There are two ways to look at this, either ESPNU needs filler or this is a sign of the apocalypse. This Friday, ESPNU will air a Kentucky men’s basketball practice for two hours starting at 3 p.m. ET.
ESPN has assigned an on-air crew of five men for the practice which outnumbers a game crew of a play-by-play announcer, analyst and on-court reporter! Jay Bilas, Seth Greenburg, NBA analyst Avery Johnson, ESPN.com’s Myron Medcalf and guest analyst Tony Delk will be part of the telecast.
During the summer, ESPN’s networks aired Kentucky’s tour of the Caribbean and this marks the second preseason event involving its men’s basketball.
It’s strange to see ESPNU single out one particular school and air its practice, however it does eliminate that third hour re-air of CFB Daily on Friday and gives the network some live weekday programming.
But if Kentucky gets to have its practice televised, why not air Duke, North Carolina or another school in a conference that ESPN owns the rights?
Perhaps ESPNU can make this a weekly occurrence before the season tips off? Or maybe they can decide not air practices at all.
[ESPN]
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About Ken Fang
Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.
He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.
Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.