Aug. 14, 2007
IOWA CITY — The University of Iowa’s 2007-08 Big Ten Conference men’s basketball schedule includes 18 games for the first time since 1997 and 16 of the dates are slated for live national television coverage on the new Big Ten Network. Iowa’s complete schedule is expected to be released next week.
The Big Ten released the 2007-08 conference schedule Tuesday, with every home game on the schedule being televised for the first time in conference history. Overall, no fewer than 235 men’s basketball games will be featured on CBS, an ESPN platform or the Big Ten Network, beginning with exhibition play in late October.
The Big Ten Network, set to launch August 30, will feature a double-header every Wednesday night, along with games on Tuesday or Thursday nights. Each weekend will feature double-, triple- and quadruple-headers. The Big Ten Network will carry nearly two-thirds (64 of 99) of the intra-conference schedule.
The Big Ten’s latest media agreements will result in 17 games appearing on CBS. The Big Ten’s new 10-year national rights contract with ESPN means that between 53 and 56 home games will appear on an ESPN platform, with all contests airing on ESPN or ESPN2. The new ESPN agreement will also result in weekly games broadcast on Tuesday and Thursday during the 10-week conference season, along with Saturday and Sunday appearances. The new contract doubles the amount of mid-week games featured on ESPN and ESPN2.
The Hawkeyes open Big Ten play at home, hosting Indiana Wednesday, Jan. 2 on the Big Ten Network. That game will be the first of 11 conference games that will all appear on the Big Ten Network before Iowa’s contest at Minnesota (Feb. 9) is televised on ESPN. Minnesota is the only Big Ten team that does not visit Iowa City. The UI’s home game against Michigan (Feb. 14) will be shown on either ESPN or ESPN2.
Iowa’s contest at Michigan State (Feb. 23 or 24) and the home game with Illinois (Mar. 1 or 2) could be selected by either CBS or ESPN. Iowa does not travel to Champaign, as Illinois joins Minnesota as the only teams the Hawkeyes meet just once.
“With the addition of two Big Ten games, you lose a home game and you add another road game within the conference,” said Coach Todd Lickliter, who is preparing for his first season in the Big Ten. “That only adds to the strength of our schedule, while adding an attractive conference game to the home schedule. This team has done a great job of protecting the home court. I look forward to experiencing the great atmosphere in Carver-Hawkeye Arena and continuing that success.”
Iowa will host weekend conference games against Michigan State (Jan. 12), Penn State (Jan. 26), national runner-up Ohio State (Feb. 2) and Illinois. Iowa’s weekend road games are at Wisconsin (Jan. 5), Michigan (Jan. 19), Minnesota and Michigan State. Iowa is not in action on the final weekend (Mar. 8-9) of the regular season. The Big Ten Tournament returns to Indianapolis March 13-16.
Iowa posted a 14-2 home record a year ago after winning all 17 home games in 2005-06. The Hawkeyes are 15-1 in Big Ten home games over the past two seasons and 31-2 overall in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Following is Iowa’s 2007-08 Big Ten Conference schedule:
Date Opponent Site CT TVWed., Jan. 2 Indiana Iowa City 8:05 BTNSat., Jan. 5 at Wisconsin Madison, WI 11:05 BTNWed., Jan. 9 at Ohio State Columbus, OH 6:05 BTNSat., Jan. 12 Michigan State Iowa City 7:35 BTNWed., Jan. 16 Purdue Iowa City 6:05 BTNSat., Jan. 19 at Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 6:05 BTNWed., Jan. 23 at Indiana Bloomington, IN 8:05 BTNSat., Jan. 26 Penn State Iowa City 5:05 BTNWed., Jan. 30 at Purdue West Lafayette, IN 6:05 BTNSat., Feb. 2 Ohio State Iowa City 5:05 BTNWed., Feb. 6 Wisconsin Iowa City 8:05 BTNSat., Feb. 9 at Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 1:05 ESPNThu., Feb. 14 Michigan Iowa City 8:05 ESPN/ESPN2Tue., Feb. 19 Northwestern Iowa City 8:05 BTNSat., Feb. 23 at Michigan State East Lansing, MI 1 or 3 ESPN/BTNOR Sun., Feb. 24 at Michigan State East Lansing, MI 3:05 CBSWed., Feb. 27 at Penn State State College, PA 6:05 BTNSat., Mar. 1 Illinois Iowa City 3 or 5 ESPN/BTNOR Sun., Mar. 2 Illinois Iowa City 1:05 CBSTue-Thu., Mar. 4-6 at Northwestern Evanston, IL TBA TBAThu-Sun., Mar. 13-16 at Big Ten Tournament Indianapolis, IN TBA CBS/ESPN
Note: All times listed are Central TimeKeys: BTN - - Big Ten Network TBA - - To Be Announced
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