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Men's Basketball Selected to Participate in BracketBusters

For the sixth time in the last seven years Oral Roberts men's basketball team has been invited to participate in BracketBusters. The ninth annual event, a three-day men's college basketball extravaganza pitting potential NCAA Tournament hopefuls against each other Feb. 18-20, will feature 11 nationally televised games on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU -- selected from a pool of 114 teams, the largest BracketBusters pool in the event's history.

ORU is The Summit League's sole representative this year. The Golden Eagles are 2-3 in previous BracketBuster-related matchups, with wins over Missouri State (2005) and Austin Peay (2010). ORU has made a pair of national television appearances as part of BracketBusters, against Utah State (2007) and Creighton (2008).

For the sixth straight year, ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network, will feature five BracketBusters games, while ESPN or ESPN2 will televise up to six contests. The 11 BracketBusters matchups will be announced Jan. 31.

BracketBusters, named because of the success of the teams in NCAA Tournament play, will provide the 22 televised teams an opportunity to play other top non-conference opponents three weeks before Selection Sunday. The 92 teams not selected for BracketBusters will compete against each other through the same three days.

The 114-team field will feature teams from 15 conferences as well as one independent: 12 from the Mid-American Conference and Colonial Athletic; 10 from the Ohio Valley Conference, Missouri Valley and Metro Atlantic Athletic; nine from Big Sky, Big South, Big West and Western Athletic; eight from the Horizon League; five from America East and Southern; two from the MEAC and West Coast; and one from the Summit League, as well as independent Seattle.

As part of the agreement, all 11 of the BracketBusters home teams in televised games, as well as the remaining 46 home squads, will play a "return" game at the home facility of their opponent in November or December of the 2012-13 season.

BracketBusters is part of ESPN's college basketball franchise programming, along with Rivalry Week Presented by Cisco, Feast Week presented by Lowe's, Holiday Hoops Presented by Kay Jewelers, Judgment Week and Championship Week Presented by Dick's Sporting Goods.

Teams participating this season in BracketBusters have produced 74 appearances in the last five NCAA Tournaments.

The Golden Eagles begin practice on Friday, Oct. 15. ORU returns four starters from last season's squad which went 20-13 and produced victories over Missouri, New Mexico and Stanford.

Season tickets are as low as $85 each and are available now through the Hilton Box Office at the Mabee Center by calling (918) 495-6000. Season tickets in premium locations are $189 each and require a per seat donation to the Golden Eagle Club; information regarding courtside seating and suites is available upon request. The ticket office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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