Play-by-Play

CBS and Turner release their March Madness announcer assignments for the first week of games

Superb Spero Dedes gets First-Four and first round games; No heartwarming Sister Jean - Loyola in NIT; SiriusXM will air every game

CBS and Turner announced their line-up of game announcers for the first week of the NCAA Tournament. The listing is below.

Good to see that Spero Dedes is very much in the mix. He’ll be working the First-Four and first round games this coming weekend.

Roz Gold-Onwude, inextricably identified last year with then 98 year old Sister Jean (Schmidt) of Loyola, will work the sidelines on Dedes’ team. Roz interviewed Sister Jean regularly during the uplifting stretch of weekends when the Cinderella Ramblers made their implausible run to the Final Four. The Loyola nun and team cheerleader became somewhat of a March Madness sensation. This year, Loyola (20-13) didn’t make the tourney, they’re in the NIT.

Glad that both Carter Blackburn and Andrew Catalon will get some center stage attention. They’re good.

CBS and Turner smartly give the Kevin Harlan team some additional heft again, putting Reggie Miller with Dan Bonner, the weakest analyst on the entire depth chart. He comes off as a good guy but I can’t ever say that I’ve learned anything from him in the years watching the tournament. How he has lasted as long as he has amazes me as  much as how Steve “Five on the shot-clock” Jones was permitted to do NBA games all those years or how Larry Conley got away with adding so little in all his years doing college ball on TV.

It appears that CBS and Turner have done a good job combining assets heading into March Madness.

Sweet 16 and the Regionals: Harlan and Anderson teams preside over CBS and Turner starting tonight

Preference: Debbie Antonelli over Doris Burke; Former NC State player brings more depth to her mic

Sunday’s March Madness, CBS and Turner schedules; ranking of today’s play-by-play voices and analysts

Another Day of Madness: Schedule of Saturday’s eight games and ranking of today’s announcers

March Madness on CBS and Turner: The good and not so good. The studio shows are fun

Bracketology: Who won? ESPN’s Lunardi, CBS’ Palm, Fox’ Schwab or the Big Ten Network’s Katz

2019 NCAA Tournament schedule, dates

First-Four: Tuesday, March 19, 2019
6:40 p.m. on truTV: For the West Region #16 seed
Prairie View A&M vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
Location: UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Dan Bonner (analyst), Dana
Jacobson (reporter)

Approx. 9:10 p.m. on truTV: For the East Region #11 seed
Belmont vs. Temple
Location: UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Dan Bonner (analyst), Dana
Jacobson (reporter)

First-Four: Wednesday, March 20, 2019
6:40 p.m. on truTV: For the East Region #16 seed
North Carolina Central vs. North Dakota State
Location: UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)
Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Steve Smith (analyst), Jim
Jackson (analyst), Ros Gold-Onwude (reporter)

Approx. 9:10 p.m. on truTV: For the West Region #11 seed
St. John’s vs. Arizona State
Location: UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)
Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Steve Smith (analyst), Jim
Jackson (analyst), Ros Gold-Onwude (reporter)

First Round: Thursday, March 21, 2019

12:15 p.m. on CBS: East Region
(#7) Louisville vs. (#10) Minnesota
Location: Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines, IA)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Dan Bonner (analyst), Dana
Jacobson (reporter)

12:40 p.m. on truTV: East Region
(#3) LSU vs. (#14) Yale
Location: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (Jacksonville, FL)
Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Jim Spanarkel (analyst), Jamie Erdahl (reporter)

1:30 p.m. on TNT: Midwest Region
(#5) Auburn vs. (#12) New Mexico State
Location: Vivint Smart Home Arena (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Announcers: Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Steve Lappas (analyst), Lisa Byington (reporter)

2:00 p.m. on TBS: West Region
(#4) Florida State vs. (#13) Vermont
Location: XL Center (Hartford, Conn.)
Announcers: Carter Blackburn (play-by-play), Debbie Antonelli (analyst), John Schriffen
(reporter)

Approx. 2:45 p.m. on CBS: East Region
(#2) Michigan State vs. (#15) Bradley
Location: Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines, IA)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Dan Bonner (analyst), Dana
Jacobson (reporter)

Approx. 3:10 p.m. on truTV: East Region
(#6) Maryland vs. (#11) Temple or Belmont
Location: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (Jacksonville, FL)
Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Jim Spanarkel (analyst), Jamie Erdahl (reporter)

Approx. 4:00 p.m. on TNT: Midwest Region
(#4) Kansas vs. (#13) Northeastern
Location: Vivint Smart Home Arena (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Announcers: Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Steve Lappas (analyst), Lisa Byington (reporter)

Approx. 4:30 p.m. on TBS: West Region
(#5) Marquette vs. (#12) Murray State
Location: XL Center (Hartford, Conn.)
Announcers: Carter Blackburn (play-by-play), Debbie Antonelli (analyst), John Schriffen
(reporter)

6:50 p.m. on TNT: West Region
(#7) Nevada vs. (#10) Florida
Location: Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines, IA)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Dan Bonner (analyst), Dana
Jacobson (reporter)

7:10 p.m. on CBS: Midwest Region
(#2) Kentucky vs. (#15) Abilene Christian
Location: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (Jacksonville, FL)
Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Jim Spanarkel (analyst), Jamie Erdahl (reporter)

7:20 p.m. on TBS: South Region
(#6) Villanova vs. (#11) Saint Mary’s (Calif.)
Location: XL Center (Hartford, Conn.)
Announcers: Carter Blackburn (play-by-play), Debbie Antonelli (analyst), John Schriffen
(reporter)

7:27 p.m. on truTV: West Region
(#1) Gonzaga vs. (#16) Prairie View A&M or Fairleigh Dickinson
Location: Vivint Smart Home Arena (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Announcers: Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Steve Lappas (analyst), Lisa Byington (reporter)

Approx. 9:20 p.m. on TNT: West Region
(#2) Michigan vs. (#15) Montana
Location: Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines, IA)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Dan Bonner (analyst), Dana
Jacobson (reporter)

Approx. 9:40 p.m. on CBS: Midwest Region
(#7) Wofford vs. (#10) Seton Hall
Location: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (Jacksonville, FL)
Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Jim Spanarkel (analyst), Jamie Erdahl (reporter)

Approx. 9:50 p.m. on TBS: South Region
(#3) Purdue vs. (#14) Old Dominion
Location: XL Center (Hartford, Conn.)
Announcers: Carter Blackburn (play-by-play), Debbie Antonelli (analyst), John Schriffen
(reporter)

Approx. 9:57 p.m. on truTV: West Region
(#8) Syracuse vs. (#9) Baylor
Location: Vivint Smart Home Arena (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Announcers: Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Steve Lappas (analyst), Lisa Byington (reporter)

First Round: Friday, March 22, 2019

12:15 p.m. on CBS: South Region
(#7) Cincinnati vs. (#10) Iowa
Location: Nationwide Arena (Columbus, OH)
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst), Allie LaForce (reporter)

12:40 p.m. on truTV: South Region
(#8) Ole Miss vs. (#9) Oklahoma
Location: Colonial Life Center (Columbia, SC)
Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst), Tracy Wolfson
(reporter)

1:30 p.m. on TNT: West Region
(#3) Texas Tech vs. (#14) Northern Kentucky
Location: BOK Center (Tulsa, OK)
Announcers: Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Steve Lavin (analyst), Jim Jackson (analyst), Evan
Washburn (reporter)

2:00 p.m. on TBS: South Region
(#4) Kansas State vs. (#13) UC Irvine
Location: SAP Center (San Jose, CA)
Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Len Elmore (analyst), Steve Smith (analyst), Ros
Gold-Onwude (reporter)

Approx. 2:45 p.m. on CBS: South Region
(#2) Tennessee vs. (#15) Colgate
Location: Nationwide Arena (Columbus, OH)
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst), Allie LaForce (reporter)

Approx. 3:10 p.m. on truTV: South Region
(#1) Virginia vs. (#16) Gardner-Webb
Location: Colonial Life Center (Columbia, SC)
Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst), Tracy Wolfson
(reporter)

Approx. 4:00 p.m. on TNT: West Region
(#6) Buffalo vs. (#11) Arizona State or St. John’s
Location: BOK Center (Tulsa, OK)
Announcers: Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Steve Lavin (analyst), Jim Jackson (analyst), Evan
Washburn (reporter)

Approx. 4:30 p.m. on TBS: South Region
(#5) Wisconsin vs. (#12) Oregon
Location: SAP Center (San Jose, CA)
Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Len Elmore (analyst), Steve Smith (analyst), Ros
Gold-Onwude (reporter)

6:50 p.m. on CBS: Midwest Region
(#8) Utah State vs. (#9) Washington State
Location: Nationwide Arena (Columbus, OH)
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst), Allie LaForce (reporter)

7:10 p.m. on CBS: East Region
(#1) Duke vs. (#16) North Carolina Central or North Dakota State
Location: Colonial Life Center (Columbia, SC)
Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst), Tracy Wolfson
(reporter)

7:20 p.m. on TBS: Midwest Region
(#3) Houston vs. (#14) Georgia State
Location: BOK Center (Tulsa, OK)
Announcers: Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Steve Lavin (analyst), Jim Jackson (analyst), Evan
Washburn (reporter)

7:27 p.m. on truTV: East Region
(#5) Mississippi State vs. (#12) Liberty
Location: SAP Center (San Jose, CA)
Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Len Elmore (analyst), Steve Smith (analyst), Ros
Gold-Onwude (reporter)

Approx. 9:20 p.m. on TNT: Midwest Region
(#1) North Carolina vs. (#16) Iona
Location: Nationwide Arena (Columbus, OH)
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst), Allie LaForce (reporter)

Approx. 9:40 p.m. on CBS: East Region
(#8) VCU vs. (#9) ECF
Location: Colonial Life Center (Columbia, SC)
Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst), Tracy Wolfson
(reporter)

Approx. 9:50 p.m. on TBS: Midwest Region
(#6) Iowa State vs. (#11) Ohio State
Location: BOK Center (Tulsa, OK)
Announcers: Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Steve Lavin (analyst), Jim Jackson (analyst), Evan
Washburn (reporter)

Approx. 9:57 p.m. on truTV: East Region
(#4) Virginia Tech vs. (#13) Saint Louis
Location: SAP Center (San Jose, CA)
Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Len Elmore (analyst), Steve Smith (analyst), Ros
Gold-Onwude (reporter)

Radio Coverage:

SiriusXM has coverage of each and every NCAA Tournament Game

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David J. Halberstam

David is a 40-year + industry veteran who served as play-by-play announcer for St. John's University basketball in New York and as radio play-by-play voice of the Miami Heat in South Florida. He is the author of Sports on New York Radio: A Play-by-Play History and The Fundamentals of Sports Media and Sponsorship Sales: Developing New Accounts.

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