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

4) LSU at Texas

Now we get to the really fun games. We already touched on the Shaka Smart-Will Wade dynamic at play in this one, and while that would make this fun on its own, both teams may also be ranked in the preseason. At the same time, both could be on the NCAA Tournament bubble by January. This will be a legitimate measuring stick game for both programs.

Smart knows he needs to win this year to keep his job. Last year, the Longhorns lost to Georgia in this challenge. LSU is better than Georgia, but winning would go a long way for their NCAA Tournament hopes and, therefore, his chances at keeping his job.

The Tigers bring back virtually everyone from last year’s Sweet 16 team except for Tremont Waters and Naz Reid. They’re fighting to be relevant on the national landscape again – and Wade would love nothing more than to stick it to his former boss.

(All of this assumes Will Wade is still LSU’s head coach and doesn’t get hammered by the NCAA, of course.)

3) Tennessee at Kansas

Kansas is the thorn in everyone’s side in the Big 12, yet Bill Self seemed to be particularly troublesome to Rick Barnes. While at Texas, Barnes went just 6-16 against the Jayhawks despite have comparable talent in most years.

In fact, these two teams met in the preseason NIT last season. Unsurprisingly, that game went to Self and Kansas in overtime. Self has won nine of his last 10 meetings against Barnes overall. Will those struggles continue at the Phog?

Oh yeah, Kansas will also enter the season as a preseason top five team while Tennessee is tasked with reloaded following the departures of Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield, and Jordan Bone. Their national staying power will be tested against the Jayhawks.