Horizon League Announces 2011-12 Men's Basketball TV Schedule

Horizon League Men's Basketball TV Schedule Release

INDIANAPOLIS -- A matchup between defending national champion runner-up Butler and possible preseason favorite Detroit on the Saturday before the Super Bowl highlights a 35-game Horizon League men’s basketball television schedule, the League announced Tuesday.

The Bulldogs and Titans will meet at noon on Saturday, Feb. 4, on ESPN2, at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse, one day before Indianapolis hosts Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Detroit, which returns all five starters from last year’s team, also will be featured in a nationally televised ESPN2 game when St. John’s visits Calihan Hall for the dedication of Dick Vitale Court.

In all, ESPN Networks -- ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3 -- will carry 27 games involving Horizon League teams, including the league’s tournament championship game on ESPN/ESPN2 on Tuesday, March 6.

“ESPN is pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with the Horizon League,” said Nick Dawson, Director of Programming and Information at ESPN. “We look forward to showcasing great Horizon League basketball to fans throughout the country across a multitude of ESPN networks and platforms.”

The other eight games will be on the regional Horizon League Game of the Week package. The Game of the Week tips off on Saturday, Dec. 31, when Milwaukee visits Butler. All games of the week will air at 2 p.m. (EST).

“The combination of the ESPN coverage and our regional game of the week provides invaluable national and regional exposure for our teams and institutions,” said Horizon League Commissioner Jon LeCrone. “While Butler has rightfully gained national attention from its back-to-back Final Four appearances, television viewers will recognize talent, depth and highly competitive environments from all our teams.”

The Horizon League TV schedule opens on Nov. 7 when Valparaiso travels to Arizona (ESPNU). Other key pre-conference season televised games include Cleveland State at Vanderbilt (Nov. 13, ESPNU), Detroit at Notre Dame (Nov. 14, ESPNU), Louisville at Butler (Nov. 19, ESPN3), Xavier at Butler (Dec. 7, ESPN2), Detroit at Alabama (Dec. 11, ESPNU) and Butler at Gonzaga (Dec. 20, ESPN2).

Horizon League teams also will be featured on the ESPN networks the weekend of Feb. 17-19 in the Sears BracketBusters.

All games on ESPN and ESPN2 will also be carried on ESPN3.