Wikipedia

ESPN College Basketball

"Saturday Primetime" redirects here. For the branding used on NBA broadcasts, seeNBA Saturday Primetime.

ESPN College Basketballis a blanket title used for presentations ofcollege basketballonESPNand its family of networks (including ABC since 2006). Its coverage focuses primarily on competition inNCAA Division I,holding broadcast rights to games from each major conference, and a number ofmid-majorconferences.

ESPN was the first broadcaster to provide extensive early-round coverage ofNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship,prior toCBS,later in partnership withTurner Sports,holding sole rights to "March Madness".The network also covers a number of early-season tournaments, conference championships, and is also the exclusive broadcaster of theNational Invitation Tournamentand theWomen's Division I championship.

History

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1979

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ESPN has aired college basketball games from its inception, starting in 1979 withDePaul's victory overWisconsinwith a then-novice color commentatorDick Vitaleand Joe Boyle doing the play-by-play. In the early days, Vitale was paired with veteran sportscasterJim Simpson.

1980s

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One of the first milestone events that ESPN covered was theNCAA tournament.In1980,the fledgling channel had a total of 23 tournament games. More specifically, ESPN aired theNCAA Productionstelecasts of all 16 first-round games (12 ontape delay).Jay Randolph,Gary Thompson,Steve Shannon, Steve Grad,Fred White,Larry Conley,Bill O'Donnell,Bucky Waters,andJeff Mullinswere among the commentators. ESPN again aired 16 first-round games (12 on tape delay) produced by NCAA Productions in1981.That year, ESPN aired theBYU-Notre Dame(at Atlanta) with Bill O'Donnell and Jeff Mullins on the call. This particular game soon became famous forDanny Ainge's coast-to-coast buzzer beater to send BYU to Elite 8. ESPN also aired the last Final Four consolation game at 5 p.m. on March 30, 1981.

They intensively covered the early rounds ofMarch Madness,gaining the entire tournament much prestige. The early rounds of course were not the most ideal time, many games taking place during work hours. WhenCBSgained exclusive coverage in 1991, they would largely mimic how their predecessor had covered the event.[1]ESPN aired the NCAA productions telecasts of all 16 first-round games (12 on tape delay).

During the1985 NCAA tournament,ESPN aired five live games on each first round day which, combined with the CBS games and the around the clock ESPNtape delayedgames, made for almost non-stop basketball for 55 consecutive hours from Thursday noon through early Saturday evening. With four games at each first round site, NCAA Productions typically sent two announcer crews to each site to call two games each.

One of the next milestones in ESPN's coverage was when they airedChampionship Weekfor the first time in 1986 (the term would be coined later however). The network was given critical acclaim for its coverage of the conference tournaments, of bouncing from game to the next. It also raised the profile of many "mid-major" and "minor" conferences who received their only national attention during a single game, usually the championship game of their conference tournament. Like everything else with ESPN, the success and expansion of the network led to more games being televised in this made-for-TV event.[2]

1987was the last year that ESPN was involved in the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.John Saunderswas ESPN's studio host in the afternoon whileBob Leywas the studio host in the evening.Dick Vitaleserved as the studio analyst for both men. In1989,Tim Brandobecame the afternoon studio host while John Saunders moved to the evening. And then ayear later,Chris Fowlerreplaced Brando as the afternoon studio host. As previously mentioned, 1990 was also the last year ESPN/NCAA Productions' involvement.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s with only a single network; no regional or internet coverage, ESPN televised around 200 games a year.

1990s

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In 1991, they would lose coverage of the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament but would continue to televise just as many regular season games and conference tournament games.[3]

In 1993, ESPN aired the Women's Selection Show for the first time ever.[4]Unlike the men's tournament, ESPN is the only network that airs the unveiling.

In 1996, ESPN and ESPN2 aired a total of 281 men's games and 22 women's games.[5]

2000s

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ESPN has rapidly increased its coverage throughout the years as the network as expanded from a single cable channel to a multiple outlets including the internet.

In 2003, ESPN and its sister networks aired all the games of the Women's NCAA Tournament for the first time ever, a practice that still exists today.[6]

On March 4, 2005,ESPNUpremiered on the outset of aTexas–Oklahoma Stategame fromStillwater, Oklahomawith a special two-hour edition ofCollege GameDay.[7]ESPNU has aired the first set of games of each season, beginning in its initial season of 2005.[8]

In 2005–06, the ESPN family of networks aired 884 games (they aired 140 women's games that year).[9]However the following season, they aired over 1000 games.[10]

In 2007, ESPNU as well as ESPN2 aired the first-everNIT Selection Show.[11]Also,ESPN Radioaired its first-ever coverage of theSelection Sunday.[12]Also that year, a then-record of more than 3.3 million brackets entered on ESPN surpassing the record set the previous year.[13]

During the 2007–2008 season, the ESPN networks aired a total of more than 1,050 men's games[14]and 150 women's games.[15]ESPNU aired over 250 games.[16]In addition, ESPN airedPac-10games for the first time since 1995, through a new agreement with FSN. They showed a total of 2 games.[17]The year was marked byDick Vitalemissing his first assignment ever due to surgery. He was replaced byJay BilasonSaturday Primetime.[18]He returned on February 6 for the UNC-Duke matchup.[19]Due to the2008 Atlanta tornado outbreak,ESPN2, instead of CBS, aired the2008 SEC tournamentfinals fromAlexander Memorial Coliseumon the campus ofGeorgia Tech.However, CBS production was utilized including talent and graphics.[20]ESPN had a record 3.65 million entries for theTournament Challenge.[21]

Legendary basketball coachBob Knightretired from coaching in February 2008, he joined ESPN, the following month as a studio analyst forChampionship Weekand later appeared during the NCAA tournament, including on location from San Antonio at the Final Four.[22]His role was greatly expanded during the 2008–09 season, when he appeared on many platforms including a weekly Thursday game as well asCollege GameDay.[23]

The ESPN networks aired about 1,100 games during the 2008–09 season,[8]including 148 women's games (including the entire NCAA Tournament).[24]

In the 2009–10 season, ESPN began a 15-year deal to serve as the main rightsholder of the SEC. The package initially contained a broadcast television package viaESPN Regional Television(SEC Network,laterSEC TV), which replaced the conference's long-standing association withRaycom Sports.ESPN later launched anSEC Networkcable network.[25][26][27][28]

2010s

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In 2010, ESPN reached a deal for rights toAtlantic Coast Conference(ACC) basketball and football, while still maintaining Raycom's long-standingsyndicated package.[29]In July 2016, ESPN announced an extension of the agreement, which would include the formation of theACC Networkcable channel, and the end of Raycom's broadcast television package after the 2018–19 season.[30][31][32]In 2017, ESPN renewed its rights to the Big Ten through the 2022–23 season.[33][34]

In 2017, ESPN unveiled a significantly redesigned on-air presentation for college basketball games; ESPN explained that the new branding was designed to reflect the fan culture andtribalismof the game.[35][36][37]

2020s

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In August 2022, ESPN lost its rights to the Big Ten after the upcoming 2022–23 season.[38][39][40]In October 2022, ESPN renewed with theBig 12 Conference.[41]

Due to the2023 Hollywood labor disputes,it was announced that five January 2024NBA Wednesdaygames instead was airing onABCinstead of on ESPN as part of a Doubleheader, to replace this coverage ESPN will air a single college basketball game each night instead.[42]

Coverage

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Game coverage

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ESPN broadcasts weekly games in various windows. Its flagship weekly games are

  • Wednesday Night Hoops[49]

  • Thursday Night Showcase[49]

  • Saturday Primetime[49]

ESPN currently airs many pre-season tournaments and showcases, some of which organized byESPN Events,including theAdvoCare Invitational,theACC–Big Ten Challenge(from 1999 through 2022),[50][51]theChampions Classic,theJimmy V Classic,and theNIT Season Tip-Off.[52][53]The Jimmy V Classic is accompanied by "Jimmy V Week", a charity appeal across ESPN's networks for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The event traditionally includes an airing ofJim Valvano's speech at the 1993ESPY Awards,where he addressed his condition and announced the formation of the charity.[54]

The final week of the regular season is branded as "Bracket Builder Week" (formerly "Judgment Week" ) and highlights games involving possible contenders for the NCAA tournament,[55]while"Champ Week "(formerly" Championship Week ") is used as the blanket branding for coverage of conference tournaments. ESPN formerly broadcast other in-season events, including

  • TheTip-Off Marathon,held from 2008 through 2017,[56]was amarathonof live games and other studio programs across ESPN's networks to mark the first day of the college basketball season. The first edition of the event on November 18, 2008, featured 14 games and 33 hours of programming across ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU, beginning with alate-nighttripleheader that started at midnight ET with games fromMemphis,Saint Mary's (CA),andHawaii.[57][58]
  • Until 2014, ESPN held an annual slate of games known asBracketBusters,which showcased teams inmid-majorconferences considered to be potential at-large selections for the NCAA tournament field.[59]
  • ESPNU Campus Connection Week(originally "Student Spirit Week" ) was formerly featured across a week of game broadcasts in January, which featured segments profiling student-athletes, students taking on selected production and on-air roles, student-produced segments aired during games, and reports fromstudent sections.[60][61]

Post-season tournaments

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ESPN airs theNational Invitation Tournamentsince 1989. While domestic rights to theNCAA men's tournamentare held byCBS and Turner Sports,ESPN Internationaldistributes coverage of the tournament internationally, and produces its own feed of theFinal Fourand championship game using theESPN College Basketballstaff. In 2013, ESPN International's Final Four coverage was called byDan ShulmanandDick Vitale(alternatively joined byBrad Nesslerfor one of the semi-final games).[62][63][64]

Non-games

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ESPN has traditionally aired coverage of non-game action includingMidnight Madness,which it help popularize by airing the first practices.

College GameDaywhich grew as a spin-off of the popularfootball seriesis a weekly series that airs during conference play and post-season action. The main difference however is that the sites are pre-determined based on the location of theSaturday Primetimematch-up. The show incorporates many of the features and is similar to the football edition.

During the NCAA tournament, many ESPN personalities including Dick Vitale appear to discuss the tournament. In addition during theFinal Four,there is an on-location set. Typically special editions ofCollege GamedayandSportsCenterappear during this time. In 2017, alongside its selection shows for the NIT and Women's NCAA Division I tournament, ESPN first held theTournament Challenge Marathon—a 24-hour-long slate of programming (including special editions of existing ESPN studio shows) devoted tobracketology.The event was co-promoted withESPN'sESPN Tournament Challengebracket game, and contained charitable appeals for the Jimmy V Foundation. The event was revived in 2018, with a 25-hour marathon of tournament-related programming.[65][66]

ESPNU airs a National Signing Day, first premiering in 2008. It was done due to the popularity of the football edition.[67]

Women's coverage

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ESPN has greatly expanded its coverage of the women's game, which now includes the entireNCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championshiptournament, culminating with theFinal Four.They air many of the same pre-season and conference tournaments as the men do includingJimmy V Women's Basketball Classic,Holiday Hoops,ESPNU Campus Connection Week,February Frenzy,Rivalry Week,andChampionship Week.The season begins with theState Farm Tip-Off Classic.ESPN2 airs a weeklyBig Mondaygame in primetime. In addition, ESPN airs theMaggie Dixon Classic.[24]Every February, ESPN2 airsFebruary Frenzy.They air multiple games in a telecast window(s) and go to the games whip-around style.[15]The Women's Selection Show is aired on ESPN including bonus coverage on ESPNU onSelection Mondayafter many years of being overshadowed by the men's show.[68]

Criticism

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ESPN is often accused of having a bias towards certain teams, including theAtlantic Coast Conference(ACC), particularly theDuke Blue DevilsandNorth Carolina Tar Heels.[69]ESPN and the ACC have a rights deal that extends through the 2026–27 season which provides additional football, men's and women's basketball and Olympic sports coverage on a variety of platforms, suggesting the bias may have a financial motivation.[70]In addition, ESPN has also been very fond of theKentucky Wildcatsas most of ESPN's Super Tuesday weeks usually tends to feature a game involving Kentucky, even when it is playing against one of the lesser SEC teams.

Dick Vitaleis often criticized for being a "homer" for Duke, especially for former coachMike Krzyzewski,as well as most teams in theACC(for example, a February 28, 2017 game betweenIndianavs.Purduegame was scheduled to be on ESPN but was demoted to ESPN2 in favor ofFlorida Statevs. Duke).[71]He is also known for mentioning Duke frequently during broadcasts, even when Duke is not playing.Templehead coachJohn Chaneyonce said "You can't get Dick Vitale to say 15 words without Duke coming out of his mouth".[72]He is sometimes called "Duke Vitale" or "Dookie V", a take-off on his "Dickie V" nickname, by detractors for the same reason. Although his bias towards Duke is widely speculated by many, he is also believed to favor the entireACCin general, including Duke's rival, North Carolina as well as Kentucky.

A large number of college basketball games are covered off-site, with announcers watching games on television at a studio at Bristol or Los Angeles. For instance, some 2016NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championshipgames are produced off-site.[73]

Typical games

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During the regular season, typical games that are shown almost every year on the ESPN family of networks include Duke-North Carolina, Florida-Kentucky, Texas Tech-Baylor, Gonzaga-Saint Mary's, and Kansas-Kansas State.

Championship Weekalways features mostDivision Iconference tournaments including expanding coverage of the "major" conferences. The "mid-major" and/or "minor" conferences will typically only get the latter rounds of the tournaments carried, if not, only the conference finale game.

Personalities

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Main article:List of ESPN College Basketball personalities
See also:ESPN College Basketball broadcast teams

See also

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References

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  2. ^"Sports On Tv-Radio".Enquirer.RetrievedOctober 20,2011.
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  4. ^[1][dead link‍]
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  69. ^Le Anne Schreiber (August 15, 2008)."Geography lesson: Breaking down the bias in ESPN's coverage".ESPN.RetrievedNovember 15,2008.
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  73. ^ESPN broadcasting games remotely sends a bad message for NCAA Women's Tournament coverage– Awful Announcing, Matt Yoder, 18 March 2016
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