BOISE, Idaho (March 8, 2024) – Along with its broadcast partners, ESPN and Scripps Sports, the Big Sky Conference is preparing for plenty of high-level television media coverage at Idaho Central Arena over the course of the men’s and women’s championship tournament across both family of networks.
For starters, the league office is pleased to announce that its talent for ESPN+ broadcasts in Tony Parks and Joe Cravens on the men’s side along with Tracy Warren and Krista Redpath on the women’s side will serve as the talent for its ESPN2 and ESPNU games.
For the third-consecutive championship, the Big Sky Conference will be producing ‘Big Sky Courtside’, elevating the viewing experience for all fans.
Big Sky Courtside will sign on the air live 30 minutes before the first game of each day and will provide pre-game, halftime, and post-game coverage throughout the week, including live-looks at post-game press conferences.
The show will be hosted by the Big Sky’s very own Alex Eschelman, with Carla Taylor and Tanoka Beard joining the show as analysts. A former head coach at Weber State for more than 20 years and two-time Big Sky Conference champion, Taylor will provide analysis for all women’s basketball games at the Big Sky Basketball Championships, while Beard, a former three-time Big Sky first-team standout at Boise State, will provide coverage for all men’s basketball games for the exclusive show. This year, Eschelman will be joined by co-host Kyle Hansen of Scripps Sports.
The Big Sky is also happy to reveal that Scripps Sports will be airing all non-ESPN2/ESPNU games, along with every segment of Big Sky Courtside on MTN in Montana. Additionally, several games and editions of Courtside will air on various Scripps stations in Idaho (Boise Channel 6, Twin Falls Channel 6), Utah (Utah 16/Antenna Utah), Arizona (Antenna AZ), and KCDO in Colorado.
This level of coverage will provide an unprecedented amount of accessibility to Big Sky Conference fans outside of ESPN+, which remains the primary hub for the tournament.
Follow Us
Follow the Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for all the latest news around the league and use the hashtag #ExperienceElevated.
2024 Big Sky Women's Basketball Championship
March 9-13 | Boise, Idaho | Idaho Central Arena
First Round – Saturday, March 9 (all times Mountain)
Game 1: #9 Weber State vs. #10 Portland State – 12:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 2: #7 Idaho State vs. #8 Sacramento State – 2:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Second Round – Sunday, March 10
Game 3: #1 Eastern Washington vs. Game 1 Winner – 12:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 4: #2 Northern Arizona vs. Game 2 Winner – 2:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Third Round – Monday, March 11
Game 5: #4 Montana State vs. #5 Northern Colorado – 12:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 6: #3 Montana vs. #6 Idaho – 2:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Semifinals – Tuesday, March 12
Game 7: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner – 12:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner – 2:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Championship – Wednesday, March 13
Game 9: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner – 3:00 p.m. (ESPNU & ESPN+)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 Big Sky Men's Basketball Championship
March 9-13 | Boise, Idaho | Idaho Central Arena
First Round – Saturday, March 9 (all times Mountain)
Game 1: #9 Idaho vs. #10 Sacramento State – 5:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 2: #7 Northern Arizona vs. #8 Idaho State – 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Second Round – Sunday, March 10
Game 3: #1 Eastern Washington vs. Game 1 Winner – 5:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 4: #2 Northern Colorado vs. Game 2 Winner – 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Third Round – Monday, March 11
Game 5: #4 Weber State vs. #5 Montana State – 5:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 6: #3 Montana vs. #6 Portland State – 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Semifinals – Tuesday, March 12
Game 7: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner – 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU & ESPN+)
Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner – 9:00 p.m. (ESPN2 & ESPN+)
Championship – Wednesday, March 13
Game 9: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner – 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2 & ESPN+)