Men's ACC/SEC Challenge guide: What UNC, Duke, Syracuse wins tell us - ESPN

The 2025 ACC/SEC Men's Challenge features a bevy of AP Top 25 men's college basketball teams in action.

The first night did not disappoint, with No. 4 Duke escaping an attempted double-digit comeback by No. 15 Florida by a single point, followed by another one-possession victory for No. 16 North Carolina over No. 18 Kentucky.

ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf break down what mattered in each game, as well as Syracuse's upset of No. 13 Tennessee, then preview No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 25 Arkansas and two more Wednesday games below.

Jump to: Wednesday games to watch

North Carolina wasn't the most efficient team (41% from the field), but the Tar Heels made the right plays down the stretch. Caleb Wilson (6 assists) was a playmaker when the shots weren't falling. Henri Veesaar (17 points), Luka Bogavac (12) and Derek Dixon (9) had impactful moments. And the Tar Heels did it without Seth Trimble.

North Carolina lost games under similar circumstances last season, which makes this win significant.

On the other side, Kentucky hasn't been in sync in its biggest moments this season. The Wildcats' scoring drought in the second half lasted 10 minutes and 25 seconds and included 13 consecutive missed shots — the program's longest drought in the past eight seasons, per ESPN Research. There isn't evidence that the Wildcats can beat quality teams, which is concerning for a crew that will face Gonzaga, Indiana and St. John's this month before opening SEC play against Alabama in January. — Medcalf

North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Kentucky Wildcats: Game Highlights

The first half looked like a continuation of the first-month narratives for both teams: Cameron Boozer playing like the front-runner for every award, Duke dominating at both