March Madness announcers by game: Full list of broadcast teams for 2023 NCAA Tournament

March Madness announcers by game: Full list of broadcast teams for 2023 NCAA Tournament

For one final time, “Hello friends,” and welcome to March Madness 2023. 

The time for debating tournament selections is over, which means we can now turn our attention to everyone’s favorite topic — do the announcers really matter? While most of the attention will be — rightfully — focused on the court, we cannot forget our friends in the broadcast booth who provide the soundtrack to these events. 

The voices from the eight announcing teams will be heard on highlight reels and YouTube clips for years to come, making lifetime memories for all involved. 

MORE: Watch March Madness games live with SlingTV

At the conclusion of the championship game on April 3, we will bid an NCAA Tournament farewell to the longtime voice of March Madness, Jim Nantz. Starting in 2024, the tournament will welcome in a new face to the number one CBS booth for college basketball, Ian Eagle. 

While people continue to pretend the announcers have no impact on the game, just remember that good commentary can elevate any contest, the same way that bad commentary can become a social media meme. 

So get your microphone ready and let’s meet the starting lineups for the announcing teams from CBS Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery for this year’s tournament. 

2023 March Madness Announcing Teams

Nantz’s team will once again be the top broadcast crew for 

**Regional Weekend teams**

Note: Nantz’s team will call the championship game in Houston on April 3

Who are the March Madness announcers?

The studio shows will be hosted by Greg Gumbel in New York and Ernie Johnson in Atlanta. Joining Gumbel will be Charles Barkley, Clark Kellogg, Kenny Smith and Wally Szczerbiak. Johnson will be alongside Jay Wright, Candace Parker and Seth Davis. 

Adam Zucker and Adam Lefkoe will also serve as studio hosts in New York and Atlanta, while Gene Steratore returns as the rules analyst.   

As for the on site crews, many longtime viewers will recognize the teams sitting courtside. Here is a guide to each broadcast team on site for the tournament. 

Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson

Nantz headlines this group as one of the most well-known play-by-play announcers in sports. This year’s Final Four will be Nantz’s 32nd and last in the booth, which will take place where his career began, in Houston, Texas. He’s joined by his longtime partner Bill Raftery and has been with CBS since 1983. The 79-year-old Raftery is of course famous for his, “ONIONS!” call during broadcasts. 

NBA Hall of Fame forward Grant Hill will also provide analysis — as he has since joining NCAA college basketball broadcasts in 2015. Tracy Wolfson, known for her role as the NFL on CBS sideline reporter, will shift from field level to courtside. 

MORE: Ultimate guide to March Madness: Expert picks, upsets, winners, odds & more

Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce

Brian Anderson has been the voice of MLB’s Milwaukee Brewers since 2007 and has been with Turner Sports on a national level since 2008. He’s joined by Jim Jackson, who has been calling games since 2007 following a 14-year NBA career. Allie LaForce is a sideline reporter for the NBA on TNT and played college basketball at Ohio University. 

Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, Evan Washburn

Eagle joined CBS in 1998 as a play-by-play announcer, nationally, for college basketball and the NFL on CBS — in addition to his role as the announcer for the Brooklyn Nets since 1995. He’s partnered with Jim Spanarkel, who was previously his Nets on YES teammate and Evan Washburn, the NFL sideline reporter on Eagle’s crew. This should be one of the most fun teams to listen to.

Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi

One of the most exciting voices in sports, Kevin Harlan can make any little detail sound important, including drunk streaking guys during NFL games. Dan Bonner started calling NCAA Tournament games in 1991 and will provide analysis with former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy. Lauren Shehadi is probably best known for her role as an MLB Network host and reporter, but has been doing tournament games since 2021.

Lisa Byington, Steve Smith, Avery Johnson, Andy Katz

Lisa Byington became the first woman to call NCAA Tournament games for CBS and Turner Sports as a play-by-play announcer. She now hold the same role for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. Former NBA player Steve Smith and former NBA coach Avery Johnson will provide analysis. Big Ten Network college basketball analyst Andy Katz will report from the sidelines. 

Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Jaime Erdahl

NFL on CBS announcer Andrew Catalon is back for another tournament run and will be alongside Steve Lappas, who’s been in the role of analyst since 2015. Jaime Erdahl left her role as lead sideline reporter for the SEC on CBS last year to join NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” but will be back on the hardwood with this crew.  

Spero Dedes, Deb Antonelli, AJ Ross

NBA, NFL, and college basketball announcer Spero Dedes has been with CBS since 2009 and started calling NCAA Tournament games in 2010. He teams up with Deb Antonelli, who has called men’s tournament games since 2017 and women’s college basketball since 2003. AJ Ross will patrol the sidelines, much like she has for the NFL on CBS since 2018.

Brad Nessler, Brendan Haywood, Dana Jacobson

College sports fans will recognize Brad Nessler for his work as the lead play-by-play announcer for SEC football games — a role he’s had since 2017. In 2018, Nessler called his first NCAA Tournament games. Sitting next to Nessler will be former NBA big man Brendan Haywood — with Dana Jacobson reporting. 

MORE: Five Cinderella stars who could bust your March Madness bracket

March Madness announcing schedule 2023

Here are the announcers for each game on the 2023 schedule, which will be updated throughout the tournament. The action begins at 12:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 16 with Nantz on the call.

Round 1

Thursday, March 16

Friday, March 17

Round 2

Saturday, March 18

Sunday, March 19

Sweet 16

Thursday, March 23

Friday, March 24

Elite Eight

Saturday, March 25

Sunday, March 26

Final Four

Saturday, April 1

National championship

Monday, April 3

Published at Sat, 18 Mar 2023 02:35:00 +0000