Deacs to Host Florida in Inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge
6/28/2023 11:12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
A late-November, non-conference home matchup is set!
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest men's basketball has revealed a scheduled foe in its upcoming 2023-24 slate, as the Demon Deacons will face Florida in the first-ever ACC/SEC Challenge, announced by the conference offices on Wednesday (June 28).
The meeting between the two sides is set to take place on Nov. 29 at 7:15 p.m. ET inside of Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Broadcast information will be announced at a later date.
This past November, the ACC, SEC and ESPN announced the formation of the ACC/SEC Challenge for men's and women's basketball. The introduction of the ACC/SEC Challenge marked the end of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge after 23 years and the end of the SEC/Big Ten Challenge that began in 2013.
Wake Forest finished 14-6 overall in appearances within the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, defeating Wisconsin on the road, 78-75, during its final showing on Nov. 29, 2022. In addition, the Deacons tied with Virginia for the second-most wins in the event's history.
The inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge is set to feature 28 games across men's and women's basketball.
Wake Forest and Florida will match up for the first time in nine years, as the two programs last competed against each other in the 2014 MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.
Florida went 16-17 overall in 2022-23, including a 9-9 clip versus SEC opponents. The team made an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), suffering a first-round defeat to Central Florida.
Series History
Versus Florida
Series: Florida leads, 5-7
Last Meeting: Dec. 20, 2014
Result: L, 50-63
The Deacs pieced a 19-14 overall record in 2022-23, winning 13 games at home and making their way into the ACC Tournament's quarterfinal round for the first time since 2009. Additionally, the team led the conference in three-pointers made (9.55/game) and ultimately produced back-to-back years with double-digit ACC wins for the first time since the 1995-96 and 1996-97 campaigns.
A quartet of returners, which includes Andrew Carr, Cameron Hildreth, Matthew Marsh and Damari Monsanto, headlines this year's roster, as the four combined for over 1,300 points and 98 starts a season ago. Wake Forest has also added seven new faces to the group: Abramo Canka, Aaron Clark, Parker Friedrichsen, Marqus Marion, Kevin Miller, Efton Reid III, and Hunter Sallis.
