The Florida Gators will be one of 11 college basketball programs giving ESPN an early look at their team as the program will take part in ESPNU‘s three-hour Midnight Madness coverage on Friday, Oct. 17, according to a network release.
Though Florida has not announced any Midnight Madness activities and ESPN did not specifically detail what it would be doing on campus, ESPN announced via press release on Monday that head coach Billy Donovan will be “wired for sound to bring fans [a] unique perspective†of the action, indicating that the Gators may be planning some type of festivities for that evening.
Update: UF’s men’s basketball Twitter account sent out the following tweet on Monday after the announcement, detailing the team’s involvement in the show.
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ESPNU program kicks off at 6 p.m. and will include studio coverage with analysts on-site at Arizona, Kentucky and UConn. Donovan (Florida), head coach Mark Few (Gonzaga) and head coach Steve Fisher (San Diego State) will each be wired for sound during separate activities at their respective institutions.
On ESPN3.com, the network will show full Midnight Madness events from Harvard (6 p.m.), Mercer (6:30 p.m.), Kentucky (7 p.m.), UConn (7 p.m.), NC State (8 p.m.) and Florida Gulf Coast (9 p.m.). It will also air Kansas’s festivities the week prior on Oct. 10.
The Gators have not held an actual Midnight Madness activity at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center since ahead of the 2006-07 season which, according to The Independent Florida Alligator, was attended by approximately 10,000 fans.
Florida will face Barry University in an exhibition game on Thursday, Nov. 6 and open up the 2014-15 campaign on Friday, Nov. 14 at home against William & Mary. UF will also be participating in ESPN‘s 19-game Tip-Off Marathon as it helps kick off the event by hosting Miami on Monday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
