ESPN Unveils Big East Hoops 2011-12 TV Schedule
By BigLeadSports
ESPN’s networks will combine to televise a minimum of 70 conference games plus an extensive schedule of non-conference match-ups. Additional conference games may be added to the schedule.
A schedule for ESPN Regional Television’s produced and syndicated telecasts is to be determined. ESPN3.com will provide a simulcast of every ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television telecast.
Conference action will tip off on Tuesday, Dec. 27 with Notre Dame at Pittsburgh on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. The schedule runs through March 3, leading to the conference playoffs just before March Madness.
The schedule includes the weekly Big Monday Presented by Bud Light series beginning with a doubleheader of top teams Jan. 16: Louisville at Marquette at 3:30 p.m. ET and Pittsburgh at Syracuse at 7:30 p.m.
Additional highlights of the schedule include:
• The Saturday lineup features two Saturday Primetime Presented by DirecTV telecasts and stops by College GameDay Driven by State Farm: Louisville at Pittsburgh Jan. 21 and Syracuse at Connecticut Feb. 25. Both games will tip off at 9 p.m. on ESPN. GameDay is hosted by Rece Davis with analysts Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, Hubert Davis and Bob Knight. The two-hour Saturday morning edition is aired on ESPNU at 10 a.m. and continuing at 11 a.m. on ESPN while the one-hour evening edition at 8 p.m. is on ESPN.
• For the first time, ESPNU will televise four Monday night Big East games: Cincinnati at Georgetown (Jan. 9); Notre Dame at Rutgers (Jan. 16); Marquette at DePaul (Feb. 6); and DePaul at St. John’s (Feb. 20).
• In March, ESPN will once again televise all 15 games of the Big East Championship Presented by American Eagle Outfitters across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com.