SEC Considers 19-Game Hoops Schedule
January 25th, 2012 01:45 PM║ Posted By: John Pennington ║ Permalink ║ Tags: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Last week, the SEC let the news leak out that it would be going to an 18-game basketball schedule next season. But the schedule could still grow from there in 2013-14 and beyond.
Seth Emerson of The Macon Telegraph learned two things from Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity last night:
1. A 19-game in-conference slate is “a serious possibility,” in Emerson’s words. Such a plan would allow the league to continue to use a divisional schedule without the actual return of divisions. A team in the SEC East in football, for example, would play its six division mates at both home and on the road in basketball. That same team would then play the seven teams from the West division once per season. (Unfairness Alert: Seven SEC teams would play nine homes games a year while the other seven would play just eight.)
2. Even with a division-style schedule, the league “is still unlikely to go back to using divisions,” again, those are Emerson’s words. McGarity said that the two-division standings hurt the “perception” of the league at NCAA tourney selection time. (“Perception,” being McGarity’s word.)
I don't like the 19 game idea. It really would not be fair to Mizzou. Thou the new kid on the block, to only have one game a year in BB against Ark would be a shame. The BB (and other sports) games need to be regional to help generate rivalries. Especially since there will be plenty of mid week games that will take kids out of the classroom.
I wonder which team(s) is always going to magically have an extra home game every year, and which will one have always an extra road game???
Going to a 19-game schedule while returing to divisions makes sense. Expanding to 19 games without going back to divisions seems pointless. Why add a game and create the unfairness issue you cite if it's not necessary. Without divisions, then an 18-game schedule (5 home-and-homes and 8 single games) seems fine.
I would prefer that each team plays an 18 game schedule with ONE permanent foe home and away every season and then rotate the other FOUR home and away opponents between the other Twelve schools so, you would face every team in the league home and away in a season every three years. Here are my choices for the permanent home and away foes: Alabama-Auburn / Arkansas-Missouri / Georgia-South Carolina / LSU-Texas A&M / Miss.State-Ole Miss / Tennessee-Vanderbilt / Kentucky-Florida
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