NCAA Basketball: Ranking 10 matchups for 2022 Big 12 vs SEC Challenge

NCAA Basketball: Ranking the 10 matchups for 2022 Big 12 vs SEC Challenge

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 21: Mac McClung #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders defends a shot by Moses Moody #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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NCAA Basketball Big 12 SEC Elijah Harkless Oklahoma Sooners (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

5. Oklahoma at Auburn

Porter Moser vs. Bruce Pearl

Porter Moser’s first season in the Big 12 will at minimum, feature one fantastic non-conference opponent in Auburn. Although the Tigers did not have the season they hoped for, they bring in one of the best forward recruits in the country in Jabari Smith, the second straight off-season Auburn has brought in their best recruit in school history.

Pearl didn’t stop there, as he added bucket getter K.D. Johnson and North Carolina’s Walker Kessler as well as. Pearl’s tenure at Auburn since their Final Four run has been a lot of promise, but not a ton of delivery. Pearl is an amazing coach, but the past few seasons have fallen short of the new expectation. Justin Powell transferring to Tennessee doesn’t help the cause.

The fortunate part for Pearl’s squad is this game isn’t till January and will give them time to find themselves. The same can also be said for the Oklahoma Sooners. They are in a similar boat to Texas Tech, where a few rotation pieces return, but the go-to three scorers are all on to greener pastures.

Brady Manek is in North Carolina, De’Vion Harmon is in Oregon, and Austin Reaves moved on from Norman. The only difference is the new man in charge, as Lon Kruger decided to retire from head coaching. Insert one of the hottest new coaches in Porter Moser.

It’s crystal clear the success Moser had at Loyola Chicago and was one of the darlings in this past year’s tournament. The roster he has assembled is going to take some time to gel.

The overall talent that Moser brought in is not a question. The question is who is going to be taking the shots. Duke’s Jordan Goldwire is a fine player but never had a premiere role at Duke. Tanner Groves made waves in the NCAA Tournament but is he a quality Big 12 center.

Elijah Harkless is the premiere glue guy in the Big 12 and Umoja Gibson flashed at times. This game is probably one of the more lob-sided affairs, in favor of the Tigers. However, Auburn has looked good on paper the last few seasons and have not delivered the way fans expect them to.

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