Here’s the release…
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The BIG EAST 2012-13 men’s basketball conference schedule has two familiar traits. Every conference game will be televised and more than half – 56 percent — will be seen on national television. The schedule also is loaded with heavy duty matchups. Nearly 80 percent of the league contests will include at least one team that played in last season’s NCAA Championship and 27 percent will feature two NCAA squads.
On the national television slate, ESPN & ESPN2 will carry 45 conference games. At least 24 league games will be televised on ESPNU, which reaches more than 73 million homes. CBS Sports has six BIG EAST contests, its highest number of conference games in 20 years, and one non-league game. ESPN will continue to televise The BIG EAST Championship presented by American Eagle Outfitters from Madison Square Garden in New York. The dates for the 2013 event are March 12-16. It will be the 31st BIG EAST tournament at MSG.
At least 75 of the 135 regular-season BIG EAST games will be on national television. One hundred seven of the 135 will include one team that played in the 2012 NCAA Championship. Thirty seven games will have two NCAA squads. BIG EAST teams will play, on average, 10 nationally televised games during their 18-game league schedules. The remaining conference games will be produced by ESPN Regional Television for the BIG EAST Network. All BIG EAST Network games will be available on ESPN3.
It is the sixth consecutive season that every league game will be televised.
The league also announced a partial schedule of non-conference games that will be televised on national networks. At least 34 intersectional games will receive national exposure.
“BIG EAST men’s basketball and unparalleled national media exposure have always been synonymous,” said BIG EAST Commissioner Mike Aresco. “The 2012-13 schedule is unmatched in its scope of telecasts nationally, regionally and locally. Our coaches and student-athletes are committed to excellence at the highest level. I know the upcoming season will be full of outstanding and exciting play.”
The BIG EAST has always enjoyed a leadership position in college sports television. Eleven of the 15 BIG EAST teams reside in the top 35 media markets in the country.
ESPN and BIG EAST again will partner in the network’s Big Monday format. The league also will make regular appearances on ESPN and ESPN2 on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Once again, there will be conference games played on every day of the week.
In addition, the BIG EAST and ESPN Regional Television will carry the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week on Saturdays and Sundays. The BIG EAST Network Game of the Week package will include over 40 affiliates reaching more than 43 million households which represent 37.6 percent of the U.S.
Some of the highlights of the 2012-13 schedule include:
Big Monday – The BIG EAST schedule on ESPN’s Big Monday includes eight games over seven weeks. The series starts with Louisville at Connecticut, the league’s most recent Final Four teams, on Jan. 14. A week later, there is the usual doubleheader on the Martin Luther King Day holiday. Cincinnati plays at Syracuse at 3:30 p.m. ET with Georgetown visiting Notre Dame at 7:30. Prior to the official Big Monday schedule, Notre Dame will play at Cincinnati on Monday, Jan. 7, on ESPN2. Four other conference games will be shown on Mondays on ESPNU.
Wednesdays – ESPN or ESPN2 will show seven Wednesday games involving BIG EAST teams during the 10-week conference season. The Wednesday schedule begins Jan. 9 with Louisville at Seton Hall on ESPN2. Ten BIG EAST teams will be featured on the Wednesday games.
Saturdays – ESPN or ESPN2 will telecast 14 BIG EAST games on Saturdays during the conference season. The Saturday schedule includes a doubleheader on the final day of the regular season, March 9, Syracuse visits Georgetown on ESPN and Marquette plays at St. John’s on ESPN or ESPN2. The BIG EAST Network Game of the Week package continues on Saturdays and Sundays.
Sundays – ESPN will carry three league games on Sunday afternoons. On Feb. 3, Marquette plays at Louisville. St. John’s visits Syracuse on Feb. 10. On Feb. 17, Louisville plays at USF.
CBS Sports — The seven-game schedule on CBS Sports features eight BIG EAST squads. The first of six conference games will be St. John’s at Georgetown on Feb. 2. On March 9, the final day of the regular season, Notre Dame plays at Louisville. The Cardinals will be featured on the only non-conference telecast when they host Kentucky Dec. 29. The BIG EAST and CBS Sports have been formal television partners since 1983-84, the longest relationship of any conference and national broadcast network.
ESPN College GameDay – The BIG EAST again will be the only conference scheduled to host ESPN’s signature College GameDay series twice. On Feb. 9, The GameDay crew will on site for either Louisville at Notre Dame or Pittsburgh at Cincinnati. It is the first “Wild Card” situation ever in the GameDay series for two games in the same conference. The site will be determined as the season progresses. On March 9, GameDay visits Georgetown for the first time when the Hoyas will host Syracuse in the regular-season finale for both teams.
ESPN Rivalry Week – The BIG EAST will have 11 appearances on the network’s Rivalry Week. The week begins on Feb. 11, with Marquette at Georgetown in a Big Monday battle. The week concludes with Rutgers at Villanova on ESPNU Feb. 18.
New Year’s – The BIG EAST league schedule opens Dec. 31 with an afternoon contest between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh on ESPN2 at the Panthers’ Petersen Events Center. On Jan. 1, Connecticut plays at Marquette on ESPNU. Four conference games are slated for Jan. 2, including St. John’s at Villanova on ESPNU.
Jimmy V Classic – The BIG EAST often places teams in both games of prestigious Jimmy V Classic. This season, Georgetown battles Texas and Connecticut meets North Carolina State on Dec. 4 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
SEC-BIG EAST Challenge – The SEC-BIG EAST Challenge, which was previously announced, will match 12 teams from each conference over three nights, Nov. 29-Dec. 1. ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will provide exclusive coverage. All 12 games will played at home sites with each conference hosting six contests.
NBA All-Star Weekend Game – A BIG EAST game has become a regular part of the NBA All-Star Weekend. This season, Georgetown will play at Cincinnati on Feb. 15.
The BIG EAST Network local telecast schedules will be announced in the near future.
2012-13 BIG EAST CONFERENCE COMPOSITE MEN’S BASKETBALL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
| Monday, Dec. 31 | ||
| Cincinnati at Pittsburgh | Noon | ESPN2 |
| Tuesday, Jan. 1 | ||
| Connecticut at Marquette | 8 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Wednesday, Jan. 2 | ||
| Providence at Louisville | BIG EAST Network | |
| Rutgers at Syracuse | BIG EAST Network | |
| Seton Hall at DePaul | BIG EAST Network | |
| St. John’s at Villanova | 8 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Saturday, Jan. 5 | ||
| DePaul at Providence | BIG EAST Network | |
| Georgetown at Marquette | BIG EAST Network | |
| Pittsburgh at Rutgers | 11 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Seton Hall at Notre Dame | BIG EAST Network | |
| St. John’s at Cincinnati | 4 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Sunday, Jan. 6 | ||
| Syracuse at USF | BIG EAST Network | |
| Monday, Jan. 7 | ||
| Notre Dame at Cincinnati | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Tuesday, Jan. 8 | ||
| DePaul at Connecticut | BIG EAST Network | |
| Pittsburgh at Georgetown | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Wednesday, Jan. 9 | ||
| Louisville at Seton Hall | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Rutgers at St. John’s | BIG EAST Network | |
| Syracuse at Providence | BIG EAST Network | |
| Villanova at USF | BIG EAST Network | |
| Saturday, Jan. 12 | ||
| Cincinnati at Rutgers | BIG EAST Network | |
| Connecticut at Notre Dame | BIG EAST Network | |
| Georgetown at St. John’s | 11 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Marquette at Pittsburgh | Noon | ESPNU |
| USF at Louisville | BIG EAST Network | |
| Villanova at Syracuse | BIG EAST Network | |
| Sunday, Jan. 13 | ||
| Providence at Seton Hall | BIG EAST Network | |
| Monday, Jan. 14 | ||
| Louisville at Connecticut | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tuesday, Jan. 15 | ||
| Cincinnati at DePaul | BIG EAST Network | |
| Notre Dame at St. John’s | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Wednesday, Jan. 16 | ||
| Pittsburgh at Villanova | 7 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Providence at Georgetown | BIG EAST Network | |
| Seton Hall at Marquette | BIG EAST Network | |
| Thursday, Jan. 17 | ||
| USF at Rutgers | 9 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Saturday, Jan. 19 | ||
| Connecticut at Pittsburgh | Noon/1 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Georgetown at USF | BIG EAST Network | |
| Marquette at Cincinnati | 5 p.m./7 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Rutgers at Notre Dame | BIG EAST Network | |
| St. John’s at DePaul | BIG EAST Network | |
| Syracuse at Louisville | 4 p.m. | ESPN |
| Villanova at Providence | BIG EAST Network | |
| Monday, Jan. 21 | ||
| Cincinnati at Syracuse | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Georgetown at Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tuesday, Jan. 22 | ||
| Louisville at Villanova | BIG EAST Network | |
| Pittsburgh at Providence | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Wednesday, Jan. 23 | ||
| St. John’s at Rutgers | BIG EAST Network | |
| USF at Seton Hall | 7 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Saturday, Jan. 26 | ||
| DePaul at Pittsburgh | BIG EAST Network | |
| Louisville at Georgetown | Noon | ESPN |
| Notre Dame at USF | BIG EAST Network | |
| Providence at Marquette | BIG EAST Network | |
| Syracuse at Villanova | 11 a.m. | ESPNU |
| Sunday, Jan. 27 | ||
| Rutgers at Connecticut | BIG EAST Network | |
| Seton Hall at St. John’s | BIG EAST Network | |
| Monday, Jan. 28 | ||
| Pittsburgh at Louisville | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| USF at Marquette | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Wednesday, Jan. 30 | ||
| DePaul at St. John’s | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Rutgers at Cincinnati | BIG EAST Network | |
| Seton Hall at Georgetown | BIG EAST Network | |
| Villanova at Notre Dame | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Thursday, Jan. 31 | ||
| Connecticut at Providence | 7 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Saturday, Feb. 2 | ||
| Cincinnati at Seton Hall | 11 a.m. | ESPNU |
| Notre Dame at DePaul | 2 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| St. John’s at Georgetown | 4 p.m. | CBS |
| Syracuse at Pittsburgh | Noon | ESPN |
| Sunday, Feb. 3 | ||
| Marquette at Louisville | 2 p.m. | ESPN |
| Providence at Villanova | BIG EAST Network | |
| USF at Connecticut | BIG EAST Network | |
| Monday, Feb. 4 | ||
| Notre Dame at Syracuse | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Seton Hall at Pittsburgh | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Tuesday, Feb. 5 | ||
| Villanova at DePaul | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Wednesday, Feb. 6 | ||
| Cincinnati at Providence | BIG EAST Network | |
| Connecticut at St. John’s | 7 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Louisville at Rutgers | BIG EAST Network | |
| Marquette at USF | 7 p.m./9 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Saturday, Feb. 9 | ||
| DePaul at Marquette | BIG EAST Network | |
| Georgetown at Rutgers | BIG EAST Network | |
| Louisville at Notre Dame | 9 p.m./6 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Pittsburgh at Cincinnati | 9 p.m./6 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| USF at Villanova | 3 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Sunday, Feb. 10 | ||
| Connecticut at Seton Hall | BIG EAST Network | |
| St. John’s at Syracuse | 1 p.m. | ESPN |
| Monday, Feb. 11 | ||
| Marquette at Georgetown | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tuesday, Feb. 12 | ||
| Seton Hall at Rutgers | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Villanova at Cincinnati | BIG EAST Network | |
| Wednesday, Feb. 13 | ||
| DePaul at Notre Dame | BIG EAST Network | |
| Providence at USF | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Syracuse at Connecticut | 7 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Thursday, Feb. 14 | ||
| St. John’s at Louisville | 9 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Friday, Feb. 15 | ||
| Georgetown at Cincinnati | 9 p.m. | ESPN |
| Saturday, Feb. 16 | ||
| Notre Dame at Providence | BIG EAST Network | |
| Pittsburgh at Marquette | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| Rutgers at DePaul | 1 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Syracuse at Seton Hall | BIG EAST Network | |
| Villanova at Connecticut | Noon | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Sunday, Feb. 17 | ||
| Louisville at USF | 1 p.m. | ESPN |
| Monday, Feb. 18 | ||
| Notre Dame at Pittsburgh | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Rutgers at Villanova | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Tuesday, Feb. 19 | ||
| Marquette at Seton Hall | BIG EAST Network | |
| Wednesday, Feb. 20 | ||
| DePaul at Georgetown | BIG EAST Network | |
| Providence at Syracuse | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| USF at St. John’s | BIG EAST Network | |
| Thursday, Feb. 21 | ||
| Cincinnati at Connecticut | 7 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Saturday, Feb. 23 | ||
| Connecticut at DePaul | BIG EAST Network | |
| Georgetown at Syracuse | 4 p.m. | CBS |
| Marquette at Villanova | 6 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Providence at Rutgers | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Seton Hall at Louisville | BIG EAST Network | |
| Sunday, Feb. 24 | ||
| Cincinnati at Notre Dame | 2 p.m. | CBS |
| Pittsburgh at St. John’s | BIG EAST Network | |
| Monday, Feb. 25 | ||
| Syracuse at Marquette | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Villanova at Seton Hall | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Wednesday, Feb. 27 | ||
| Georgetown at Connecticut | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Louisville at DePaul | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| USF at Pittsburgh | BIG EAST Network | |
| Saturday, March 2 | ||
| Connecticut at Cincinnati | BIG EAST Network | |
| Louisville at Syracuse | Noon | CBS |
| Notre Dame at Marquette | 2 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Rutgers at Georgetown | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| St. John’s at Providence | BIG EAST Network | |
| Sunday, March 3 | ||
| DePaul at USF | BIG EAST Network | |
| Villanova at Pittsburgh | BIG EAST Network | |
| Monday, March 4 | ||
| Cincinnati at Louisville | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tuesday, March 5 | ||
| Marquette at Rutgers | BIG EAST Network | |
| Seton Hall at Providence | BIG EAST Network | |
| St. John’s at Notre Dame | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Wednesday, March 6 | ||
| Connecticut at USF | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| DePaul at Syracuse | BIG EAST Network | |
| Georgetown at Villanova | 7 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Friday, March 8 | ||
| Rutgers at Seton Hall | BIG EAST Network | |
| Saturday, March 9 | ||
| Marquette at St. John’s | 2 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Notre Dame at Louisville | 4 p.m. | CBS |
| Pittsburgh at DePaul | BIG EAST Network | |
| Providence at Connecticut | Noon | ESPNU |
| Syracuse at Georgetown | Noon | ESPN |
| USF at Cincinnati | BIG EAST Network |
Note: All conference games not listed with CBS, ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU above will be televised by ESPN Regional/BIG EAST Network. Games listed as ‘ESPN/ESPN2’ will be selected to either ESPN or ESPN2, but the start time will not change.
2012-13 BIG EAST CONFERENCE MEN’S BASKETBALL NONCONFERENCE GAMES ON CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, AND ESPNU
* partial schedule – more games to be announced
| Friday, Nov. 9 | |||
| Michigan State vs. Connecticut | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN | Armed Forces Classic |
| Sunday, Nov. 11 | |||
| Colgate at Marquette | 4:30 p.m. | ESPNU | EA Sports Maui Invitational |
| Duquesne at Georgetown | 6:30 p.m. | ESPNU | Legends Classic |
| Tuesday, Nov. 13 | |||
| Detroit at St. John’s | 2 p.m. | ESPN | ESPN Tip-Off Marathon |
| Thursday, Nov. 29 | |||
| Kentucky at Notre Dame | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 | SEC-BIG EAST Challenge |
| South Carolina at St. John’s | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU | SEC-BIG EAST Challenge |
| Marquette at Florida | 9 p.m. | ESPN2 | SEC-BIG EAST Challenge |
| Seton Hall at LSU | 9:30 p.m. | ESPNU | SEC-BIG EAST Challenge |
| Friday, Nov. 30 | |||
| Tennessee at Georgetown | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN | SEC-BIG EAST Challenge |
| Georgia at USF | 7 p.m. | ESPNU | SEC-BIG EAST Challenge |
| Syracuse at Arkansas | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN | SEC-BIG EAST Challenge |
| DePaul at Auburn | 9 p.m. | ESPNU | SEC-BIG EAST Challenge |
| Saturday, Dec. 1 | |||
| Mississippi State at Providence | Noon | ESPNU | SEC-BIG EAST Challenge |
| Rutgers at Mississippi | 2 p.m. | ESPNU | SEC-BIG EAST Challenge |
| Alabama at Cincinnati | 3 p.m. | ESPN2 | SEC-BIG EAST Challenge |
| Villanova at Vanderbilt | 5 p.m. | ESPN2 | SEC-BIG EAST Challenge |
| Monday, Dec. 3 | |||
| Eastern Michigan at Syracuse | 7 p.m. | ESPNU | |
| Tuesday, Dec. 4 | |||
| Texas vs. Georgetown | 7 p.m. | ESPN | Jimmy V Classic |
| North Carolina State vs. Connecticut | 9 p.m. | ESPN | Jimmy V Classic |
| Louisville at College of Charleston | 9 p.m. | ESPNU | |
| Wednesday, Dec. 5 | |||
| Temple at Villanova | 9 p.m. | ESPN2 | |
| USF at Oklahoma State | 9 p.m. | ESPNU | |
| Thursday, Dec. 6 | |||
| Long Beach State at Syracuse | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Saturday, Dec. 8 | |||
| Wisconsin at Marquette | 6 p.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Tuesday, Dec. 11 | |||
| Saint Joseph’s at Villanova | 7 p.m. | ESPNU | |
| Saturday, Dec. 15 | |||
| Purdue vs. Notre Dame | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN2 | Crossroads Classic |
| Sunday, Dec. 16 | |||
| Delaware at Villanova | 4 p.m. | ESPNU | |
| Monday, Dec. 17 | |||
| Detroit at Syracuse | 7 p.m. | ESPNU | Gotham Classic |
| Wednesday, Dec. 19 | |||
| Xavier at Cincinnati | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Friday, Dec. 21 | |||
| Niagara at Notre Dame | 7 p.m. | ESPNU | |
| Saturday, Dec. 22 | |||
| Temple vs. Syracuse | Noon | ESPN2 | Gotham Classic |
| Thursday, Dec. 27 | |||
| New Mexico at Cincinnati | 9 p.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Saturday, Dec. 29 | |||
| Kentucky at Louisville | 4 p.m. | CBS | |
| Washington at Connecticut | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
All times Eastern
