UConn's first game of the season on ESPN (main channel)

[BUHusky]

Looks like ESPN decided (in the last day or so) to set the lineup for Thursday with UConn/Memphis on ESPN and Mizzou/Vandy on ESPN2.

Believe it or not, that will be UConn's first game of the season on ESPN (main channel). Maryland, BC, Indiana, Florida, and Stanford were all ESPN2 games. I suppose this is the new reality of life in the AAC. No more Big Monday games to fall back on during conference play...

UConn has a bunch of these games coming up, mostly in February, where ESPN has the option of putting the game on ESPN or ESPN2 (http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...pdf/2013-14/misc_non_event/conn-men-sched.pdf). I might be wrong, but I don't recall that ever being the case in the Big East...maybe these network options were part of the AAC contract negotiations with ESPN.

Even if most of those option games are "downgraded" to ESPN2 it's still a really good spot to be in all things considered. And being on ESPN2 is also infinitely better than being on FS1. Hell, I'd argue that having a game on ESPNU (which UConn has their share of this season) is still much better than being on FS1. It's UConn's 4 games on CBS Sports Network that really bother me. For selfish reasons, I don't get that channel in HD and don't know of any friends who do either. But more importantly in terms of exposure, those games on CBSSN are pretty much games that fall into a black hole. Almost no one will be watching them. I'd almost be willing to bet that if the same game was broadcast on CBSSN or SNY, the game would get more viewers on SNY, even with CBSSN being a "national" channel and SNY being a regional channel.

#AAC

 

[CTBasketball]

Pretty soon we won't be playing on ESPN.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Pretty soon we won't be playing on ESPN.

It's not even trolling at this point. It's just taking up space.

 

[CTBasketball]

It's not even trolling at this point. It's just taking up space.

It was actually a valid statement, but some people are blinded by ignorance to realize what is happening to this program.

 

[3uconn]

It's not even trolling at this point. It's just taking up space.

Thank you! I'm so sick of everyone thinking that the sky is falling. It's really annoying.

 

[3uconn]

It was actually a valid statement, but some people are blinded by ignorance to realize what is happening to this program.

How can you say that. We had a couple bad games. Then, all of a sudden everyone questions whether Ollie is the right guy and they say that UConn basketball is over.

 

[CTBasketball]

How can you say that. We had a couple bad games. Then, all of a sudden everyone questions whether Ollie is the right guy and they say that UConn basketball is over.

I could go on for hours about why the program is going downhill, but nobody wants to hear it. Because the truth hurts.

 

[UConn990411]

It was actually a valid statement, but some people are blinded by ignorance to realize what is happening to this program.

The second part of your statement might be accurate, but the first part isn't.

Gonzaga will have more than 10 games this season air on ESPN or ESPN2. If UConn is good, ESPN will broadcast their games.

Also, you're a troll.

 

[BUHusky]

It was actually a valid statement, but some people are blinded by ignorance to realize what is happening to this program.

You can doom and gloom all you want about the program, but you're totally off about the ESPN stuff. The AAC and ESPN just signed a TV contract this past summer, and while the money is total crap, the contract means UConn will be playing plenty on the ESPN family of networks as long as they are in the AAC. ESPN was quite happy to pick up AAC content at the price they got.

 

[CTBasketball]

You can doom and gloom all you want about the program, but you're totally off about the ESPN stuff. The AAC and ESPN just signed a TV contract this past summer, and while the money is total crap, the contract means UConn will be playing plenty on the ESPN family of networks as long as they are in the AAC. ESPN was quite happy to pick up AAC content at the price they got.

I know they picked up the contract, which is good. But we will only play 1-2 games a year on the main ESPN, ESPN2 networks. Other than that either we're on ESPNU or ESPN3. Most cable providers don't even offer the latter as a part of their package.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

It was actually a valid statement, but some people are blinded by ignorance to realize what is happening to this program.

You're not trying to be informative, clown. You're just trolling.

 

[CTBasketball]

You're not trying to be informative, clown. You're just trolling.

I'm not trolling simply because I'm stating my opinion. Whether it affects you negatively is not my problem.

 

[BUHusky]

I know they picked up the contract, which is good. But we will only play 1-2 games a year on the main ESPN, ESPN2 networks. Other than that either we're on ESPNU or ESPN3. Most cable providers don't even offer the latter as a part of their package.

What are you talking about? For this year's AAC season, UConn has 9 games on ESPN/ESPN2, 4 on ESPNU, 4 on CBS SN, 1 on CBS, and 0 on ESPN3 only. With Louisville leaving, if anything UConn and Memphis will be the flagship basketball schools of the conference and get the lions share of ESPN/ESPN2 games going forward. Yes this scheduling won't be as good as the old Big East. No more Monday or Tuesday games with 7 PM starts, instead there will be more random Wednesday and Thursday games with 9 PM starts. But at the end of the day that is still better than FS1. Or NBC SN.

 

[tcf15]

I'm not trolling simply because I'm stating my opinion. Whether it affects you negatively is not my problem.

I don't think it's impacting anyone negatively. I just think you're stating a misinformed opinion. Look up the AAC contract and you'll realize why we won't be relegated to only ESPNU and ESPN 3.

 

[CTBasketball]

What are you talking about? For this year's AAC season, UConn has 9 games on ESPN/ESPN2, 4 on ESPNU, 4 on CBS SN, 1 on CBS, and 0 on ESPN3 only. With Louisville leaving, if anything UConn and Memphis will be the flagship basketball schools of the conference and get the lions share of ESPN/ESPN2 games going forward. Yes this scheduling won't be as good as the old Big East. No more Monday or Tuesday games with 7 PM starts, instead there will be more random Wednesday and Thursday games with 9 PM starts. But at the end of the day that is still better than FS1. Or NBC SN.

I'm talking in the years to come. But do you think it'll be better than FS1? I think its better, probably because Raftery is a better color commen. than any of ESPN's (besides Bilas).

 

[Brochacho]

Pretty soon we won't be playing on ESPN.

Yeah, because ESPN is going to give Virginia Tech and Boston College our ESPN airtime since they're in the ACC and we're not.

 

[tcf15]

Looks like ESPN decided (in the last day or so) to set the lineup for Thursday with UConn/Memphis on ESPN and Mizzou/Vandy on ESPN2.

Believe it or not, that will be UConn's first game of the season on ESPN (main channel). Maryland, BC, Indiana, Florida, and Stanford were all ESPN2 games. I suppose this is the new reality of life in the AAC. No more Big Monday games to fall back on during conference play...

UConn has a bunch of these games coming up, mostly in February, where ESPN has the option of putting the game on ESPN or ESPN2 (http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...pdf/2013-14/misc_non_event/conn-men-sched.pdf). I might be wrong, but I don't recall that ever being the case in the Big East...maybe these network options were part of the AAC contract negotiations with ESPN.

Even if most of those option games are "downgraded" to ESPN2 it's still a really good spot to be in all things considered. And being on ESPN2 is also infinitely better than being on FS1. Hell, I'd argue that having a game on ESPNU (which UConn has their share of this season) is still much better than being on FS1. It's UConn's 4 games on CBS Sports Network that really bother me. For selfish reasons, I don't get that channel in HD and don't know of any friends who do either. But more importantly in terms of exposure, those games on CBSSN are pretty much games that fall into a black hole. Almost no one will be watching them. I'd almost be willing to bet that if the same game was broadcast on CBSSN or SNY, the game would get more viewers on SNY, even with CBSSN being a "national" channel and SNY being a regional channel.

#AAC

If you check out the ESPN schedule, it looks like they've already decided which games are going on ESPN and which ones are ESPN2: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/41/connecticut-huskies

 

[CAHUSKY]

I'm talking in the years to come. But do you think it'll be better than FS1? I think its better, probably because Raftery is a better color commen. than any of ESPN's (besides Bilas).

No offense, but you really don't know what your talking about. As other posters indicated, we have a ton of games on ESPN /espn2. Next year it's likely to be more with ville leaving. Why do you persist when it's clearly been shown you are wrong?

 

[BUHusky]

If you check out the ESPN schedule, it looks like they've already decided which games are going on ESPN and which ones are ESPN2: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/41/connecticut-huskies

Oh nice, I hadn't seen that page before. Looks like out of the 7 games with options, 6 made ESPN and 1 went to ESPN2 (USF, not shocking). Not too shabby.

 

[BoatShow]

Pretty soon we won't be playing on ESPN.

Big ten network

 

[upstater]

I know they picked up the contract, which is good. But we will only play 1-2 games a year on the main ESPN, ESPN2 networks. Other than that either we're on ESPNU or ESPN3. Most cable providers don't even offer the latter as a part of their package.

This is incorrect. Read the contract.

 

[upstater]

I'm talking in the years to come. But do you think it'll be better than FS1? I think its better, probably because Raftery is a better color commen. than any of ESPN's (besides Bilas).

It's better because of Raftery? FS1 games get 50k viewers, the good ones anyway. ESPN2 games get 500,000 viewers.