Sept. 18, 2003
(Release provided by the West Coast Conference Media Relations Office)
SAN BRUNO, CA-Commissioner Michael Gilleran announced that ESPN will televise seven WCC men's basketball games during the 2003-04 season, marking the largest WCC television package with ESPN in league history. The WCC is entering the third year of a four-year contract to televise regular season men's basketball games on the national sports network.
ESPN will broadcast four regular season league contests in 2004, including a Gonzaga-Pepperdine match-up for the second straight season as part of ESPN's "Rivalry Week". The Zags will host the Waves in what will be the third game of a triple-header on February 5. The WCC/ESPN regular season broadcasts culminate with a rematch of last year's WCC Championship final as San Diego and Gonzaga clash in The Kennel on February 26.
The WCC/ESPN TV package opens up with Saint Mary's traveling to Spokane to face the Bulldogs, the league's preseason favorite. The Gaels were picked to finish tied for second with Pepperdine by the league coaches in the WCC preseason poll.
War Memorial Gymnasium will host its first ESPN broadcast since the WCC championship in 1993, when Gonzaga comes to the Bay Area to face San Francisco on February 12.
In addition to the WCC league broadcasts, the Zags will have the opportunity to be televised as a participant in ESPN's "Bracket Buster Saturday" for the second straight season. On February 21, the 2004 Bracket Buster event will take place with a total field of 46 teams representing 11 conferences in a 23-game, one-day event. Also, the Pepperdine Waves play their final non-conference game of the season against the Utah Utes as a part of ESPN's "Big Monday".
After the regular season, ESPN will televise two games at the 2004 WCC Men's Basketball Championship. On March 7, ESPN will televise the league's second men's semifinal starting at 9pm. ESPN will also continue to broadcast the WCC Men's Basketball Championship final, held on Monday, March 8 at the Leavey Center on the Santa Clara University campus.
West Coast Conference 2004 ESPN Television Schedule
Saturday, January 17 Saint Mary's at Gonzaga (ESPN2) 8pm
Thursday, February 5 Pepperdine at Gonzaga (ESPN2)8pm
Thursday, February 12 Gonzaga at San Francisco (ESPN2)8pm
Thursday, February 26 San Diego at Gonzaga (ESPN2)8pm
Sunday, March 7 WCC MBB Semifinal (TBA) 9pm
Monday, March 8 WCC MBB Final (TBA) 9pm
Additional ESPN broadcasts:
Monday, January 5 Pepperdine at Utah (ESPN)9pm
*All Times Pacific
