Arizona Basketball: Pac-12 schedule for next two seasons have a couple surprises
The Pac-12 Men’s Basketball 20-game Conference schedule was approved for the 2020-21 season including games Arizona Basketball fans have been asking for.
The Pac-12 basketball schedule is out for the 2020-21 season and it includes 20 conference games for each team, it was announced today. The Pac-12 Conference Council and Athletics Directors Committee approved the changes at its annual spring meetings on Thursday after the head coaches spoke up. What seems to be the big news is that the conference schedule will increase to 20 games beginning the season after next. But that’s not the biggest news for Arizona Basketball fans.
Pac-12 Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Jamie Zaninovich explained, “We continually work with our membership to identify strategic initiatives which can lead to future success in Pac-12 Men’s Basketball. We believe moving to a 20-game schedule will lead to more competitive schedules and help our programs and league achieve our goals of enhancing the Pac-12 basketball brand and preparation for postseason play.”
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The head coaches recommended that the two extra games be added in November and December and added a “Strong preference” for weekend dates when students are on campus and not off on leave.
Oregon State Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Barnes mentioned that the head coaches, the Athletics Directors, and league administrators are, “All in alignment that an increase to 20 Conference games is the best course of action for our league moving forward.”
One major reason they want to make this change is to improve the Pac-12 teams’ strength of schedule, something that has alluded all 12 teams or the entire conference. Oregon head coach Dana Altman added, “It will also be really positive for the fans because each team will get to play 10 Pac-12 games at home.”
One thing left to discuss for the Conference is the non-conference scheduling standards. This will happen at the upcoming Pac-12 CEO meeting.
The biggest news is that Arizona will be playing USC and UCLA away and at home! So all you Los Angeles-based Arizona Basketball fans will not lose out this year and will be able to fill Pauley Pavillion and the Galen Center with red and blue to out-cheer the home team.
The 2019-20 season will feature the following home and road matchups for Arizona:
"ArizonaHome: ASU, ORE, OSU, UCLA, USC, WASH, WSU, COLO, UTAHRoad: ASU, ORE, OSU, UCLA, USC, WASH, WSU, CAL, STAN"
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According to the Pac-12’s Jesse Hooker, “Additional details for the 2019-20 league schedule will be announced later this summer”