Several Shows to Open College Basketball Season on ESPNU
The 2010-11 preseason college basketball programming lineup on ESPNU is highlighted by a two-hour Schedule Release Show (Oct. 19), three Media Day Specials focusing on Division I power conferences (Oct. 20, 21 & 28) and a men’s and women’s Preview Show (Nov. 4 & 5).
The two-hour Schedule Release Show on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 10 p.m., will delve into ESPN’s extensive college basketball schedule across all its platforms and give viewers a sneak peek into the 2010-11 season. Host Lowell Galindo will lead an all-star lineup of ESPN commentators – Jay Bilas, Hubert Davis, Jimmy Dykes, Len Elmore, Fran Fraschilla, Digger Phelps, Andy Katz and Adrian Branch. This impressive group of experts will provide in-depth previews and predications of all the power conferences in a spirited, round-table setting.
ESPNU will air three Media Day Specials on Wednesday, Oct. 20, Thursday, Oct. 21 and Thursday, Oct. 28, from 1-4 p.m., tapping into the top men’s and women’s basketball conferences in the nation including interviews with more than 60 head coaches. ESPN analysts will be on site at select media days – ACC, BIG EAST men and women, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC men and women. Galindo, Branch and Ryan Burr will combine to host the three specials.
For the first time, all 12 ACC head coaches will be present at ESPNU headquarters, as they and select players join analysts Bilas, Davis, Elmore and Branch, Wednesday, Oct. 21 for ACC Operation Basketball in Charlotte. Select Pac-10 coaches and players will visit ESPN’s Los Angeles studio Thursday, Oct. 28, in advance of the conference’s media day.
ESPNU Media Day Specials (Schedule subject to change; each show airs 1-4 p.m.)
Date | Studio Host | Conferences | On-site Analyst |
Wed, Oct 20 | Lowell Galindo | BIG EAST men | Doris Burke |
ACC men | Jay Bilas, Hubert Davis, Len Elmore, Adrian Branch | ||
Thu, Oct 21 | Ryan Burr | BIG EAST women | Brooke Weisbrod |
Big 12 men | Fran Fraschilla | ||
SEC men | Jimmy Dykes, Mark Gottfried | ||
SEC women | Cara Capuano, Abby Waner | ||
Thu, Oct 28 | Ryan Burr | Big Ten | Dan Dakich, Stephen Bardo |
Pac-10 | Sean Farnham, Miles Simon |
ESPNU will explore the Division I men’s and women’s college basketball landscape in two separate preview shows on Nov. 4 and 5, respectively. The men’s show is one hour, beginning at 5 p.m., and the women’s show is a 30-minute special starting at 9:30 p.m. Galindo, along with Katz and Branch, will host the men’s special, while the women’s show will be hosted by Cara Capuano, joined by Abby Waner and Brooke Weisbrod.
Live college basketball action begins Monday, Nov. 8, with two matchups from the 2K Sports Classic Benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer. Tipping off the season is NIT semifinalist Rhode Island at Pittsburgh at 7 p.m., followed by Navy at Texas at 9 p.m. ESPNU will air more than 300 men’s and women’s basketball games, including action from more than 25 NCAA Division I conferences.
ESPNU
The 24-hour college sports television network airs more than 650 live events annually and offers over 400 original studio shows. ESPNU has seen a steady increase since its inception on March 4, 2005 and is now in over 73 million households. The brand is also available in high definition on ESPNUHD, now in over 17 million homes.
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Media Contact: Rachel Margolis at 860-766-2798 or [email protected]