Bill Brophy interviews Kyle Tetschlag and Coach Paul Combs after last year's 61-58 victory over UW-Eau Claire

UW-Platteville and UW-River Falls will not only battle in front of the frenzied O-Zone fans Saturday, but also a national television audience.

When We Were Young Productions is taping this game, and will broadcast it on Fox Sports Net at a time to be determined. “It’s an honor for the WIAC as well as the two participating schools, UW-Platteville and UW-River Falls, to have a national audience to view NCAA Division III basketball and what is known as one of the top leagues in the country,” Pioneer Coach Paul Combs said.

This is the second year of the WIAC Game of the Week on FSN, and the third time When We Were Young (WWWY) Productions visit Platteville.

WWWY shot the Pioneers’ 58-52 win over UW-Stout last December and was here for the historic 61-58 win over UW-Eau Claire Jan. 27 on the day the Bo Ryan Court was dedicated before a sold-out crowd.

“It’s a win-win for us,” Combs said. “Any time you play in front of a national audience and get a chance to showcase your program, it helps not only the league but the institutions playing. It allows recruits, parents and family and alumni to see the Pioneers and Falcons from afar. It’s a credit to When We Were Young Productions and Fox Sports Net to reach out and promote not only basketball but athletics in general in the WIAC.”

The fit is a natural, according to WWWY Productions general manager/executive producer Tim Knoeck.

“It’s the premier Division III conference, and it has the appeal with all the ties of the state players,” he said.

Bringing in the TV cameras rev up the crowd even more.

“I remember our games last year how our O-Zone student section got so fired up,” Combs said. “It creates a great environment for college basketball, and one we’re certainly very proud of.”

UW-Platteville tries to maximize its exposure with these broadcasts to showcase the University.

“The Tri-State Initiative is a valuable piece of recruiting for us,” Combs said. “With this broadcast, we can reach out not only to Wisconsin, but also talented student-athletes in Illinois and Iowa. Any time we can reach those households on Fox Sports and give them the opportunity to watch our team play, we can promote not only basketball but our institution as a whole. It really sells the academics, the high caliber of play and the institution through the commercials to prospective students.”

Saturday’s game is one of nine WIAC contests this season. The Pioneers will also be featured when they play UW-Stout in Menomonie Jan. 5.

“We’ve had a great response from the games we covered last year and the ones we plan on covering this year,” Knoeck said.