Kansas basketball: Jayhawks and Vols rematch in Big 12/SEC Challenge

Kansas basketball is set to meet Tennessee in Knoxville for the 2021 SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The Jayhawks will be facing a Vols team that currently holds one of the Top 5 recruiting classes in the nation.

It’s been an interesting season for both Kansas basketball and Tennessee, who have both seen their share of changes on the bench. Now they’re set to face off for the third time in this year’s Big 12/SEC Challenge, which will take place on January 30th next year.

The schedule looks fairly solid, with excitement brewing over some old Big 12 friends coming back to test the waters in their old stomping grounds. Both conferences have some talented programs squaring off this year. Matchups such as Baylor/Auburn, Texas/Kentucky, and Kansas/Tennessee are sure to bring in the ratings come January.

Here is the full schedule:

The Volunteers added two five-star recruits to their roster over the offseason, and it remains unclear still where they’ll fall into the mix for Tennessee. Senior Yves Pons will also pose a challenge for the Kansas defense this year. The Jayhawks suffered the loss of Silvio De Sousa who left the program recently, and it’ll be some time before we find out what will fill that gap defensively.

The Volunteers have one of the best recruiting classes in the nation this year and are a strong contender for both the SEC and heading deep into March. The rematch should be an interesting one to watch for both sides, and I’m sure plenty of eyes will be on Knoxville that weekend. The game falls on a Saturday, which I’d assume is in contention for a primetime slot.

Both the Big 12 and the SEC are breeding grounds for talent this year and the exhibition series is a favorite among college basketball fans. It’ll be worthwhile to watch this winter since both Kansas and Tennessee are projected to make impressive runs this season. The featured event between both conferences is set for January 30th, with no determined start times available yet.