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NCAA Basketball: Ranking 2019-20 SEC/Big 12 Challenge games

By Brian Rauf

LAWRENCE, KS - JANUARY 30: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats and head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks greet each other prior to the game at Allen Fieldhouse on January 30, 2016 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS - JANUARY 30: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats and head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks greet each other prior to the game at Allen Fieldhouse on January 30, 2016 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 14: Head coach Buzz Williams of the Virginia Tech Hokies reacts against the Florida State Seminoles during their game in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Men’s ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 14, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 14: Head coach Buzz Williams of the Virginia Tech Hokies reacts against the Florida State Seminoles during their game in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Men’s ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 14, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

10) Oklahoma State at Texas A&M

This is perhaps the only game that I simply just can’t find the appeal of. If this was football, it would be a different story. But it’s not so, despite their former Big 12 rivalry, it doesn’t add anything to this game.

Buzz Williams will be trying to prove himself in his first season with the Aggies and, while a win over Oklahoma State would certainly be a step in the right direction, it’s not a program-changing kind of win.

On the flip side, Cowboys head coach Mike Boynton needs to start proving he can take the Pokes beyond the 33-35 record they have over the last two seasons. Essentially, this would be the kind of loss that could spark rumors of him being on the hot seat.

9) TCU at Arkansas

Another new head coach in the SEC will host this game in Arkansas’ Eric Musselman, who excelled at Nevada but has to work to rebuild a somewhat depleted program.

For TCU, Jamie Dixon has established a strong culture with the Horned Frogs, but they’re expected to take a step back this year as they have to replace four key players from last season’s rotation.

All in all, neither looks like they will be a tournament team in 2019-20. This game will be good for each program from a momentum standpoint, but not necessarily from an on-court product standpoint.

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