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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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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts in the second half during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal against the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts in the second half during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal against the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

6) Kansas State at Alabama

Now this is where the Challenge really starts to ramp up. Both of these programs are in transition but both rosters boast talent, and putting them this low on the list might be underselling this game.

K-State loses the heart and soul of the team that won a share of the conference title in 2019 and made the Elite Eight in 2018 in Dean Wade and Barry Brown. Replacing their offensive production is going to be tough but the Wildcats think they have the pieces in Xavier Sneed and Cartier Diarra.

New Alabama head coach Nate Oats was able to keep most of their talented roster in tact, meaning the likes of Kira Lewis Jr. and John Petty are back and should be even better in Oats’ perimeter-oriented system.

And that’s another intriguing factor – the up-tempo offense the Tide are expected to play going up against K-State’s elite defense and slower tempo.

5) Iowa State at Auburn

You want tempo? This game will give you tempo.

Iowa State and Auburn are both reloading after successful 2018-19 campaigns – Iowa State won the Big 12 Tournament and Auburn made the school’s first ever Final Four – but both run perimeter-oriented styles and love to push the ball whenever they can.

Tyrese Haliburton looks like he’ll be a star for the Cyclones, but they may have little around him. Star big men Anfernee McLemore, Austin Wiley, and Danjel Purifoy return for Auburn, but all played complementary roles last year.

Each school is hoping new players step into bigger roles, allowing them to build on last year’s success. Yet, even if it doesn’t happen, the pace of both teams will at least make this game fun to watch.

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