There's no such thing as a bad television time slot.
Some are just better than others. And if you're Seth Tuttle of the Northern Iowa men's basketball team, Tuesday's 8 a.m. game against Stephen F. Austin, on ESPN2, might as well be prime time.
"It wouldn't matter if it was 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. or noon," the 6-foot-8 senior said. "It's an opportunity to play on national television against a really good team."
The Panthers are part of ESPN's 24-hour College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon, which actually runs longer than a single day.
It features several mid-major and women's programs before spotlighting the likes of Duke, Michigan State, Kansas and Kentucky.
"It's an opportunity to put your team on the map early in the season," Tuttle said. "I got told their school is canceling classes and every business in town (Nacogdoches, Texas) is not to be opened until after the game.
"So there's really not much to not be excited about."
The networks, especially ESPN, take a brow beating for their scheduling and general disregard for the academic demands placed on athletes.
Starting any game after 8 p.m. on a weekday is a money grab, plain and simple.
But a once-a-year showcase is forgivable, with Iona, UMass and UNI taking part in a little November nuttiness.
"It's not like we play 15 of our 30 games on (ESPN)," Tuttle said. "So being able to play on national television is a great opportunity for us, and obviously it means a little bit to get our games out there and get our program out there.
"It makes the game a little bit bigger for all of us."
It's been a while, however, since Tuttle played, then went to breakfast.
"In middle school we had traveling teams around your area and we'd kind of grow up doing these things," said Tuttle, a native of Sheffield, Ia. "I've done it before, but it's been a long time."
Some are just better than others. And if you're Seth Tuttle of the Northern Iowa men's basketball team, Tuesday's 8 a.m. game against Stephen F. Austin, on ESPN2, might as well be prime time.
"It wouldn't matter if it was 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. or noon," the 6-foot-8 senior said. "It's an opportunity to play on national television against a really good team."
The Panthers are part of ESPN's 24-hour College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon, which actually runs longer than a single day.
It features several mid-major and women's programs before spotlighting the likes of Duke, Michigan State, Kansas and Kentucky.
"It's an opportunity to put your team on the map early in the season," Tuttle said. "I got told their school is canceling classes and every business in town (Nacogdoches, Texas) is not to be opened until after the game.
"So there's really not much to not be excited about."
The networks, especially ESPN, take a brow beating for their scheduling and general disregard for the academic demands placed on athletes.
Starting any game after 8 p.m. on a weekday is a money grab, plain and simple.
But a once-a-year showcase is forgivable, with Iona, UMass and UNI taking part in a little November nuttiness.
"It's not like we play 15 of our 30 games on (ESPN)," Tuttle said. "So being able to play on national television is a great opportunity for us, and obviously it means a little bit to get our games out there and get our program out there.
"It makes the game a little bit bigger for all of us."
It's been a while, however, since Tuttle played, then went to breakfast.
"In middle school we had traveling teams around your area and we'd kind of grow up doing these things," said Tuttle, a native of Sheffield, Ia. "I've done it before, but it's been a long time."
