Kansas, West Virginia to take part in ESPN's 24 Hour Tip-Off Marathon

Whatever their strategy was, ESPN decided to release their schedule for this year's 24 hour college hoops marathon on the slowest day of the sports calendar.

Right after Chiefs-Steelers on Monday Night Football, America will be ushered into the marathon with West Virginia taking on Gonzaga in a rematch of sorts from a second round game in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Since I'm finding out about this game today, it goes without saying that the Bulldogs have a Big 12 heavy non-conference schedule. You should all be copying Gonzaga's notes, everyone else. Also, for a game to be a blowout last March, they sure gotta lotta love during One Shining Moment.

Later in the evening, national runner-up Kansas has a date with the Michigan State Spartans in the opener of the Champions Classic. The two have had recent history but it hasn't gone well for the Jayhawks. KU played Sparty in January and again in March 2009, but only managed to score 62 points in both losses.

Before jumping into any conclusions, this is just the schedule that'll air on ESPN. The games on ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3 has yet to be determined. Their press release says sixteen conferences will be represented in the marathon, so get ready for some sweet, high-flying, death-defyingly awesome Houston Baptist hoops! (Being a Houstonian, it really is a big deal for them). Go Huskies!