The Ivy League has agreed with ESPN to televise the inaugural Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, which will be held March 11-12, 2017 at The Palestra in Philadelphia. In addition, 15 regular season games will be featured through the League's television package. In total, the League will make 30 appearances on national television throughout the 2016-17 season.
All six games of the inaugural Ivy League Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments will be showcased live across the
ESPN networks.
"We are incredibly excited to feature our inaugural Ivy League Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments on ESPN's networks," said Executive Director Robin Harris. "ESPN gives us the opportunity to showcase our student-athletes and their accomplishments on the national stage during Championship Week, when the country focuses on college basketball."
"We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Ivy league throughout the basketball season," said Brent Colborne, Director of Programming and Acquisitions, ESPN. "Concluding the conference schedule with the inaugural Ivy League Basketball Tournaments further serves fans nationwide with competitive Championship Week games during a crucial part of the season."
All three men's games will be nationally televised. The first men's semifinal game will start at 1:30 p.m., followed by the second at 4 p.m., on Saturday, March 11, both live on ESPNU. The men's championship game on Sunday, March 12 at noon, will be live on ESPN2.
All three women's games will be live on
ESPN platforms, with the championship game being nationally televised. Also on Saturday, March 11, the first women's semifinal will start at 11 a.m., while the second semifinal will start at 6:30 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN3 with a tape delay showing on ESPNU.
ESPNU will carry the women's championship game live, which is slated for Sunday, March 12 at 4 p.m.
All games will also be available on WatchESPN and the
ESPN App.
The agreement is the culmination of a collaborative effort between JMI Sports and Lagardere SE.
The men's and women's tournament winners will receive the League's automatic bids to the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Championships, where the Ivy League has won six games over the last seven years.
On Friday, March 10, the Ivy League Digital Network (ILDN) will have full coverage from Philadelphia. "Live from the Palestra" will feature a look into each team's open shootaround, a conversation with each participating head coach and select student-athletes, as well as special guests and full previews for both tournaments.
Saturday, March 11
Game 1 Women's Semifinal
(seed 1 vs.
SEED 4) 11 a.m. ESPN3 (tape delay ESPNU)
Game 2 Men's Semifinal
(seed 1 vs.
SEED 4) 1:30 p.m. ESPNU
Game 3 Men's Semifinal
(seed 2 vs.
SEED 3) 4 p.m. ESPNU
Game 4 Women's Semifinal
(seed 2 vs.
SEED 3) 6:30 p.m. ESPN3 (tape delay ESPNU)
Sunday, March 12
Game 5 Men's Championship
(winner of game 2 vs. winner of game 3) 12 p.m. ESPN2
Game 6 Women's Championship
(winner of game 1 vs. winner of game 4) 4 p.m. ESPNU
