Showtime “will feature Wichita State men’s basketball, and three other schools, in a five-episode, all-access series that begins in February,” according to Paul Suellentrop of the WICHITA EAGLE. A seven-person production crew “will follow the team in practices, road trips and around campus through Selection Sunday.” The first episode of “The Road to March Madness” airs on Feb. 17 and “continues weekly until March 16.” The first four one-hour episodes are at 10:00pm ET on Tuesdays “with the final one on Monday after the NCAA Tournament bracket is announced.” Showtime also will feature Oklahoma, Maryland and Notre Dame. WSU Associate AD/Marketing & Strategic Communications John Brewer “compared the series to HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks.’” Brewer noted that WSU “will have final editing control over content before it is shown.” Suellentrop noted WSU coach Gregg Marshall “approved the series.” Brewer: “We want to make sure that we’re promoting, and what we’re showing, is accurate, but also make sure it’s not taken out of context. We want to protect our brand.” Suellentrop noted the Showtime crew “will start filming on Feb. 5” (WICHITA EAGLE, 1/24).
