Kansas basketball: Jayhawks scheduled to face Vols at 3:00 in Big 12/SEC Challenge

The times and TV schedule for the 2020 Big 12/SEC Challenge were recently released. Kansas basketball will tip-off at 3:00 PM vs. the Tennessee Volunteers at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence. (Note: All times are Central Time)

3:00 PM will be the earliest game start time for the Jayhawks in the history of the Big 12/SEC Challenge. It seems that the reigning Big 12 co-champions Kansas State and Texas Tech will receive the prime time games this season.

Still, Tennessee is a worthy opponent of Kansas. The Vols finished ranked number 10 in the coaches poll last season, and also had an early-season OT battle against the Jayhawks. Kansas picked up the win 87-81 in a hard-fought game that was fun to watch.

After losing their best player in Admiral Schofield (all-time name) to the NBA, Tennessee is in the mix for being ranked in the top 25 preseason poll. Hopefully, the Vols will have another strong year and the matchup with Kansas will be between two ranked teams.

Times, dates, and matchups for the 2020 Big 12/SEC Challenge:

Last season, Kansas lost their second game in the all-time Big 12/SEC Challenge to Kentucky, dropping their record to 4-2. The Jayhawks have a good chance to rebound next year, and help give their conference more prestige and validity. So far, the Big 12 leads the challenge over the SEC 4-1-1. Whichever conference wins will claim superiority over the other, so it’s important that the Big 12 comes to play.

All the games will be broadcast on the ESPN networks, and every game is on the same day with the first games at 11:00 AM and the last game at 7:00 PM. While Kansas basketball fans may be mad that the Jayhawks didn’t get one of the later games, it doesn’t make the contest any less important.

A good resume of non-conference opponents is essential for selection Sunday, and Kansas has a good strength of schedule year in and year out. Surely Tennessee will add to that strong schedule Kansas seeks every year.