NCAA Tournament Announcers: Graded

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 23:00:06 -0800

Unless you watch the games on mute or in an extremely loud bar, NCAA Tournament announcers will have a large impact on how you enjoy the games. In fact, by the end of the Tournament (and after watching a whole season of basketball), you'll probably have strong feeling of love or hate towards certain announcing teams.

There's been a lot of change on the announcing front in recent years. In 2009, Clark Kellogg replaced Billy Packer as lead color-man alongside Jim Nantz. And with Turner joining the fray last year, a host of new characters entered the mix. (especially those long associated with the NBA)

Here is the CBS/Turner college basketball announcing roster, including my personal (completely subjective) rating of their recent work.

C is considered your run of the mill broadcaster, neither exceptional nor annoying. On the most part, CBS & Turner does a good job with their coverage, hence mostly respectable grades (as opposed to a similar report card I could do for ESPN.. I don't know if F sums up my feelings toward Bob Knight.)

Grades:

A Ian Eagle (Announcer) - Not everyone's favorite, but I love his wit.

A- Greg Anthony (Studio) - Has been rock solid since joining CBS team.

A- Bill Raftery (Color) - Still funny as heck.

B+ Jim Nantz (Announcer - Final Four) - Smooth operator

B Greg Gumbel (Studio) - Just does his job, and does it well

B Kevin Harlan (Announcer) - Growing on me as the year's go by

B Ernie Johnson (Studio) - Gets an A for his NBA efforts, B here

B Marv Albert (Announcer) - Still Marvelous

B Steve Kerr (Color) - Knows his basketball

B- Charles Barkley (Studio) - A+ for NBA, not as suited for college

B- Len Elmore (Color) - Run of the mill, but I tend to agree with his points

B- Reggie Miller (Color) - Can be great, can be annoying

B- Kenny Smith (Studio) - Better suited for NBA

C+ Spero Dedes (Announcer) - Has potential, still can improve

C+ Verne Lundquist (Announcer) - Fading as time goes by

C+ Jim Spanarkel (Color) - At least tries to have fun with it

C Brian Anderson (Announcer) - Nothing special

C Dan Bonner (Color) - Solid professional

C Tim Brando (Anouncer) - Like Bonner, a true pro

C Bob Wenzel (Color) - Nothing much to note her

C Matt Winer (Studio) - No harm, no foul

C- Seth Davis (Studio) - Have never warmed up to Davis

C- Mike Gminski (Color) - Tend to disagree with his points

C- Steve Smith (Studio) - Real nice guy, real mediocre TV personality

D+ Clark Kellogg (Color - Final Four) - Have never understood how he gets top billing

Sideline Reporters

B+ Craig Sager (Sideline)

B- Lesley Visser (Sideline)

C+ Lewis Johnson (Sideline)

C Marty Snider (Sideline)

C Tracy Wolfson (Sideline)

Inc. Jamie Maggio (Sideline) - Can't say I remember who this is

Teams:

Nantz/Kellogg**

Albert/Kerr**

Lundquist/Raftery**

Harlan/Elmore/Miller**

Eagle/Spanarkel

Anderson/Bonner

Brando/Gminski

Dedes/Wenzel

** Doing regional games

No Longer Part of Team*

B Jay Bilas

B Gus Johnson

B- Sam Ryan

C+ Stephen Bardo

C+ Dick Enberg

C Carter Blackburn

C Craig Bolerjack

D Billy Packer

* Grade at final year of rating

These are my opinions of course, so how would you rate the CBS NCAA Tournament team? Follow Shawn @collegehoopsnet

NCAA Tournament on CBS: Announcer Ratings

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:24:28 -0700

When you watch as much of the NCAA Tournament as us die-hards do.. you inevitably form close bonds with the announcers on CBS. Some are strong congenial caring bonds.. others I could do without. Here is the CBS college basketball roster, including links to profiles on CBS.com, their role during the broadcast, and my rating of their recent work. (Check out my announcer rating from last year)

In 2009, we had huge changes as Clark Kellogg replaced Billy Packer as lead color-man alongside Jim Nantz. I was very down on that decision at the time as I find Kellogg to be on the low end of the announcing spectrum. The other big change was Greg Anthony moving into the studio, replacing Kellogg. This move, on the other hand, ended up being a great call by CBS. Anthony already trumps Seth Davis in the studio.

This year, there's not too much change, except for the addition of Spero Dedes getting some calls early in the tournament. Only 30, Dedes is an up-and-comer.

C is considered your run of the mill broadcaster, neither exceptional nor annoying. On the most part, CBS does a good job with their coverage, hence mostly respectable grades (as opposed to a similar report card I could do for ESPN...)

A Ian Eagle (Announcer)

A- Greg Anthony (Studio, Was New 2009)

A- Bill Raftery (Color)

B+ Jim Nantz (Announcer - FF)

B+ Jay Bilas (Color)

B Greg Gumbel (Studio)

B Kevin Harlan (Announcer)

B Gus Johnson (Announcer)

B Lesley Visser (Sideline)

B- Verne Lundquist (Announcer)

B- Spero Dedes (Announcer, New in 2010)

B- Len Elmore (Color)

C+ Stephen Bardo (Color)

C+ Dick Enberg (Announcer)

C Dan Bonner (Sideline)

C Tim Brando (Anouncer)

C Mike Gminski (Color)

C Jim Spanarkel (Color)

C Bob Wenzel (Color)

C Tracy Wolfson (Sideline)

C- Seth Davis (Studio)

D+ Clark Kellogg (Color - FF)

Notes:

Dedes grew up not to far from where I live and I'm more familiar with him then most around the country are. I think he'll prove to be a savvy choice by CBS. I still don't like Kellogg any more then I did last year.. and more and more I find I'm turned off by Seth Davis. On the flip side, Gus Johnson continues to grow on me, even if he is a one-man circus.

No Longer Part of CBS Team

C Carter Blackburn (Announcer, New 2009)

C Craig Bolerjack (Announcer, New 2009)

D Billy Packer (Retired)

B- Sam Ryan (Sideline)

These are my opinions of course, so how would you rate the CBS NCAA Tournament team?