UConn to face SMU once in 2017-18 season

The American Athletic Conference schedule has been released and UConn will face SMU just once this upcoming season. The Huskies will play new league foe Wichita State twice.

UConn will face SMU and USF at home only during the 2017-18 season, and play Houston and Tulane solely on the road, according to the American Athletic Conference’s pairings for the upcoming season.

With the addition of Wichita State in 2017-18, each team in the American will play seven of its 11 opponents twice, and the other four opponents once each – two at home and two away.

UConn will face UCF, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Memphis, Temple, Tulsa and Wichita State both home and away next season.

Playing only one game against SMU could hurt the Huskies’ RPI. Typically, the American ensures the upper-level teams in the league (UConn, SMU, Cincinnati, now Wichita State) play each other twice, in order to help each teams’ respective RPIs.

However, UConn’s nonconference slate (Oregon and others at the PK80 Invitational, at Arizona, at Auburn, vs. Syracuse at MSG) should mean its RPI remains strong. There’s also the chance that SMU won’t be as strong now that AAC player of the year Semi Ojeleye has opted to turn pro.

Wichita State is expected to be a national top 10-ranked program next season, while Cincinnati is also likely to be in the preseason Top 25.

The complete 2017-18 men’s basketball schedule with dates and times will be announced at a later date.