Sports Media News

ESPN Announces ACC Men’s College Basketball Television Schedule for 2011

ESPN and the Atlantic Coast Conference have announced its men’s basketball schedule for the 2011 conference season. Games will appear on several ESPN platforms, including ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU with ESPN3.com providing a simulcast of every ESPN and ESPN2 telecast. Ten conference games will be seen on ESPNU with the remainder on ESPN or ESPN2.

Conference action will tip off Saturday, Jan. 8, at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2 with Florida State at Virginia Tech. The ACC has at least two games per week for eight weeks, concluding Saturday, March 2, at noon on ESPN or ESPN2 with Virginia Tech at Clemson. The Duke at Virginia Tech game on Saturday, Feb. 26, at 9 p.m. on ESPN is part of College GameDay Driven by State Farm and Saturday Primetime Presented by DIRECTV.

All 12 ACC teams will be seen in the conference package for a total of 66 appearances through 33 regular-season games. Defending National Champion Duke has a league-leading 10 appearances, followed by NIT participant Virginia Tech with eight. North Carolina, NC State, Clemson, all with 2010 postseason berths, stand with six appearances each, along with Boston College.

Six of the telecasts showcase matchups between six ACC teams coming off NCAA Championship berths last season – Duke, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Wake Forest (Duke at Florida State, Jan. 8; Wake Forest at Georgia Tech, Jan. 19; Duke at Wake Forest, Jan. 22; Duke at Maryland, Feb. 2; Florida State at Georgia Tech, Feb. 10; Clemson at Duke, March 2).

Three ACC teams are ranked in ESPN.com senior college basketball writer Andy Katz’s early men’s preseason top 25 poll: No. 1 Duke, No. 6 North Carolina and No. 22 Virginia Tech.

ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise eight games of the ACC Tournament in March, including the entire quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, and the title contest.

ACC Men’s Basketball Schedule (ESPN/ESPN2 simulcast on ESPN3.com; schedule subject to change)

* – Blacked out in ACC markets

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ESPN Announces SEC on ESPN Men’s College Basketball Schedule

ESPN, the exclusive national cable home and syndication rights-holder for the Southeastern Conference, presents the SEC on ESPN men’s college basketball conference schedule, including the entire SEC Tournament, in the second year of the historic 15-year agreement with the conference. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3.com and the SEC Network will feature 102 conference controlled games, including 91 regular-season and all 11 SEC Tournament games.

ESPN3.com, ESPN’s live broadband sports network, will simulcast all SEC games televised on ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network and regional syndication partners. Also, many games will be available on ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN’s out-of-market pay-per-view package. In addition, ESPN networks will televise an extensive schedule of non-conference action (schedule to be determined).

The SEC Network, ESPN Regional Television’s over-the-air syndication package, will present a minimum of 37 SEC games in 79 television markets nationwide. Also, the SEC Network will present the SEC Studio show each Saturday afternoon through the regular season and the SEC Tournament.

ESPN on ABC will televise the SEC Basketball Tournament semifinals and championship game nationally, while the first two rounds will be available on the SEC Network. The tournament is set for March 10-13 in Atlanta.

The SEC on ESPN schedule includes the 2011 College GameDay Driven by State Farm opener from Knoxville, Tenn., site of the Tennessee Volunteers men’s and women’s teams hosting the Vanderbilt Commodores men’s and women’s programs at noon ET and 8 p.m., respectively. The doubleheader marks the first time the show has originated from a site featuring a men’s and women’s game played in the same day.

College GameDay will return to SEC country for the Feb. 5 matchup of Kentucky at Florida, a showdown of teams ranked in ESPN senior college basketball writer Andy Katz’s early preseason poll (No. 13 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Florida). College GameDay is hosted by Rece Davis with analysts Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, Hubert Davis and Bob Knight.

Schedule (Subject to change)

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ESPN Announces Big Ten Men’s College Basketball Television Schedule

ESPN and the Big Ten Conference announced its 2010-11 men’s college basketball schedule for coverage on ESPN and ESPN2. ESPN3.com will simulcast every ESPN and ESPN2 telecast. Conference action will tip off Tuesday, Dec. 28 with Minnesota at Wisconsin at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

On average, ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise three Big Ten games a week, highlighted by a telecast every Tuesday as part of the popular weekly Super Tuesday Presented by KFC Big Ten doubleheader with the SEC beginning Jan. 11 with Wisconsin at Michigan State. ESPN or ESPN2 will also televise a Big Ten game every Thursday beginning Jan. 6 with Northwestern at Illinois and at least one game every weekend from Jan. 22 to March 5.

ESPN’s eight-week College GameDay Driven by State Farm and Saturday Primetime Presented by DIRECTV game-of-the-week series will originate from two Big Ten sites (Michigan State at Purdue Jan. 22 and Illinois at Michigan State Feb. 19).

Overall, the networks will combine to televise 29 conference games in addition to an extensive schedule of non-conference action (schedule to be determined). Over the course of the 2010-11 season, every school in the conference will be showcased on ESPN or ESPN2.

In March, ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise four games of the Big Ten Conference Championship.

ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com 2010-11 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Schedule (Schedule subject to change)

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2011 Schedule for Expanded Basketball College GameDay

Eight-week show continues to originate from site of Saturday Primetime; Begins Jan. 15 from Knoxville for first-ever men’s and women’s doubleheader

ESPN’s College GameDay Driven by State Farm, the popular eight-week Saturday morning and evening college basketball program originating from the site of ESPN’s Saturday Primetime Presented by DIRECTV telecast, will expand to include an extra hour of analysis, news and features. ESPNU will air the new first hour of College GameDay – returning for its seventh season beginning Saturday, Jan. 15 – at 10 a.m. ET and ESPN will continue to televise the show at 11 a.m. and a one-hour edition at 8 p.m. (except Jan. 15 when the show will air on ESPN at 10 a.m. and ESPNU at 11 a.m.). The Saturday Primetime game-of-the-week series will be aired at 9 p.m. (except for Jan. 15 and Jan. 29).

The 2011 series will open from Knoxville, Tenn., site of the Tennessee Volunteers men’s and women’s teams hosting the men’s and women’s Vanderbilt Commodores programs at noon and 8 p.m., respectively. It will mark the first time the show has originated from a site that has featured a men’s and women’s game played in the same day.

College GameDay will feature show host Rece Davis with returning analysts Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, Hubert Davis and Bob Knight.

Scheduled sites for College GameDay and Saturday Primetime:

* ESPNU will televise the first hour of College GameDay with ESPN continuing coverage at 11 a.m. except Jan. 15 when ESPN will televise the first hour and ESPNU continuing coverage at 11 a.m. ESPN will televise the evening edition each week.

Highlights of this year’s schedule include:

• An appearance by defending men’s National Champion Duke (at Virginia Tech Feb. 26) and two by last season’s Final Four participant Michigan State (at Purdue Jan. 22 and hosting Illinois Feb. 19).

• Every site will include at least one men’s team ranked in an early preseason top 25 poll by ESPN.com senior college basketball writer Andy Katz, highlighted by the top five: No. 1 Duke, No. 2 Purdue, No. 3 Michigan State, No. 4 Baylor, No. 5 Kansas State, No. 7 Pittsburgh, No. 8 Villanova, No. 10 Florida, No. 13 Kentucky, No. 15 Illinois, No. 16 Kansas and No. 22 Virginia Tech.

• Six of the eight men’s matchups will feature a showdown between teams ranked in Katz’s early preseason poll: No. 3 Michigan State at No. 2 Purdue (Jan. 22), No. 5 Kansas State at No. 16 Kansas (Jan. 29), No. 13 Kentucky at No. 10 Florida (Feb. 5), No. 7 Pittsburgh at No. 8 Villanova (Feb. 12), No. 15 Illinois at No. 3 Michigan State (Feb. 19) and No. 1 Duke at No. 22 Virginia Tech (Feb. 26).

• The women’s matchups will feature a SEC showdown between top women’s programs. Tennessee defeated Vanderbilt in all three meetings last year, including in the SEC Tournament semifinals.

• First-time stops for men’s games at Baylor, Purdue, Villanova and Virginia Tech.

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ESPN Announces Men’s College Basketball Super Tuesday Schedule for 2011

ESPN has announced its Super Tuesday Presented by KFC schedule for the 2011 men’s college basketball season – featuring doubleheaders with games from the Big Ten and the SEC. Action will tip off every Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET and 9 p.m. from Jan. 11 to March 1.

The Big Ten and the SEC will play in conference match-ups, switching timeslots on varying weeks. The doubleheaders begin Jan. 11 with Wisconsin at Michigan State at 7 p.m., followed by Florida at Tennessee at 9 p.m. The package concludes March 1 with Illinois at Purdue at 7 p.m. and Vanderbilt at Kentucky at 9 p.m.

The annual weekday series runs every Tuesday night during conference play and highlights eight teams coming off NCAA Championship berths. Purdue and Kentucky will each make four appearances in the Super Tuesday series. Michigan State, fresh off its Final Four berth from last season, will play in three games, along with Florida, Illinois, Ohio State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

The schedule also includes eight teams ranked in ESPN.com senior college basketball writer Andy Katz’s early men’s preseason top 25 poll: No. 2 Purdue, No. 3 Michigan State, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 10 Florida, No. 13 Kentucky, No. 15 Illinois, No. 18 Tennessee and No. 25 Georgia. There are eight games between teams ranked in Katz’s preseason poll, including No. 6 Ohio State facing No. 2 Purdue (Jan. 25) and No. 3 Michigan State (Feb. 15), both airing at 9 p.m.

Super Tuesday Schedule (All games televised on ESPN and ESPN3.com; schedule subject to change)

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ESPN Celebrates Opening of Season with 24 Consecutive Hours of Live College Basketball Games

College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon includes 20 Games in Minimum of 25.5 Hours

ESPN’s third annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon Tuesday, Nov. 16 will be highlighted by 12 live college basketball games in 24 consecutive hours on ESPN for the second straight season. Overall, ESPN’s celebration of the opening of the college basketball season will include 20 live games – 19 men’s and one women’s — in a minimum of 25.5 hours across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. ESPN3.com will offer two exclusive games as well as a simulcast of every ESPN and ESPN2 telecast.

The schedule will include three teams from last year’s men’s NCAA Tournament Final Four (defending National Champion Duke, Butler and Michigan State), defending women’s NCAA National Champion Connecticut, the first game at Louisville’s new arena and the debut of new St. John’s coach Steve Lavin.

ESPN games are scheduled to tip off every two hours beginning at midnight ET with Miami at Memphis, marking the second time Memphis has hosted a midnight game as part of the College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon. Highlights include:

• A minimum of 21 conferences will be represented: ACC, Atlantic Sun, Atlantic 10, America East, Big Ten, Big 12, BIG EAST, Conference USA, Colonial, Great West, Horizon, Metro Atlantic Athletic, Mid-American, Missouri Valley, Mountain West, Northeast, Pac-10, SEC, Summit, Western Athletic and West Coast. The Big West Conference could be added if Pacific meets UCLA, the host site, in the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off.

• Eight of the top 10 teams in ESPN.com senior college basketball writer Andy Katz’s early men’s preseason top 25 poll will participate: No. 1 Duke, No. 3 Michigan State, No. 4 Baylor, No. 5 Kansas State, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 8 Villanova, No. 9 Gonzaga, No. 10 Florida, No. 18 Tennessee, No. 19 Memphis, No. 20 Butler, No. 22 Virginia Tech and No. 24 San Diego State. The schedule will feature three matchups between teams ranked in Katz’s poll: No. 22 Virginia Tech at No. 5 Kansas State (at 4 p.m.) and No. 6 Ohio State at No. 10 Florida (at 6 p.m.) on ESPN, and No. 24 San Diego State at No. 9 Gonzaga (at 11 p.m.) on ESPN2.

• A women’s showdown will feature two-time defending National Champion Connecticut against Baylor, led by four returning starters including 6-foot-8 center Brittney Griner, at 6 p.m. on ESPN2. Connecticut, which enters the season with a 78-game winning streak, defeated Baylor 70-50 in the National Semifinals of the NCAA Tournament last season. Both teams are expected to open the season ranked in the top 5.

• The final two ESPN telecasts will showcase two programs coming off NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances last season: Butler, which played in the National Championship game, at Louisville, marking the first men’s game at the school’s new arena, at 8 p.m.; and South Carolina at Michigan State, which lost to Butler in the National Semifinals, at 10 p.m.

• The schedule will feature back-to-back afternoon games involving two teams that played in the Elite Eight last season, beginning with Baylor (against La Salle) at 2 p.m. and Kansas State (against Virginia Tech) at 4 p.m.

• The 2 a.m. telecast will feature new St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin, who most recently led UCLA and served as an ESPN analyst, at Saint Mary’s, in his first game leading the Red Storm.

• ESPNU will offer a quadruple-header featuring four marquee programs — Duke, Tennessee, UCLA and Villanova — beginning at 5:30 p.m.

• ESPN’s coverage will include games from four different United States time zones — Eastern, Central, Pacific and Hawaii-Aleutian – and from 17 states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

• The 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. telecasts will mark just the second time ESPN has televised live college basketball games in those time slots.

2010-11 College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon Schedule for ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com

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