Jan. 25, 2007

COLUMBUS, Ohio - ESPN College GameDay, a popular event during college football season, is now building momentum on Saturdays during the college basketball season. Ohio State, which has played host to the popular football event many times over the years, will welcome the basketball version for the first time Saturday leading up to the Buckeyes' home game vs. Michigan State (17-4 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) at 9 p.m.

Ohio State fans are encouraged to participate throughout the day.

The College GameDay crew of Rece Davis, Hubert Davis, Digger Phelps, Jay Bilas and Andy Katz will broadcast from the main floor of Value City Arena beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. Thad Matta, Ohio State head coach, will be on site to participate on the College GameDay set. He would like Ohio State fans to help welcome College GameDay to Ohio State during the 10 a.m.-noon live show from the VCA.

Doors will open at 9 a.m. Saturday. Phelps will address the crowd and band prior to going live on air at 10 a.m. Ohio State students will have an opportunity to make signs on site for display behind the GameDay set. ESPN will select the most creative sign and allow that student an opportunity to shoot a half-court shot for a cash prize of $1,000. Students may bring their own signs in as well.

Fans interested in attending should enter the VCA at either the southeast or southwest rotundas on the Lane Avenue (south) side of VCA. Parking will be available on the north side of the facility.

Matta has asked all Ohio State fans to help "WHITE OUT" the Spartans by wearing white clothing to the game.

With the popularity of the matchup with the Spartans, fans are encouraged to arrive early to alleviate traffic and parking congestion right before tip time. Early arriving fans also will provide background for College GameDay's 8-9 p.m. preview show, which will be nationally-televised from VCA before the game begins. The men's basketball team, ranked No. 5 nationally with records of 17-3 overall and 5-1 in league play, is riding a 20-game home win streak, the third longest in school history. Matta and the Buckeyes would like fans supporting the team from the time the squad takes the court for warmups. Michigan State is the last team to defeat Ohio State in Columbus, a 62-59 double-overtime victory last year.

Matta said fan participation throughout the day affords the opportunity for the Ohio State fans to demonstrate its support for the men's basketball team to a national audience.

"Our team appreciates the support our fans bring to each game we play at Value City Arena," Matta said. "With ESPN College Basketball GameDay on our campus for the first time, our fans have the opportunity to make a statement by wearing white and showing the nation how much they support our program."

In addition to the GameDay crew, the announce team of Dick Vitale, Dan Shulman and Erin Andrews will call the Michigan State game for ESPN2.