Hokie ClubBRISTOL, Conn. – Virginia Tech will host Duke on Feb. 26, 2011, in Cassell Coliseum and the ESPN College GameDay Driven by State Farm crew will be on hand for a day full of college basketball excitement.
The Hokies and the Blue Devils will tip off at 9 p.m. The Virginia Tech game versus Duke will be the only ACC game featured in the eight week series. This will mark the Hokies’ first-ever appearance on GameDay.
“We are excited and honored to be selected by ESPN to be part of their College GameDay,” head coach Seth Greenberg said. “It is the next step as we continue to build our brand and create a national profile for our program.
“It is a reflection of our community, season ticket holders and students and their passion and ownership in our program. ESPN recognizes that Virginia Tech’s environment is second-to-none in college basketball. I have no doubt that the Hokie Nation will come out in full force and show the nation the special atmosphere we have here at Virginia Tech.”
ESPN’s College GameDay Driven by State Farm, the popular eight-week Saturday morning and evening college basketball program originating from the site of ESPN’s Saturday Primetime Presented by DIRECTV telecast, will expand to include an extra hour of analysis, news and features. ESPNU will air the new first hour of College GameDay – returning for its seventh season beginning Saturday, Jan. 15 – at 10 a.m. and ESPN will continue to televise the show at 11 a.m. and a one-hour edition at 8 p.m. The Saturday Primetime game-of-the-week series will be aired at 9 p.m.
“We look for a host site with great fan support and consistent success on the court,” Nick Dawson, ESPN Director of Programming and Acquisitions said. “Coach Greenberg has Virginia Tech positioned to be a contender for the conference championship and we expect a tremendous atmosphere when the Hokies host defending National Champion Duke.”
The 2011 series will open from Knoxville, Tenn., site of the Tennessee Volunteers men’s and women’s teams hosting the men’s and women’s Vanderbilt Commodores programs at noon and 8 p.m., respectively. It will mark the first time the show has originated from a site that has featured a men’s and women’s game played in the same day.
College GameDay will feature show host Rece Davis with returning analysts Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, Hubert Davis and Bob Knight.