Friday, September 21, 2007

TV games


Davidson gains more TV games
KEVIN CARY

The Davidson men's basketball team earned national attention after giving Maryland a scare in the NCAA tournament's first round in March. This season, the Wildcats will have plenty of chances to maintain that high profile.

Davidson is guaranteed to have seven regular-season games on national or regional television. The team could have 12 or more games televised if the Wildcats repeat as Southern Conference tournament champions.

The Wildcats are scheduled to have three games televised on national networks -- including games in Charlotte against North Carolina and Duke -- and four more on regional sports channels. Davidson didn't have a nationally televised regular-season game last season and only three were televised on regional channels.

"Last year's team created a buzz and quite a bit of excitement," Davidson coach Bob McKillop said. "But this is a chance for us to get on a bigger stage, a broader audience. ... The players aren't running from that. They have a great attitude about this -- they want to move the program forward."

Davidson isn't losing a scholarship player from a team that went 29-5, including 20-1 against Southern Conference teams. Sophomore guard Stephen Curry has been mentioned as an All-America candidate, and the Wildcats have been ranked in some preseason polls.

Davidson could add more televised games this season. Its game against UCLA Dec. 8 in the Wooden Classic could be picked up by CBS, and the Wildcats' BracketBuster game Feb. 23 against an opponent to be determined could air on an ESPN network.

The semifinals of the Southern Conference tournament will be on SportSouth on March 9, and the final will be on ESPN2 on March 10. Davidson also would be nationally televised if it advanced to the NCAA tournament.

Wildcats' Television Schedule

Davidson will have seven games on regional or national television; the number could jump to 12 or more if the Wildcats repeat as Southern Conference tournament champions:

Nov. 14 North Carolina (at Bobcats Arena) ESPN
Dec. 1 Duke (at Bobcats Arena) ESPNU
Dec. 21 at N.C. State Fox SS
Jan. 26 at College of Charleston SportSouth
Feb. 9 College of Charleston SportSouth
Feb. 16 Furman SportSouth
Feb. 19 UNC Greensboro ESPN2

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