Bright Lights, Big City, BIG EAST Tournament

The eyes of the sports world turn to college basketball this week as conference tournaments tip off across the country. FOX Sports presents exclusive coverage of college basketball’s most iconic events with the BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament on FS1 and FOX from Wednesday, March 9 through Saturday, March 12. The first round, quarterfinals and semifinals are televised on FS1, America’s fastest-growing sports network, and the championship game airs on the FOX broadcast network, the first time in more than 20 years that the BIG EAST final has been televised on broadcast television.

Fans can also watch the tournament’s quarterfinals, semifinals and championship in virtual reality through FOX Sports’ recently launched partnership with NextVR, the leader in live-action virtual reality broadcast technology. This week’s BIG EAST Tournament games are the first ever college basketball contests to be broadcast in virtual reality, giving viewers the feel of watching the game among fans at center court, near the sideline huddles and under the basket. Virtual reality broadcasts are available free through the FOX Sports Section on the NextVR portal. Samsung Gear VR owners can download the NextVR app on any Gear VR headset compatible phones. The app is available in the Oculus Store, and games can be viewed on the Gear VR headset. For detailed instructions, go to www.nextvr.com/gearvr-live.

On Saturday, as the BIG EAST prepares to crown its tournament champion, the city of New York lights up in support of the event, as that night’s game, airing on the FOX broadcast network, is shown live in Times Square on the Marriot Marquis video board. Just a few blocks away, the Empire State Building will be illuminated in the conference’s colors.

In addition to all the game action, FOX Sports has pregame, halftime, bridge and postgame studio coverage live from Madison Square Garden throughout the entire tournament. Host Rob Stone and analysts Steve Lavin and Donny Marshall present highlights and present engaging and poignant features. Among the stories fans may see during BIG EAST Tournament are Villanova’s Piccolo Girl, Chris Mack’s tour of Cincinnati, BIG EAST Player of the Year Kris Dunn’s relationship with head coach Ed Cooley, Chris Mullin’s homecoming to St. John’s and much, much more.

College basketball games televised on the FOX broadcast network and FS1 are live-streamed on FOX Sports GO through participating pay-TV providers. For more information on FOX Sports’ coverage of college hoops, including photography, broadcaster information and more, visit FOX Sports Press Pass.

The full BIG EAST Tournament schedule, including broadcaster information, can be found below.
 

2016 BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule