Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Key storylines to watch for in Oklahoma's 2024-2025 ACC/SEC Challenge with Georgia Tech

By Adam Hussman

Oklahoma Sooners forward Jalon Moore (14) grabs a defensive rebound in the second half of the Texas Longhorns' game against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Moody Center in Austin, Saturday, March 9, 2024. Texas won the game 94-80.
Oklahoma Sooners forward Jalon Moore (14) grabs a defensive rebound in the second half of the Texas Longhorns' game against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Moody Center in Austin, Saturday, March 9, 2024. Texas won the game 94-80. / Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA
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The matchups and schedule for the second-ever ACC/SEC Challenge were released on Wednesday, and the Oklahoma Sooners will make their debut in the early-season series with a home game against Georgia Tech on December 3.

There are a couple of storylines built into this non-conference affair, as Javian McCollum and Jalon Moore will face their previous schools.

McCollum played for the Sooners last season after transferring to Norman via Siena. The 6-foot-1 point guard averaged 13.3 points per game and shot an efficient 40.4 percent from the field in 30 games with the Crimson and Cream. In his lone season with Oklahoma, McCollum also broke the school record for free throw percentage, shooting 94.3 percent, breaking the previous mark of 92.9 percent set by Hollis Price in the 2002-03 season.

McCollum's departure was a big blow for Porter Moser, as he was utilized as a "bucket getter" especially late into conference play when Oklahoma needed an answer on the offensive end of the court.

Meanwhile, Moore began his collegiate career with the Yellow Jackets before transferring to Oklahoma for the 2023-24 season. The Birmingham, Alabama, product improved tremendously in his junior campaign and even entered into the NBA Draft process before returning to school. The athletic and versatile forward averaged a career-best 11.2 points per game and 6.7 rebounds in 31 games with the Sooners.

Moore will be a central piece towards a Sooners squad that only returns five players, with Sam Godwin being the only other member who played meaningful minutes last season. A win against Georgia Tech in the non-conference will only enhance Oklahoma's NCAA tournament resume. However, recent memory has shown Oklahoma fans that they need to wait and see how the conference season goes before getting their hopes up and a change of scenery in the SEC may be what is needed.

For Georgia Tech, McCollum will be a welcome addition to head coach Damon Stoudamire as the former NBA guard looks to revitalize a Yellow Jackets' program that has seen better days. Either way, both players and squads will have added incentive in this early December matchup and it's games like this where a packed Lloyd Noble Center would be nice to see.

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