MASN sets 2011-12 NCAA basketball broadcast schedule

MASN, the local leader in live sports entertainment, will broadcast up to 200 college baseball games this season, offering viewers a lineup of everything from local college games to contests featuring Top 25 teams. The regional sports network's extensive hoops schedule includes regional favorites from Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, covering 12 conferences and major tournaments, including the BB&T Classic and the Great Alaska Shootout. For the sixth season, MASN will be the official network of Big East powerhouse Georgetown University, televising 10 Hoyas games, beginning with a Nov. 14 home game against UNC-Greensboro at 7 p.m. Among the preseason Top 25 teams appearing on MASN this season are perennial Big East contenders Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Marquette and Connecticut. MASN will continue its partnership with the Big East, televising more than 100 conference games, including 12 "Big East Game of the Week" broadcasts, live and in high definition. In keeping with its focus on offering the best local college basketball programming, MASN will, for the fifth consecutive year, televise the BB&T Classic, the annual tournament at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., that showcases the region's most talented college players. This year's 17th annual BB&T Classic will be broadcast Dec. 4 and features games between George Washington and Virginia Commonwealth at 2 p.m., and Maryland and Notre Dame at 4:45 p.m. MASN enters its sixth season as the official cable television network of the George Mason University Patriots and will televise four games for the Colonial Athletic Association contender, beginning with a Nov. 30 home game versus Bucknell. Other regional basketball favorites that will appear on MASN include Mt. St. Mary's, Loyola, UMBC, Coppin State, Howard, American, Liberty, West Virginia, Radford, VMI, Virginia State, Navy, Hampton, Longwood and Bowie State. "MASN is proud to offer more live college basketball games than any other regional sports network in the country," said Jim Cuddihy, executive vice president for marketing, programming and affiliate relations. "MASN is a hoops fan's dream, showcasing the best nationally ranked programs and compelling local rivalries. Whether fans want to follow their favorite local teams, cheer for their alma mater or get a look at some of the sport's brightest young stars, MASN will be the region's destination for NCAA basketball this season." Twelve programs in North Carolina will be represented on the network. The lineup features UNC-Greensboro, UNC-Wilmington, East Carolina, Charlotte, Campbell, Gardner-Webb, UNC-Asheville, Shaw, Chowan, Fayetteville State, High Point and Charleston Southern. In total, 12 conferences will be featured on MASN, including the Atlantic 10, America East, Big 12, Big East, Big South, Colonial Athletic Association, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, East Coast Athletic Association, Northeast Conference, Patriot League, Southeast Conference and Western Athletic Conference. MASN's extensive hoops coverage will include 10 women's games. MASN will air a Georgetown women's game, Feb. 11 at Connecticut, and games during the Big East women's tournament in March. MASN will also carry college magazine and coaches' shows from around the region, including "Inside the Big East," Duke's "Inside Basketball with Coach K," "Inside Notre Dame Basketball," "N.C. State Basketball with Mark Gottfried," "Inside Villanova," "East Carolina Basketball with Jeff Lebo," Liberty's "Flames Sports Desk," "Inside Rutgers Basketball" and CIAA "Inside the Game." Tournaments/Conferences airing games on MASN in 2011-12 BB&T Classic (2 games) Great Alaska Shootout (8 games) Atlantic 10 (2 games) America East (1 game) Big 12 (12 games) Big East (109 games) Big South (16 games) Colonial Athletic Association (4 games) Central Collegiate Athletic Association (12 games) East Coast Athletic Conference (2 games) Northeast Conference (3 games) Patriot League (6 games) Southeast Conference (1 game) Western Athletic Conference (5 games) Click here to see MASN's entire NCAA baskeball broadcast schedule for 2011-12.