Matchups for Inaugural BIG 12/SEC Challenge

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment
ESPN_CollegeBasketballNew Men’s Basketball Event with 10 Games between Big 12 Conference and Southeastern Conference
       
Matchups for the inaugural Big 12/SEC Challenge – an early-season men’s basketball event matching 10 teams from two premier conferences against each other – have been determined. ESPN will provide exclusive coverage of all 10 games across its networks.
The Challenge includes five teams ranked in an early ESPN.com preseason top 25: No. 1 Kentucky, No. 5 Kansas, No. 7 Florida, No. 11 Oklahoma State and No. 19 Baylor. Two games will pit ranked teams against each other: No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 19 Baylor and No. 5 Kansas at No. 7 Florida.
In the first year of the new agreement between ESPN and the conferences, eight of the 10 games will be played at home sites (each conference will host four home games) with two of the matchups at a neutral site. Ten of the 14 SEC teams (Arkansas, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee will not play in the first year) will participate each year against all 10 of the Big 12 members. The event’s title will alternate each year (it will be the SEC/Big 12 Challenge in 2014). While the inaugural Challenge takes place in November and December, ESPN and the conferences will work together to schedule matchups across consecutive days in future years.
 
2013 Big 12/SEC Challenge schedule (times and networks are to be determined):
 
Date Game
Thu, Nov 14 Texas Tech at Alabama
Mon, Dec 2 Vanderbilt at Texas
  Auburn at Iowa State
Thu, Dec 5 Ole Miss at Kansas State
  West Virginia at Missouri
  TCU at Mississippi State
Fri, Dec 6 South Carolina at No. 11 Oklahoma State
  No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 19 Baylor (Arlington)
Tue, Dec 10 No. 5 Kansas at No. 7 Florida
Sat, Dec 21 Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M (Houston)
 
  • Tourney Teams: Eight of the 20 teams played in the 2012 NCAA Tournament: Florida, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Ole Miss
  • Uncommon Opponent: Several of the games will feature teams that have not played each other very often, including: South Carolina and Oklahoma State in their second matchup (South Carolina won the first game); Auburn and Iowa State and TCU and Mississippi State playing for the third time (both series are tied 1-1); and West Virginia and Missouri meeting in the regular-season for the first time (they played in two NCAA Tournament games with each scoring a victory).
  • Going for Undefeated: Ole Miss has defeated Kansas State in its three previous meetings, including the most recent in 2009.
  • New Streaks: Kentucky had won its seven previous games against Baylor, including an 82-70 victory in the Elite Eight of the 2012 NCAA Tournament, before losing to the Bears in a regular-season game last season.
  • Game 5: Kansas and Florida will play for the fifth time since 1994 and first since the 2006 Las Vegas Invitational contest. Kansas holds a 3-1 series lead.
  • 80s Flashback: Vanderbilt and Texas will play for the first time since 1989 and seventh overall.
  • Rematch: Texas Tech will visit Alabama after hosting the Crimson Tide in a game last season, a 66-62 Red Raiders loss. Alabama holds a 6-1 series lead.
  • Nice to See You Again: Former conference partners Oklahoma and Texas A&M will meet for the 40th time.
 
The SEC and Big 12 have combined for seven Final Four appearances and four national titles in the last eight NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournaments: Kentucky (2012), Kansas (2008) and Florida (2007 and 2006).
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Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Basketball

ESPN Extends Andy Katz Contract

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment
espnESPN has reached a contract extension with college basketball reporter Andy Katz to continue his multi-platform role for ESPN.com and ESPN networks. The multi-year agreement will see Katz to a more than 20-year career at ESPN.
 
Katz, who joined ESPN in 1999, will continue his daily written and video contributions as senior college basketball writer for ESPN.com, in addition to contributions for ESPN the Magazine. After the debut of his weekly show, Katz Korner, and hosting The Experts on ESPNU, his role on ESPN networks will continue to expand in both a reporting and hosting capacity for Outside the Lines on ESPN. His reporting role will also continue courtside, as well as in studio, during college basketball games.
 
Katz is set to continue his ESPN Audio initiatives, collaborating with college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg in a podcast series that re-airs on ESPN Radio Saturday mornings.
 
“Across every ESPN platform, Andy continues to be an invaluable asset to our coverage of NCAA basketball and the NBA Draft,” said Patrick Stiegman, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, ESPN.com. “No one works harder than Andy, and that shows in his work for ESPN.”
 
Added Katz, “This is home for me and my family now.  I put tremendous value on the people I work for and with at ESPN. This new contract gives me the chance to explore even more opportunities that simply are not possible at other places. I feel fortunate to work with so many pros from editors to producers to cameramen and everyone else involved in a show or story. The first 14 years here have been rewarding and challenging and I expect the next few years to be similar, with even more room for growth.”
 
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Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Basketball

Turner Sports & CBS Sports Announce Programming Schedule for 2014 & 2015 NCAA Final Four & National Championship Games

May 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment

ncaaCBS Sports and Turner Sports Announce

Programming Schedule for 2014 and 2015

NCAA Final Four® and National Championship Games

TBS to Televise NCAA FINAL FOUR® National Semifinal Games and CBS Sports to

Broadcast National Championship Games

CBS and TBS to Split ‘Elite Eight’ Coverage Beginning Next Year

TBS to Televise 2016 FINAL FOUR and National Championship Game and

CBS to Broadcast 2017 FINAL FOUR and National Championship Game, Alternating Through 2024

CBS Sports and Turner Sports have announced the programming schedule for their exclusive joint television coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in 2014 and 2015. In each of the two years, TBS will televise the NCAA Final Four national semifinals and CBS will broadcast the NCAA National Championship game.

Additionally, beginning in 2014 through 2024, coverage of the Regional Semifinals and Regional Finals games will be split by TBS and CBS.  Earlier round coverage of the tournament will continue to be televised across four national television networks – CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV with the First Four® airing exclusively on truTV.

In 2010, Turner Sports and CBS Sports entered into a 14-year exclusive media rights partnership with the NCAA to present the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship from 2011-2024. As part of that agreement, CBS Sports and Turner Sports will alternate coverage of the Final Four national semi-final games and National Championship game between TBS and CBS. The rotation begins on TBS with the network televising the Final Four and National Championship in 2016 with CBS broadcasting the games in 2017.

“Since the inception of our partnership, I don’t think we could have envisioned such a seamless collaboration between our two companies both in front of and behind the cameras,” said David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.  “Coming off another incredible year of strong ratings and exciting games, the popularity of the NCAA Tournament and Final Four continues to resonate with fans across the country.  We are thrilled to have the opportunity to televise the Final Four national semifinal games and two of the Elite Eight games on TBS beginning next year, and for the network to televise its first National Championship game in 2016.”

“From the beginning, our partnership with Turner Sports has exceeded every one of our expectations,” said Sean McManus, chairman, CBS Sports.  “Today’s news represents another win-win arrangement that continues to help us extend the reach of this marquee property by combining the resources of our two organizations. As we have done since 1982, CBS is pleased to showcase the National Championship game in 2014 and 2015.”

Turner Sports and CBS Sports recently concluded their third year of exclusive coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship. The 2013 tournament across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV was the most-watched NCAA Tournament in 19 years, averaging 10.7 million total viewers, up 11% from last year’s 9.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

About CBS Sports

CBS Sports, a year-round leader in television sports, broadcasts a portfolio of events on the CBS Television Network, including the NFL’s American Football Conference; THE NFL TODAY; college basketball, including the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship; golf, including The Masters(r) and PGA Championship; college football, including the SEC ON CBS; the U.S. Open Tennis Championships and CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR. In addition, the division directs CBS Sports Network, a 24-hour national cable network; produces INSIDE THE NFL for SHOWTIME; and partners with CBSSports.com in creating a recognized leader among sports Internet destinations.

About Turner Sports
Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is an industry leader in televised and online sports programming, airing championship-level sporting events on TBS, TNT and truTV, and managing some of the most popular sports sites on the Internet. Turner Sports’ television lineup includes the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, NASCAR and professional golf. The company’s digital portfolio includes Bleacher Report, NCAA.com and March Madness Live, and PGA.com, as well as an accompanying collection of mobile websites and connected device apps. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA Mobile, the NBA Game Time App, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.

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Filed Under: CBS, NCAA Basketball, TBS

The Southeastern Conference and ESPN Announce new TV Network and Digital Platform

May 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment
sec-espn20-Year Agreement and Rights Extension through 2034; AT&T U-verse Will Distribute the Network at Launch
 
The Southeastern Conference and ESPN have signed a 20-year agreement through 2034 to create and operate a multiplatform network, which will launch in August 2014, it was announced today by SEC Commissioner Mike Slive and ESPN President John Skipper. The new network and its accompanying digital platform will air SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 events in its first year.
 
The network will televise approximately 45 SEC football games, more than 100 men’s basketball games, 60 women’s basketball games, 75 baseball games, and events from across the SEC’s 21 sports annually. Programming will also include studio shows, original content such as SEC Storied, spring football games, signing day and pro days coverage. Hundreds of additional live events from various sports will be offered exclusively on the digital platform. The network and its digital extensions will connect with each SEC institution and create opportunities for each school to produce and develop content.
“The SEC Network will provide an unparalleled fan experience of top quality SEC content presented across the television network and its accompanying digital platforms,” stated Slive. “We will increase exposure of SEC athletics programs at all 14 member institutions, as we showcase the incredible student-athletes in our league. The agreement for a network streamlines and completes an overall media rights package that will continue the SEC’s leadership for the foreseeable future.”
Each weekend throughout the season, the new network will air multiple top-tier matchups from the strongest conference in college football. Since 2006, the SEC has claimed seven consecutive football national championships.  In 2011-12, SEC teams won eight national championships: football (Alabama), men’s basketball (Kentucky), gymnastics (Alabama), men’s indoor track and field (Florida), women’s tennis (Florida), women’s golf (Alabama), men’s outdoor track and field (Florida), and softball (Alabama). Since 1990, the SEC has won 149 national team championships for an average of more than six per year.
Skipper said, “The SEC is unmatched in its success on the field and its popularity with fans nationwide. The new network’s top-quality SEC matchups across a range of sports will serve all sports enthusiasts including the most passionate, die-hard SEC fans. Also, it will serve the needs of our multichannel distributors and advertisers by providing extremely attractive programming options across all platforms.”
As part of the agreement, ESPN will now oversee the SEC’s official Corporate Sponsor Program. In addition, ESPN and the SEC also agreed to extend their existing media rights agreement through 2034. ESPN has televised the SEC since 1982.  ESPN’s existing networks present more than 1,600 hours of SEC action each year. The new network will focus exclusively on the SEC and add another outlet to deliver sports fans more SEC content than ever.
 
AT&T U-verse® has been secured as the network’s first national distributor. AT&T U-verse is the fastest growing TV provider in the U.S. and their subscribers will have access to an unprecedented amount of SEC content across all platforms.  Subscribers receiving the live linear network via a multichannel subscription will also have access to the network on PCs, tablets, smartphones and select gaming devices like Xbox. Additional games and coverage will be available through an authenticated digital offering. Fans looking to learn more about how to get the SEC Network can visit GetSECNetwork.comfor more information.
“We are pleased to be involved with the SEC and ESPN at the very beginning of this great alliance,” said Jeff Weber, President of Content and Advertising Sales, AT&T. “As the fastest growing and most advanced pay TV service, we want to bring our customers the highest value and most compelling product that we possibly can. Access to the SEC Network, across multiple platforms, will only increase the demand for U-verse.”
ESPN’s Justin Connolly, formerly senior vice president, ESPN affiliate sales and marketing, will oversee the network’s day-to-day operations. The network will originate from ESPN’s Charlotte, N.C., offices with additional staff located at the company’s Bristol, Conn., headquarters. Staff announcements and additional details will be made in the coming months.

About the Southeastern Conference (SEC)
The Southeastern Conference was formed in 1932 and consists of 14 member institutions: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt. The league currently sanctions championship play in nine men’s sports and 12 women’s sports. Its headquarters has been located in Birmingham, Ala., since 1948. For more on the conference, visit www.SECDigitalNetwork.com
 
About ESPN
ESPN, Inc., is the world’s leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of more than 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of eight U.S. 24-hour television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes, ESPN 3D and Longhorn Network) and five HD simulcast services (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes). Other businesses include ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (35 networks, syndication, radio, digital), ESPN Radio (broadcast, satellite, digital, a growing category led by ScoreCenter), ESPN.com (plus a variety of sport-, college-, and market-specific sites), ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises and espnW.  Multi-screen offerings include WatchESPN (access to several ESPN networks online and via an app), ESPN3 (live multi-screen network available online, on the go and via Xbox LIVE) and ESPN Mobile (mobile Web, mobile TV and video, apps, alerts and messaging).  Based in Bristol, Conn., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.
 
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Filed Under: College Baseball, ESPN, NCAA Basketball, NCAA Football

2013 NCAA Tournament Most-Watched in 19 Years

April 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

ncaa2013 Championship Game Scores with Double Digit Increases in Rating and Viewers

Louisville’s Win Delivers Rating/Share of 14.0/22 and 23.4 Million Total Viewers

The 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV is the most-watched NCAA Tournament in 19 years, according to Nielsen.  The 2013 NCAA Tournament averaged 10.7 million total viewers, up 11% from last year’s 9.6 million total viewers, and is the highest average for the NCAA Tournament in 19 years (11.2 million; 1994).

The National Championship game, which saw Louisville defeat Michigan on CBS on Monday, April 8, earned an average fast national household rating/share of 14.0/22, up 14% from last year’s 12.3/19 (Kentucky-Kansas).  The National Championship game averaged 23.4 million viewers, up 12% from last year’s 20.9 million. 

The championship game coverage peaked in HH rating/share with a 16.1/27 and average viewers with 27.1 million, from 11-11:30 p.m. ET.

Coverage for the entire 2013 NCAA Tournament across Turner Sports and CBS Sports averaged a HH rating/share of 6.7/14, up 10% from last year’s 6.1/13, and is the highest average NCAA Tournament rating in eight years (6.9/15; 2005).

Source: Nielsen Media Research, based on Live +SD data stream. 3/19/13 to 04/09/13 vs. 03/13/12 to 04/02/12. 2013, 2012 and 2011 averages based on weighted average of four telecast gross across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Historical audiences, CBS 1991 through 2005 based on Live data. 2006 through 2012 based on Live + SD. 2003 based on CBS / ESPN average of First Round.

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Filed Under: CBS, NCAA Basketball, Ratings, Turner

Transcript of Media Conference Call with Dick Vitale and Seth Greenberg

April 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment
ESPN_CollegeBasketballESPN held a media conference call with ESPN college basketball analysts Dick Vitale and Seth Greenberg on Wednesday, April 3. Below is a transcript of portions of the call:
Dick Vitale will call NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament Final Four games this year for the first time in his career. Vitale will serve as the analyst on Final Four telecasts from Atlanta, calling a semifinal and the championship for ESPN International. Longtime ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas will also work a semifinal telecast. Brad Nessler will call play-by-play on all three Final Four games. Vitale, a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, has worked more than 2,000 college basketball telecasts from hundreds of venues in his 34-year career with ESPN. While he has been a studio analyst on ESPN’s coverage of the Men’s Tournament every year since he joined ESPN in 1979 – including at the Final Four every year since 1983 – he has never called a game of the marquee event.
Seth Greenberg brings 35 years of coaching experience to ESPN as college basketball analyst.  He appears on various platforms, most often as a game or studio analyst, and regularly appears on SportsCenter, ESPN Radio and ESPNU.  Additionally, Greenberg co-hosts a weekly podcast with ESPN reporter Andy Katz on ESPN.com.
On Syracuse vs. Michigan
Vitale: “Michigan, Syracuse, two elite teams, two elite programs, you’ve got a coach who’s 9‑0 against the another. Michigan coach John Beilein is 0‑9 against Syracuse, but he never had the weapons that he has now. And their offense efficiency, they rank in the top two in America, Michigan, in offensive efficiency. On the other side they’re facing a zone that has been suffocating people – people shooting 29% and 15% from the three. So No. 1, certain things have to happen, you’ve got to beat that zone in transition. The question is, that’s easy to say in coach terminology, you have to have the personnel to do it. Michigan has that. Trey Burke is the best point guard in America.  He is absolutely a guy that can get up and down the floor, push the ball, beat the zone before it sets.  That’s phase 1. 
 
“Phase 2: You better have a penetrator. If the zone is set up, it’s 5 on 5, to get in gaps and seams to create guys to help. Phase 3: You better have open shooters who can make shots. Bottom line is they’ve got to be able to make shots. They have Nik Stauskas, he can make shots. Tim Hardaway Jr. can make shots. Phase 4: You better be strong in the three second area. McGary is at 70 points, 46 rebounds, and has been a dominator. If I were given out a PTP award right now, prime time player, for the four games to get to the Final Four, it would be McGary. Great hands, tough, hard nosed and really can run up and down the floor.”
 
Greenberg: “Syracuse is probably playing the best zone in college basketball in the last 20 years. A zone that’s different to simulate in your practices, which makes it so difficult to prepare for. And then you’ve got a Michigan team that really probably is built to attack the zone. So I look at that basketball game, and will Michigan be able to attack the zone, will they be able to beat the zone down the floor, will Mitch McGary be able to get to the offense glass. And can they make the shots, because the whole idea about the zone is you still have to make shots.”
 
On Wichita State vs. Louisville
Greenberg: “Wichita State plays angry, but they play well. They’re very, very good. They’re a very good basketball team. They pass and catch. They’re disciplined defensively. They do a nice job of containing penetration, contesting shots and finishing with a rebound. And then offensively they’re extremely disciplined. They have great shot discipline. They pass and catch well and they’ve got a guard that’s really not afraid of anyone in Malcolm Armstead, a tough matchup in Cleanthony Early and a high energy athlete in Carl Hall.
 
“People need to understand Gregg Marshall’s background. Gregg Marshall played for a great Division III coach, Randolph Macon. He worked for John Cress, who was a disciple of Lou Carnesecca. He’s a high energy guy, that his team is going to play. They’re going to be aggressive. They’re going to be confident. They’re going to be tough.  And they’re going in there with the expectation to win a basketball game.”
 
Vitale: “When you look at Louisville, you talk about the great guard in Peyton Siva and the defensive pressure is absolutely relentless. What they did at Duke in that eight-minute spurt where the score was 42‑42 and they went on a 20‑4 run, which was unbelievable. And it was their pressure defensively that created every opportunity. And then they have the anchor back there in Gorgui Dieng that blocks shots. They’re very athletic, and they will miss Ware.  They’ll miss Ware, because he was playing at such a high level and is such an athlete. I saw that emotion, and I felt it because I remember talking to Rick Pitino when I did a Louisville game, he was raving about Kevin Ware, you could see the love that his teammates have for him.
 
“Their opponent, they have guys that can play. Malcolm Armstead, Tekele Cotton made a big three that really gave them incredible momentum when they beat Ohio State. Cleanthony Early is a guy that goes inside, outside. Carl Hall is explosive, a veteran player and athlete. And Gregg Marshall knows how to win. He knows how to design rolls for players. He understands shot selection, and understands how to defend as a unit. And that’s a key, playing as a unit defensively.”
 
On Mike Rice news:
Greenberg: “To me, the coaches are going to coach aggressively and coach hard and be passionate and have great energy in the practices. Where Mike crossed the line is when he put his hands on the player. You can’t throw a basketball at the head of a player. You can’t reach out to kick a player. You can’t put your hands on your players. People have done things that maybe they’re embarrassed about. But when you actually physically put your hands on one of your players, you’ve crossed the line. That’s unacceptable. That’s never been acceptable.  That wasn’t acceptable when I was in college and that’s not acceptable today.
 
“I’ve watched Mike Rice’s interview and I think maybe the one thing that’s coming out of this is that Mike Rice was forced to sit down in his counseling and watch. And he didn’t like what he saw. To me at times you’re coaching your team, you’re watching videotape, you see what’s going on but you really don’t see what’s going on. I think that you saw a change in his behavior. It’s unfortunate it came for this. There’s no place for that. It’s unacceptable.  Coaching hard and physical abuse are two different things. And that’s to me where he crossed the line.”
 
Vitale: “There’s no question whatsoever. Putting a hand on a player is an absolutely no, no. And what about the terminology? Utilizing some terms that you absolutely can’t make. The homophobic calls that he utilized. Come on. But I have a question and I’m asking this because I don’t know. Where was the administration when they looked at this a while back? Because this wasn’t like yesterday or the day before. They accepted that and just suspended him. If that is true, I think people have to start looking at the administration. If you watch that, you get sick.”
 
On Pac-12 referee situation:
Vitale: “That was just terrible. It was an absolute embarrassment, humiliation to the conference.  Even if they had done it in a joking way. I have respect for the commissioner, who has come out and said in all the investigation that went on that it was just a tongue in cheek kind of thing, and it was really not meant to be, we’re not isolating Sean Miller. But to be able to carry on like that is just totally uncalled for and no place for it whatsoever.”
 
Greenberg: “To say it once, inappropriate. To say something twice, to me, it’s unethical. Relationships between coaches and players is all about trust and I have a hard time seeing how that trust is going to be rebuilt. I talked to a number of officials and people in administration, in officiating, and it was almost like a bounty was put on the head of Sean Miller. And to me that’s the case. What a sad commentary. Think about those players.  When Sean went into that ramp after the game and he’s looking at Solomon Hill and Mark Lyons, he’s basically saying, you know what, this is it. They had a chance – it’s all about hanging banners, winning championships in a lot of ways. Those guys had a chance. It’s a four‑point game, you know, who knows what could have happened. There’s no guarantee that Arizona was going to win the game, but to me whether it’s inappropriate, unethical, whatever it is, it was for sure – there’s no place for it. “
 
On the four coaches:
Vitale: “Rick Pitino obviously should have been in the Hall of Fame, I thought, five years ago. I look at Rick’s teams, always well coached. Always motivated and inspired. You’re not going to beat them because they didn’t play hard.  Rick Pitino’s teams always compete. Jimmy Boeheim, look at the record. He bleeds Syracuse Orange. He’s about loyalty. He’s about family. He’s about his team, program. A guy whose teams are always ready to play, prepared, basically people were writing them off, they were 5-7 in one spurt. Gregg Marshall, he’s been climbing the ladder.  He’s the guy that came from nowhere to make himself what he is. He has great understanding. I think he has understanding how to teach the game. John Beilein. You talk about a guy that’s been on a journey, unbelievable.  Unbelievable résumé. Where he’s been at every level. He’s been a winner at every level. When he walks in the house and he says to you, I’m going to make you dream for a moment that you’re a great player. The most important factor in all, in all of the coaches, you’ve got to get players. Recruiting is a must. If you can’t recruit, you can’t succeed. These guys all can recruit. They all can teach. They all can motivate and they all can coach. And they all win.”
 
Greenberg: “When I think of Rick Pitino, I think of a great teacher. I always say this about Rick’s team: He can take your team and beat you and he can take his team and beat you. He has the amazing ability to get guys to a place they can’t get themselves. All those coaches do. But Rick, especially. The development of the Gorgui Dieng, the development of Russ Smith and him having a better understanding and being a winning player, to put those guys in position to be successful, that’s coaching. That’s what all the coaches playing this weekend do. They put their guys in a place that they can have success. John Beilein has never been an assistant coach. He’s coached at every level of Division I. He’s a terrific teacher. He has a system, but he sets his system to his players. He figures out how he’s tweaked the system. Years ago he never would have set this many ball screens. Now at Michigan, it’s one big ball screen. The development of a Mitch McGary who is playing as well as anyone. You’ve got to recruit guys that fit your style of play and he’s done a great job of that. He’s very comfortable, he knows who he is and he’s going to coach basically in his own personality. Gregg Marshall is a great one, because if you know his pedigree, you know he literally is the spitting image of John Cress. The great energy, the positive energy, the teacher first, getting his guys to believe. Having enough of a chip, but not to the point where you lose confidence. I think that’s something that is really special. The whole play angry thing sounds good, but it means playing well, playing the game the right way, competing, playing to win, playing together. I don’t think people understand what a great game coach Jim Boeheim is, how he sees the game. Jim Boeheim sees the game in a way very few coaches see it in my opinion.  Just his understanding of putting guys in a place where they’re really going to have success and keeping it simple, but letting guys, holding guys accountable. I think the guy is just brilliant.”
 
On what Wichita State can do to give Louisville trouble:
Vitale: “No. 1, control the tempo in the game. I think they’re capable of controlling the tempo and also getting into their offense and do the things they’ve been doing all year. Against Gonzaga they go 14 for 28.  Made five big threes against Ohio State. They find a way to make big shots. They have people that aren’t intimidated. Controlling the tempo of the game is vital.  Bottom line is they can’t allow Louisville to go in spurts, force turnovers, get layups up and down, that’s the way they break games open. They have to make sure they minimize turnovers and also try to get up on the glass.  And that scenario I’m sure they’re concerned about”
 
Greenberg: “I think first and foremost they have to own the tempo of the game. They’ve got to run on opportunity and find a way to score a couple of easy baskets. It’s hard to play against that set defense, whether man to man or match‑up zone. They’ve got to limit live ball turnovers. I’ve never seen a team convert live ball turnovers on the basket as quick as Louisville. They’re so fast and relentless off of turnovers, off long rebounds, off deflections, converting them quickly into two points. So I think that’s really, really important.  And I think that ‑‑ they’ve got to have someone step up. They’ve got to have someone step up in terms of someone make big shots. Is it going to be Ron Baker?  Is it going to be Cleanthony Early?  But they’ll have to have someone have one of those special, special nights.
 
“Finally they’ve got to figure out how to guard the flat ball screen. They’ve got to make Louisville a jump shooting team. If they can stay in front, keep Peyton Siva and Russ Smith out of the way, and make Louisville a jump shooting team. Then if they make the jump shots, so be it. But they can’t get on straight line drives, and now all of a sudden they’re going into the glass and getting kickbacks. That would make it really, really difficult for them.
 
“Wichita State is a good pass and catch team. They don’t turn it over excessively. And they’ve got a toughness about them. Their team, like their coach, they’re not afraid. They’re going to come and they’re going to play to win and everyone says they’ve got to get off to a good start. I’m not worried about their start, it’s not the first four minutes against Louisville, it’s the cumulative effect, it’s playing against Louisville for 40 minutes.”
 
On a Michigan Fab 5 reunion:
Vitale: “The bottom line is they brought a lot of notoriety and a lot of fame to the school. People made a couple of mistakes, they paid for it dearly. There comes a time in life you have to set that aside and move ahead in a positive way. I know Jalen Rose, and I know he has a great love for Michigan and all their guys do. I think it’s time to say let’s embrace, let us unite. We will never, ever, ever, I will say that emphatically, ever, ever see five freshmen as a starting group do what those kids did to get to the Finals two years in a row. It’s unbelievable. To have five freshmen come in and do what they did was very unique.”
 
Greenberg: “Think about the change in college basketball that the Fab 5 made. Look at the culture of college basketball and think about the excellence they created and the manner in which they played. They had a little swagger. They had a little arrogance. But that team was a great defensive team. That team shared the basketball.  That team was unselfish, that team played good, winning basketball. Steve Fish did a great job with that team and that team had something special. They didn’t just play for the show, they played to win.”
 
On if Michigan’s Glenn Robinson will be the X factor in the game:
Vitale: “No, I think the X factor is making shots against that zone. You know Nik Stauskas, you know he’s going to get a lot of attention and Hardaway. They’re going to have to make shots. I think attacking the zone is the X factor.  Robinson certainly – he’s a very good freshman player, he’s played well in the tournament, he went through a slump during the course of the way, which is always in young players. They played good defense against Florida, but against Kansas they were not very effective defensively for most of that game. The bottom line is I just think Michigan could score enough to be able to survive.”
 
Greenberg: “Robinson is a part of their success, no doubt about it. He’s a big target, flashing them to the middle of that zone. The guys that get to the middle of that zone have to be play makers. They’ve got to, not as much score, he has the quickness to score, but guys that can get in, make a play, and kick it back out. If you ask Jim Boeheim, he’d say you’re not beating us unless you make more than eight 3′s. They’re going to have to have guys shot ready, they’re going to have to beat the zone down the court, get penetration, get some post touches, they’re going to have to get into the offensive glass. But in the end you’ve still got to make shots.”
 
On point guard match‑up between Syracuse’s Michael Carter‑Williams and Michigan’s Trey Burke:
Vitale: “Michael Carter‑Williams has played brilliantly in the tournament. He’s got great ability. He’s quick. He’s also got a little swagger about him, which is great, as well. You’re not going to win without solid point guard play. You take a look at all four teams, you just cannot win in college basketball without the perimeter. And his sidekick is very good, as well, in Brandon Triche. That’s a real solid tandem. 
 
“Michigan is playing the best back‑court in America when you look at Hardaway and Burke. I just feel that they have great rhythm together, a great flow. It doesn’t mean they’re going to dominate. It doesn’t mean they’re going to be successful, but in the long‑term that back‑court has been dynamite and they blend so well. It starts with penetration ability. Burke is very unique. Aren’t many point guards that have the ability to get in the lane. He gets in the three second area, a lot of great things happen.”
 
Greenberg: “It’s in the best interest to both their teams to start the game as facilitators, to get everyone involved.  Syracuse is better when Michael Carter‑Williams is a play maker first, and a scorer second. Michigan is a better basketball team when Burke is getting Hardaway involved, getting Stauskas involved and hit McGary on rolls.  Basically being the facilitator first. Burke is a great on ball defender. That match‑up is an interesting one to me, because you’ve got a guy like Burke, undersized point guard or just a small point guard against a long, 6 foot 7 inch rangy guard. Jim Boeheim attacked matchups in that Indiana game. He went right at Jordan Holmes. It’s going to be interesting if he tries to go after Burke a little bit in the man. Burke is as good on the ball as anyone. It’s a great matchup. One is going to play against the zone, the other one is going to play man to man. Can Carter‑Williams get out in transition early, if he gets in the half court, will he be content on being a facilitator as opposed to a scorer.”
 
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Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Basketball

ESPN Analysts Offer Thoughts on NCAA Women’s Final Four Teams

April 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

ESPN_CollegeBasketballESPN’s exclusive coverage of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Presented by Capital One has reached its final stage with some unexpected names advancing to the Final Four in New Orleans on Sunday, April 7, and Tuesday, April 9. ESPN and WatchESPN will offer full studio and game coverage throughout the weekend, starting with the national semifinals on Sunday: No. 5 seed Louisville vs. No. 2 California at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by No. 1 seeds Connecticut vs. Notre Dame at 8:30 p.m. The national championship game will air Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.

ESPN’s top women’s basketball analysts – Doris Burke, Kara Lawson, Rebecca Lobo and Carolyn Peck – all weighed in with their thoughts on the Final Four teams.

Thoughts on No. 2 seed California

Burke: Lindsay Gottlieb is one of the exciting young coaches in women’s college basketball. She is a passionate, dynamic and a positive force with her team. The Bears have a terrific backcourt with Brittany Boyd and Layshia Clarendon, and a relentless commitment to the offensive glass. The team relies on its ability to get into the open floor and score off their defense. In the half court, Clarendon has to deliver for this team to have a chance to win.

Lawson: Cal is a loose and confident group. Their defense and rebounding carry the day and Layshia Clarendon is a very difficult player to guard, fantastic in the mid-range game.

Lobo: The Golden Bears have found a way to win the close games during this tournament — beating their second-round and regional final opponents in overtime. They want to push tempo and have an athletic team that is built to run. Layshia Clarendon is a terrific break-down guard who can also score from three and their inside game is anchored by Gennifer Brandon, who averages 11 rebounds. Cal hits the glass hard and gets second opportunities as a result. They have struggled scoring at times this season against zone defenses and shoot only 61 percent from the free-throw line. I’m eager to see how they handle playing against Louisville’s different defensive schemes.

Peck: Lindsay Gottlieb has to be on cloud nine right now. Cal is dangerous; if the score is kept close, they are always in the position to win. The team is fast and physical, plus they are a defensive team. Layshia Clarendon is a rising star who makes clutch plays. Louisville has to be concerned about rebounding and defending Cal in the paint.

Thoughts on No. 5 seed Louisville

Burke: This Cinderella is not running home at the stroke of midnight.  As you watched the Cardinals progress through prohibitive favorite Baylor and then dispatch mighty Tennessee, the one attribute you have to assign this team is fearlessness. Jeff Walz might be a bit surprised at their advancement to the Final Four – the need to purchase an extra shirt for the regional final gives evidence to that – but this man can coach. He institutes game plans and has both the willingness and capability to change their attack based on their opponent. It will not shock me if he has the Cardinals in the championship game for the second time in his career.

Lawson: Changing defenses makes Louisville dangerous, along with activity and pressure that help to mask their lack of interior size. They are playing very confident on the offensive end and Shoni Schimmel’s confidence makes them hard to beat.

Lobo: Louisville is carrying the most momentum into the Final Four after pulling off the biggest upset in the history of the women’s tournament by beating Baylor and following that up with another terrific offensive performance against the team with the longest tournament tradition in Tennessee.

The Cardinals have fully embraced the underdog role and are playing with a tremendous amount of confidence in themselves, one another and their coach. Jeff Walz isn’t afraid to try a variety of defensive schemes and his last two opponents have been confused by them. Shoni Schimmel is a fearless guard with deep range and Antonita Slaughter is the X-Factor — a streaky shooter who can drain 3s and mix it up inside.

Louisville will defensively limit what their opponent wants to do and when they are hot on the offensive end too, they can beat anyone.

Peck: They don’t have super star in Angel McCoughtry, which is a big difference from when they were in the Final Four last time. Shoni Schimmel is a rising star but she is not Angel. This has to be a total team effort. They have five players, who can shoot the 3, they can defend any position on the floor and they don’t back down from anyone. Jeff Walz has the team prepared physically and mentally, and they believe. That is half the battle to get to the Final Four. They are a dangerous team and proved they can pull off the upset.

Thoughts on No. 1 seed Notre Dame

Burke: When you put great leadership skills in the mind of one of the most talented guards in the country, you get the driving force that Skylar Diggins has proven to be for the Irish. Couple Diggins with the relentless and fearless Kayla McBride and you have the most dangerous and difficult guard tandem in the country. To sustain the graduation of three key players, and find a way back to the Final Four is really impressive, and Muffet McGraw deserves Coach of the Year honors.

Lawson: Notre Dame is a complete team and disruptive on the defensive end. They have composure and balance on the offensive end which is from Skylar Diggins as the good leader she is.

Lobo: They simply know how to win. They run terrific offense and have multiple scoring options on the perimeter. Skylar Diggins is the best leader in women’s college basketball right now. She knows how to get her teammates involved but also when to take over herself. They run great offense and play off one another well. The Irish know how to draw contact, get to the line and make more free throws than any other team in the country. Combine that with their ability to defend, and right now ND has to be the favorite to win the National Championship.

Peck: Skylar Diggins is playing her best basketball at the right time to bring her career to a conclusion. If she continues to play hard and lead the team, ND will be cutting down the nets on Tuesday.

Thoughts on No. 1 seed Connecticut

Burke: The changing dynamic for the Huskies in this NCAA Championship has been the improved play of their guards and the emergence of freshman Breanna Stewart. Stewart has the ability to play inside or out and can use her length and leaping ability to create havoc and mismatches at the four spot. Stefanie Dolson’s health, Kelly Faris’ ability to be the lockdown defender and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis’ ability to be a dynamic shooter and scorer will be keys to their national championship hopes.

 Lawson: Brenna Stewart and Moriah Jefferson are playing at a higher level than during the regular season. They are a high-scoring, unselfish group and their defense makes you work harder for good shots than any other team.

Lobo: This is a very different UConn team than the one we saw lose to Notre Dame in the BIG EAST Championship. The main difference is the freshmen. Breanna Stewart is playing with confidence and attacking on both the offensive and defensive ends and Moriah Jefferson is changing tempo when she enters the game by adding quickness to the Connecticut backcourt that is much needed. The Huskies have the best 3-point shooter in the country in Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and a reenergized Bria Hartley. If Stefanie Dolson can continue to play through her foot injuries, UConn has a great chance to beat Notre Dame in their fourth meeting of the season.

Peck: Right now they are getting play from freshmen Moriah Jefferson and Breanna Stewart. To have these key players ready at this point in the season is good for Huskies. It is also imperative that Bria Hartley brings the confidence that Geno has been looking for all season. If she is confident playing the point –– that is what will propel them to get past Notre Dame. They also have to find a way to keep Stefanie Dolson healthy and on the floor.

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Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Basketball

ESPN’s Men’s Final Four Coverage from Atlanta

April 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment
ESPN_CollegeBasketballTom Izzo & Shaka Smart Guest Analysts
 
ESPN will provide extensive NCAA Men’s Final Four analysis, news and interviews from Atlanta, site of the championship, across multiple shows and platforms Thursday, April 4, to Monday, April 8. Shows and segments will originate from the Central Park area of the Atlantic Station shopping center with reports coming from the Georgia Dome, site of the Final Four games.
 
Content from Atlanta will be highlighted by daily SportsCenter segments Thursday, April 4, to Monday, April 8; a three-hour College GameDay Covered by State Farm before the semifinals on ESPN (Saturday, April 6, at 3 p.m. ET) and a two-hour edition prior to the championship on ESPN2 (Monday, April 8, at 7 p.m.); and a SportsCenter special between the semifinal games Saturday, April 8, at 8 p.m. ESPN will also provide extensive post-game coverage for the semifinals and title game.
 
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and Virginia Commonwealth coach Shaka Smart will join the set to provide analysis across various ESPN shows from Atlanta on Saturday.
 
ESPN will have at least 12 hosts, analysts and reporters in Atlanta for the five days of coverage: John Anderson, Jay Bilas, Rece Davis, Jeannine Edwards, Seth Greenberg, Andy Katz, Bob Knight, Brad Nessler, Digger Phelps, Jalen Rose, Dick Vitale and Jay Williams.
 
SportsCenter
ESPN’s men’s college basketball studio host Rece Davis and SportsCenter anchor John Anderson will share hosting duties. Dick Vitale, Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, Seth Greenberg, Jay Williams, Bob Knight and Jalen Rose will provide analysis. ESPN.com senior writer Andy Katz and reporter Jeannine Edwards will provide news and updates from Atlanta.
 
College GameDay
ESPN will televise two day-of-game editions of College GameDay: a three-hour show Saturday, April 6, at 3 p.m. previewing the National Semifinal matchups and a two-hour Championship preview Monday, April 8, at 7 p.m. Davis and Anderson will host the programs with analysis from Vitale, Bilas, Phelps, Greenberg, Knight and Williams. Katz and Edwards will provide reports.
Saturday’s show will include a feature on the 75th anniversary of the NCAA Tournament. The segment will provide an oral history of the still-growing phenomenon from former players and coaches such as Bob Knight, Bo Kimble and Harry Flournoy. The Monday edition of College GameDay will include a segment on buzzer beater shots. As dramatic as the shot can be, it is often a set play that has been designed, diagrammed and practiced. The feature includes appearances by Jim Calhoun, Homer and Bruce Drew, Tyus Edney, Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, Dereck Whittenberg and Thurl Bailey.
 
ESPNU
ESPNU will provide extensive coverage as part of its Tournament Countdown programming on Monday, April 8:
  • A Tournament Countdown: The Experts show at 1 p.m. will include a panel of ESPN analysts reviewing the National Semifinals and previewing the National Championship. Panelists include Katz, Williams, Greenberg and Rose.
  • A special Tournament Countdown: Katz Korner will air live from Atlanta at 3 p.m.
  • Back-to-back 30-minute editions of Tournament Countdown: Road to the Championship will highlight the journey of the teams to the National Championship at 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
  • A special two-hour Tournament Countdown: College Basketball Live will air at 5 p.m.
 
ESPN.com and ESPN Mobile
ESPN.com will have complete Final Four coverage from its lineup of experts and analysts, including Eamonn Brennan, Andy Katz, Myron Medcalf, Dana O’Neil, and Robbi Pickeral. ESPN Mobile will also carry coverage from writers and analysts, keeping fans up to date on the latest news and highlights on mobile devices via a special section on ESPN mobile Web. Fans can sign up for ESPN Alerts to receive real-time information on the game (scores, starts, etc.), breaking news and more. Additionally, fans won’t be far from checking the latest news and their brackets while on the go with the 2013 updated ESPNBracket Boundfree app available in the App Store and Android Market.
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ESPN College Basketball Analysts Predict Men’s Final Four Winners
 
As the 2012-13 men’s college basketball season comes to a close this weekend, 10 ESPN college basketball analysts weighed in with their picks for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinal and championship game winners. Highlights:
 
All 10 analysts picked Louisville to defeat Wichita State:
Seth Greenberg: “Louisville attacks relentlessly on both sides of the ball. Russ Smith and Peyton Siva attack you both offensively and defensively. Ball pressure combined with Gorgui Dieng’s ability to protect the rim make Louisville’s defense special.”
Malcolm Huckaby: “With Russ Smith and Peyton Siva, Louisville has two of the best guards in the tournament on defense and offensively they are lethal in open court and pick-and-roll situations. To beat Louisville you must have four strong ball handlers on the court and guards who can match the foot speed of Louisville back court.”
Stephen Bardo: “It will be closer than many think but the Cards will prevail in this one. The speed, size and athleticism of Louisville will prove to be too much for the Shockers to overcome.”
Jimmy Dykes: “Louisville is the best team remaining of the four. They can win hard games without playing well on offense and very few teams have that ability. Louisville is unique in that they are outstanding in zone defense, man defense, and changing between the two within a possession. No team does all three better than Louisville.”
Six of the 10 analysts predicted Michigan would beat Syracuse.  Here’s thoughts from two who chose Michigan
Fran Fraschilla: “This game features great defense vs. great offense. Syracuse’s 2-3 zone is like a knuckleball pitcher. You may hit him in one outing but the next game it totally baffles you. Figuring it out game to game is difficult.  Michigan ran a great zone offense against Syracuse in the 2010 Legends Classic, but didn’t have the right personnel to execute the shots. They have the personnel to attack the Syracuse’s zone this year, but it comes down to if the ball goes in the basket.”
Jimmy Dykes: “To beat Syracuse, you must be good in three key areas: making threes, penetrating gaps and offensive glass. Michigan is good in all three. Michigan has the speed to beat the Syracuse zone before it gets set, off of defensive boards and turnovers. Michigan has shot over 50 percent vs. the zone so far this season due to the shooting ability of Nik Stauskas, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke. Mitch McGary can run and get put-back points as well as any big guy left in the tournament.”
Seth Greenberg, Jay Bilas, Bruce Pearl and Malcolm Huckaby picked Syracuse to win the game:
Seth Greenberg: “The Orange Zone swallows up little guards. Syracuse’s half-court offense will keep Michigan out of transition.”
Malcolm Huckaby: “Syracuse will slow down Michigan’s defense with its zone and force them into contested three-point shots. I don’t see Syracuse giving Nik Stauskas the open looks. Syracuse’s guards are long and do a great job keeping opposing guards out of the paint and creating turnovers or contested shots, which is what you need to be able to do against Michigan and Trey Burke.”
Nine of the 10 analysts predicted Louisville would cut down the nets with Sean Farnham selecting  Michigan:
Dick Vitale: “I picked Louisville to win it all before the season started and I see no reason to change my mind now.”
Sean Farnham: “Trey Burke is as an elite point guard as there is in the college game and the emergence of Mitch McGary has added a missing inside presence to the Wolverines’ attack. Defenses have to at least step to him which allows just a little more space for the perimeter shooters on the outside.”
Seth Greenberg: “Louisville has dominated every opponent in the tournament and their defense will contain the backcourt of Syracuse in this game. Rick Pitino understands how to probe the Syracuse zone. Russ Smith is impossible to contain off the bounce in half court and transition while Dieng anchors the back of the press and matchup zone.”
ESPN Analysts National Semifinal and Championship Game Picks
Analyst Wichita State vs. Louisville Syracuse vs. Michigan Championship
Dick Vitale Louisville Michigan Louisville
Jay Bilas Louisville Syracuse Louisville
Fran Fraschilla Louisville Michigan Louisville
Jimmy Dykes Louisville Michigan Louisville
Seth Greenberg Louisville Syracuse Louisville
Dan Dakich Louisville Michigan Louisville
Stephen Bardo Louisville Michigan Louisville
Bruce Pearl Louisville Syracuse Louisville
Sean Farnham Louisville Michigan Michigan
Malcolm Huckaby Louisville Syracuse Louisville
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Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Basketball

SiriusXM Offers Special Coverage from Atlanta for the NCAA® Final Four® and National Championship

April 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

siriusxmSiriusXM College Sports Nation features expert analysis from Bobby Cremins, Mateen Cleaves, Steve Lappas, Tom Brennan, Tim Brando and others

Final Four® matchups – Louisville vs. Wichita St. and Syracuse vs. Michigan – and National Championship game will air live on SiriusXM channel 91

NEW YORK – April 4, 2013 – Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) will offer subscribers comprehensive coverage of this weekend’s NCAA Final Four® and the 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s National Championship game with live broadcasts from Atlanta this Thursday, April 4, through Tuesday, April 9.

SiriusXM College Sports Nation, channel 91, will showcase a daily lineup of shows featuring a remarkable cast of college basketball experts that includes three-time ACC Coach of the Year Bobby Cremins, Hall of Fame Michigan State guard Mateen Cleaves, two-time SEC Coach of the Year Bruce Pearl, former Villanova and UMass coach Steve Lappas, former University of Vermont coach Tom Brennan, plus Tim Brando, Mark Packer, Jeff Goodman and Jason Horowitz.

Hosts will broadcast from Bracket Town at the Georgia World Congress Center, Radio Row at the Georgia Dome and other locations around Atlanta.

On Saturday, April 6, SiriusXM’s Adam Schein and Mark Packer will team up for a special Final Four preview show (12–3:30 pm ET) live from Bracket Town that will be simulcast on SiriusXM College Sports Nation and Mad Dog Radio (channel 86).

SiriusXM College Sports Nation Schedule: (All times ET)

Thursday, April 4

o    12-3 pm: Inside College Basketball with Mateen Cleaves and Jason Horowitz from Stats Restaurant in downtown Atlanta

o    3-6 pm: College Sports Today with Bobby Cremins and Mark Packer from Radio Row

o    6-8:45 pm: College Sports Coast to Coast with Tom Brennan and Chris Childers from Radio Row

Friday, April 5

o    9 am-12 pm: Tim Brando Show from downtown Atlanta

o    12-3 pm: Inside College Basketball with Bobby Cremins and Jason Horowitz from Bracket Town

o    3-6 pm: College Sports Today with Tom Brennan and Mark Packer from Bracket Town

o    6-8 pm: College Sports Coast to Coast with Chris Childers from Bracket Town

Saturday, April 6

o    10 am-12 pm: Inside College Basketball with Mateen Cleaves, Tom Brennan and Jason Horowitz from Bracket Town

o    12-3:30 pm: SiriusXM’s Final Four Roundtable with Adam Schein and Mark Packer from Bracket Town

(This show will be simulcast on Mad Dog Radio, channel 86)

o    3:30-11 pm: Programming and play-by-play provided by Dial Global Sports

o    11 pm-2 am: College Sports Nation Postgame Show with Tom Brennan and Jason Horowitz

Sunday, April 7

o    9 am–12 pm: Inside College Basketball with Jeff Goodman from Radio Row

o    12-3 pm:  Inside College Basketball with Bobby Cremins and Jason Horowitz from Bracket Town

o    3-6 pm: College Sports Today with Tom Brennan and Mark Packer from Bracket Town

Monday, April 8

o    9 am-12 pm: Tim Brando Show from downtown Atlanta

o    12-3 pm:  Inside College Basketball with Mateen Cleaves, Steve Lappas and Jason Horowitz from Bracket Town

o    3-6 pm: College Sports Today with Tom Brennan and Mark Packer from Bracket Town

o    6-7 pm: College Sports Coast to Coast with Tom Brennan and Chris Childers from Bracket Town

o    7-11 pm: Programming and play-by-play provided by Dial Global Sports

o    11 pm-2 am: College Sports Nation Postgame Show with Tom Brennan and Jason Horowitz

Tuesday, April 9

o    9 am-12 pm: Tim Brando Show from downtown Atlanta

o    12-3 pm:  Inside College Basketball with Tom Brennan and Jason Horowitz

SiriusXM College Sports Nation, channel 91, will feature live play-by-play of the Final Four games on Saturday night and the National Championship game on Monday.  Broadcasts are provided by Dial Global Sports.

Adam Schein will host his Mad Dog Radio show, Schein on Sports, from Radio Row on Friday, April 5 (10 am – 2 pm ET on channel 86).

For more info visit www.siriusxm.com/collegesports. Follow the channel on Twitter @SiriusXMCollege.

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Filed Under: NCAA Basketball, Sirius/XM

Sunday’s Regional Final Coverage Earns 8.0/19 Overnight Rating, Up 25%

April 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment

ncaaCBS Sports and Turner Sports’ Exclusive Coverage of Sunday’s 2013 NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball Championship

Regional Finals Earns 8.0/19, Up 25% vs. 2012 in Metered Markets

Turner Sports and CBS Sports’ exclusive live coverage of the 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, on CBS delivered an average overnight household rating/share of 8.0/19, up 25% vs. last year’s 6.4/13, according to Nielsen.

Sunday’s first telecast window (2:15-4:30 PM, ET), which saw Michigan defeat Florida, earned a 6.2/16, up 17% from a 5.3/12 in 2012.  The second telecast window (5:00-7:30 PM, ET), which featured Louisville beating Duke, registered a 9.4/21, up 21% from a 7.8/15 in 2012.

The overall 2013 NCAA Tournament average-to-date ratings in the metered markets are a 6.7/14, up 8% from a 6.2/13 in 2012.

Source: Nielsen Media Research, based on Metered Market data, Live +SD data stream.  3/19/13 to  03/31/13 vs. 03/13/12 to 03/25/12.  2013 averages based on weighted average of 4 telecast gross across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV.  Historical audiences, CBS 1991 through 2005 based on Live data.  2006 through 2010 based on Live + SD.  2003 based on CBS / ESPN average of First Round. 

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Filed Under: CBS, NCAA Basketball, Turner
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