ESPN's "Big Monday" Schedule Released: UVA with Three Appearances

For the second consecutive year, Virginia basketball will be tied for an ACC-high with three appearances on ESPN's nationally-televised "Big Monday" series.  UVA will travel to North Carolina on Feb. 2nd, host Pitt on Feb. 16, and head to Syracuse on Mar. 2, all at 7 PM.

The Big Monday series will show an ACC game at 7 PM, then a Big XII game at 9 PM.  The ACC's arrangement is in its second consecutive year, after the conference took over for the old Big East in 2013-2014.  Eight ACC games will be shown from January 5 through March 2, except for 1/12, because of the NCAA football championship, which may also feature the Hoos.

ESPN noted that Virginia's game against Pittsburgh at JPJ will be featured as part of "Rivalry Week."  That's...kinda goofy. But, sure, I'll take the nationally-televised game.  The only notable downside to the Monday games are the short rest they entail, with a likely Saturday game preceding them.  Last season, UVA played non-tournament 4 games on 1 day of rest, going 3-1 in those matchups.

In last year's 3 big Monday games, the Hoos fell to Duke in a heart-breaker early in the ACC season, but defeated UNC and Maryland at home.

Below is the full listing of the ACC's Big Monday games.  UVA's full schedule, including dates, times, and TV, should be out later this month.

January 5 - Notre Dame at North Carolina (ESPN or ESPN2), 7 p.m.
January 19 - Pitt at Duke (ESPN), 7 p.m.
January 26 - Syracuse at North Carolina (ESPN), 7 p.m.
February 2 - Virginia at North Carolina (ESPN), 7 p.m.
February  9 - Duke at Florida State (ESPN), 7 p.m.
February  16 - Pitt at Virginia (ESPN), 7 p.m.
February  23 - Louisville at Georgia Tech (ESPN), 7 p.m.
March 2 - Virginia at Syracuse (ESPN), 7 p.m.