Ramsey, N.J. – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leading provider of advanced imaging and networking technologies for the desktop to the print shop, today announced that its collegiate sports marketing program will continue into the 2010-2011 basketball season with courtside signage at top-ranked schools for some of the most prominent men’s and women’s basketball programs in the country, including Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, Oklahoma, St. John’s, UCLA, and Villanova.

Below is the list of basketball programs included in this year’s marketing initiative, as well as their current ranking in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll (if applicable):

Men’s Basketball Programs

DePaul
Georgia Tech
Kansas (#6)
Kentucky (#9)
Michigan State (#2)
Oklahoma
St. John’s (NY)
San Diego State (#22)
South Carolina
UCLA
Villanova (#7)

Women’s Basketball Programs

Georgia Tech
Kansas
Michigan State
Oklahoma (#10)
St. John’s (NY) (#24)
San Diego State
South Carolina
UCLA (#13)
Villanova

Additionally, Konica Minolta’s 2010-2011 signage program includes the following basketball tournaments:

2010 NIT Season Tip-Off

Since its inception in 1985, the NIT Season Tip-Off gives fans the chance to celebrate the start of another season with competitive early season match-ups and encourages fan interest in college basketball at a time of the year when football – pro and college – are the main interests of the sporting public.  The Konica Minolta brand will enjoy great exposure during the Semi-Finals and Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  Below is the schedule of games, which will be broadcast on the ESPN Family of Networks:

Semifinal Round / Wednesday, November 24 / ESPN2

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) vs. Tennessee - 7p ET
Villanova vs. UCLA - 9p ET

Consolidation Game / Friday, November 26 / ESPN or ESPN2 - 2.30p ET

Championship Game / Friday, November 26 / ESPN - 5p ET

Big West Conference Basketball Tournaments

The Big West Men's and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, the conference championship tournaments in basketball for the Big West Conference, are single-elimination tournaments where seeding is based on regular season records.  The winners receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's and Women’s Division I Basketball Championships.  Honda Center is the new home for the tournaments that formerly resided in the city of Anaheim over the last ten years.

The Big West Conference Basketball Tournament will take place during the second week of March.  Women's quarterfinal action begins Tuesday, March 8 on campus sites.  The action then shifts to the Honda Center on Thursday, March 10 for men's quarterfinal action.  The men's and women's semifinals will take place on Friday, March 11 beginning with the women's games at 12p PT followed by the men's games at 6.30p PT.  Championship Saturday starts at 1p PT on Saturday, March 12 with the women's final.  The men's final will take place at 5p PT.

"Our investment in sports marketing continues to have a positive impact on our business.  We are excited by the possibilities presented with the renewal of our NCAA Signage Program,” said Kevin Kern, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.  "Our sports marketing initiatives have strengthened our overall corporate awareness, and we look forward to our continued success partnering with some of college basketball’s most high-profile programs."