The University at Albany and University of Maine men's basketball teams have been selected to the pool of teams to participate in the fifth-annual BracketBusters series, which will be televised on ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN 360 on Friday-Saturday, February 16-17.
In all, a total of 102 teams will compete in the 51-game, two-day event. Thirteen of the 51 match-ups pitting potential NCAA Tournament hopefuls against each other will be televised nationally, highlighted by a total of six games on ESPN2. An additional five games will be aired on ESPNU -- ESPN’s 24-hour collegiate sports network which launched on March 4, 2005 -- and two on ESPN360 -- ESPN’s customized broadband service.
"Having been fortunate enough to receive nationally televised games for the past two BracketBusters series, we are extremely excited once again to have two teams chosen to the BracketBusters pool," said America East Commissioner Patrick Nero. "Albany and Maine are expected to be two of our top programs for the upcoming season, so we couldn't be happier to have them included in this tremendous event. The chance to gain national exposure through ESPN's various networks is a great opportunity for not only Albany and Maine, but also America East"
In last season's BracketBusters series, Albany traveled to Virginia Commonwealth where the Great Danes lost a highly contested battle, 70-67, live on ESPNU before a raucous crowd of 6,684. In 2005, Vermont was chosen to participate in the field as the Catamounts traveled to Reno, Nev. to take on the Western Athletic Conference's Nevada live on ESPN2 where UVM was defeated 74-64.
The match-ups for the BracketBusters series will be determined by ESPN in conjunction with the conferences approximately three weeks prior to the event (Sunday, January 28, 2007). As part of the agreement, home teams will play a "return" game at the home facility of their BracketBusters series opponent in November or December of the following season. Both Albany and Maine have been tabbed "road" teams for the 2007 event, which will result in a home game versus their selected opponent during the 2007-08 season.
From the last five NCAA Tournaments, a total of six Sweet Sixteen squads, a regional finalist and a Final Four participant are included in the pool of teams in the 2007 BracketBusters series. George Mason reached the national semifinals of the 2006 NCAA Tournament, Kent State advanced to an Elite Eight game in the 2002 NCAA Tournament, while Southern Illinois (2002), Butler (2003), Nevada (2004), UW-Milwaukee (2005), Bradley (2006) and Wichita State (2006) have made Sweet Sixteen appearances. In all, the 2007 BracketBusters pool boasts a total of 70 team appearances in the last five NCAA Tournaments.
In an effort to provide a greater opportunity for NCAA Tournament-caliber teams, the event has expanded its pool of teams (18 in 2003, 46 in 2004, 64 in 2005, 100 in 2006) each year to produce a better cross section of squads for the basketball bonanza.