I’m not a fan of bringing current coaches into an already crowded studio, but I understand that they can provide a perspective that the analysts cannot. However, as in the case of Rick Pitino with three analysts last weekend, it can lead to some not-so-great television. I’d rather have Greg Anthony, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley talk amongst themselves with Greg Gumbel and that will be the case for the Sweet Sixteen. However, in the Elite Eight, Villanova coach Jay Wright will be with the guys in New York.
In Atlanta, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo will be with host Ernie Johnson and analysts Seth Davis and Steve Smith. This is a case where a guest analyst could help the studio during the Sweet Sixteen.
And for March Madness on Demand, Boston College associate coach Joe Jones will be the guest for the halftime segments.
Here’s the press release from CBS/Turner.
THIS JUST IN…
…from Turner Sports and CBS Sports:
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo joins CBS Sports’ and Turner Sports’ coverage of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, serving as a guest analyst in the Atlanta studio. Izzo will work the regional semi-finals on Thursday, March 24 and Friday, March 25 (7:00 PM-12:00 AM, ET), which airs across TBS and CBS. He joins the studio team of analysts Seth Davis and Steve Smith, who played at Michigan State while Izzo served as an assistant coach, along with host Ernie Johnson.
Villanova head coach Jay Wright joins CBS Sports’ and Turner Sports’ coverage of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship with analysts Charles Barkley, Greg Anthony, Kenny Smith and host Greg Gumbel from the New York Studio. Wright serves as guest analyst for CBS Sports’ coverage of the regional finals on Saturday, March 26, including THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR® beginning at 3:00 PM, ET. Wright, Barkley, Anthony, Smith and Gumbel wrap up the day’s action on truTV for Inside March Madness at 10:00 PM, ET.
Boston College associate coach Joe Jones joins March Madness on Demand’s coverage of the regional semi-finals on Thursday, March 24 and Friday, March 25. Jones joins analyst Marques Johnson and host Jason Horowitz. All games will be available on MMOD, which is available on NCAA.com, CBSSports.com and SI.com. In addition, the games will be available nationally on live television across TBS and CBS.
And we’ll end it there for this post.
