2018 - 2019 Announcers Thread

[TruBlu]

Post your thoughts here (positive or negative) regarding college basketball announcers.

This will maybe enable "Post Game" Threads to actually be about the game.;)

[Matches]

I actually wasn't annoyed by Vitale the other night, which is unusual for me. Usually I find his shtick extremely grating but it seemed toned down on Saturday.

I really wish Bonner or Gminski could just call all the games though.

[HereBeforeCoachK]

This Bob Wischusen guy.....however it's spelled....who is the new partner with Dickie V this year...is terrible. I mean, he really says some stupid stuff. I don't know if he's a little slow mentally (ala Ted Baxter) - or if he takes a stupid stance just to make conversation with Dickie V (ala those mindless happy talk radio morning shows). It's one or the other.

When Dickie V was talking about going to six fouls instead of five, Wischusen asked "why" as if the idea had never been floated before. When Dickie V told him it was to keep the star players people come to see in the game, Wischusen said "isn't the answer just not to foul" - as if there are never any bad calls made. There were other situations too.

Stupidity really annoys me.

[WiJoe]

It was probably 20 years ago, but I very much enjoyed the Bob Carpenter-Jimmy Dykes pairing. I wouldn't imagine Carpenter would have interest in doing college basketball as he is TV voice of Washington Nationals. But I think Dykes is terrific; he did virginia-fsu on Saturday. It was refreshing to here him. Tired of wischusen's Zion disappoints clemson story. Heard it three or four times already. enough. There really aren't many guys worth a spit.

Six fouls? Another unintelligent idea. If you're not smart enough to "spend/use" your fouls wisely, tough.

Gminski is fantastic. Bonner very good. I'll take Tim Brando for play-by-play, too.

What's Bob Harris up to these days?

[BandAlum83]

I actually wasn't annoyed by Vitale the other night, which is unusual for me. Usually I find his shtick extremely grating but it seemed toned down on Saturday.

I really wish Bonner or Gminski could just call all the games though.

Bonner is the best and has been for years!

[jv001]

Bonner is the best and has been for years!

And the G-Man's not bad himself. GoDuke!

[HereBeforeCoachK]

Bonner is the best and has been for years!

That's funny - I never liked Bonner.....for whatever reason. I think one thing is Bonner would NEVER EVER question a ref's call. There would be a call, the replay would show, for example, that there was air space between the defender and the shooter.....and Bonner would gloss over it as if the replay showed there was a foul. I just don't get that.

[jv001]

That's funny - I never liked Bonner....for whatever reason. I think one thing is Bonner would NEVER EVER question a ref's call. There would be a call, the replay would show, for example, that there was air space between the defender and the shooter....and Bonner would gloss over it as if the replay showed there was a foul. I just don't get that.

Then you've got Bilas and there's a problem with every call the ref makes. Most of the time Bilas has a problem with said call. Way too much for my liking. :cool:GoDuke!

[HereBeforeCoachK]

Then you've got Bilas and there's a problem with every call the ref makes. Most of the time Bilas has a problem with said call. Way too much for my liking. :cool:GoDuke!

And often the calls he has a problem with are in Duke's favor...ya know...to prove he's not a homer...something he's certainly overshot on.

And yes, I like the G Man. Not big on Grant Hill as announcer. He seems a little concerned - as is Bilas - people will call him a Duke homer also....but to my ear, G Man plays it straight.

[Reilly]

Good Dan Bonner profile: https://www.newsleader.com/story/sports/2019/02/10/acc-basketball-television-analyst-dan-bonner-espn/2722926002/

I didn't realize he had been asked to leave espn ... and he may not be doing ACC games after this year ...

[kmspeaks]

I am now thoroughly convinced that Jay Bilas is the son of Roy Williams and Debbie Crowder and all evidence of his alleged Duke career is Photoshopped nonsense.

[HereBeforeCoachK]

I am now thoroughly convinced that Jay Bilas is the son of Roy Williams and Debbie Crowder and all evidence of his alleged Duke career is Photoshopped nonsense.

...and gushes like he wants to be Luke Maye's or Coby White's boy toy.....really kinda nauseating....

[Onlyduke]

I'm going to miss Raycom. The commentators on ESPN sometimes annoy me.:rolleyes:

[DU82]

I am now thoroughly convinced that Jay Bilas is the son of Roy Williams and Debbie Crowder and all evidence of his alleged Duke career is Photoshopped nonsense.

I don't know why nobody's mentioned this before, but there's clear evidence that he was replaced by aliens. In fact, here's photographic proof...

9169

I come in peace. Yea, right.

[AustinDevil]

I am now thoroughly convinced that Jay Bilas is the son of Roy Williams and Debbie Crowder and all evidence of his alleged Duke career is Photoshopped nonsense.

Wouldn’t the obvious mother-figure be S. Hatchell?

I agree that he is utterly unlistenable. My family may stop watching games with me if I can’t stop uttering “Shut up, Jay” every time he speaks.

[hallcity]

Good Dan Bonner profile: https://www.newsleader.com/story/sports/2019/02/10/acc-basketball-television-analyst-dan-bonner-espn/2722926002/

I didn't realize he had been asked to leave espn ... and he may not be doing ACC games after this year ...

I really, really hope ESPN has called or will call Bonner and Gminski as well. They are needed for the ACC Network. The new ACC likes them and the old ACC loves them.

[WillJ]

Jay Bilas is terrible. Beyond the odd UNC sycophancy, it's his overuse of superlatives that drives me nuts. I watch a lot of NBA games, too, and for some reason the NBA color analysts - Jeff Van Gundy, Doris Burke, for example - do not feel the need to hype the drama in the same way that Bilas does. Perhaps he's been coached up by ESPN to act this way, but it's *tremendously!* annoying.

[WiJoe]

I really, really hope ESPN has called or will call Bonner and Gminski as well. They are needed for the ACC Network. The new ACC likes them and the old ACC loves them.

Sadly, no way espn lets those guys work tournament. I'm in Wisconsin and will miss the Raycom coverage. Have not watched one second of espn, and won't. Love Brando and GMan.

Go Duke !!!!!!!!

[devildeac]

Our son, younger daughter and her husband all commented during our group messaging last PM how sick they were of listening to "u"nc Jay. And that was without prompting from dear old dad. Really :o.

[Tooold]

Jay Bilas is terrible. Beyond the odd UNC sycophancy, it's his overuse of superlatives that drives me nuts. I watch a lot of NBA games, too, and for some reason the NBA color analysts - Jeff Van Gundy, Doris Burke, for example - do not feel the need to hype the drama in the same way that Bilas does. Perhaps he's been coached up by ESPN to act this way, but it's *tremendously!* annoying.

Bilas is very proud of his quote about Zion when covering Canada games...”oh my God...”. He has referred to it multiple times as if it belongs with Al Michaels’ quote, “do you believe in miracles?” Everything he says is special.

[Danke Shane]

This might not be a widely shared opinion, but something about Dan Shulman's intonation drives me crazy (and it's probably just an aggravation that's amplified by being paired with Bilas). Shulman finds a way to be mostly monotone, yet he also over emphasizes every play like it's the most amazing thing he's ever seen.

It's probably just a one-two punch where Duke's opponent will do something routine like hit a 3, and Shulman goes crazy about it, and then Bilas complains that Duke also got away with a foul...

[WiJoe]

This might not be a widely shared opinion, but something about Dan Shulman's intonation drives me crazy (and it's probably just an aggravation that's amplified by being paired with Bilas). Shulman finds a way to be mostly monotone, yet he also over emphasizes every play like it's the most amazing thing he's ever seen.

It's probably just a one-two punch where Duke's opponent will do something routine like hit a 3, and Shulman goes crazy about it, and then Bilas complains that Duke also got away with a foul...

totally agree. there's so much schlock and bs with espn. it won't be the same — or better — without Raycom. Truly the end of an era.

[jv001]

I've watched all games on Raycom. I don't like any of the ESPN announcers. But last night, I didn't like those guys either so I just hit mute. And low and behold, Duke came back and won. If G-Man and Brando are not doing the game tonight. It'll be mute time. GoDuke!

[ritz]

Open up the rights to allow anyone call the game and let the free market decide. More creativity, more engagement and ultimately better for the game and customers.

[dball]

Dear Mr. Brando:

Jettison -- I do not think this means what you think it does.

Sincerely,
Everyone

[wavedukefan70s]

I explained to my son bilas went to Duke. He doesn't believe it.all I got is "he doesn't like Duke you can tell"go figure.

[weezie]

Dear Mr. Brando:

Jettison -- I do not think this means what you think it does.

Sincerely,
Everyone

LOLOL, everybody in this family tv room kept looking skyward at that odd word usage. Good catch!

[jipops]

Every second of my ACC tournament viewing took place via Raycom. I caught none of the espn hysterics and for that I am thankful. From my vantage point the focus was entirely on the games. It sounds like there was a lot of peripheral garbage coming from the other broadcasts.

[TNTDevil]

I am now thoroughly convinced that Jay Bilas is the son of Roy Williams and Debbie Crowder and all evidence of his alleged Duke career is Photoshopped nonsense.Nah brah, it's just Bilas pulling the same move JWill did when he started with The Great Satan. Always be over-critical of your alma mater, regardless of visual evidence, and you earn "cred" as an impartial analyst.

Cash check.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

[jimmymax]

My favorite announcers are the ones whose names I can't recall because they understand the job is to call the game without becoming a distraction.

[camion]

My favorite announcers are the ones whose names I can't recall because they understand the job is to call the game without becoming a distraction.

I am convinced that the "P" in ESPN stands for Prattle. :rolleyes:

[Indoor66]

Bilas never met a word he didn't like. He never shuts up!

[brevity]

Turner Sports and CBS has announced (https://www.turner.com/pressroom/cbs-sports-and-turner-sports%E2%80%99-exclusive-coverage-2019-ncaa%C2%AE-division-i-men%E2%80%99s-basketball) its, uh, announcers. (Surprisingly, Wikipedia's 2019 NCAA Tournament page has summed up the same information quite nicely here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Basketball_Tournament #Media_coverage).)

As expected, the announcing team of Jim Nantz/Bill Raftery/Grant Hill/Tracy Wolfson will call the games in Columbia, SC (Duke's and Virginia's pods). Chris Webber can lie and tell UNC fans there are no timeouts left as he joins Brian Anderson and Allie LaForce in Columbus, OH. If you're wondering, Jim Spanarkel is assigned to Jacksonville, FL. Other announcers include ray of sunshine Len Elmore and Dapper Dan (http://dapperdanpomade.net/) man Steve Lavin.

[budwom]

Turner Sports and CBS has announced (https://www.turner.com/pressroom/cbs-sports-and-turner-sports%E2%80%99-exclusive-coverage-2019-ncaa%C2%AE-division-i-men%E2%80%99s-basketball) its, uh, announcers. (Surprisingly, Wikipedia's 2019 NCAA Tournament page has summed up the same information quite nicely here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Basketball_Tournament #Media_coverage).)

As expected, the announcing team of Jim Nantz/Bill Raftery/Grant Hill/Tracy Wolfson will call the games in Columbia, SC (Duke's and Virginia's pods). Chris Webber can lie and tell UNC fans there are no timeouts left as he joins Brian Anderson and Allie LaForce in Columbus, OH. If you're wondering, Jim Spanarkel is assigned to Jacksonville, FL. Other announcers include ray of sunshine Len Elmore and Dapper Dan (http://dapperdanpomade.net/) man Steve Lavin.

This first weekend they have to drag out any announcer who still has a pulse...look forward to muting Notecard Nantz;.. glad the morose Len is elsewhere...whither Toothy Dan Bonner?

[Duke79UNLV77]

I'm not as much of a Seth hater as some. From competing, usually overmatched, against Duke, he clearly carries somewhat of a grudge, but it seems to have toned down some from his relationship with J Will, and I mostly see it as friendly needling now.

Hearing him on the radio as I drove in this morning, though, his bias was clearly showing. The missed shot clock call was a non-issue to him. "That worked itself out." The clear traveling violation on Tremont Waters' game-winner for LSU was a non-event. "I have no problem with that." But, he flyspecked any possible call that conceivably went Duke's way in the last minute and went on and on as if they were the worst calls in the history of basketball. I don't think Zion charged. His arm did not extend, it was debatable whether the defender beat him to the spot, and Zion immediately spun away from the contact, while the defender flopped. You could debate the call, but it's certainly not an obvious miss. I don't think RJ pushed off. The replay doesn't show it. If that was a foul, they need to call a foul on almost every contested rebound. He may have a better case for the Javin hook-and-hold, but the rebound went to the other side. That call will be missed a lot. No mention of other calls that went Central Florida's way (e.g., Cam's clean block that would have led to a fast break and a 10-point lead, but instead was called a foul that cut the lead to 5 and put Cam in foul trouble; Tacco's hammering Zion on a drive with no call, Zion's block/held ball where the ref made an anticipation call).

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Probably not relevant on this thread, but Doug Gottleib just spoiled Endgame for me on his radio show.