When Harvard and Boston College open play in the first round of the 2011 NIT Championship, they'll be doing so on national television. ESPN has announced the complete NIT schedule, with the Worldwide Leader providing the "most coverage ever" for the NIT between ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com.
The first round begins Tuesday with nine games, starting with Dayton at College of Charleston at 7 p.m. EDT, on ESPN2. Harvard, the Ivy league runner-up, gets prime-time treatment with a 7:30 p.m. tip at Oklahoma State, airing on ESPN. Boston College, a No. 1 seed, travels to McNeese St., which will be on ESPNU at 9 p.m. Every game throughout the tournament will also be carried on ESPN3.
Coverage of second-round games begins Friday, March 18 and the quarterfinals, Tuesday, March 22. ESPN2 will televise the semifinals and championship live from Madison Square Garden beginning Tuesday, March 29, with the NIT champion crowned Thursday, March 31.
Complete 2011 NIT First Round Schedule:
Tue, Mar 15
7 p.m. NIT First Round: Dayton at College of Charleston - ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com (Brad Nessler & Jimmy Dykes)
7 p.m. NIT First Round: Coastal Carolina at Alabama - ESPNU / ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com ( Carter Blackburn & LaPhonso Ellis)
7 p.m. NIT First Round: Vermont at Cleveland State - ESPN3.com (Jim Barbar & Mark Adams)
7:30 p.m. NIT First Round: Harvard at Oklahoma State - ESPN / ESPN HD / ESPN3.com (Mark Jones & Fran Fraschilla)
8 p.m. NIT First Round: Murray State at Missouri State - ESPN3.com (Justin Kutcher & Dickey Simpkins)
9 p.m. NIT First Round: UTEP at New Mexico - ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com (Bob Wischusen & Stephen Bardo)
9 p.m. NIT First Round: Boston College at McNeese State - ESPNU / ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com (Mitch Holthus & Reid Gettys)
9 p.m. NIT First Round: Fairfield at Colorado State - ESPN3.com (Dave Armstrong & Bill Herenda)
11 p.m. NIT First Round: Kent State at St. Mary's - ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com (Dave Flemming & Sean Farnham)
Wed, Mar 16
7 p.m. NIT First Round: Nebraska at Wichita State - ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com (Mike Patrick & Dan Dakich)
7:30 p.m. NIT First Round: Florida Atlantic at Miami (Fla.) - ESPN3.com (Dan McLaughlin & Dereck Whittenburg)
8 p.m. NIT First Round: Bethune-Cookman at Virginia Tech - ESPNU / ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com (Beth Mowins & Bob Valvano)
8 p.m. NIT First Round: Milwaukee at Northwestern - ESPN3.com (Mike Gleason & Mike Kelley)
9 p.m. NIT First Round: Texas Southern at Colorado - ESPN3.com (Dave Armstrong & Bill Herenda)
9 p.m. NIT First Round: Mississippi at California - ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com (John Saunders & Miles Simon)
10 p.m. NIT First Round: Long Beach State at Washington State - ESPNU / ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com (Clay Matvick & Sean Farnham)