ST. LOUIS – Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Doug Elgin announced that the league will have a record 29-game telecast package on ESPN networks during the upcoming 2011-12 season.
 
Five of those broadcasts will feature the University of Evansville, including two telecasts from the newly-built Ford Center.
 
“The relationship between the Missouri Valley Conference and ESPN is a mutually beneficial one,” Elgin said.  “Sending four teams to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen in the last six years makes Valley basketball an important asset for ESPN.”
 
“At the same time, ESPN provides a national stage for our sports.  And the creation and meteoric rise of ESPNU as a national platform and the addition of ESPN3 only heightens the amount of national exposure for our conference.”
 
Evansville’s first game will be the contest against Indiana on November 16, which will be on ESPN3.  ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen network that give fans a 24/7 destination delivering thousands of live, global events annually.
 
On December 6, the Aces will travel to North Carolina for a tilt against the Tar Heels, a match that will be on ESPNU.  It is set for a 6 p.m. start.
 
The Aces will ring in the New Year in Cedar Falls, Iowa, facing off against the Panthers on ESPNU.  That contest is set for January 1 at 8 p.m.  ESPNU will make its first trip to the Ford Center on January 29 as Evansville will play host to Indiana State while the final appearance for UE will take place on February 12 as ESPNU will carry the contest at Drake.
 
On January 30, 2012, ESPN will announce the matchups for the SEARS Bracketbuster series.  Evansville will play a home game between Feb. 17-19 with the time, opponent and potential television appearance all set to be released at that time.
 
For the seventh-consecutive season, CBS Sports will air the title game of the State Farm MVC Men’s Basketball Championship.  It is set for Sunday, March 4 at 1 p.m.
 
Aside from the ESPN package, the Aces will also be a part of the Missouri Valley Network slate of games.  Three Aces contests will be featured on the network including the Dec. 29 home contest against Southern Illinois, UE’s January 25 game at Wichita State along with the February 21 match at Creighton.
 
The MVC Network is comprised of FOX Sports, FOX College Sports and Comcast SportsNet Chicago.