SEC Trying to Boost Non-Conference Hoops Schedules

DESTIN, Fla. (AP) _ Southeastern Conference basketball coaches are getting a
lesson in scheduling analytics.

It could lead to more NCAA tournament berths.

On the heels of what SEC Commissioner Mike Slive called a “bad year” _
defending national champion Kentucky missed the tournament while only Florida
advanced past the first weekend _ the league has hired former NCAA tournament
guru Greg Shaheen as a scheduling consultant.

Shaheen gave detailed presentations to coaches and athletic directors during
the league’s annual spring meetings this week. And SEC schools agreed to send
their non-conference schedules to the league office for evaluation and possibly
renovation.

Slive says the league wants to play “the kind of schedules that will position
us to put the number of teams in the (NCAA) tournament that we have
traditionally over the years.”

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