Last week, MSG Network unceremoniously dropped Gus Johnson from calling New York Knicks games. However, it didn’t take long for one of America’s most popular announcers to get more work. Today, the Big Ten Network announced that Gus will increase his workload with the channel and call over 20 Big Ten Conference basketball games this season. Previously, Gus had to work around his Knicks schedule and now, he’s free to call more college basketball. That is definitely a good thing. In addition, Gus will call all three Big Ten Conference Tournament games carried on the network.
And with Big Ten Network on DirecTV and on various cable systems, the entire nation and Canada will be able to enjoy Gus on the call.
We have the Big Ten Network’s press release which also outlines several other hires for college basketball season.
Gus Johnson to Double Big Ten Network WorkloadFormer Indiana point guard, long-time basketball analyst Quinn Buckner joins network, as does veteran women’s basketball analyst Debbie AntonelliCHICAGO – America’s favorite play-by-play announcer, Gus Johnson, returns to the Big Ten Network for a third season, and will call 23 Big Ten men’s basketball games this winter, more than twice as many as the previous two years.Johnson headlines a new season of basketball on the Big Ten Network that will include nearly 160 men’s and women’s basketball games and pre- and post-game shows, as well as Big Ten Basketball and Beyond and the award-winning The Journey: 2011 Big Ten Basketball.Twenty of Johnson’s 23 assignments will be regular-season conference matchups or Big Ten Tournament games. His first conference game is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 27, when Indiana hosts Penn State at Assembly Hall in Bloomington. Johnson also will handle play-by-play responsibilities during the network’s Super Wednesday doubleheaders beginning in January, as well as selected Tuesdays and Thursdays during the conference season and all three of the network’s Big Ten Tournament games.Johnson, a Detroit native, made his Big Ten Network debut in November 2008 and has called NFL and NCAA Tournament games for CBS since 1996. Johnson’s voice is associated with many memorable NCAA Tournament games of the past 15 years.“When Gus Johnson calls a game, there’s a feeling of anticipation and a sense that anything can happen. He brings a level of genuine excitement to the game that no one else does,” Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said. “We’re also pleased to add a couple of faces who are new to the network, but familiar to Big Ten fans everywhere.”Jim Jackson, a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year at Ohio State, returns as the Big Ten Network’s lead basketball studio analyst and will again call select games this season.The network also has signed former Indiana guard and long-time basketball analyst Quinn Bucker as a Big Ten Network game analyst this season. Buckner has served an analyst for NBC, CBS and ESPN and is also the television analyst for the Indiana Pacers. He was the point guard on the Hoosiers’ 32-0 national championship team in 1976. Buckner remains one of only three players in basketball history to win championships at the high school, college, Olympic and professional level.Brian Anderson, who has called Major League Baseball playoff games for TBS for the past three seasons and has served as the television play-by-play announcer of the Milwaukee Brewers since 2007, will call the play-by-play of select Big Ten Network men’s basketball telecasts this fall. Anderson also called some basketball games for ESPN last season.Other familiar faces return to the network this winter, including play-by-play announcers Tom Hamilton, Wayne Larrivee, Dave Revsine, Eric Collins, Tom Hart, and analysts Shon Morris, Greg Kelser, John Laskowski and Kenyon Murray.Veteran women’s basketball analyst Debbie Antonelli also joins the network this season. Antonelli’s extensive resume includes stints with CBS, ESPN, Fox Sports, CSTV and Oxygen, serving as the lead analyst for ACC, Big 12 Conference, SEC and NCAA Tournament games. Antonelli has called each of the last 10 Women’s Final Fours on the radio, and has been the television analyst for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever and Charlotte Sting. Antonelli spent five years as the television analyst at Ohio State, where she also worked in the Buckeyes’ marketing department.Antonelli joins returning women’s basketball analysts Stephanie White, Vera Jones and Mary Murphy.
Can’t wait to hire Gus’ signature “Rise and fire!” and “HA HA!” on the games.
