ESPN Announces 2010 BracketBusters Pairings

Event to Feature 11 Games Feb. 19-20 on ESPN Networks; Selections Highlighted by No. 15 Butler, No. 22 Northern Iowa

ESPN announced live on ESPNU's 2010 BracketBusters Selection Show the pairings for the eighth annual BracketBusters - a two-day men's college basketball event pitting NCAA Tournament hopefuls Friday, Feb. 19, and Saturday, Feb. 20. The field features two ranked teams, No. 15 Butler and No. 22 Northern Iowa, as well as the return of Siena, which also received votes in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll.

BracketBusters will feature 11 nationally televised games live, selected from a pool of 98 teams. ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network, will televise five BracketBusters games, and ESPN2 will televise six, all simulcast on ESPN360.com, ESPN's customized broadband service. Three of the ESPN2 telecasts will be in high definition. The matchups are highlighted by Old Dominion at No. 22 Northern Iowa on Friday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m., and Siena at No. 15 Butler on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. ET, both on ESPN2 HD and ESPN360.com.

2010 BracketBusters Schedule

Fri, Feb 19
7 p.m.
Old Dominion at No. 22 Northern Iowa
ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com

9 p.m.
William & Mary at Iona
ESPNU

Sat, Feb 20
11 a.m.
Siena at No. 15 Butler
ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com

Noon
Morgan State at Murray State
ESPNU

1 p.m.
Louisiana Tech at Northeastern
ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

3 p.m.
Nevada at Missouri State
ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

4 p.m.
Akron at Virginia Commonwealth
ESPNU

8 p.m.
Coll. of Charleston at George Mason
ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com

8 p.m.
Western Carolina at Kent State
ESPNU

10 p.m.
New Mexico State at Pacific
ESPNU

11:59 p.m.
Wichita State at Utah State
ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

This year's 22 BracketBusters teams represent 10 conferences and:

* Two ranked teams: No. 15 Butler and No. 22 Northern Iowa
* 19 teams in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) top 100: No. Iowa (16); Butler (18); Siena (44); Old Dominion (46); Wichita State (48); William & Mary (51); Utah State (55); Northeastern (56); Virginia Commonwealth (60); Nevada (66); Kent State (69); Western Carolina (73); La. Tech (74); New Mexico State (82); Missouri State (84); Iona (85); Murray State (92); College of Charleston (94); Pacific (95)
* Seven 2009 NCAA Tournament participants: Northern Iowa; Siena; Butler; Morgan Sate; Akron; Virginia Commonwealth; Utah State
* 16 teams with 15 or more wins overall: Old Dominion; Northern Iowa; William & Mary; Iona; Siena; Butler; Morgan State; Murray State; La. Tech; Missouri State; Akron; Virginia Commonwealth; George Mason; Western Carolina; Wichita State; Utah State
* Four teams undefeated in conference play: Butler; Siena; Morgan State and Murray State

About BracketBusters
The BracketBusters concept, named because of the success of participating teams from these conferences in NCAA Tournament play through the years, provides programs with an opportunity to play top non-conference opponents roughly three weeks before Selection Sunday. Each conference selects its participating teams before the season, and the matchups for the event are determined by ESPN in conjunction with the conferences. BracketBusters is an example of ESPN college basketball franchise programming. Others include Rivalry Week Presented by Cisco, Feast Week Presented by Lowe's, Holiday Hoops Presented by Kay Jewelers, ESPNU Campus Connection Week, Judgment Week and Championship Week Presented by Dick's Sporting Goods.