It’s been a while since I’ve written a College Basketball TV Awards post. It’s been so long, that I’ve lost the archive for it. That transition from Blogger to WordPress a few years back did it. This is mostly for the regular season. I’ll do a bonus TV Awards for the NCAA Tournament after the Elite Eight.
Anyway, let’s provide you with the best and the worst in college basketball.
Best Play-by-Play — Sean McDonough, ESPN. Sean had a very good year working with Jay Bilas and Bill Raftery in closing out the Big East Conference as we know it. From the start of the season in Maui to the last Big East Tournament in New York on ESPN, McDonough called some great games. He also had to overcome a rare condition that made him sensitive to noise, but once that was all said and done, McDonough, Bilas and Raftery have been working well together and holding them together is McDonough who knows when to keep it light and when to keep it serious. Sean is our winner for Best Play-by-Play this season
Honorable mentions: Andrew Catalon (CBS Sports Network), Ian Eagle (CBS), Dave Flemming (ESPN), Dave Pasch (ESPN), Dan Shulman (ESPN)
Best Game Analyst — Fran Fraschilla, ESPN. He may not work Duke-North Carolina or the other glamor conferences, however, Fran knows the nuances of basketball. He mainly works the Big 12 and was rightly returned to Big Monday games. He meshed well with his old partner, Ron Franklin when they used to work Big Monday and did well with Brent Musburger this season. Fraschilla is also utilized by ESPN on international games and he knows the in’s and out’s of what could be very ugly basketball, but he knows all of the players. Giving Fran some love here. He deserves it.
Honorable mentions: Jay Bilas (ESPN), Doris Burke (ESPN), Mike Gminski (ACC Network), Clark Kellogg (CBS), Shon Morris (Big Ten Network), Bill Raftery (CBS/ESPN), Stan Van Gundy (NBC Sports Network), Bill Walton (ESPN)
Best Reporter — Holly Rowe, ESPN. She’s usually on the Big 12 broadcasts with Brent Musburger and Fran Fraschilla, Holly finds some nuggets that other sideline reporters don’t. Yes, she has a reputation of being tough and unwilling to budge, but you want that in a reporter. And she can also call play-by-play as she’s been doing for the NCAA Women’s Tournament.
Honorable mentions: Shelley Smith (ESPN), Stephanie White (Big Ten Network)
Best Studio Host — Rece Davis, ESPN. Ever since taking over as main college basketball host for Chris Fowler in 2006, Davis has shined in this role. He hosts the basketball version of College GameDay and while it pales in comparison to its football brethren, Davis still keeps the show together. Davis does well in his role as traffic cop handing off to various analysts including Digger Phelps. Very good host and easily could host the football version of GameDay in a heartbeat.
Honorable mentions: Dave Revsine (Big Ten Network), John Saunders (ESPN), Adam Zucker (CBS Sports Network)
Best Studio Analyst — Bruce Pearl, ESPN. In his first year, Pearl has become a very good analyst. He’s shown some humor. He’s provided some decent thoughts on teams and plays. Yes, Pearl has a checkered past, but he has shown he knows the game. There’s no doubt he’s using the ESPN platform to rehabilitate his reputation and far as his analysis is concerned, it’s been solid. And let’s hope Pearl has learned his lesson should he ever get back into coaching.
Honorable mentions: Seth Greenberg (ESPN), Jim Jackson (Big Ten Network), Wally Szczerbiak (CBS Sports Network)
Best Studio Show — Inside College Basketball, CBS Sports Network. This solid show is usually aired after CBSSN’s college basketball games. We get highlights of the games, no silly debates, solid analysis and some decent humor. CBS Sports Network needs some better distribution because not everyone can see the network. Next season, take a moment to watch the show. It’s quite good.
Honorable mentions: College Basketball Live (ESPN2/ESPNU), Katz Korner (ESPNU)
Best Move — Bill Walton on Pac-12 games, ESPN. In its infinite wisdom, ESPN signed Bill Walton for Pac-12 games, returning Big Red to national television after a prolonged absence. Viewers were treated to various insights, rants and exchanges with regular partners Dave Flemming and Dave Pasch. There was one night in which Walton was teamed with Brent Musburger and it was pure TV gold. It all climaxed with Walton on the Pac-12 Tournament for both the Pac-12 Networks and the ESPN family. It was tremendous. Here’s hoping ESPN will sign Walton for another season.
Honorable mentions: Fox Sports signing the New Big East, Teaming Bruce Pearl and Seth Greenberg in the studio (ESPN)
Most Valuable Network — ESPN. ESPN has contracts all of the major conferences. It has the most inventory. And it has most of the conference championship games. This won’t change for a while.
Worst Analyst — Doug Gottlieb, CBS. The Tiffany Network brought Gottlieb in from ESPN and mostly teamed him in the studio with Seth Davis. Gottlieb comes off as angry, a know-it-all, abrasive, argumentative and overbearing. During his feigned debate segments with Davis, Gottlieb has overpowered him and also looked smug. In addition, Gottlieb points at the American people and doesn’t stop from letting us know that his opinion is the correct one. Horrible analyst.
Worst Move — CBS adds Gottlieb to the Studio. See above.
I’m saving some material for the NCAA Tournament Edition. That’s coming next week.
