CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Today, all 15 ACC head men’s basketball coaches, mascots and two key players from each team descended upon the ESPNU studios for the ESPNU Basketball Media Days Special. Over the next four days, ESPNU will cover six conferences’ basketball media days including ACC, American, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC. Enjoy 12 snapshots from the day.
1. And then there were 15 . . .
This is the fourth year that the ACC head coaches have previewed the season with a visit to ESPNU for the network’s media day coverage. Last year, all 12 coaches were on hand, and this year, three coaches made the trip for the first time.
2. Roll out the Red Carpet
Coaches arrived at 6:30 a.m. and were greeted by some of their biggest fans – the mascots — to mark the tip-off to the ESPNU Media Day Special.
3. Working 9 to 5
Wake Forest’s Demon Deacon and Syracuse’s Otto The Orange were on hand all day to help with editing, copying and general tomfoolery.
4. Coaching Legends
With the addition of Syracuse to the ACC this season, the conference is now home to college basketball’s winningest coaches – Jim Boeheim (Syracuse) and Mike Krzyzewski (Duke). Coaching legends Boeheim (foreground), Krzyzewski and North Carolina’s Roy Williams (standing) gathered for an ESPNU interview together for the first time as ACC rivals.
5. Camera Ready
ESPNU’s makeup team was responsible for making more than 50 faces camera ready today between ESPN commentators, coaches and players. That does not include mascots looking to perfect their looks.
6. Welcome party
Two key players from every ACC men’s basketball team made the trip to ESPNU for a Charlotte-style “Car Wash.” They did interviews with ESPN’s Andy Katz, showed off their signature moves on the basketball court and took advantage of a break in their schedule to sample the candy bar and video game stations.
7. Coaches’ Clickers
A favorite segment within the coverage is always the Coaches’ Clickers. Coaches such as Boston College’s Steve Donahue broke down their game footage and plays with ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla. Best segments will replay during Katz’s Korner (ESPNU, Friday, 8 p.m. ET).
8. Taking it off the court
ACC mascots carry a torch for more than just basketball. UNC’s Rameses and Miami’s Sebeastian locked horns in anticipation of their schools’ football game at Chapel Hill (ESPN, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET).
9. They’ve still got it
ESPN analysts Sean Farnham and Jay Williams were on the ESPNU basketball court showing off moves against Pitt’s and NC State’s stars. Each team’s players demonstrated their signature moves. But Jay and Sean showed a few of their own.
10. Will the real ‘Experts’ please stand up?
The Experts set at ESPNU: It’s currently up for debate who the real Experts guests were meant to be. One group sat still much better than the other, and the mascots really struggled to find words to answer ESPN analyst Jay Bilas’ questions. See who made the cut in one of three half-hour episodes of The Experts: ACC Coaches Roundtable shows tonight at 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.ET and tomorrow night at 6 p.m.
11. Playing H-O-R-S-E… wait, no, W-O-L-F…
Who says the players are the only ones with moves? ACC mascots showed they know how to move around the court with a pick-up game of their own. Buzz (Georgia Tech) might be placed on the injured list.
12. And that’s a wrap.
