Duke, UNC, N.C. State get significant TV coverage as ACC releases WBB schedule

Orin Day - TSN via DWHoops.com
Orin Day - TSN via DWHoops.com
Orin Day – TSN via DWHoops.com

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) released the composite league schedule for the 2014-15 women’s basketball season on Tuesday.

All three Triangle-area teams – the Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels, and N.C. State Wolfpack – will all receive significant television coverage in the upcoming league schedule that includes 44 televised conference games comprised of 19 ESPN network games, including seven on ESPN2.

Duke’s schedule features inclusion in the network’s popular Big Monday series as the Blue Devils will host Louisville on February 2, and travel to Notre Dame on February 16.

“It’s always exciting to continue the great tradition of playing excellent teams and also having terrific diversity to the schedule,” Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie said.

“This year is no different as we will be tested game in and game out as we prepare for the challenging ACC schedule and the postseason.”

Duke’s schedule includes matchups with 13 teams that advanced to the 2014 NCAA Tournament – Connecticut, Notre Dame, Florida State, Oklahoma, Syracuse, North Carolina, Kentucky, South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Louisville and Georgia Tech.

The Blue Devils will take on two opponents that reached the NCAA Final Four last season – Connecticut (NCAA Champion) and Notre Dame – as well as three No. 1 seeds – Connecticut, Notre Dame and South Carolina.

A total of seven Duke opponents this season advanced to at least the NCAA Sweet 16.

Entering his second year at the helm in leading the N.C. State Wolfpack, 2014 ESPNW ACC Coach of the Year Wes Moore and his team will host an exceptional set of league games that includes visits from the Tar Heels (Jan. 22), Blue Devils (Feb. 22), and 2014 NCAA runner up Fighting Irish (Mar. 1).

With the return of head coach Sylvia Hatchell, North Carolina will play a 16-game Atlantic Coast Conference slate highlighted by two games each against Duke and NC State.

Notre Dame will play in Carmichael Arena for the first time, and UNC will visit Louisville in the first regular season meeting between the two programs.

The Tar Heels are scheduled to play no fewer than 10 games on television, with at least three more games on ESPN3.

The 2014-15 ACC season tips off on Friday, Nov. 14 and will culminate in the 38th annual ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament that will take place Wednesday-Sunday, Mar. 4-8 at the Greensboro Coliseum.