For the second straight year, ESPN’s “College GameDay” will head to John Paul Jones Arena for one of the most anticipated basketball matchups in the Atlantic Coast Conference. No. 3 Virginia will take on No. 7 North Carolina February 27 in a battle between the two highest nationally ranked teams in the ACC.
Since 2005, “College GameDay” has filmed at a different school every Saturday for the basketball game of the week, and stars analysts Rece Davis, Jay Williams, Seth Greenberg and Jay Bilas, who discuss upcoming games in college basketball.
This is only the second time that UVA has hosted “College GameDay.” Last January, ESPN was here when No. 2 Virginia lost to No. 4 Duke—UVA’s first loss of the season and only home loss in the past two years.
Although Virginia doesn’t tip off against North Carolina until 6:30 pm, the doors of JPJ will open at 9 am for the pregame show, which is free admission for all. The first 5,000 fans will get a “College GameDay” t-shirt.
Last year’s game day featured hordes of orange-clad students with anti-Duke signs, free t-shirts for those early risers and a half-court shot by UVA student Tyler Lewis.
The show will air twice Saturday on ESPN: at 11 am and just before the 6:30pm tipoff.
Updated 9:49pm with the latest AP rankings.