With the calendar turning to March, we’re on the verge of the NCAA Tournament. This is the seventh year that CBS and Turner have combined coverage for the Tournament, and all 67 games will be broadcast across four networks — CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV — in addition to NCAA March Madness Live providing digital access.
Accordingly, CBS Sports and Turner Sports unveiled the announcing teams for their coverage for the 2017 NCAA Tournament. As expected, CBS’ top broadcast team of Jim Nantz, Grant Hill and Bill Raftery with Tracy Wolfson reporting returns. But as you’ll see, there are some slight changes to several of the other announcing teams. Here is the full lineup (with regional weekend teams noted by an asterisk):
— Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson*
— Brian Anderson / Chris Webber // Lewis Johnson*
— Verne Lundquist / Jim Spanarkel // Allie LaForce*
— Kevin Harlan / Reggie Miller / Dan Bonner // Dana Jacobson*
— Ian Eagle / Steve Lavin // Evan Washburn
— Spero Dedes / Steve Smith / Len Elmore // Ros Gold-Onwude
— Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Jamie Erdahl
— Carter Blackburn / Mike Gminski / Debbie Antonelli // Lisa Byington
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Joining the lineup as analysts this year is former UCLA coach Steve Lavin, who will be paired with Ian Eagle. Lavin has previously provided analysis for ABC, ESPN, Fox Sports and the Pac-12 Network. Also new to the CBS and Turner team is Debbie Antonelli, who will be the first woman in 21 years to be a NCAA Tournament analyst. Previously, she worked as a reporter in 2000 for NCAA Tournament coverage. Antonelli serves as an analyst for ESPN, Big Ten Network, CBS, Fox Sports and Raycom. Additionally, she calls WNBA games for ESPN and the Indiana Fever.
Yet another addition to the overall NCAA Tournament lineup is reporter Lisa Byington, who does work ranging from reporting, studio hosting, analysis and play-by-play for Big Ten Network, FS1 and ESPN. She will join fellow newcomer Antonelli with Carter Blackburn and Mike Gminski.
On the studio side, Ernie Johnson and Greg Gumbel will once again host coverage from the CBS studios in New York during the Tournament’s first week, with Charles Barkley, Clark Kellogg and Kenny Smith providing analysis. Casey Stern joins the lineup, hosting studio coverage from Atlanta with Brendan Haywood, Seth Davis, and assorted college coaches serving as analysts. Wally Szczerbiak will also contribute to the studio coverage from New York, while Adam Zucker will provide all game updates.
For the First Four games in Dayton, Brian Anderson and Clark Kellogg will call the Tuesday, March 14 game with Lewis Johnson reporting. The following game on Wednesday, March 15 will be called by Spero Dedes, Steve Smith and Len Elmore with Ros Gold-Onwude reporting. Casey Stern will host studio coverage from Atlanta with Brendan Haywood and Seth Davis in studio.
Some might notice the absence of Doug Gottlieb from this year’s NCAA Tournament lineup, but he has not been part of CBS Sports’ college basketball coverage all season, working instead on CBS Sports Network.
And with that, it looks like March Madness is ready to begin.