SAN BRUNO, Calif. – As part of their long-term relationship, the West Coast Conference and ESPN announced that a minimum of 43 men's basketball games involving WCC schools will air nationally on the ESPN Networks during the 2012-13 season, with the University of San Francisco picking up four televised games.
“We are excited to showcase more West Coast Conference basketball than ever before on ESPN Networks,” said WCC Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich. “On the heels of a season in which three of our teams played in the NCAA Tournament and five participated in the postseason, the WCC is well-positioned as a national conference. Our strong relationship with ESPN ensures that fans around the country can experience the quality brand of basketballplayed in the West Coast Conference.”
The West Coast Conference will once again be a centerpiece to ESPN and ESPN2's Thursday night coverage, with Wednesday and Saturday ESPNU appearances. In all, there will be a total of 20 conference games showcased on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU in 2012-13, including the WCC Basketball Championship quarterfinals (Friday, March 8, ESPNU), semifinals (Saturday, March 9, ESPN2) and the championship game on Monday, March 11 (ESPN or ESPN2).
The WCC's national telecast package is highlighted by a pair of clashes between SaintMary's and Gonzaga – the teams that met in the 2012 WCC championship game. In addition, both teams will face second year conference foe BYU, another 2012 NCAA Tournament team, in nationally-televised showdowns.
In the conference opener, Bay Area rivals collide when San Francisco visits Santa Clara on January 2.
In addition to the conference games, ESPN has announced it will televise eightnon-conference games that are a part of the WCC's national televisionpackage. Additional WCC non-conference road games on the ESPN Networks will be announced at a later date.
As the season approaches, check the interactive schedule on WCCsports.com or follow the West Coast Conference on Twitter (@WCCsports) for additional non-conference telecasts along with local and regional telecast information from the conference and its member institutions.
For a complete listing of all WCC games picked up by ESPN, please visit WCCsports.com.
2012-13 USF Basketball on ESPN Networks
Saturday, December 22
San Francisco vs. San Diego State (Diamond Head Classic, Honolulu, Hawai'i), TBD (TV: ESPNU)
Sunday, December 23
San Francisco vs. TBD (Diamond Head Classic, Honolulu, Hawai'i), TBD (TV: ESPNU)
Tuesday, December 25
San Francisco vs. TBD (Diamond Head Classic, Honolulu, Hawai'i), TBD (TV: ESPN2, ESPNU, or ESPN3)
Wednesday, January 2
*San Francisco at Santa Clara, 7:00 p.m. (TV: ESPNU)
*denotes West Coast Conference game
All times listed are Pacific, and subject to change. View the most current interactive schedule on WCCsports.com.
