By Jon Alba
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference released its 2014-2015 basketball television schedule for the ESPN family of networks Wednesday, continuing to build the anticipation for the upcoming season.
The conference has a deal through 2016-2017 with the ESPN family of network to broadcast a handful of games, including the MAAC playoffs, via ESPNU, ESPN2 or even the main channel. MAAC play kicks off on Dec. 6, with Canisius and Niagara receiving the nod on ESPN3 for the opening telecast.
Quinnipiac will get its first taste of ESPN coverage on Jan. 15, as both women’s and men’s basketball will have respective games against Fairfield and Rider broadcast. The next guaranteed appearance for the school will be Feb. 12, when the defending women’s bracket champion Marist defends against its title game challenger in Poughkeepsie, New York.
The women’s team will get one more look on ESPN3 when it faces Iona on Feb. 22, also in New York.
As for Tom Moore’s men’s squad, a Feb. 13 matchup at Fairfield is being tabbed as the “rivalry” matchup for the season on ESPN3. It will also get an opportunity to close out the season with television coverage, as the same network will broadcast its March 1 regular season finale against Manhattan.
In addition, Quinnipiac is eligible for three of the conference’s six “wildcard” opportunities. These are games that can be flexed to ESPN2, ESPN3 or ESPNU, at the company’s choice. Those matchups will be determined no less than 21 days from tipoff. They include the Jan. 23 men’s basketball home game versus Manhattan (ESPNU or ESPN3), Jan. 30 at Canisius (ESPNU or ESPN3) and Feb. 27 vs. Siena at the TD Bank Sports Center (ESPN2 or ESPNU).
The men’s team kicks its season off Nov. 14 vs. Yale at the Connecticut 6 Classic in Hamden, while the women host Army the next day.
Analysis
Admittedly, I believed the women’s basketball team would be the beneficiary of the Feb. 12 game being carried on ESPNU, as it was last year. The Red Foxes worked over the Bobcats in that matchup though, gutting out 100 points to Quinnipiac’s 81.
Was that an influence in the decision to move it to ESPN3? Unlikely, given Iona and Marist’s regular season performances last year, leading to that game getting the ESPNU nod.
The men find themselves in favorable position for flexed wildcard games, including a potential ESPN2 matchup near season’s end. The wildcard games are ultimately determined by the performance of the teams eligible as the game approaches; in short, if Quinnipiac plays well, it may get the game. It is worth noting, however, Iona and Manhattan also face off that night, which will be an appealing game for both ESPN and the conference if both play to expectations.
While I’m sure both sides would have preferred guaranteed television time, with the MAAC’s investment in the ESPN deal, all schools ultimately make it out pretty well with exposure.
For the entire MAAC ESPN schedule, click here.
