Print | Back
For Immediate Release
ESPN PR
November 4, 2009
860-766-2000

ESPNU Tips Off 2009-10 Men’s College Basketball Season Nov. 9 with Isiah Thomas’ Debut against National Champion No. 4 North Carolina; First 16 Games Across ESPNU and ESPN360.com

Twelve of First 16 Games Features Ranked Team, Including Six of Top Eight; ESPN Coverage Begins Nov. 17 with Second Annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon

 

ESPN’s 2009-10 men’s college basketball season will tip off Monday, Nov. 9, with an ESPNU tripleheader beginning at 7 p.m. ET when Isiah Thomas debuts as coach of Florida International at defending National Champion No. 4 North Carolina. That game will be followed by No. 25 Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim going for his 800th career victory when the Orange host Albany at 9 p.m. The 11 p.m. telecast will feature Murray State at No. 12 California.

ESPNU and ESPN360.com will offer coverage of the first 16 games of the season across the ESPN networks, highlighted by 12 matchups featuring at least one team in the ESPN/USA Today poll, including six of the top eight: No. 2 Michigan State, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 North Carolina, No. 5 Kentucky, No. 7 Purdue and No. 8 Duke.

Additional first-week highlights on ESPNU include John Calipari’s debut as Kentucky head coach when the Wildcats host Morehead State on Friday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m., along with telecasts involving No. 12 California, No. 14 Connecticut and No. 25 Syracuse. ESPN360.com will offer three exclusive games Friday, Nov. 13, including No. 2 Michigan State, a participant in last year’s national championship game, against Florida Gulf Coast at 7 p.m.

ESPN and ESPN2’s coverage will begin with the second annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon, featuring 12 consecutive game telecasts in 24 hours Tuesday, Nov. 17, on ESPN. Games are scheduled to tip off every two hours beginning at midnight with Cal State Fullerton at UCLA. The 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. telecasts mark the first time ESPN has televised live college basketball games in those time slots – through more than 8,200 live matchups in 30 years. In addition to ESPN’s 24 consecutive hours, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com will combine to present at least 38 total hours of coverage with 19 games -- 17 men’s and two women’s – in a minimum of 25 ½ hours.

Overall, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ABC, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Regional Television and ESPN FULL COURT will feature approximately 1,100 games.

Most High Definition Telecasts Ever

ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, ESPNU HD and ESPN Regional Television will combine to offer more than 445 games in high definition, the most for the sport and an increase of 71 percent over last year’s 260 telecasts. ESPN HD will televise every game except one in high definition (Northern Colorado at Hawaii, Nov. 17, at 4 a.m.) while ESPN2 HD will increase high definition productions by 313 percent. ESPNU HD will televise nearly 90 high definition games and, for the first time, ESPN Regional Television will offer syndicated games in high definition.

ESPNU and ESPN360.com schedule through Nov. 16

Date

Time (ET)

Matchup

Network

Mon, Nov 9

7 p.m.

2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer – Florida International at No. 4 North Carolina (Chapel Hill)

Rob Stone, Jay Williams & Andy Katz

ESPNU

 

9 p.m.

2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer – Albany at No. 25 Syracuse (Syracuse)

Dan McLaughlin, Tim Welsh & Quint Kessenich

ESPNU

 

11 p.m.

2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer –Murray State at No. 12 California (Berkeley)

Carter Blackburn, Mark Gottfried & Steve Lavin

ESPNU

Wed, Nov 11

7 p.m.

2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer – Robert Morris at No. 25 Syracuse (Syracuse)

Dan McLaughlin & Tim Welsh

ESPNU

 

9 p.m.

2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer – North Carolina Central at No. 4 North Carolina (Chapel Hill)

Rob Stone & Jay Williams

ESPNU

 

11 p.m.

2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer – Detroit at No. 12 California (Berkeley)

Carter Blackburn & Mark Gottfried

ESPNU

Fri, Nov 13

6:30 p.m.

Morehead State at No. 5 Kentucky

Dan McLaughlin, Jimmy Dykes & Andy Katz

ESPNU

 

7 p.m.

Florida Gulf Coast at No. 2 Michigan State

Frank Giardina & Tim McCormick

ESPN360.com

 

7 p.m.

Cal State Northridge at No. 7 Purdue

Jim Barbar & Mac McCausland

ESPN360.com

 

8 p.m.

Southern Illinois-Edwardsville at Illinois

Lou Canellis & Dickey Simpkins

ESPN360.com

Sun, Nov 15

2 p.m.

O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic: UC Irvine at No. 3 Texas (Austin)

Dave Armstrong & Reid Gettys

ESPNU

 

4 p.m.

O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic: Fairleigh Dickinson at Wichita State (Wichita)

Dan McLaughlin & Mac McCausland

ESPNU

 

6 p.m.

O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic: Texas-San Antonio at Iowa (Iowa City)

Jim Barbar & Mike Kelley

ESPNU

Mon, Nov 16

7 p.m.

Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off – Regional Semifinal: Coastal Carolina at No. 8 Duke (Durham)

Mike Gleason & Jimmy Dykes

ESPNU
 

9 p.m.

Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off – Regional Semifinal: Colgate at No. 14 Connecticut (Storrs)

Justin Kutcher & Bob Wenzel

ESPNU
 

11 p.m.

Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off – Regional Semifinal: Texas State at Arizona State (Tempe)

Steve Physioc & Miles Simon

ESPNU

- 30 -