Somerset, NJ -- The Northeast Conference will be conducting its first in-person Basketball Media Day in a decade on October 23, but with a modern twist to the traditional format.

As NEC men's and women's hoops coaches descend on the brand new, state-of-the-art Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., the entire “NEC in NYC” event has been designed to enhance the fan experience.

Barclays Center will also serve as a "home away from home" for the LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team, who will play its season opener on Nov. 9 at the arena against Morehead State.

Billed as NEC “Social” Media Day, the festivities will be webcast live and in HD on NEC Front Row beginning at 11:00 am.  NEC Media Day will also air on delay in condensed form on Fox College Sports (FCS) in early November.

“We are excited to bring the NEC Basketball “Social” Media Day to New York City and to partner with Barclays Center, said Noreen Morris, NEC Commissioner.  “This event will highlight the NEC's continued commitment to increase exposure for our basketball programs as well as to promote the recently launched NEC Front Row, our state-of-the art digital network.”
 
The program is set to include interviews with every NEC men's and women's basketball coach.  NEC preseason polls and all-conference teams will be announced, and a number of the league's top bloggers will engage in a hoops roundtable discussion on the coming season.  Longtime NEC commentators Dave Popkin and Tim Capstraw have been tabbed to host the proceedings.

The interactive nature of NEC Media Day will begin well in advance of the event as fans can Tweet questions for NEC coaches to @NECsports.  During the broadcast, NEC Director of Social Media Ralph Ventre and NEC Front Row announcer Craig D'Amico will be interacting with fans and highlighting the best tweets on air.  By using the hashtag #NECinNYC, the most active and engaging tweeters will have the opportunity to win NEC prize packs.