Arizona State athletic teams are free to schedule Grand Canyon University in 2019-20 and beyond, a change from ASU's past policy.

ASU Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson said given GCU's return to non-profit status a year ago that ASU President Michael Crow is no longer prohibiting athletic competition between the cross-town Division I schools.

There was not enough time going into 2018-19 season to schedule much between ASU and GCU. The schools did play in beach volleyball in February with the Sun Devils winning 3-2.

Anderson is not sure when ASU and GCU will play in men's basketball although it will not be in 2019-20. Both teams are playing St. Mary's at Talking Stick Resort Arena in December but on separate dates — GCU, Dec. 8; ASU, Dec. 18.

The only ASU-GCU men's basketball game was in January 1980, an 80-68 victory for the Sun Devils.

Computer ratings — NET and RPI — are important in non-conference scheduling for postseason bid purposes in many sports. ASU men's basketball finished with a No. 63 NET ranking in 2018-19, for example, with GCU at No. 96.

ASU is not scheduled to meet Grand Canyon in soccer or volleyball this fall. There is a chance that the schools could meet in baseball and softball in 2020.

ASU has a long baseball history against GCU and leads the series 87-22 (per ASU records). Their most recent meeting was in 2010.

If Grand Canyon baseball had won the Western Athletic Conference Tournament — they fell just one win short — it might have been assigned to the same NCAA regional as ASU.

GCU baseball coach Andy Stankiewicz was an ASU assistant from 2007-09.

GCU softball coach Ann Pierson was an All-America shortstop during her ASU career (1988-91) and was an ASU assistant coach for seven seasons.

Grand Canyon athletics competed in NAIA then NCAA Division II until 2013 before joining the Western Athletic Conference and transitioning to Division I. In August 2017, the Antelopes became eligible for Division I postseason competition.

Other sports offered by both ASU and GCU are women's basketball, softball, men's and women's cross-country, track, swimming, golf and tennis.

GCU has played other Pac-12 schools since joining the WAC, including Arizona in men's basketball.

More:Coming off his best year, ASU Athletic Director Ray Anderson is just getting started

Reach the reporter at jeff.metcalfe@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8053. Follow him on Twitter @jeffmetcalfe.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

Photos: Grand Canyon baseball