Big 12 Coaches Visit ESPN

Bristol, Conn. -- Five Big 12 basketball coaches visited the facilities of ESPN in Bristol, Conn., as a part of a promotional tour previewing the upcoming season Wednesday.

Big 12 women's coaches Sherri Coale of Oklahoma and Paul Sanderford of Nebraska joined men's coaches Rick Barnes of Texas, Eddie Sutton of Oklahoma State and Melvin Watkins of Texas A&M on the trip to Connecticut. Also on the trip was Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg.

The sixsome first met with ESPN programming staff on the 20-year history network and how the college basketball has played a major role in huge success. The newtork started with approximately 400 employees and has grown to more than 1,500 and is by far the most watched sports television network in the world.

It was quickly noticed by the group that Big 12's timeslot on ESPN's Big Monday has been the most watched men's college basketball window for two of the three seasons the Big 12 has existed. In 1996-97 the Big 12 had a share rating of 1.90 compared to the Big Ten's 1.47 on ESPN's SuperTuesday. The following year the Big Ten edged the Big 12 with a 1.15 rating to 1.11. Last season the Big 12 and Southeastern Conference, which is also featured on SuperTuesday, tied for the hightest ratings at 1.27.

The Big 12 group then toured the nine-building facility and watch a segment of ESPN's Sportcenter before conducting interviews on ESPN News, ESPN Radio, and ESPN.com.