and Clemson was during the 1997-98 season at the Premier Classic in Phoenix, where the Wildcats, then ranked No. 8, defeated the No. 13 Tigers 76-61. That season, Kentucky went on to win the national championship under first-year head coach Tubby Smith at The Alamodome in San Antonio. Coincidentally, this season’s Final Four will also be held at The Alamodome, and Kentucky is again led by a first-year head coach, Mark Pope.
Historically, Kentucky holds a strong record against Clemson, leading the series 12-4. Before participating in the ACC-SEC Challenge, Kentucky had a 5-4 record over ten years in the Big 12-SEC Challenge.
Clemson is coming off a stellar season under their 14-year head coach Brad Brownell. The Tigers reached the Elite 8 for only the second time in their history and the first time since 1980, before losing to Alabama.
Besides facing Clemson, Kentucky’s schedule includes high-profile games against Duke at the Champions Classic in Atlanta, Gonzaga in Seattle, Louisville at Rupp Arena, Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden, and a multi-team event at Rupp Arena where they will play Western Kentucky and Lipscomb.
The full SEC schedule for Kentucky’s 2024-25 season is not yet released. However, home games will include matchups against Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, LSU, South Carolina, and Texas A&M, while away games will be against Georgia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Mark Pope, who succeeded John Calipari after his 15-year tenure, was appointed as Kentucky’s head coach on April 12. Pope has since assembled his coaching staff, which includes associate head coach Alvin Brooks III from Baylor, former USC assistant Jason Hart from the G League Ignite, and Cody Fueger, who followed Pope from BYU.
Facing significant roster changes, with all 13 scholarship players from the previous season either graduating or moving to the NBA Draft or transfer portal, Pope turned to the transfer market. His efforts resulted in a highly ranked 9-man transfer class, considered No. 4 nationally by 247Sports. This class includes standout players like Brandon Garrison from Oklahoma State, Otega Oweh from Oklahoma, Jaxson Robinson, Lamont Butler from San Diego State, Andrew Carr from Wake Forest, Amari Williams from Drexel, Koby Brea from Dayton, Kerr Kriisa from West Virginia, and Ansley Almonor from Fairleigh Dickinson.
In addition, Pope secured former BYU signee Collin Chandler, who recently completed a two-year Mormon mission, as well as Kentucky Mr. Basketball and the state’s all-time leading scorer Travis Perry from Lyon County. Harlan County’s Trent Noah, a former South Carolina signee, also joined, bringing the total number of scholarship players to 12.
Pope has set a clear objective for his tenure: winning the program’s ninth national championship. He stated, “We have one assignment and that’s to get No. 9. Everywhere I turn I see the No. 9. That’s all I see. So, we’re pretty obsessed with that and we’re going to chase it with everything we have. That’s the standard here.”
Known for his relentless work ethic, as praised by former coach Rick Pitino, Pope has made significant strides since his appointment. He has completed his coaching staff, signed 12 scholarship players, hosted numerous official visits, attended the Nike EYBL event in Indianapolis, and traveled to Argentina to scout the FIBA U18 AmericaCup.
After returning from Buenos Aires, Pope quickly moved on to the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Orlando, where he and his staff evaluated some of the nation’s top high school talent. This scouting effort resulted in scholarship offers to standout players Chris Cenac and Niko Bundalo.
Chris Cenac, a 6-foot-10 center from New Orleans’ Isidore Newman, is ranked as the No. 3 center and No. 29 overall prospect in the 2025 class by the 247Sports Composite. Cenac has received offers from several top programs, including Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, and Kansas, among others. His performance at the camp and his overall skill set suggest he might soon earn five-star consideration.
Niko Bundalo, a 6-foot-11 power forward from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, is ranked No. 21 in the 2025 class by the 247Sports Composite. The son of Serbian refugees, Bundalo has garnered attention from numerous schools, including Arizona State, Texas, Missouri, and West Virginia. At a recent adidas 3SSB event, Bundalo averaged 15.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and plans to schedule official visits by August.
As Kentucky prepares for the ACC-SEC Challenge and the upcoming season, Pope’s efforts in recruiting and team building will be crucial in meeting the high expectations of the program and its fans.
