Saturday Primetime
Encyclopedia
Saturday Primetime is an American television program that appears every Saturday during the college basketball
regular season. It is the ESPN
game of the week as part of College GameDay
. Started in 2005, the game is featured wherever Rece Davis
, Hubert Davis, Digger Phelps
and Jay Bilas
are for the college basketball version of College GameDay. The official name is Saturday Primetime presented by DirecTV
. The previous title sponsor was Cisco Systems
.
The game of the week airs every Saturday at 9 p.m. ET during the regular season with a one-hour pre-game show as part of College GameDay. The game is also seen in high definition on ESPNHD. Like Sunday Night Baseball
, scheduling conflicts can result in the game being shown on ESPN2
and ESPN2HD. In 2005 and 2006, Brad Nessler
had called play-by-play, but in 2007, Dan Shulman
took over for Nessler along with college basketball guru Dick Vitale
with color commentary and Erin Andrews
with the sideline reports. Games are shown from a variety of conferences.
, Saturday Primetime was seen on six different stations on the ESPN Family of Networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN 360, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD. This was as part of the premiere of ESPNU's Full Circle
series. On ESPN2 it was seen from the above the rim cam, on ESPNU it was seen on the Cameron Crazies Cam, on ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD it was seen in its normal high definition and on ESPN and ESPN 360 it was seen regularly.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
regular season. It is the ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
game of the week as part of College GameDay
College GameDay (basketball)
College GameDay is an ESPN program that covers college basketball and is a spin-off of the successful college football version. Since debuting on January 22, 2005, it airs on ESPN Saturdays in the college basketball season at 11am ET and 8pm ET at a different game site each week...
. Started in 2005, the game is featured wherever Rece Davis
Rece Davis
Rece Davis is a sports television journalist for ESPN. Davis works as an anchor on SportsCenter, and host of various other programs on the network.-Early life and career:...
, Hubert Davis, Digger Phelps
Digger Phelps
Richard "Digger" Phelps is a former American college basketball coach, most notably of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team from 1971 to 1991. Since 1993, he has served as an analyst on ESPN.-Career:...
and Jay Bilas
Jay Bilas
Jay Scot Bilas is an American lawyer and basketball analyst for ESPN and CBS Sports. He is also a former college basketball player.-Playing career:...
are for the college basketball version of College GameDay. The official name is Saturday Primetime presented by DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
. The previous title sponsor was Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
.
The game of the week airs every Saturday at 9 p.m. ET during the regular season with a one-hour pre-game show as part of College GameDay. The game is also seen in high definition on ESPNHD. Like Sunday Night Baseball
Sunday Night Baseball
Sunday Night Baseball is the Major League Baseball exclusive game of the week that is televised Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN during the regular season...
, scheduling conflicts can result in the game being shown on ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
and ESPN2HD. In 2005 and 2006, Brad Nessler
Brad Nessler
Bradley "Brad" Nessler is an American sportscaster, who currently calls college basketball and college football games for ESPN with occasional appearances on ESPN on ABC. He will also call Thursday Night Football on NFL Network beginning in 2011, and appears annually as a commentator in EA Sports'...
had called play-by-play, but in 2007, Dan Shulman
Dan Shulman
Daniel "Dan" Shulman is a Canadian sportscaster, currently employed with the American network ESPN as well as Canadian network TSN....
took over for Nessler along with college basketball guru Dick Vitale
Dick Vitale
Richard J. "Dick" Vitale , also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known as a college basketball broadcaster and for the enthusiastic and colorful remarks he makes during games. He is known for his...
with color commentary and Erin Andrews
Erin Andrews
Erin Jill Andrews is an American sportscaster, journalist, and television personality. As of 2011 she is a co-host of the ESPN entertainment show College GameDay and a contributor for Good Morning America on the ABC network...
with the sideline reports. Games are shown from a variety of conferences.
History
On March 4, 2006, the one year anniversary of ESPNUESPNU
ESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
, Saturday Primetime was seen on six different stations on the ESPN Family of Networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN 360, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD. This was as part of the premiere of ESPNU's Full Circle
ESPN Full Circle
ESPN Full Circle is the branding used for multi-network simulcasts of a single sporting event across multiple ESPN networks and serviceswith each feed providing a different version of the telecast making use of different features or functions...
series. On ESPN2 it was seen from the above the rim cam, on ESPNU it was seen on the Cameron Crazies Cam, on ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD it was seen in its normal high definition and on ESPN and ESPN 360 it was seen regularly.
On-air staff
Some of the current and former on-air staff on Saturday Primetime have included:Current
- Erin AndrewsErin AndrewsErin Jill Andrews is an American sportscaster, journalist, and television personality. As of 2011 she is a co-host of the ESPN entertainment show College GameDay and a contributor for Good Morning America on the ABC network...
: (sideline reporter, 2005–present) - Dan ShulmanDan ShulmanDaniel "Dan" Shulman is a Canadian sportscaster, currently employed with the American network ESPN as well as Canadian network TSN....
: (play-by-play, 2007–present) - Dick VitaleDick VitaleRichard J. "Dick" Vitale , also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known as a college basketball broadcaster and for the enthusiastic and colorful remarks he makes during games. He is known for his...
: (analyst, 2005–present) - Jay BilasJay BilasJay Scot Bilas is an American lawyer and basketball analyst for ESPN and CBS Sports. He is also a former college basketball player.-Playing career:...
: (alternate analyst, 2011-present) - Bob Knight: (alternate analyst, 2011-present)
By year
| Game | Play- by- Play | Analyst(s) | Field Reporter(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Brad Nessler Brad Nessler Bradley "Brad" Nessler is an American sportscaster, who currently calls college basketball and college football games for ESPN with occasional appearances on ESPN on ABC. He will also call Thursday Night Football on NFL Network beginning in 2011, and appears annually as a commentator in EA Sports'... |
Dick Vitale Dick Vitale Richard J. "Dick" Vitale , also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known as a college basketball broadcaster and for the enthusiastic and colorful remarks he makes during games. He is known for his... |
Erin Andrews Erin Andrews Erin Jill Andrews is an American sportscaster, journalist, and television personality. As of 2011 she is a co-host of the ESPN entertainment show College GameDay and a contributor for Good Morning America on the ABC network... |
| 2006 | |||
| 2007 | Dan Shulman Dan Shulman Daniel "Dan" Shulman is a Canadian sportscaster, currently employed with the American network ESPN as well as Canadian network TSN.... |
||
| 2008 | |||
| 2009 | |||
| 2010 | |||
| 2011 |
See also
- List of games televised on ESPN Saturday Primetime
- College GameDayCollege GameDay (basketball)College GameDay is an ESPN program that covers college basketball and is a spin-off of the successful college football version. Since debuting on January 22, 2005, it airs on ESPN Saturdays in the college basketball season at 11am ET and 8pm ET at a different game site each week...
- Big MondayBig MondayBig Monday is a presentation of Division I college basketball on ESPN. The official name is Big Monday presented by Bud Light. It now shows three games every Monday at 7 pm ET and 9 pm ET on ESPN and at 10 pm ET on ESPN2 from the beginning of January till early March...
- Super TuesdaySuper Tuesday (TV series)Super Tuesday appears on ESPN and ESPN2 every Tuesday in prime time with the biggest regular-season games in college basketball. The show, whose official name is Super Tuesday presented by KFC, is similar to Big Monday, Thursday Night Showcase and Wednesday Night Hoops...
- Wednesday Night Hoops
- Thursday Night Showcase
- ESPN College Basketball broadcast teamsESPN College Basketball Broadcast TeamsThe ESPN College Basketball Broadcast Teams are listed in the table below, including games broadcast on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU. These are weekly regular season pairings for college basketball.-2011–12:-2010–11:-2008–09:...