NCAA Basketball: 2019 Big 12/SEC Challenge preview

Kansas Jayhawks at Kentucky Wildcats

The Kentucky Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks headline the 2019 Big 12/SEC Challenge and the Jayhawks hold the edge. They’ve won three straight meetings between the teams including two victories in the 2016 and 2017 challenge.

Kentucky is 2-3 so far in the annual challenge between the Big 12 and SEC. They have three five-star prospects on the way in Immanuel Quickley, Keldon Johnson and E.J. Montgomery and a sharpshooter you don’t want to leave open in Tyler Herro. Quade Green will serve as a solid combo guard to watch on 2019 draft boards, as will Wenyen Gabriel.

Kansas has two five-star prospects of their own on the way in Quentin Grimes and Devon Dotson Big man David McCormack should also have an impact on the interior. The newcomers will need to step up with so key players off to the NBA Draft.

Next: Is Kevin Durant the best college player Rick Barnes ever coached?

Although the Jayhawks own a three-game winning streak, the Kentucky Wildcats hold a 22-9 record in the overall series. Kansas is 4-1 so far in the challenge while Kentucky is just 2-3 so far. John Calipari’s teams always play at a high level, especially at home. Expect nothing less than a hard-fought close game here between teams with Top 10 potential and NBA talent all over.