At least six Horizon League men's basketball games set for ESPN networks in 2007-08
Aug. 30, 2007
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Horizon League Commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Thursday (Aug. 30) that a minimum of six men's basketball games involving League teams have been selected to appear on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU during the upcoming season.
The League's slate will begin with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay playing at national runner-up Ohio State University on ESPN2 in the first round of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-off. That contest, set for Monday, Nov. 12, at 9 p.m. ET, is the only one of the eight first-round games currently scheduled to be aired on ESPN or ESPN2. If the Phoenix advances in the winner's bracket, additional games will be broadcast on ESPN networks, including the semi-finals and championship from New York's famed Madison Square Garden Nov. 21 and 23 on ESPN2.
Butler University, which won the NIT Season Tip-off and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament last season, will face the University of Michigan in the first round of the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout from Anchorage Wednesday, Nov. 21, at 11:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. With a victory, the Bulldogs would meet the winner of Eastern Washington University-Virginia Tech Friday, Nov. 23, at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN360, ESPN's customized broadband channel. The championship game of the Shootout will be broadcast Sunday, Nov. 25, at 12:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2 and be preceded by the third-place game Saturday, Nov., 24, 10 p.m. ET on ESPN360.
Butler then will play at Southern Illinois University Friday, Dec. 28, at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) on ESPNU. The game will be a re-match of last year's marquee contest in the O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters, which the Salukis won 68-64 at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The Horizon League's first conference game on ESPN2 will feature an in-state rivalry that will have new implications as first-year League member Valparaiso University plays host to Butler Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) as part of the network's "Rivalry Week." The Crusaders enter their first season in the Horizon League following a highly successful 25-year run in the Mid-Continent Conference. Last season, Butler defeated Valpo 60-47 in front of a near-capacity crowd at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Another Horizon League game on ESPN2 will be a wildcard selection Saturday, March 1 -- the final day of the regular-season -- at noon ET (11 a.m. ET) as part of "Judgment Week." The specific game will be selected several weeks prior from among the following scheduled that day: Loyola University Chicago at Green Bay, the University of Illinois at Chicago at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wright State University at Valparaiso, Cleveland State University at Youngstown State University and the University of Detroit Mercy at Butler.
The League's men's basketball championship game will remain in its customary slot near the beginning of "Championship Week" coverage on Tuesday, March 11, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. The game will be played at the home of the higher remaining seed coming out of the semi-finals.Additional Horizon League games scheduled for ESPN networks will be announced in the near future.
