Earlier today the West Coast Conference and ESPN released their television schedule for the upcoming season. This is the official release though it may not yet be complete as additional non-conference road games can be picked up by the ESPN family of networks. We will find out about those games "at a later date" (appropriate considering how long it has taken for schedules to be released this year).
Here are a few observations on this schedule.
Gonzaga is really important to the WCC.
The Zags account for nearly one third of the appearances by WCC teams on the ESPN networks. The number of games that will, or could (depending on how the early season tournaments shake out), be broadcast on the original ESPN is six. Two of those games are WCC Tournament games but the rest include Gonzaga (and the WCC Tournament games probably will, too).
The WCC is pretty important to ESPN.
The terms of the TV deal between ESPN and the WCC specify at least 48 appearances by WCC teams each season. The conference is already looking at 58 appearances. Like I said there could be more games announced. A game between two WCC teams counts as two appearances while non-conference games are just one.
Hosting Gonzaga is good not just for ticket sales, but ratings as well.
Pacific and Portland, two teams I don't see being very good this year, have just one appearance guaranteed and it's when they host Gonzaga. San Diego at Gonzaga will be on ESPNU but, when the Toreros host the Zags ESPN2 will be the channel of choice. Both Gonzaga/BYU games will be on ESPN2 but the match at the Marriott Center could jump up to ESPN. Aside from the BYU games, the Zags should dominate lowly teams at home. On the road a closer, and more entertaining game, is expected. Just look at last year's series between the Zags and Toreros.
A couple regional rivalries will get some hype.
LMU and Pepperdine play for something called the PCH Cup (since they're just 19.1 miles apart on the Pacific Coast Highway). The Lions host the Waves in each team's only appearance of the season. San Francisco has two appearances, one of which is against bay area rival Santa Clara. Hopefully these games can show people that WCC teams don't just get up for the Zags, Gaels and Cougars.
The following is a breakdown of the ESPN appearances, sorted by team.
Gonzaga: 17 games
vs. Colorado State on ESPNU
vs. Dayton (Maui Invitational) on ESPN2
vs. TBD (Maui Invitational) on ESPN or ESPN2
vs. TBD (Maui Invitational) on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU
vs. New Mexico State on ESPNU
at West Virginia on ESPN2
vs. Kansas State (in Wichita, KS) on ESPN2
vs. Santa Clara on ESPNU
vs. Saint Mary's on ESPN2
at Portland on ESPNU
vs. San Diego on ESPNU
vs. BYU on ESPN2
at Memphis (College Game Day) on ESPN
at BYU on ESPN or ESPN2
at San Diego on ESPN2
at Pacific on ESPNU
at Saint Mary's on ESPN2
Saint Mary's: 10 games
vs. Akron on ESPN2
vs. South Carolina (Diamond Head Classic) on ESPNU
vs. TBD (Diamond Head Classic) on ESPN2 or ESPNU
vs. TBD (Diamond Head Classic) on ESPN2, ESPNU or ESPN3
at Gonzaga on ESPN2
at San Diego on ESPNU
at BYU on ESPN2
vs. San Diego on ESPNU
vs. BYU on ESPN2
vs. Gonzaga on ESPN2
BYU: 8 games
at Stanford on ESPN2
vs. Iowa State on ESPNU
at San Francisco on ESPNU
at Gonzaga on ESPN2
vs. Saint Mary's on ESPN2
vs. Santa Clara on ESPNU
at Saint Mary's on ESPN2
vs. Gonzaga on ESPN or ESPN2
San Diego: 4 games
at Gonzaga on ESPNU
vs. Saint Mary's on ESPNU
at Saint Mary's on ESPNU
vs. Gonzaga on ESPN2
Santa Clara: 3 games
at Gonzaga on ESPNU
at BYU on ESPNU
vs. San Francisco on ESPNU
San Francisco: 2 games
vs. BYU on ESPNU
at Santa Clara on ESPNU
Loyola Marymount: 1 game
vs. Pepperdine on ESPNU
Pacific: 1 game
vs. Gonzaga on ESPNU
Portland: 1 game
vs. Gonzaga on ESPNU
Pepperdine: 1 game
at Loyola Marymount on ESPNU
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