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ESPN2 Opens Season November 16 as Part of Tip-Off Marathon
ESPN’s 2015-16 women’s college basketball regular-season schedule includes 137 games across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network and Longhorn Network – topping the number of games previously aired on ESPN networks.
ESPN2’s women’s basketball schedule opens with the annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon presented by Constant Contact on Monday, Nov. 16, showcasing three-time defending national champion UConn at No. 13 Ohio State at 5:30 p.m. ET – the first of 10 games tipping off about every two hours before programming switches over to ESPN.
The schedule boasts 24 of 25 programs on the espnW.com Way-too-early Top 25 poll – created by bracketologist Charlie Creme at the conclusion of the 2015 Final Four. espnW.com will provide season-long original content and supporting material for ESPN’s top games.
The addition of ESPN3 exclusive games and ESPN College Extra’s schedule, a new college sports service announced in September that brings hundreds of ESPN3 exclusive live college sports events to the TV, will be announced at a later date and result in a record number of contests this season.
All telecasts will be streamed live on WatchESPN, accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets and connected devices to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
Schedule Highlights:
ESPN – two early-season top-25 matchups, plus two February dates that include a Netflex option.
ESPN2 – home to 37 games, the network will include top early-season matchups, all Big Monday contests and each Sunday, beginning January 10, throughout the conference season.
ESPNU – a 20-game schedule, the 24-hour college sports network has matchups each Sunday during the conference schedule (except Super Bowl Sunday).
SEC Network – airing more than 70 contests, including doubleheaders or whip around coverage on Thursday nights, a game-of-the-week on Mondays and a minimum of two games each Sunday during conference season. SEC Network will present two nights of whip‐around coverage, a live look‐in to every women’s basketball contest played on Thursday, Jan. 7 and Thursday, Feb. 25.
Longhorn Network – ESPN’s 24-hour network devoted to The University of Texas, will air 12 games, including six featuring a Big 12 opponent.
Events and Tournaments
Jimmy V Women’s Classic Presented by Corona – the 14th annual game features a rematch of the 2014 & 2015 NCAA Championship title games – pitting No. 1 UConn against No. 6 Notre Dame on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 5:15 p.m. on ESPN from Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn. The teams are meeting for the second straight year in the Jimmy V Classic with Notre Dame playing in the event for just the second time and the Huskies appearing for the fifth straight year and eighth time overall.
Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Holiday Showcase – the annual event will feature No. 10 Florida State vs. top-ranked UConn from Uncasville, Conn., on Friday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
American/SEC Challenge – host to the 2016 SEC Tournament, the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., will showcase No. 21 USF against No. 11 Mississippi State at 4:30 p.m. and UCF vs. Florida at 7 p.m. on SEC Network.
Maggie Dixon Classic – a top-five matchup on Monday, Dec. 28, from Madison Square Garden, No. 4 Maryland will face No. 1 UConn on ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m. in the annual event named for the former Army head coach.
We Back Pat – No. 3 Tennessee will play at No. 16 Kentucky in a January 25 Big Monday game, to honor former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt as part of the SEC’s “We Back Pat” initiative.
Play 4Kay – ESPN’s annual Play 4Kay games – highlighting the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, in partnership with The V Foundation and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) – will air five games across ESPN2 and ESPNU on Sunday, Feb. 21. Two top-25 matchups – No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Florida State and No. 5 Baylor at No. 19 Oklahoma – airs Monday, Feb. 22, as part of Big Monday.
Franchise Programming
ESPN’s women’s franchise programming consists of top matchups around notable times in the schedule:
College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon presented by Constant Contact – showcases two ranked teams in three-time defending national champion and top-ranked UConn at No. 13 Ohio State on Nov. 16, at 5:30 p.m. to begin ESPN2’s marathon coverage.
Big Monday – the 10th season of the seven-week series on ESPN2 will begin on January 18 and run through February 29. Each of the 11 games features two ranked programs, and the schedule showcases eight of the top 10 teams in the espnW poll: No. 1 UConn, No. 2 South Carolina, No. 3 Tennessee, No. 4 Maryland, No. 5 Baylor, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 Louisville, No. 10 Florida State, No. 12 Oregon State, No. 13 Ohio State, No. 14 Arizona State, No. 15 Duke, No. 16 Kentucky, No. 19 Oklahoma and No. 21 USF.
Feast Week presented by Lowe’s – features No. 9 Texas at No. 3 Tennessee on Sunday, Nov. 29, at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Holiday Hoops presented by Kay Jewelers – two games on ESPNU: Third-ranked Tennessee at No. 20 Stanford on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 9 p.m. and No. 10 Florida State at No. 14 Arizona State on Monday, Dec. 21, at 5 p.m.
My Home Court – begins with a Big Monday matchup with No. 3 Tennessee at No. 6 Notre Dame on January 24, at 7 p.m., followed by a Sunday, Jan. 24 tripleheader of No. 21 USF at UCF at 2 p.m. on ESPNU, plus No. 13 Ohio State at No. 25 Rutgers at 3 p.m. and No. 2 South Carolina at No. 11 Mississippi State at 5 p.m., both on ESPN2.
Rivalry Week presented by Wendy’s – also begins with a Big Monday doubleheader on February 15 featuring SEC opponents South Carolina at No. 3 Tennessee at 7 p.m., followed by former American foes USF at No. 7 Louisville at 9 p.m. The week continues on Sunday, Feb. 21 with ESPN’s annual coverage of Play 4Kay with five games across ESPN2 and ESPNU.
espnW
A comprehensive two-week season preview November 2-13 will include a preseason top-25 poll, preseason All-America teams, preseason Bracketology and a ranking of top 25 players in the nation.
Writers Mechelle Voepel, Graham Hays, Kate Fagan and Michelle Smith, as well as analyst Rebecca Lobo, will write in-depth profiles of some of the nation’s top teams, players and coaches throughout the season.
Prior to each Big Monday game, espnW.com will offer an updated Bracketology segment from Charlie Creme and a game preview for that night’s matchup, as well as postgame coverage with video analysis.
For the fourth consecutive season, espnW will name a national player of the week each Monday.
Postseason Coverage
ESPN platforms will have a full lineup of men’s and women’s conference tournament games during Championship Week presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods from Thursday, March 3, to Sunday, March 13. The complete schedule will be announced in late February.
ESPN networks will continue to carry all 63 games of the 2016 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship presented by Capital One, culminating with the NCAA Women’s Final Four from Indianapolis, on April 3 and 5.
The exclusive live announcement of the 64-team NCAA Championship field as part of Selection Monday presented by Capital One will be unveiled March 14, at 7 p.m., with ESPNU offering a bonus hour of coverage on the NCAA Women’s’ Basketball Selection Special Extended Coverage at 8 p.m.
All 63 games of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship will air on ESPN networks for the 11th consecutive year. ESPN and ESPN2 will present regionalized telecasts with home market protection through the first two rounds. ESPN3 and ESPN FULL COURT, the pay-per-view package, will offer first- and second-round games in their entirety as a supplement to ESPN and ESPN2’s coverage. The final 15 games, beginning with the Regional Semifinals, will have national telecast windows on ESPN or ESPN2.
2015-16 ESPN Networks Women’s Basketball Schedule (subject to change)
Date
Time (ET)
Matchup
Network
Sat, Nov. 14
8 p.m.
UT San Antonio at Texas
Longhorn Network
Sun, Nov 15
8 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette at Ole Miss
SEC Network
Mon, Nov 16
5:30 p.m.
Tip-Off Marathon presented by Constant Contact: UConn at Ohio State
ESPN2
Florida State at Florida
SEC Network
Wed, Nov 18
Noon
Northwestern State at Texas
Longhorn Network
8 p.m.
Penn State at Tennessee
SEC Network
Thu, Nov 19
7 p.m.
Virginia at Auburn
SEC Network
Sun, Nov 22
4 p.m.
Georgia Tech at Georgia
SEC Network
8 p.m.
Wake Forest at Missouri
SEC Network
Wed, Nov 25
8 p.m.
Hampton at Texas
Longhorn Network
Sun, Nov 29
2:30 p.m.
Feast Week presented by Lowe’s: Texas at Tennessee
ESPN
Mon, Nov 30
9 p.m.
Air Force at Vanderbilt
SEC Network
Wed, Dec 2
8 p.m.
Mississippi State at Texas
Longhorn Network
Thu, Dec 3
7 p.m.
Louisville at Michigan State
ESPN2
Sat, Dec 5
5:15 p.m.
Jimmy V Women’s Classic presented by Corona: Notre Dame at UConn
ESPN2
Sun, Dec 6
2 p.m.
Duke at South Carolina
ESPN2
Virginia Tech at Tennessee
SEC Network
4 p.m.
Michigan at Princeton
ESPN2
Mon, Dec 7
Noon
SMU at Texas A&M
SEC Network
Thu, Dec 10
7 p.m.
Louisville at Kentucky
SEC Network
9 p.m.
Oral Roberts at Arkansas
SEC Network
Fri, Dec 11
6 p.m.
Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Holiday Showcase: Florida State vs. UConn (Uncasville, Conn.)
ESPN2
Sat, Dec 12
1 p.m.
Georgetown at Alabama
SEC Network
3 p.m.
DePaul at Texas A&M
SEC Network
Sun, Dec 13
1 p.m.
Stanford at Texas
ESPN
2 p.m.
Winthrop at South Carolina
SEC Network
4 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara at LSU
SEC Network
Wed, Dec 16
8 p.m.
Canisius at Texas
Longhorn Network
9 p.m.
Holiday Hoops presented by Kay Jewelers: Tennessee at Stanford
ESPNU
Sun, Dec 20
7 p.m.
Duke at Kentucky
SEC Network
Mon, Dec 21
5 p.m.
Holiday Hoops presented by Kay Jewelers: Florida State at Arizona State
ESPNU
Tue, Dec 22
1 p.m.
Little-Rock Arkansas at Texas A&M
SEC Network
Sun, Dec 27
3 p.m.
Sam Houston State at Texas
Longhorn Network
Mon, Dec 28
7 p.m.
Tennessee State at Kentucky
SEC Network
8:30 p.m.
Maggie Dixon Classic: Maryland vs. UConn (New York City)
ESPN2
Wed, Dec 30
4:30 p.m.
American/SEC Challenge: USF vs. Mississippi State (Jacksonville, Fla.)
SEC Network
7 p.m.
American/SEC Challenge: UCF vs. Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.)
SEC Network
Fri, Jan 1
4 p.m.
Florida State at Louisville
ESPNU
Sat, Jan 2
8 p.m.
Texas State at Texas
Longhorn Network
Sun, Jan 3
1 p.m.
Duke at Syracuse
ESPNU
Mississippi State at Florida
SEC Network
3 p.m.
Arkansas at South Carolina
ESPNU
LSU at Alabama
SEC Network
5 p.m.
Tulane at Memphis
ESPNU
Georgia at Texas A&M
SEC Network
Mon, Jan 4
7 p.m.
Tennessee at Missouri
SEC Network
Wed, Jan 6
8 p.m.
Iowa State at Texas
Longhorn Network
Thu, Jan 7
7 p.m.
SEC Network Whip Around Coverage
SEC Network
9 p.m.
SEC Network Whip Around Coverage
SEC Network
Fri, Jan 8
5 p.m.
Tulsa at Temple
ESPNU
9 p.m.
UConn at Houston
ESPN2
Sun, Jan 10
Noon
Missouri at South Carolina
SEC Network
1 p.m.
North Carolina at Notre Dame or Duke at Louisville
ESPN2
2 p.m.
Auburn at Tennessee
ESPNU
Florida at Ole Miss
SEC Network
3 p.m.
Maryland at Iowa
ESPN2
4 p.m.
Texas A&M at LSU
SEC Network
5 p.m.
UConn at USF
ESPN2
Thu, Jan 14
7 p.m.
South Carolina at Kentucky
SEC Network
9 p.m.
Tennessee at Arkansas
SEC Network
Sun, Jan 17
Noon
George Washington at Duquesne
ESPNU
1 p.m.
Texas A&M at South Carolina
ESPN2
Auburn at Kentucky
SEC Network
2 p.m.
East Carolina at USF
ESPNU
3 p.m.
Baylor at Texas
ESPN2
Missouri at Arkansas
SEC Network
5 p.m.
Georgia at Alabama
SEC Network
Mon, Jan 18
7 p.m.
Big Monday as part of My Home Court: Tennessee at Notre Dame
ESPN2
Ole Miss at Mississippi State
SEC Network
Thu, Jan 21
7 p.m.
Vanderbilt at Tennessee
SEC Network
9 p.m.
Kentucky at Ole Miss
SEC Network
Sun, Jan 24
2 p.m.
My Home Court: USF at UCF
ESPNU
Florida at Missouri
SEC Network
3 p.m.
My Home Court: Ohio State at Rutgers
ESPN2
4 p.m.
Arkansas at Auburn
SEC Network
5 p.m.
My Home Court: South Carolina at Mississippi State
ESPN2
Mon, Jan 25
7 p.m.
We Back Pat as part of Big Monday: Tennessee at Kentucky
ESPN2
Alabama at Vanderbilt
SEC Network
Wed, Jan 27
8 p.m.
Kansas at Texas
Longhorn Network
Thu, Jan 28
7 p.m.
Auburn at Georgia
SEC Network
9 p.m.
Tennessee at Mississippi State
SEC Network
Sun, Jan 31
1 p.m.
Kentucky at Florida
SEC Network
2 p.m.
USF at SMU
ESPNU
3 p.m.
Alabama at Tennessee
SEC Network
5 p.m.
Missouri at Ole Miss
SEC Network
6 p.m.
South Carolina at Texas A&M
ESPN2
Mon, Feb 1
6 p.m.
Big Monday: Notre Dame at Duke
ESPN2
7 p.m.
Auburn at LSU
SEC Network
11 p.m.
Big Monday: Arizona State at Oregon State
ESPN2
Thu, Feb 4
7 p.m.
Kentucky at South Carolina
SEC Network
9 p.m.
Mississippi State at LSU
SEC Network
Fri, Feb 5
5 p.m.
Quinnipiac at Siena
ESPNU
Sun, Feb 7
Noon
LSU at Kentucky
SEC Network
2 p.m.
Notre Dame at Louisville or Tennessee at Texas A&M
ESPN2
Auburn at Alabama
SEC Network
4 p.m.
Notre Dame at Louisville or Tennessee at Texas A&M
ESPN
Mon, Feb 8
7 p.m.
Big Monday: UConn at South Carolina
ESPN2
Vanderbilt at Arkansas
SEC Network
9 p.m.
Big Monday: Maryland at Ohio State
ESPN2
Wed, Feb 10
8 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Texas
Longhorn Network
Thu, Feb 11
7 p.m.
Mississippi State at Texas A&M
SEC Network
9 p.m.
Tennessee at Vanderbilt
SEC Network
Sun, Feb 14
Noon
UConn at Temple
ESPN2
Dayton at George Washington
ESPNU
2 p.m.
North Carolina at Florida State
ESPN2
Washington at UCLA
ESPNU
Florida at Auburn
SEC Network
4 p.m.
Maryland at Northwestern
ESPN2
Kentucky at Vanderbilt
SEC Network
Mon, Feb 15
3 p.m.
Belmont at UT Martin
ESPNU
7 p.m.
Big Monday: South Carolina at Tennessee
ESPN2
Texas A&M at Ole Miss
SEC Network
9 p.m.
Big Monday: USF at Louisville
ESPN2
Wed, Feb 17
8 p.m.
Kansas State at Texas
Longhorn Network
Thu, Feb 18
7 p.m.
Kentucky at Mississippi State
SEC Network
9 p.m.
LSU at Texas A&M
SEC Network
Sun, Feb 21
Noon
Play 4Kay: Memphis at USF
ESPNU
1 p.m.
Play 4Kay: NC State at North Carolina
ESPN2
Florida at Georgia
SEC Network
2 p.m.
Play 4Kay: Tennessee at LSU
ESPNU
3 p.m.
Play 4Kay: Maryland at Rutgers
ESPN2
Arkansas at Kentucky
SEC Network
5 p.m.
Play 4Kay: Mississippi State at Ole Miss
ESPN2
Texas A&M at Vanderbilt
SEC Network
Mon, Feb 22
7 p.m.
Play 4Kay as part of Big Monday: Notre Dame at Florida State
ESPN2
South Carolina at Alabama
SEC Network
9 p.m.
Play 4Kay as part of Big Monday: Baylor at Oklahoma
ESPN2
Thu, Feb 25
7 p.m.
SEC Network Whip Around Coverage
SEC Network
9 p.m.
SEC Network Whip Around Coverage
SEC Network
Sat, Feb 27
8 p.m.
TCU at Texas
Longhorn Network
Sun, Feb 28
1 p.m.
LSU at South Carolina or Georgia at Tennessee or Kentucky at Texas A&M
ESPN2
2 p.m.
LSU at South Carolina or Georgia at Tennessee or Kentucky at Texas A&M
ESPNU
Vanderbilt at Missouri
SEC Network
3 p.m.
Duke at North Carolina
ESPN2
4 p.m.
LSU at South Carolina or Georgia at Tennessee or Kentucky at Texas A&M
ESPN
Ole Miss at Arkansas
SEC Network
5 p.m.
Minnesota at Maryland
ESPN2
Mon, Feb 29
5 p.m.
Alabama State at Texas Southern
ESPNU
7 p.m.
Big Monday: USF at UConn
ESPN2
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