KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Big 12 is preparing to play a 20-game conference schedule in men’s basketball, and an 18-game women’s schedule, when the league loses Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC but welcomes four additions from the Pac-12 beginning next season.
The arrival of Arizona, Arizona State and Utah along with former Big 12 member Colorado from the latest round of conference realignment has created new challenges in scheduling. The league will stretch across all four time zones, which was one of Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark’s goals, but that also means some long and time-consuming road trips.
“Scheduling and travel are a major priority for the conference,” Yormark said Tuesday at the start of two days of basketball media days at T-Mobile Center, which for the first time will host both the men’s and women’s conference tournaments this season.
“For basketball, it’s looking like a 20-game schedule and 18 for women is in our future, and on the football front we’re working diligently as well,” said Yormark. “Our schedule is being guided by a few key parameters, including geography, competitive balance, historic matchups and rivalries.”
That could mean the continuation of the Territorial Cup between Arizona and Arizona State.
“We haven’t come…
