TV Is Blamed for Late Start

Why would the NCAA start one of its most important games of the women’s college basketball season--Saturday night’s UCLA-Colorado State game at the Sports Arena--after 9:30 p.m., or after midnight on the East Coast?

The NCAA, as does everyone else, blames ESPN.

“It’s our TV time slot,” said Tricia Bork, NCAA vice president for championships.

“For us to present all eight women’s [regional semifinal] games, that’s just how it works out,” ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said. “It’s not ideal, we acknowledge that.”