Northeast Conference Announces 2020-21 Basketball Television Schedule

The Northeast Conference today announced an 18-game basketball television package for the 2020-21 season. The CCSU men's and women's basketball teams will each be featured in one game this season on ESPN+.

The Central Connecticut-Merrimack men's basketball game at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11, will stream on ESPN+. The CCSU women's basketball game at Merrimack on Saturday, Feb. 13, will also stream on ESPN+ at 4:00 p.m.

COMPLETE RELEASE

LIST OF GAMES

The NEC and ESPN will team up to bring games to fans through ESPN streaming services on web and via the ESPN App across smartphones, tablets and connected devices. Eleven NEC games will be streamed non-exclusively on ESPN3, available to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider. Five NEC games will be exclusively on ESPN+, the direct-to-consumer streaming service.  Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $5.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu (ad-supported) - all for just $12.99/month.

The NEC will also make a number of appearances on the regional airwaves. SNY will carry four games featuring NY Metro area schools, including the package opener on December 21 when Sacred Heart visits Wagner. The annual "Battle of Brooklyn" rivalry game between LIU and St. Francis Brooklyn on January 30 will air on same day tape delay. SNY will also broadcast a pair of FDU games against Mount St. Mary's with the women squaring off on February 18 and the men on February 20. The conference anticipates adding additional regional syndication partners in the coming weeks

"We are so happy to be playing basketball again, and the opportunity to extend the NEC brand nationally through our association with ESPN is the icing on the cake," said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. "The same goes for our loyal regional partners, who enable us to increase our visibility within the conference footprint. This season has presented us with numerous challenges, and while the TV package may look a bit different than what fans are used to, the NEC's commitment to shining the spotlight on our talented and hard-working student-athletes and coaches in the league's marquee sport remains a top priority."

All NEC men's and women's teams will be featured once during the regular season with wildcard games on ESPN3 slated for February 25 (men) and February 28 (women).

When March rolls around, ESPN3 is set to carry the men's semifinals on Saturday, March 6, and the women's semis on Wednesday, March 10. As part of the network's Championship Week coverage, the NEC men's title game will be televised by ESPN2 for the 34th straight year on Tuesday, March 9th at 7:00 pm. For the 14th year in a row, ESPNU will air the NEC Women's Championship game. This year's final is scheduled for Sunday, March 14th at 2:00 pm.

Now in his 21st season, Dave Popkin serves as the primary play-by-play announcer on men's broadcasts, with Paul Dottino (22nd year) filling in. Tim Capstraw (22nd year) and Joe DeSantis (14th year) are slated to split color analyst duties.

Dottino and Craig D'Amico (12th year) will once again split play-by-play duties on women's telecasts. Pam Roecker is back for her 19th year as color analyst.

Pack Network will handle production duties for the league's ESPN3/ESPN+ package.

2020-21 NEC Basketball Television Schedule

About The Northeast Conference
Now in its 40th anniversary season, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 10 institutions of higher learning located throughout seven states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States - New York (#1), Boston (#9), Baltimore (#26), Hartford/New Haven (#33) and Providence (#53). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 24 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA Championships. NEC member institutions include Bryant, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU, Merrimack, Mount St. Mary's, Sacred Heart, St. Francis Brooklyn, Saint Francis U and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league's official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat, all @NECsports.