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NCAA Basketball: SEC, AAC teaming up for future non-conference battles

By Colton Pickard

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 11: during the final game of the 2018 AAC Basketball Championship against at Amway Center on March 11, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 11: during the final game of the 2018 AAC Basketball Championship against at Amway Center on March 11, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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Four schools from the SEC and AAC Basketball leagues will participate in a two-year, home-and-home series for the 2019-20 season to offer more quality non-conference games.

In an effort to improve their respective non-conference schedules, the Southeastern Conference and American Athletic Conference have come together to set up games against each other. Both conferences made the announcement on their social media platforms.

Four teams from the AAC participated in the NCAA Tournament along with seven teams from the SEC. Both conferences are beginning to rise in the basketball rankings so now is probably the best time to capitalize on this opportunity. Both conferences announced the matchups will be announced in late May.

AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco said, “I am extremely pleased that we have entered into this scheduling alliance with the SEC. SEC Basketball offers quality opponents which will elevate our non-conference schedules. The additional Quadrant one and two games for our members and the SEC will prove mutually beneficial when Tournament bids are awarded on Selection Sunday.”

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey showed similar praise in the new deal by saying “Men’s basketball in the SEC has been on the rise, and this scheduling alliance will help continue the growth of the sport. This will provide four high-quality games for both leagues during non-conference play.”

Tennessee and Memphis already have each other on the schedule with their own contract. The Tigers will play in Knoxville in 2019, and the two teams will meet in Nashville for a neutral site matchup in 2020. I expect the two conferences to add four more matchups alongside the Vols, Tigers matchup since this three-game series started last season.

The AAC had a record-breaking year last basketball season with seven teams reaching the postseason, along with seven 20-win teams which both set new highs for the conference.

Next. Early 2019-20 SEC power rankings. dark

The American Athletic Conference has been promoting their conference as the “Power 6” conference, and this could be a big step in the right direction to gain that credibility. Now they just need to go out and win these games against quality SEC opponents.

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