ESPN to cover entire NCAA DI tournament

[Sonny]

For the first time ever, the ESPN networks will televise all 15 games from the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship. ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network, will provide exclusive coverage of all eight first-round games (up from four last year).

The network will also televise quarterfinal action (syndicated in markets of competing teams) May 12 – 20, while ESPN2 will cover the National Semifinals (May 26) and ESPN will present the National Championship on May 28. In addition, the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse National Semifinals and Championship will simulcast on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s customized broadband service. Action will begin this weekend with first-round games exclusively on ESPNU.

Lindsey Biles (analyst), Dave Cohen (play-by-play), Mark Dixon (analyst), Jack Emmer (analyst), Quint Kessenich (analyst), Eamon McAnaney (play-by-play), Dave Ryan (play-by-play) and Rob Simmelkjaer (play-by-play) will split first-round and quarterfinals commentator duties. Ryan, Kessenich and McAnaney will call the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse National Semifinals and Championship.

A few weeks following the NCAA Lacrosse Championship, Inside Lacrosse TV will review the season in a one-hour special to be aired on ESPN2 Monday, June 11 at 4 p.m., with analysis from ESPNU lacrosse analyst Quint Kessenich.

In 2007, ESPNU nationally televised the most Division I regular-season college lacrosse games (21). The schedule showcased top programs from across the country and included two women's games and 19 men's games.

In addition, ESPN.com has extensive online coverage of lacrosse by integrating coverage of professional, collegiate and prep lacrosse content from Insidelacrosse.com and Inside Lacrosse Magazine.

ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU continue to provide extensive coverage of numerous NCAA championships as part of ESPN’s multi-year pact (through 2012-13) with the NCAA that includes sports from each of the three collegiate seasons.

[Adam G]

Link?

[Sonny]

Link?

http://www.espn.com

[Gvlax]

Comcast doesnt carry ESPN U....ill be at the bar for 10 hours straight.

[Rob Graff]

I'm just going to leave Comcast.

Less wear & tear on the liver.

Rob

[UofMLaxGoalie11]

I'm just going to leave Comcast.

Less wear & tear on the liver.

Rob

As a bartender, I cannot condone this kind of action. Its great to see that lacrosse is getting more exposure on tv. Its about time.

[Andy Sharp]

I am going to have to clear off my DishNetwork Tivo for this onslaught of coverage.

Splurging on the premium package to get ESPNU and CSTV has been well worth it, in the past my local cable provider did not even have ESPN2.

[Adam Gamradt]

I am calling Comcast right now.

A buddy of mine works for them, and word has it ESPNU is coming back. They need enough customers to complain about it, I guess.

They must not want my business, HD lacrosse on ESPNU is enough to get me to go with the Dish.

On a side rant, it is utterly ridiculous that I can't buy only the channels I want.

Maybe Itunes will start carrying the games? I am dangerously close to dropping cable outright and doing all my entertainment internet style.

[StrykerFSU]

Not to digress too far into the world of television programming but I have to take a moment to shill for DirectTV.

I have the Sports Pack and get ESPNU, CSTV, and all of the regional networks such as MSG and MASN. I have been able to get 4 to 5 premium Div1 matchups a week, as well as some high school games featuring the Ward Melvilles, Huntingtons, and Dariens of the world. I also get BYUTV and got to watch the handful of games carried there. It's well worth the expense if you factor in how much money you would spend on beer and food at a sports bar (the same rationale I use for buying MLB Extra Innings) and you never have to worry about them changing the channel because some redneck wants to watch NASCAR.

And don't even get me started on how much better DirectTV customer service is compared to Comcast.

Yard work is on hold for the next month as I plant myself on the couch for this festival of lacrosse.

[Sonny]

Drop cable folks.

DirecTV with Sports Pack is the way to go......

[bste_lax]

Drop cable folks.

DirecTV with Sports Pack is the way to go......

I may be doing that soon once the Big Ten Network starts up as I don't see Time Warner Cable picking it up out here.

[shep]

Not to digress too far into the world of television programming but I have to take a moment to shill for DirectTV.

I have the Sports Pack and get ESPNU, CSTV, and all of the regional networks such as MSG and MASN. I have been able to get 4 to 5 premium Div1 matchups a week, as well as some high school games featuring the Ward Melvilles, Huntingtons, and Dariens of the world. I also get BYUTV and got to watch the handful of games carried there. It's well worth the expense if you factor in how much money you would spend on beer and food at a sports bar (the same rationale I use for buying MLB Extra Innings) and you never have to worry about them changing the channel because some redneck wants to watch NASCAR.

And don't even get me started on how much better DirectTV customer service is compared to Comcast.

Yard work is on hold for the next month as I plant myself on the couch for this festival of lacrosse.

Agree 100%. Directv Sports Pack is awesome. Multiple D1 games every week, at least one top 20 High School game a week, all the BYU MCLA games and the MCLA tournament game, Toyota Lacrosse Weekly for the highlights of the few games that weren't on tv....and to top it off all off the NCAA playoff games. Well worth the $10 a month they charge you for the sports pack.

[Dan Warren]

I'm sold. Comcast is awful.

[PigPen]

as well as some high school games featuring the Ward Melvilles, Huntingtons, and Dariens of the world.

John Jay (CR) has been on twice this year-what no love for Section 1?

[FLALAX]

Brighthouse, Comcast, Timewarner, I have not seen a cable package with the offerings and reliability you find with Directv. Directv + sports package = lacrosse fans delight