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New Announcing Partners for Dakich & Fraschilla

ESPN men’s college basketball analysts Dan Dakich, Fran Fraschilla and Jay Williams will continue to be a major part of ESPN’s industry-leading men’s college basketball coverage by signing multi-year deals to remain with the company, it was announced by Lee Fitting, ESPN senior coordinating producer. Dakich has agreed to a three-year extension, and Fraschilla has a new four-year deal, both with the network through 2020. Williams signed a new three-year deal and will have a recurring role on Mike & Mike.

“The opportunity to lock Dan, Fran and Jay into long-term deals is a win for our men’s basketball coverage and ensures our leadership in the space,” said Lee Fitting, ESPN senior coordinating producer. “All three are authorities on the game with their unique experiences to contribute – whether calling one of our many games or in studio. We are happy they’re ours for years to come.”

Dakich, who joined ESPN in 2010, will remain on Big Ten Conference games as part of ESPN’s Super Tuesday package and also on Saturday. This season, he will be paired with Dave Flemming or Dan Shulman on most Super Tuesday games, and Flemming and Dakich will call a Saturday game.

He can also be seen on ESPN’s weeknight studio coverage and is the host of The Dan Dakich Show on ESPN 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis.

“I couldn’t be more excited to continue my relationship with ESPN,” said Dakich. “If you’re going to be involved with sports, specifically college basketball, then ESPN is the place to be and I’m extremely proud to be a part of it.”

Fraschilla joined ESPN in 2003, and will continue to be a mainstay on Big 12 Conference games on ESPN’s Big Monday series and each Saturday. Bob Wischusen will move into the role of play-by-play on Monday and Saturday Big 12 games.

Fraschilla will also be a part of weeknight ESPN’s studio shows, and will provide commentary for the NBA Draft and continue to offer his expertise on international players at the collegiate and professional levels.

“ESPN has been my home since 2003, and has become a family to me,” said Fraschilla. “Since no one covers college basketball like ESPN does, I am excited about staying in the family for the foreseeable future.”

Williams returns to the College GameDay desk for the third year with host Rece Davis and analysts Jay Bilas and Seth Greenberg. He will continue to be an integral part of ESPN’s studio and SportsCenter coverage during the week and, new this year, he will have a recurring role on Mike & Mike throughout the season to talk college hoops and current topics in the sports world. He will also call select games throughout the season.

Williams became an ESPN full-time game and studio analyst in 2008, after working for the network as a commentator in 2003.

“I have been able to grow personally and professionally in my time at ESPN, and look forward to continuing down that path for years to come,” said Williams. “I am so grateful to be a part of a network that allows me to express my opinion and talk about a sport that has given so much to me.”

Brent Musburger, who previously paired with Fraschilla, will continue to have a prominent role on ESPN’s men’s college basketball coverage, which will be released as part of the full commentator pairings announcement Friday morning.

ESPN’s 2016-17 men’s college basketball schedule – approximately 1,100 exclusive games across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, SEC Network and Longhorn Network – will deliver the industry’s most extensive package of game and studio coverage. The season begins from Honolulu on Friday, Nov. 11, with the fifth annual State Farm Armed Forces Classic, just under a month before the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. A doubleheader for the first time, this year’s event –pitting pre-season ranked No. 13 Arizona against No. 10 Michigan State (7 p.m.) and No. 12 Indiana vs. No. 3 Kansas (9 p.m.) on ESPN – will be staged from the Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawaii with surrounding events at the U.S. Navy Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

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