For the past few weeks, Will has been providing up to the minute updates on Gonzaga's 2011-12 schedule. The schedule features some outstanding matchups and exposure for the program. Today, ESPN announced that Gonzaga and Washington State's annual nonconference battle will begin the festivities that is their 24 hour Tip-Off Marathon. The game will tip at midnight eastern so for 95% of Gonzaga fans, it will land in the 9 PM slot we are all used to.
The marathon, which will televise 19 consecutive games (11 on ESPN), has become the official 'start' of college basketball, which unlike college football, has always struggled to grab national attention right from the beginning of the season. ESPN did a very nice job of grabbing some intriguing matchups for the tip-off. The lineup includes: San Diego St. & Baylor, Duke v. Michigan State, Florida v. Ohio Sate, Kentucky v. Kansas, and top-tier programs like Memphis, Texas, Cal, Stanford, and Syracuse will also be represeneted.
For more on the event, take a look at ESPN's official press release
UPDATE: According to the Tulsa World, Oral Roberts has been added to the schedule. The Zags will take on ORU on December 15th in Spokane.