The ACC is trying to spark men’s basketball. A better showing in the ACC/SEC Challenge would help

The Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences are southern-footprint neighbors, best known for different long-running strengths: the ACC for its rich men’s basketball tradition, the SEC for football.

These days, the SEC has veered into the ACC’s lane .

As the third ACC/SEC Challenge begins Tuesday, the SEC is coming off a year with a record haul of 14 NCAA Tournament bids, two Final Four teams, and Florida winning the national championship.

The ACC, meanwhile, has been grappling with how to jumpstart a flagship sport facing a dwindling number of tournament bids. The SEC’s rise has magnified that concern and presented the ACC with an opportunity to help its case.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press , ACC commissioner Jim Phillips was pleased with his league’s sta