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Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 at 1:16 pm | 3 responses 0 Like

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March Madness Goes to TNTCBS Sports, Turner Sports partnership brings NBA analysts to NCAA Tourney coverage.

by Kyle Stack / @KyleStack

The NCAA Tournament is adding an NBA flavor to its coverage this year with the broadcasting partnershipformed between CBS Sports and Turner Sports. Sharp opinions from the recognizable names on the NBA onTNT’s staff will be on display throughout the tourney, and the opinions won’t be limited to just basketball.Charles Barkley made that much clear during a CBS Sports and Turner Sports media session at the Le ParkerMeridien Hotel in midtown New York City yesterday, where the network’s NCAA Tournament on-air talent wasintroduced.

The Chuckster had much to say about the topics he’ll focus on in his studio role in New York with host GregGumbel and analysts Greg Anthony and Barkley’s TNT co-hort, Kenny Smith. More on Barkley later—it’s vitalto establish the basketball-related insight Smith, Reggie Miller and Ernie Johnson said they will sharethroughout March.

Johnson will share Gumbel’s role as the studio host in NewYork—NBA TV’s Matt Winer will host studio coverage inAtlanta—and he stated that he’ll rely on others for the plethora ofinformation needed to assess each of the 68 tournament teams.

“Our research guys have been giving us updates every week,”Johnson said. “What teams are doing, key injuries, a guy who’slighting it up. I got files on each team. So, I’ve got my files and whenwe came up here for the seminar and CBS hands you a book witheach team, tournament history, that kind of thing. While you don’tput everything in between your ears, because there’s too much, youknow how to get your hands on it immediately if you have a questionabout something. The homework is massive.”

The assist from the research staff isn’t new for a studio host,Johnson included. That’s why research staffs have the role they do.Hosts and analysts receive constantly updated informationthroughout a broadcast, as Barkley reminded a group of reporterswhile playfully making fun of Johnson for his reputation for arrivingto work at least six hours before going on-air. (Barkley said he wasn’t looking forward to the 12-hour in-studiodays he’ll work during the NCAA Tournament.)

Much as Turner’s research department will help Johnson wade through the mountain of game information oneach school, a deeper amount of team access versus what’s provided in the NBA will aid Miller in his gamecoverage. Miller will do color commentary with play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan and fellow analyst DanBonner before shifting to the New York studio for the tournament’s second week. Miller, who worked theTennessee-Kentucky game last Sunday, noted how much more he was able to learn about each team.

“On Saturday we went to the Tennessee practice as well as the Kentucky practice—all-access,” Miller said.“You don’t get that in the NBA—you don’t get to go to shootarounds. [Tennessee head coach] Bruce Pearlallowed us to come into the film session with his guys to watch. Could you see [Lakers head coach] Phil

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Jackson allowing us to come in and do that? Things like that don’t happen. So, I love the all-access and beingbehind the scenes. That’s what I love about this.”

The extra information will help Miller analyze the 15 teams he thinks have a legitimate shot to make the FinalFour. (Anthony claimed earlier there are roughly 20 Final Four squads.) Among those teams, the former UCLAguard likes Wisconsin and Syracuse.

“I like Wisconsin,” Miller said. “They play tough, they’re gritty, they’re well-coachedand the game of college basketball has changed. In the late ’80s, early ’90s,everyone was trying to get a center. The game of basketball has changed. If youhave good guards who can shoot and control the pace, control the tempo, you havea shot to win.”

Miller’s affection for Syracuse stems from his admiration for coach Jim Boeheim’szone defense. “Most teams aren’t used to it,” Miller opined. “In conference play,they are. But when you get out of conference play and in a one-and-done situation,a lot of times can’t prepare for that.”

Miller didn’t mention Ohio State, which was understandably acknowledged byBuckeye alum Clark Kellogg earlier in the media session. Kellogg stated he would

wear his scarlet and gray sweater if Ohio State wins the national title. Kenny Smith doesn’t think Kellogg willhave to worry about that, as he pointed out it’s imperative for teams to have the talent to adjust to differentopponents’ styles of play on the fly.

“Carolina has that, obviously Duke has that this year,” Smith said. “That’s the one thing that scares me aboutOhio State. I’m not sure if they have that. They play a style, but they have trouble when you go 94 feet withthem and open the floor.”

Smith recalled a story from his coach at North Carolina, legendary head man Dean Smith. Coach Smith hadtold players he could draw up all the schemes in the world and still have not success. What was necessary tohave was the talent on the floor to execute those schemes.

Smith’s role on Turner won’t change. He’ll do studio analysis similar to what he does on TNT. “My job is I’mgoing to analyze the player I didn’t know, whose name I just learned—why he was open,” he said. “There’s noadjustment for me because I’m always after the fact. So, I’ll tell you why this guy was open—because of this,this and this, no matter who it is. I don’t have to know the best three players from Wofford. I just have to knowhow they get open and why they get open.”

The pace of the game will change how Miller announces a game, although he claimed the longer shot clockwill make it easier. “You can set up [points] more,” Miller emphasized. “When you have a 24-second clock, andmost teams shoot between 18 and 22 seconds, there’s not a lot of wiggle room to talk. When I think you’redeveloping stories —I’m working with Dan Bonner and Kevin Harlan, so these guys have done it a longtime—you get more time to expand on your thoughts, on match-ups, scenarios on the floor.”

One rule change cited by Miller as possibly creating confusion versus what’s seen in the NBA is theblock/charge rule. Unlike in the NBA, there is no circle underneath the basket for defenders to avoid. Chargesare easier to take in college and, as Miller noted, flopping is rampant. “I think that’s the only gray area out ofthe rules that could be tricky,” Miller said.

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3 Responses to “March Madness Goes to TNT”Enigmatic Posted: Mar.9 at 1:38 pm

I think the NBA should do away with the minimum age of 19 and one yearremoved from HS rule.But then the NCAA should institute a rule that says basketball players have tostick around for at least three years.That way, ideally, you’ve got the best of the best, the kids who realisticallyaren’t going to do anything with their lives but play basketball and have nointerest in academics, they can go on to the NBA.In recent years players like Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and OJ Mayo weregood enough to go straight to the pros.Then if a kid goes to college, they have to stick around and you’ve got nomore one-and-dones.Of course, there’d still be the problem of high school kids thinking they’regood enough to go pro when they’re not, like in the ’05 draft where a bunch ofthem probably should’ve just gone to college.There’s no easy solution.

ShockExchange Posted: Mar.9 at 2:13 pm

There are still some AAU teams who take an “old school approach” and doan excellent job of developing kids. You can see at Shock Exchange Comesto Harlem, April 22-23 at Columbia University. Chuck, “We must be thechange we would like to see” – Ghandi. Here is a re-cap from last year’sevent. http://clicky.me/ShockExchangeComestoHarlem2010

bashmo Posted: Mar.9 at 5:25 pm

This is pretty cool, but it also means less games being called by GusJohnson. DAMNIT, GJ is the man, his emotion on the commentating side ofthings is unrivaled by even Kevin Harlan. Man can get incredibly into thegame. Tournament will be BEAST

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