FACTS
What sets O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters apart from other made-for-television events is that the pairing of teams is not pre-determined. The actual pairings take place three weeks in advance of the event, and those match-ups are determined on the basis of regular-season play.
Another important component for O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters participants is future scheduling. Each team that participates in the O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters pool series any given year agrees to enter into a home-and-home series with its to-be-named opponent. The return game of each series is made in November or December in the season following the O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters game; this return game allows for the completion of the two-game series contract and is not part of the O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters event in that second year.
What’s New for O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters
O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters began with a total pool of 102 teams representing 16 conferences. In an effort to provide a greater opportunity for NCAA Tournament-caliber teams, the event has expanded its pool of teams (18 in 2003, 46 in 2004, 64 in 2005, and 100 in 2006) each year to produce a better cross section of squads for the basketball bonanza.
A total of 14 games will be televised, including 6 games on ESPN2, 5 games on ESPNU and 3 games on ESPN360 -- ESPN's customized broadband service. The remaining 37 games will not be televised.
2007 O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters Pool versus Field
The O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters pool is defined as the original 102 participating teams prior to the pairing of teams for the television package. The O'Reilly ESPNU The O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters field is defined as the 28 teams chosen for the 14 games televised on the ESPN family of networks (ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN360).
2007 O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters Pool
The pool of teams in the 2007 O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters represents one Final Four Team -- George Mason and 29 other teams that played in the NCAA and NIT in 2006. Additionally, teams represent 70 NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 5 years and 8 of those teams advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in the last 5 years.
2006 Highlights
A total of 50 games were played on February 17th and 18th 2006, with thirteen (13) of those games televised on the ESPN family of networks. ESPN televised the Fresno State @Creighton game, while ESPN2 televised five (5) games (Bucknell @ Northern Iowa; Missouri St. @ UW-Milwaukee; Marist @Old Dominion; LA Tech @ Southern Illinois; and George Mason @ Wichita State). ESPNU televised five (5) games (Albany @ VCU; Akron @ Nevada; Butler @ Kent State; Northern Arizona @ Western KY; and Northwestern St. @ Utah State. Additionally, ESPN360 joined the family of network televising two (2) games (Samford @ Ohio; and Buffalo @ Iona).
