January 24, 2012
College Basketball GameDay Corner
ESPN’s College GameDay Covered by State Farm heads to a first-time site this week – visiting the campus of the University of Arizona – Saturday, Jan. 28 (10 a.m., ESPNU; 11 a.m. & 6 p.m., ESPN). The show continues on its eight-week journey each Saturday morning and evening with the college basketball program originating from the site of ESPN’s Saturday Primetime Presented by DIRECTV telecast – this week showcasing Washington at Arizona at 7 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN3.
For the eighth year, Rece Davis serves as point guard for the College GameDay desk, and is joined by analysts Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, Hubert Davis and Bob
Knight to preview all the day’s action and discuss the biggest storylines in college basketball. Dan Shulman, along with Knight and Bilas, will have the call of the primetime game.
This week’s College GameDay will air a special segment – Tanner’s Totes, featuring Clemson forward Tanner Smith, who gives tote bags filled with gifts to pre-teens who are hospitalized with cancer. It is a mission Smith has been fulfilling since he was 12, after growing up watching his father battle cancer. Rece Davis will also pit two Arizona teammates against each other – in GameDay’s own Know Your Teammate game.
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Spotlight: Dick Vitale
Basketball Hall of Famer Dick Vitale is in his 33rd year as an analyst with ESPN and hasn’t let longevity slow him down. He continues to work a full schedule calling multiple games each week – including ESPN’s Saturday Primetime game-of-the- week series – and making appearances across multiple ESPN platforms and shows. In addition to his analyst duties, Dick works tirelessly to raise money for The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Last year’s Dick Vitale Gala raised $1.3 million for pediatric cancer.
You started at ESPN in 1979 and haven’t slowed down. How do you keep your energy to keep going strong?
First, I’m blessed. You know, I wake up every day with a goal and purpose with what I want to achieve. I write down three things that I want to accomplish for that day every morning.
What is it like to go onto different campuses every week and still feel the excitement of the fans?
It’s amazing. Just last Saturday, when I walked into the Oakland Zoo in Pittsburgh, the fans were chanting “Dickie V, Dickie V, Dickie V.” I got goose bumps. I pinch myself. I am so honored. My mother and father taught me a long time ago, they said “be good to people.” They always said if you are good to people, they will be good to you. I’m a big believer that all people are the same and no one is better than anyone else. I always try to treat people with respect.
Are you getting ready for the seventh annual Dick Vitale Gala benefiting The V Foundation on May 18?
Oh yea. We are so honored to have a mixture of football and basketball honorees with Lou Holtz, Gary Williams and Jay Wright. We want to make it better and different every year. I can’t reveal anything we’re working on yet but we will have some special stuff this year. Fans can go to dickvitaleonline.com for details on how to attend or donate.
What are some of the factors you consider when choosing the Dickie V Game-of-the-Week re-air that is on ESPNU on Sunday nights?
It’s so great to give the fans a chance to see a special game from the week. I look for what any fan would, if it was an exciting game, if people would really enjoy watching, any surprises in it.
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| On the |  |
College Basketball takes center court this week but ESPN’s coverage of National Signing Day is warming up the sidelines for 10-hours of continuous coverage on ESPNU next Wednesday.
Wednesday (5:30 p.m.) – College Basketball Featured rewinds fans through some of ESPN’s best basketball features this week, including Sports Science: Harrison Barnes (North Carolina) getting air; Logistics of the Game: Doron Lamb (Kentucky); and the story of Thomas Robinson (Kansas) and how his second-family of teammates pulled him through a traumatic year.
Wednesday (6 p.m.) – ESPNU All-Access: North Carolina State goes inside the newly redesigned basketball facilities with first-year head coach Mark Gottfried. ESPNU cameras follow senior guard C.J. Williams around town and catch some of he and Scott Wood’s trick shots after practice. Gottfried and assistant coaches Orlando Early and Bobby Lutz are wired at team meetings and practice.
Next Tuesday (4 p.m.) – ESPNU kicks-off its National Signing Day coverage with a preview special hosted by Dari Nowkhah, followed by 10-hours of continuous live coverage the following day from ESPNU’s Charlotte studio and campuses around the nation. Join the conversation by following @ESPNU and #signingday.
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Weekly Highlights
ESPN’s men’s basketball schedule this week showcases several of the nation’s top ranked teams, including second-ranked Missouri, who rose from No. 5 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll, at Oklahoma State on Wednesday, Jan. 25, (7:30 p.m., ESPN2 & ESPN3). In addition six teams in the top 10 are in action, along with No. 24 Kansas State and No. 25 Wisconsin, who entered this week’s poll. Highlights:
The lone top 25 matchup features a Big Ten battle, No. 17 Indiana at No. 25 Wisconsin on Thursday (9 p.m., ESPN2 & ESPN3)
- No. 2 Missouri battles at Oklahoma State on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., ESPN2 & ESPN3)
- Syracuse, ranked No. 4 after its first loss last weekend, hosts West Virginia on Saturday (1 p.m., ESPNU)
- Also Saturday, No. 20 Saint Mary’s plays at BYU (9 p.m., ESPNU)
- Fifth-ranked Kansas travels to Iowa State on Saturday (2 p.m., ESPN & ESPN3), followed by No. 10 Georgetown at Pittsburgh (4 p.m.)
- Both No. 6 Duke and No. 8 North Carolina are featured twice: Duke at Maryland on Wednesday (9 p.m.) and vs. St. John’s on Saturday (noon) – both on ESPN & ESPN3; UNC vs. NC State on Thursday (7 p.m., ESPN & ESPN3) and vs. Georgia Tech in the ESPNU ACC Sunday Night Basketball series (6 p.m.)
Schedules & Announcers
Studio | Men’s Basketball | Women’s Basketball
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Three top 25 women’s basketball matchups will air on ESPN networks this week, including a top five battle pitting No. 3 Connecticut at No. 5 Duke on Monday, Jan. 30, (7 p.m., ESPN2 & ESPN3) as part of the Big Monday Presented by Bud Light series. Additional weekly highlights:
- No. 12 Rutgers visits No. 18 Georgetown in a BIG EAST tilt on Sunday (1:30 p.m., ESPNU)
- No. 9 Tennessee plays at No. 15 Georgia, also on Sunday (5 p.m., ESPN2 & ESPN3)
- Two other top teams take to the road against non-ranked opponents – No. 2 Notre Dame at St. John’s on Saturday (noon, BIG EAST Network & ESPN3), and No. 19 Penn State visits Michigan State on Sunday (3 p.m., ESPN2 & ESPN3)
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Spring Sports Schedules Announced
Lacrosse | ACC Baseball & Softball
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College Sports Media Kit
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