The following is a press release courtesy of the Big 12 Conference.
Irving, Texas – For the first time in conference history, the entire Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship will be televised nationally on ESPN networks, the league office has announced.
This year’s championship will see every game broadcast on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU for the first time. Previously, selected contests during the event were shown in certain areas on the Big 12 Network, the Conference’s syndication agreement with ESPN. In addition, the final will move back to its traditional 5:00 p.m. local tipoff after a later start one year ago.
The lineup for the 2015 championship is as follows:
FIRST ROUND – Wednesday, March 11
No. 8 Seed vs. No. 9 Seed ESPNU 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT
No. 7 Seed vs. No. 10 Seed ESPNU 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT*
QUARTERFINALS – Thursday, March 12
No. 4 Seed vs. No. 5 Seed ESPN2 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT
No. 1 Seed vs. 8/9 Winner ESPN2 2:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. CT*
No. 2 Seed vs. 7/10 Winner ESPNU 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT
No. 3 Seed vs. No. 6 Seed ESPNU 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT*
SEMIFINALS – Friday, March 13
Thursday Afternoon Winners ESPN or ESPN2 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT
Thursday Evening Winners ESPN or ESPN2 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT*
FINAL – Saturday, March 14
Semifinal Winners ESPN 6:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. CT
* – Game will begin 30 minutes after conclusion of first game of session
Overall, more than 100 Big 12 games in 2014-15 will be televised on the ESPN networks. The league will tip off the season with the annual Big 12 Men’s Basketball Media Day on Wednesday, October 15. The regular season itself begins in less than two months when nine teams take the court on Friday, November 14.
