From our friends at GW Athletics...
National Broadcast to Be First Men’s Basketball Game During Annual Event
ESPN announced today the full slate of games for its eighth annual Tip-Off Marathon, with GW’s home game vs. Virginia tipping-off the men’s NCAA action. The game will be carried live nationally on ESPN2 at 7:30 PM from the Charles E. Smith Center on Monday, November 16th.
“ESPN’s decision to broadcast our showdown with Virginia as the first men’s game during their 24 hours of basketball is further proof of the extraordinary atmosphere created at the Smith Center during our home games,” said Director of Athletics and Recreation Patrick Nero. “Our fans, Colonial Army and students do a tremendous job supporting our student-athletes, and the team’s success shows that. We are thrilled to once again welcome ESPN to the Smith Center for what will be an exciting night for our fanbase.”
Last season GW went 6-2 in eight games on the ESPN family of networks, including 2-1 at home. One of those games was the Colonials’ thrilling 65-64 OT win against Dayton on ESPN2 on February 6th, in which then-junior Joe McDonald converted a buzzer-beating put-back to send the Smith Center crowd into a frenzy.
GW also defeated #11 Wichita State on ESPN2 in the Diamond Head Classic Championship Game last season. This will mark GW’s first-ever appearance in ESPN’s 24-hour College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon. Prior to last season, it had been since the 2006-07 campaign that ESPN last televised a GW home game.
The game against Virginia marks one of at least eight games that GW will play against teams from the ACC, Big 10, SEC, Big East and American Athletic Conference next season, including other home games against Seton Hall, Penn State and Rutgers.
