Overview
- The SEC flipped a 3-6 opening-day deficit by going 6-1 on Dec. 3, leveraging home courts to seal the two-day series.
- Duke edged defending champion Florida 67-66 on Isaiah Evans’ go-ahead three, and North Carolina won at Kentucky to headline the ACC’s statement results.
- Syracuse stunned No. 13 Tennessee, and Virginia routed Texas in Austin, adding quality wins to the ACC’s early résumés.
- Vanderbilt and Arkansas emerged as SEC bright spots, with the Commodores rolling SMU and the Razorbacks beating No. 6 Louisville behind Trevon Brazile and freshman Darius Acuff.
- Evaluation pieces rate the SEC as deep and likely bound for double-digit NCAA bids, while highlighting Duke’s Cameron Boozer as an early national player of the year frontrunner.