Iowa basketball gets ESPN, CBS dates

From University of Iowa sports information

 The Big Ten Conference released its 2011-12 television schedule for CBS Sports and ESPN and the University of Iowa will appear seven times on the latter, possibly three on the former.

A total of 44 Big Ten men's basketball conference games will be televised on CBS Sports or an ESPN network, the conference office announced Tuesday.  CBS Sports will carry eight weekend games this season, while 36 contests will appear on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.

 The Hawkeyes will appear on an ESPN network seven times, including six during league play, the most since the 2006-07 season. Iowa also is one of three games that CBS Sports could select for one of its “Wildcard” selections.

 Iowa's first conference game against Nebraska ( Jan. 26) will tip-off at 6 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and will be televised on ESPNU.  Two weeks later, Iowa's home contest versus Penn State (Feb. 4) will be carried on ESPNU at 2 p.m.

 Iowa road games at Northwestern (Feb. 9), Penn State (Feb. 16) and Nebraska (Feb. 29) also will be televised on ESPNU.  All three games will tip at 8 p.m 

The Hawkeyes will host Wisconsin on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m.  That contest will be televised nationally on either ESPN or ESPN2.  Iowa's seventh game on an ESPN network was previously announced; a non-conference home game vs. Clemson on Nov. 29 at 8:15 p.m. on ESPNU.

Iowa's home game against Indiana on Feb. 19 is one of three games CBS can choose from.  A decision on that game's tip time and television network will be announced at a later date.

The Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament will be held March 8-11 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. With the expansion of the Big Ten to 12 teams, the tournament will feature 11 games for the first time in history. ESPN2 will carry the third and fourth games of the tournament, while ESPN will air Games 5 and 6. CBS Sports will once again broadcast the tournament's semifinals and championship game.

The remainder of the Big Ten and Iowa's men's basketball conference schedule will be released tomorrow.

 Date                          Opponent                   Time (CT)        TV

Tues., Nov. 29       Clemson                      8:15 p.m.         ESPNU

Thurs., Jan. 26       Nebraska                     6 p.m.               ESPNU

Sat., Feb. 4              Penn State                  2 p.m.               ESPNU

Thurs., Feb. 9         at Northwestern      8 p.m.               ESPNU

Thurs., Feb. 16      at Penn State             8 p.m.               ESPNU

Sun., Feb. 19          Indiana                         TBD                    CBS Wildcard

Thurs., Feb. 23      Wisconsin                    8 p.m.               ESPN or ESPN2

Wed., Feb. 29        at Nebraska                8 p.m.               ESPNU