October 11, 2011

Akron Basketball to be Televised at Least Six Times in 2011-12

Complete MAC Basketball Television Package Release

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CLEVELAND – The University of Akron basketball programs will play at least six televised games during the 2011-12 basketball season, the Mid-American Conference announced Tuesday.

The men's basketball team will play five televised games, with the possibility of six additional "wildcard" games, while the women's basketball team will play in one televised game as part of the conference's record-setting 39-game regional television package.

The women's team will play at Bowling Green on Saturday, Jan. 7, at noon ET on SportsTime Ohio. Mike Cairns will provide the play-by-play for the women's broadcasts with former Zips director of women's basketball operations Jackie Windon serving as analyst.

The men's team will play four games, including two at James A. Rhodes Arena, on SportsTime Ohio while opening the season on the road at Mississippi State on Wednesday, Nov. 9, on ESPNU. The MSU contest is part of the 2K Sports Classic and will begin at 7 p.m. ET.

Akron will play host to rival Kent State on Saturday, Jan. 21, on STO at 6 p.m. ET before hitting the road for a contest at Ball State on Tuesday, Jan. 24, on STO beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

The squad will play two games on STO in February, including a home tilt against Toledo on Wednesday, Feb. 1, and at Western Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Both games are slated for a 7 p.m. ET tipoff. Michael Reghi will be joined by MAC Hall of Famer and former Toledo and Philadelphia 76ers standout Steve Mix as talent for the MAC men's basketball package.

In addition to the five announced games, the Zips could pick up six additional television games, with "wildcard" games against Ohio (Saturday, Jan. 14, in Akron and Saturday, Feb. 25, in Athens), at Central Michigan (Saturday, Jan. 28), vs. Northern Illinois (Saturday, Feb. 11), vs. Buffalo (Wednesday, Feb. 29) and at Kent State (Friday, March 2, or Saturday, March 3). Two games are part of STO's Wildcard package (at OU on Saturday, Feb. 25; vs. Buffalo on Wednesday, Feb. 29). The other three games – vs. Ohio (Saturday, Jan. 14), at CMU (Saturday, Jan. 28) and vs. NIU (Saturday, Feb. 11) – are part of the ESPNU Wildcard selection. The game at Kent State could air on ESPN2 on Friday, March 2, or on STO on Saturday, March 3. All wildcard games will be announced 21 days prior to the contest.

The men's team also announced the start times for its remaining home non-television games, with all contests set for a 7 p.m. tipoff except for the Ohio game on Jan. 14, the Feb. 4 contest against Eastern Michigan, the Feb. 11 game against NIU and the Dec. 17 game against Florida A&M. Those game times will be announced at a later date as part of doubleheaders with the women's squad. The FAMU game will be at 4 p.m.

The Zips enter the 2011-12 season following their second trip to the NCAA Tournament in the last three seasons after knocking off neighborhood rival Kent State 66-65 in overtime in the MAC title game on March 12. UA fell to Notre Dame in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to finish the season with a 23-13 record.

Akron has posted six-straight 20-win seasons, just one of 20 Division I programs to accomplish the feat during that stretch, and has advanced to five-straight conference title games – the third-longest active streak in the nation (Gonzaga 14, Butler 6). The Zips have advanced to the postseason in four-straight and five of the last six seasons, participating in the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and 2011, the National Invitation Tournament in 2006 and 2008, and the CBI in 2010.

Season tickets are on sale now. Season ticket prices for lower reserved seats at mid-court (sections C and K) are $760 ($500 Z-Fund donation), lower reserved seats at the 3-point lines (sections B, D, J and L) are $510 ($250 Z-Fund donation) and lower reserved seats on the baselines (sections A, E, I and M) are $360 ($100 Z-Fund Donation). Upper reserved season tickets are $185 and, new for 2011-12, general admission season tickets are on sale for $75 (50 percent savings on single-game pricing).

2012 MAC Women's Basketball TV Schedule (on STO)
- Saturday, Jan. 7: Akron @ Bowling Green. 12 Noon ET
- Sunday, Jan. 8: Northern Illinois @ Eastern Michigan, 2 pm ET
- Sunday, Jan. 15: Miami @ Ohio, 2 pm ET
- Sunday, Jan. 22: Eastern Michigan @ Bowling Green, 2 pm ET
- Saturday, Jan. 28: Ball State @ Miami, 12 Noon ET
- Saturday, Feb. 4: Toledo @ Kent State, 12 Noon ET
- Saturday, Feb. 11: Bowling Green @ Toledo, 12 Noon ET
- Saturday, Feb. 18: Western Michigan @ Toledo, 12 Noon ET
- Sunday, Feb. 19: Central Michigan @ Ball State, 2 pm ET
- Saturday, Feb. 25: Ohio @ Buffalo, 12 Noon ET
- Friday, March 9: First Energy MAC Tournament Semifinals, 12 Noon/2:30 pm ET
- Saturday, March 10: First Energy MAC Tournament Championship, 1 pm ET

2012 MAC Men's Basketball TV Schedule (on STO)
- Saturday, Jan. 7: Ohio @ BGSU, 6 pm ET
- Tuesday, Jan. 10: Ball State @ Toledo, 7 pm ET
- Saturday, Jan.14: Buffalo @ Miami, 6 pm ET
- Wednesday, Jan. 18: Kent State@ Ohio, 7 pm ET
- Saturday, Jan. 21: Kent State @ Akron, 6 pm ET
- Tuesday, Jan. 24: Akron @ Ball State, 7 pm ET
- Wednesday, Jan. 25: Western Michigan @ Ohio, 7 pm ET
- Saturday, Jan. 28: BGSU @ Eastern Michigan, 6 pm ET
- Tuesday, Jan. 31: Kent State @ Central Michigan, 7 pm ET
- Wednesday, Feb. 1: Toledo @ Akron, 7 pm ET
- Saturday, Feb. 4: Northern Illinois @ BGSU, 6 pm ET
- Wednesday, Feb. 8: Akron @ Western Michigan, 7 pm ET
- Saturday, Feb. 11: Western Michigan @ Buffalo, 6 pm ET
- Tuesday, Feb. 14: Buffalo @ Kent State, 7 pm ET
- Tuesday, Feb. 21: Kent State @ Miami, 7 pm ET
- Wednesday, Feb. 22: Ball State @ Western Michigan, 7 pm ET
- Saturday, Feb. 25: 21-Day Wildcard Selection, 6 pm ET
- Sunday, Feb. 26: Northern Illinois @ Central Michigan, 2 pm ET
- Wednesday, Feb. 29: 21-Day Wildcard Selection, 7 pm ET
- Sat., March 3: 21-Day Wildcard Selection, 6 pm ET
- Wednesday, March 7: First Energy MAC Tournament Second Round, 7 pm/9:30 pm ET
- Thursday, March 8: First Energy MAC Tournament Quarterfinals, 7 pm/9:30 pm ET
- Friday, March 9: First Energy MAC Tournament Semifinals, 7 pm/9:30 pm ET

2011-12 ESPN Men's Basketball Schedule
- Wednesday, Nov. 9: Akron @ Mississippi State, 7 pm ET/ESPNU
- Sunday, Nov. 13: Bowling Green @ Georgia, 6 pm ET/ESPNU
- Tuesday, Nov. 15: Kent St. @ West Virginia, 10 am ET on ESPN
- Sunday, Nov. 27: Michigan State @ Eastern Michigan, 12 pm ET on ESPNU
- Tuesday, Dec. 13: Central Michigan @ Minnesota, 9 pm ET on ESPNU
- Friday, Dec. 30: Western Michigan @ Duke, 7 pm ET on ESPN2
- Saturday, Jan. 14: 21-Day Wildcard Selection, 4 pm ET/ESPNU
- Saturday, Jan. 28: 21-Day Wildcard Selection, 11am ET/ESPNU
- Saturday, Feb. 11: 21-Day Wildcard Selection, 11 am ET/ESPNU
- Sunday, Feb. 26: 21-Day Wildcard Selection, 8 pm ET/ESPNU
- Friday, March 2: 21-Day Wildcard Selection, 7 pm ET/ESPN2
- Saturday, March 10: First Energy MAC Tournament Championship, 8 pm ET/ESPN2