SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Gonzaga University's men's basketball team will appear on the ESPN family of networks a minimum of 12 times according to the 2011-12 schedule announced today by the West Coast Conference and ESPN.
A minimum of 30 men's basketball games involving WCC schools will air nationally on the ESPN family of networks this season. The increase in national exposures is a result of the new 8-year extension of the WCC's partnership with ESPN.
"We are pleased to showcase more West Coast Conference basketball than ever before thanks to our unique relationship with our partners at ESPN," said WCC Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich. "Our competitive level has never been stronger, and with the addition of yet another Sweet 16 program in BYU, we're confident the WCC will continue as a formidable, national conference. We expect a tight race throughout the season as we head towards the Zappos.com WCC Basketball Championships in Las Vegas."
Six Gonzaga WCC games will be televised on ESPN2 as part of the WCC again being the centerpiece to ESPN's Thursday night coverage. The Bulldogs will also have one game televised on ESPNU.
In addition to the WCC regular-season appearances, the Bulldogs will have a minimum of five non-conference games televised on the ESPN family.
"We are once again looking forward to being part of the vast ESPN college basketball scene," Gonzaga athletic director Mike Roth said. "It gives our fans across the nation the opportunity to see the Bulldogs."
In all, there will be a total of 21 conference games showcased on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU in 2011-12, including the Zappos.com WCC Basketball Championship quarterfinals Friday, March 2, on ESPNU), the semifinals Saturday, March 3, on ESPN2 and the championship game Monday, March 5 on either ESPN or ESPN2.
According to the schedule released Monday, the Bulldogs will have non-conference home games against the University of Notre Dame Nov. 30 at 8:15 p.m., Michigan State University Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. and Butler University Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. all televised on ESPN2. Non-conference away games to be televised on the Deuce are at the University of Illinois Dec. 3 at 12:15 p.m. Pacific Time and at Xavier University Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
The first WCC regular-season appearance for the Bulldogs will be Jan. 12 at Saint Mary's College, with the Feb. 9 re-match of the 2011 regular-season co-champions televised from the McCarthey Athletic Center. The Jan. 19 home game with the University of San Francisco will be televised on ESPNU. Other Gonzaga WCC games set to be aired are Jan. 26 at the University of Portland, Feb. 2 at BYU as the Bulldogs play the newest member of the WCC for the first time in league action, Feb. 16 at Santa Clara University and Feb. 23 when BYU visits Spokane for the first time. With the exception of the USF game, all games will be televised on ESPN2 and begin at 8 p.m. There is no gametime yet for the USF contest.
2011-12 WEST COAST CONFERENCE
MEN'S BASKETBALL TELECAST SCHEDULE
(All times Pacific; As of Aug. 22, 2011 - Dates and times subject to change)
Thursday, November 24
Santa Clara vs. New Mexico (Anaheim, Calif.), 6:00 p.m. (ESPNU)
Friday, November 25
Santa Clara vs. TBD (Anaheim, Calif.), TBA (ESPNU/ESPN2)
Sunday, November 27
Santa Clara vs. TBD (Anaheim, Calif.), TBA (ESPNU/ESPN2)
Wednesday, November 30
Notre Dame at Gonzaga, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN2)
Saturday, December 3
Gonzaga at Illinois, 12:15 p.m. (ESPN2)
Oregon at BYU, 2:00 p.m. (ESPNU)
Saturday, December 10
Michigan State at Gonzaga, 6:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Tuesday, December 20
Butler at Gonzaga, 6:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Thursday, December 29
BYU at Saint Mary's, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Saturday, December 31
Gonzaga at Xavier, 5:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Thursday, January 5
Saint Mary's at San Diego, TBA (ESPNU)
Thursday, January 12
Gonzaga at Saint Mary's, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Loyola Marymount at Pepperdine, TBA (ESPNU)
Thursday, January 19
San Francisco at Gonzaga, TBA (ESPNU)
Thursday, January 26
Gonzaga at Portland, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Saturday, January 28
Saint Mary's at BYU, TBA (ESPNU)
Thursday, February 2
Gonzaga at BYU, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Portland at Santa Clara, TBA (ESPNU)
Thursday, February 9
Saint Mary's at Gonzaga, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Santa Clara at San Francisco, TBA (ESPNU)
Thursday, February 16
Gonzaga at Santa Clara, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
BYU at San Francisco, TBA (ESPNU)
Saturday, February 18
BYU at Santa Clara, TBA (ESPNU)
Thursday, February 23
BYU at Gonzaga, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Saint Mary's at Portland, TBA (ESPNU)
Friday, March 2
Zappos.com West Coast Conference Basketball Championships
Quarterfinals
5/8/9 vs. No. 4 seed, TBA (ESPNU)
6/7 winner vs. No. 3 seed, TBA (ESPNU)
Saturday, March 3
Zappos.com West Coast Conference Basketball Championships
Semifinals
4/5/8/9 vs. No. 2 seed, TBA (ESPN2)
3/6/7 vs. No. 1 seed, TBA (ESPN2)
Monday, March 5
Zappos.com West Coast Conference Basketball Championships
Championship game, TBA (ESPN/ESPN2)
