Big 12, Big East set to start annual conference basketball challenge in 2019

The Big 12 and Big East conferences are starting a men’s basketball challenge.

Beginning in the 2019-20 season, fans will see annual matchups between teams from each league like Kansas vs. Villanova, Oklahoma vs. Creighton, Kansas State vs. Georgetown and Texas vs. Butler.

All 10 teams from each league will participate in the challenge by playing one nonconference game against an opponent from the other league. The setup will be similar to the current Big 12/SEC challenge. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the Big 12 and Big East have agreed to a scheduling alliance that will last at least four years.

The games will be played before the start of Big 12 play in November or December at campus venues.

Both conferences will work to create attractive games each season.

Previously scheduled games between KU and Villanova, Texas and Providence, Oklahoma and Creighton, and K-State and Marquette will be counted as part of the challenge next season. The other six games will be scheduled at a later date.

“It is a great thing,” TCU coach Jamie Dixon said Wednesday at Big 12 media day at the Sprint Center, “and a great opportunity for us.”

With two conference challenges, every Big 12 team will have at least 20 games against top-level conference opponents each season — 18 in Big 12 play, one against the SEC and one against the Big East.

“I think it is great for the league,” K-State coach Bruce Weber said. “It gets us to 20 games and gives us an opportunity to match what the mega leagues are doing with the 20-game schedule. I know our scheduling is hard. Fans want teams to come to Manhattan. It’s not easy for us to do. This will definitely help us get a positive home game into nonconference for our fans and for our team.”

This story was originally published October 24, 2018 at 10:52 AM with the headline "Big 12, Big East set to start annual conference basketball challenge in 2019."