The Valparaiso University men’s basketball team will have nine of its 18 Horizon League games broadcast by the league’s television partners this year, as announced by the league office over the last two days. Seven of the Crusaders’ league games will be on the ESPN family of networks, highlighted by a pair of appearances on ESPN2, while a pair of games will be broadcast on the American Sports Network.

Each of the Crusaders’ first three league contests will be broadcast, starting at UIC on Friday, Dec. 30, which will tip at 4 p.m. on ESPNU. Valpo’s league home opener against Oakland on Friday, Jan. 6 will be live on ESPN2 from the ARC at 8 p.m., while its game two days later against Detroit will tip at noon on ASN.

UIC comes to the ARC on Sunday, Jan. 22 for a 2 p.m. start on ASN. Later that week, on Friday, Jan. 27, the Crusaders welcome Wright State to town for a game which will be a flex selection – either on ESPNU at 8 p.m. or an ESPN3 exclusive at 7 p.m. Determination on the broadcast outlet will be made a few weeks in advance of the game.

Both of the Crusaders’ games on the Wisconsin road swing – at Milwaukee on Thursday, Feb. 2 and at Green Bay on Saturday, Feb. 4 – will be ESPN3 exclusive broadcasts. Two weeks later, the Michigan road swing will feature a pair of broadcasts as well, as Valpo plays at Oakland at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17 on ESPN2 and at Detroit on Sunday, Feb. 19 on an ESPN3 exclusive.

The Horizon League Championship will also be carried over the ESPN family of networks. The first two rounds will be ESPN3 exclusive broadcasts, while the first semifinal will be broadcast on ESPNEWS and the second semifinal on ESPNU. The title game is set for 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Mar. 6 and will be broadcast either on ESPN or ESPN2.

The remainder of the league schedule, as well as Valpo’s entire non-league regular season home schedule, will be carried on ESPN3. In addition, the Crusaders could potentially play on ESPN2 in the championship game of the MGM Grand Main Event, while Valpo’s game at Oregon will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network. A broadcast selection is still pending as well for the Crusaders’ game at Kentucky.