CBS and TNT Sports have finalized their broadcast teams for the upcoming NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, deploying a familiar lineup of announcers and analysts across multiple networks throughout March and early April. The tournament, set to officially tip off with the First Four games on March 17 and 18 on truTV, will feature extensive coverage including studio personalities and game-day reporters.
Key matchups, including the national semifinals and championship game, will be broadcast on CBS, with the semifinals scheduled for April 4 and the title game on April 6. These marquee events, along with 18 other games including the Elite Eight and Sweet 16 rounds, will air on TBS. Viewers will be able to stream games on Paramount+ (for CBS broadcasts) and Max (for TBS, TNT, and truTV broadcasts).
Throughout the tournament, various broadcast pairings will cover the action. The Final Four and championship game will feature the team of Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, and reporter Tracy Wolfson calling the games from Indianapolis on CBS Sports. Other play-by-play announcers for the tournament include Brian Anderson, Kevin Harlan, Andrew Catalon, Lisa Byington, Spero Dedes, Tom McCarthy, and Brad Nessler, each supported by a slate of analysts.
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The studio coverage will be anchored by hosts including Nate Burleson, Adam Zucker, Adam Lefkoe, and Ernie Johnson. A roster of analysts will provide commentary, with Clark Kellogg, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Renee Montgomery, Jamal Mashburn, Jalen Rose, Seth Davis, and Bruce Pearl among those featured. Jamie Erdahl will provide game updates, and Gene Steratore will serve as the rules analyst.
Changes in broadcast pairings have been noted, with new analysts joining some established announcers. For instance, Hummel replaces Dan Bonner on one team, and Brandon Gaudin takes over as play-by-play announcer in place of Lisa Byington. Another team sees Brad Nessler working with a new analyst. The specific pairings for early tournament games, including the First Four from Dayton, Ohio, have also been detailed, with teams like Jordan Kent, Jim Spanarkel, and Jenny Dell assigned to initial broadcasts.
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The tournament schedule maps out the progression of games, starting with the First Four on March 17-18, followed by the Round of 64 on March 19-20, and the Second Round on March 21-22. The Sweet 16 is slated for March 26-27, with the Elite Eight concluding on March 29. The championship game is scheduled for April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
