Pac-12 Basketball Moves To 20-Game Conference Schedule In 2020
May 2, 2019, 12:34 PM
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Pac-12 Conference Council and Athletic Directors Committee on recommendation from the league’s head coaches, approved a change to the format of the men’s basketball schedule, which will increase to 20 games beginning with the 2020-21 season.
The Council and ADC voted to approve the head coaches’ recommendation to place the two additional conference contests in the months of November and December with strong preference for weekend dates when students are on campus.
“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,” said Pac-12 Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Jamie Zaninovich.
“Strategic scheduling – both conference and non-conference – are critical to the strength and well-being of any league,” said Oregon State Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Barnes, who currently serves as ADC liaison to the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball head coaches and was chair of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Selection Committee in 2015. “Our Athletics Directors, head coaches 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.”
#Pac12Hoops 20-game Conference schedule approved for 2020-21 https://t.co/OJGjNu8i4i
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) May 2, 2019
“Changing to a 20-game Conference schedule will improve the strength of schedule for all 12 teams and that’s very important for the overall success of the league,” said Oregon head coach Dana Altman. “It will also be really positive for the fans because each team will get to play 10 Pac-12 games at home.”
Further details regarding the transition to the 20-game schedule will be announced at a later date. As part of the Pac-12’s new basketball strategic plan, the Conference will be discussing non-conference scheduling standards at its upcoming CEO meeting.