The Feb. 4 DU men’s basketball game against Middle Tennessee will be broadcast live on ESPN2 as ESPN’s Sun Belt Conference Wildcard game. The game time has been changed to 2 p.m. from the originally scheduled 4 p.m. tip.
Dave Flemming will call the play-by-play, and Sean Farnham will serve as the color analyst. This is the first time ESPN has broadcast a DU men’s basketball game from Magness Arena.
The basketball game highlights an exciting weekend for Denver Athletics. Additionally, the women’s basketball team hosts Middle Tennessee in a battle of the Sun Belt Conference West and East Division leaders. The game time was changed to 4:30 p.m. as the second half of a doubleheader with the men.
The No. 15 Pioneer hockey team plays No. 11 Colorado College at Magness Arena at 7:37 p.m. Friday. The game, which marks the 282nd time the two archrivals have met, will air live on ROOT SPORTS. Denver needs two points to retain the Gold Pan Trophy for the third consecutive season.
The No. 15 DU gymnastics team hosts the prestigious Burnsley Invitational, featuring Iowa State and Alaska Anchorage, at 6 p.m. Saturday at Hamilton Gymnasium. Men’s and women’s tennis also are in action at Denver Country Club and Colorado Athletic Club-Monaco, respectively. Visit DenverPioneers.com for more information.
Several additional events have been planned in conjunction with the basketball games, including performances by a cappella group Urban Method, which finished third on NBC’s “The Sing-Off” last season, and a student shot to win $50,000 at halftime of the men’s basketball game.
Prior to the game, beginning at 11 a.m., students and fans are invited to the Driscoll Lawn, where various student groups will have spirit stations set up and the DU Grilling Society will serve free food to those in attendance. At 1 p.m., the pep band, cheerleaders and dance team will help parade fans into Magness Arena for the game.
The Denver men’s basketball team is 16-6 overall and 6-3 in the Sun Belt Conference, currently in a tie for second place in the SBC West Division. DU’s wins include Saint Mary’s, currently No. 16 in the nation, and Southern Mississippi, which is No. 11 in the RPI. Middle Tennessee is 20-3 overall and 9-0 in the SBC, leading the East Division.
Men’s and women’s basketball individual game tickets range from $9-$15, and gymnastics tickets are $9. Single-game tickets may be purchased in person at the Ritchie Center Box Office, by phone at 303-871-2336 or online at DenverPioneers.com. The hockey game against Colorado College is sold out.
DU students are admitted to all Denver men’s and women’s basketball games free with their Pioneer Card.