Sept. 30, 2015 CHICAGO - The Missouri Valley Conference will have a 115-live event package on ESPN networks during the 2015-16 academic year, Commissioner Doug Elgin announced today.

The Valley, which is in the second year of a 10-year agreement with ESPN, will clear 56 men's basketball telecasts on ESPN platforms -- ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.

An additional 59 other MVC contests -- regular-season women's basketball and baseball plus postseason championships for women's and men's soccer, volleyball, indoor and outdoor track and field, women's basketball, softball and baseball -- are featured on the package this year.

"Through its various platforms, ESPN provides us with a vital national promotional vehicle in an ever-changing landscape," Elgin said.

"Our institutions -- from the Presidents' offices to the athletics departments -- recognized the importance of ESPNU and ESPN3 in the formative days of both outlets," he said. "With the expansion of our linear coverage and the creation and continued development of The Valley on ESPN3, our Conference will realize increased exposure and across-campus involvement from our student population which is a win-win for us."

The ESPN men's basketball package begins with UNI participating in ESPN's eighth annual College Hoops Tip-off Marathon on Tuesday, November 17. UNI, which finished 11th in the final 2015 Associated Press poll, plays host to a 7 a.m. Central game on ESPN2 against Stephen F. Austin in a rematch of last year's thrilling OT victory by the Panthers.

Wichita State, which finished 14th nationally in the final 2015 AP poll and posted a 30-5 record, will play host to UNLV on Dec. 9 and Utah on Dec. 12 in ESPN2 telecasts, while Illinois State travels to Kentucky for an ESPN2 game on Nov. 30.

The Missouri Valley Conference also has five additional non-conference contests on ESPN platforms -- Illinois State at San Diego State (ESPN3) on Nov. 13, Wichita State at Saint Louis (ESPNU) on Dec. 5, UNI at New Mexico (ESPN3) on Dec. 12 and Iowa versus Drake (ESPN3) and UNI versus Iowa State (ESPNU) at the Big Four Classic in Des Moines, Iowa, on Dec. 19.

Each league school will participate in three games with every contest being delivered on an ESPN platform -- ESPN2, ESPNU or ESPN3.

In terms of league regular-season men's basketball exposure, Wichita State will play host to UNI on Saturday, Feb. 13, in a game that has been selected as a netflex contest for airing on either ESPN or ESPN2. ESPN will select the network by Friday, Feb. 5.

The Valley's regular-season men's basketball package on ESPNU will feature one Thursday and five Sundays. The Sundays will use the ESPN netflex selection process (one on ESPN3 and one on ESPNU) and occur on Jan. 17, Jan. 24, Jan. 31, Feb. 14 and Feb. 21.

"The Wildcard selection process allows ESPN to select the game with the most impact to cap our season," said Jack R. Watkins, MVC Associate Commissioner. "Last year, we had two Top 20 teams (UNI and Wichita State) deciding our regular-season race on national television -- a fitting tribute to the great year we had."

The Valley will also air its postseason championships for women's and men's soccer, volleyball, indoor and outdoor track and field, softball and baseball in their entirety on ESPN3.

"When we first began discussion about the creation The Valley on ESPN3, the regular-season success of our Olympic sport programs and their continued NCAA Tournament achievements were our calling cards," Watkins said.