Category Archives: College basketball

Gruesome: CBS, ESPN make right call about not running replays of injury

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I just happened to walk away from the television for a few minutes Sunday. So I missed seeing Kevin Ware suffer the most gruesome injury in sports since Lawrence Taylor did a number on Joe Theismann’s leg.

Now there’s a high probability that I never will see how the life of the young Louisville basketball player changed in Indianapolis. I have a low tolerance for gruesome.

I suspect many people feel the same way, which is why CBS and ESPN made the right call in not airing repeated replays of the injury.

From the Associated Press:

CBS showed the replay twice in slow motion, although not with a close-up of Ware landing. The network also never showed a close-up of the injury.

CBS then concentrated on reaction shots. Three of Ware’s teammates were on the ground near the basket. Wayne Blackshear cried, Chane Behanan knelt on his hands and knees and Peyton Silva sat, a hand covering his mouth.

The network aired a close-up of medical officials working on Ware, showing the player only from the face up.

CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said that because of the graphic nature of the injury, the network decided not to show it after the original replays. People could quickly find replays on YouTube, anyway.

“We did not zoom in on the injury when he was taken off,” McManus said. “We did not try to highlight it. I think we did the right thing.”

Later in the evening, SportsCenter also declined to air replays of the injury. Stuart Scott and Scott Van Pelt didn’t offer an explanation. The reason, though, was fairly obvious.

Some images are just too difficult to watch.

It is interesting to note that the networks showed numerous replays of the puck shattering Sidney Crosby’s jaw. Guess we were able to stomach those pictures.

However, Ware’s injury crossed over the line. We can only digest so much.

I don’t have a problem with various websites showing replays of the injury. It is news and people will want to see what happened.

However, the strong disclaimers force people to make a conscious decision to click on the replay. It isn’t the same on TV. There’s a good chance you’re going to look, even if the anchors says turn your head. At best, it creates an uncomfortable dynamic for the viewer.

In the new media world, it’s all about choices. The replays are there if you want to see them.

I am going to pass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big money coming for Big Ten: Basketball stands to hit TV jackpot with next deal

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Not that Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany wants to rush time, but I’m fairly certain that he can’t wait for the 2016-17 basketball season.

That’s when the Big Ten’s TV deals for basketball conclude with ESPN and CBS. Based on what the new Big East got from Fox Sports 1 this week, you know Delany is anxious for his turn at the bargaining table.

The new Big East (comprised of the Catholic 7 and additions like Butler) landed a 12-year, $500 million with Fox Sports 1. It could rise to $600 million if the conference goes to 12 schools.

That’s a huge haul for a conference whose best TV attraction probably is Georgetown. Marquette, St. Johns, Villanova, Seton Hall, and even DePaul (if the Blue Demons can regain old glory) also have decent brand identification.

However, as a whole the new Big East doesn’t compare to the new Big Ten, which will grow to include Maryland and Rutgers.

This year, the Big Ten produced the two most watched college basketball games on ESPN (Indiana-Michigan and Indiana-Michigan State), and four of the top five on CBS.

According to Kristi Dosh of ESPN.com, here is what the Big Ten’s current TV deals are worth:

First-tier rights: $1 billion, ESPN, 10 years through 2016-17.
Second-tier rights: $2.8 billion, Big Ten Network, 25 years through 2031-32.
Select basketball rights: (minimum of 24 games, men’s tournament semifinal and championship games): $72 million, CBS, six years through 2016-17.

The Big Ten stands to get a hefty increase, especially on the cable side.  And the commissioner will have some help from his good friends at Fox.

Fox, which owns 51 percent of the Big Ten Network, is going to be an aggressive player for college basketball rights, as demonstrated by the Big East deal. Executives know the quickest way for Fox Sports 1 to compete with ESPN is to acquire premium live programming. Big Ten basketball is premium.

NBC Sports Network could be in the mix to make a major move by then. It needs to increase its premium inventory beyond the NHL.

Delany also has the leverage to move more games to the Big Ten Network, which is coming off a big year.

Nothing works better than a competitive environment to boost TV rights. You can be sure Delany is counting the days until the bidding begins.

 

 

 

 

No pay for college players: Scholarship more than enough for playing a game

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All hail the start of the NCAA tournament. Given that it is 16 degrees in Chicago on the first day of spring, that seems reason enough to stay inside and watch basketball all day.

News flash: The weather sucks in Chicago.

The start of the tournament will launch the inevitable cries that the players should be paid. I can hear the chorus now: The NCAA and colleges make big money off the three-week basketball feast and the poor players get nothing.

Pay the players!

Well, as a public service announcement, I’m here to say it can’t happen and it shouldn’t happen.

The argument is based on a myth: College athletic programs are rolling in cash.

Just the opposite is true. Most athletic programs lose money, and have to be subsidized by their university. These are hugely expensive endeavors, considering the costs of scholarships, facilities, coaches, etc. People see the 100,000-plus in Michigan Stadium for a football game and believe that’s the case everywhere. It isn’t.

Also, the cost of success in college athletics keeps going up exponentially. It’s an arms race of ridiculous proportions. There’s a never-ending need to spend millions on lavish facilities to keep up with the school down the road. As a result, whatever money comes in goes out just as quickly.

For the vast majority of schools, the funds aren’t there to pay the athletes. Not without a dramatic cutback on sports and scholarships.

Also, just who would get paid? Only football and basketball players? They bring in the big money, right?

Again, another myth. Plenty of those sports lose money at schools not named Ohio State (football) or Kentucky (basketball). Meanwhile, there are women’s basketball and hockey programs that make a profit for their schools. Why shouldn’t those athletes get paid?

In fact, I can’t see any model that doesn’t include paying every scholarship athlete. It is the only equitable way to determine who gets a paycheck. If you’re going to pay the starting quarterback, you also have to pay the woman cross country runner.

If you include all the scholarship athletes, then you’re talking millions to cover the costs. Again, the money isn’t there. I can assure you schools will respond by cutting scholarships and programs.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany got criticized this week for a hardline view about paying players. Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples had the report about the commissioner’s remarks in Ed O’Bannon’s lawsuit against the NCAA.

Staples wrote:

In a declaration filed last week in federal court in support of the NCAA’s motion against class certification, Delany threatened that any outcome that results in athletes getting a piece of the schools’ television revenue could force the schools of the Big Ten to de-emphasize athletics as the Ivy League’s schools did decades ago.

“…it has been my longstanding belief that The Big Ten’s schools would forgo the revenues in those circumstances and instead take steps to downsize the scope, breadth and activity of their athletic programs,” Delany wrote. “Several alternatives to a ‘pay for play’ model exist, such as the Division III model, which does not offer any athletics-based grants-in-aid, and, among others, a need-based financial model. These alternatives would, in my view, be more consistent with The Big Ten’s philosophy that the educational and lifetime economic benefits associated with a university education are the appropriate quid pro quo for its student athletes.”

Many people viewed Delany’s comments as extreme. They can’t conceive that the Big Ten would forgo billions of dollars in athletic revenue.

Maybe not, but Delany knows paying players would create nothing but chaos. Such as: Why should the star point guard get paid the same amount as the 14th player at the end of the bench? Here come more lawsuits.

It isn’t a stretch for Delany to say the Big Ten presidents wouldn’t want any part of that.

Besides, the athletes already get paid. As a parent with a junior in high school, I am getting a harsh education about the cost of higher education. If my son wants to go Indiana, it will cost in excess of $40,000 per year for out-of-state tuition.

Yet thanks to their scholarships, the top Hoosier athletes get all expenses paid. That’s nearly $200,000 over four years.

Somebody please tell me how that’s not getting paid. I love my son, but I would love him even more if he could throw a football 60 yards.

So as you watch the NCAA tournament, just know that the players aren’t going home empty-handed. Those scholarships are a nice haul for being able to shoot a basketball.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fox Sports 1 to televise more than 100 games with new Big East deal

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From my perspective, that’s the big takeaway from today’s official announcement of Fox Sports 1’s deal with the new Big East, aka, the Catholic 7.

It’s all about content. The deal provides the new network with more than 100 games. That’s a nice thing to have during the winter months.

I wouldn’t expect Fox Sports 1 to stop here. It will be active players for more college basketball rights as they become available.

*******

Here’s the official release:

he Big East Conference, boasting ten institutions with tradition-rich athletics programs and FOX Sports have entered into a landmark 12-year multi-platform media rights agreement beginning with the 2013-14 academic year. The announcement was made today during a press conference held in New York City attended by the presidents of the Big East’s member institutions, along with FOX Sports Co-President and COO Randy Freer and FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Larry Jones. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The reconstituted Big East Conference now features Butler University, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University beginning with the 2013-14 academic year. Georgetown, Providence, St. John’s and Seton Hall are all founding members of the Big East, which began conference play in 1979. Villanova was added in 1980, while DePaul and Marquette joined in 2005. The official addition of Butler, Creighton and Xavier universities was also announced during the press conference today.

The agreement grants FOX Sports rights to all conference-controlled men’s basketball games, select rights to women’s basketball, all Olympic sports and extensive rights for highlights and to produce ancillary programming.

FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports’ newly minted national multi-sport channel which launches this summer, is slated to televise over 100 men’s regular-season basketball games next season. The network is also scheduled to carry the entire Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament each season, live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, the tournament’s home since 1983, and the longest-running conference tournament played at one venue.

“We applaud all the Big East schools for taking responsibility for their own destiny and forming what is clearly one of the top college basketball leagues in the country,” said Freer. “The quality of the competition is obvious. Five teams who will play in the renewed Big East next season are playing in this year’s NCAA tournament, and seven qualified for postseason play overall. We’re extremely proud and fortunate to offer college basketball of this caliber on FS1 next season and for many seasons to come.”

Added Father Dennis Holtschneider, President of DePaul University: “The New Big East is fortunate to have found a partner such as FOX Sports, which shares our intense passion for college basketball, and is committed to celebrating the student-athletes and the natural rivalries that make college athletics so unique and appealing for fans across the nation.”

 

 

 

One more chance to experience the weirdness that is Bill Walton; On NIT game tonight

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Yes, folks, ESPN is giving him an encore.

Thanks to the NIT, Bill Walton will be on the call for the Stephen F. Austin-Stanford game Tuesday. Tipoff is 11 p.m. ET, but it might be worth staying up late to watch his show. When it comes to goofiness, Conan, Dave, Jay and Jimmy combined won’t match the big redhead. It could be the first NIT game that is must-see TV.

Walton went over the top several times during his analysis of the Pac 12 tournament. In the video above, he conjures up the image of Ray Lewis in a limo. Apparently, he forgot two people died in that incident. Not exactly something you joke about.

Walton also brought up Bill Simmons’ suspension at one point during a game.

Ken Fang of Fang’s Bites compiled an impressive list of Walton’s best/worst lines.

A sample:

“The vision of what could possibly be for the nation’s greatest conference! The conference that has all the records! The conference that has all the perfect demographics, all the cool spots! This event this week has been one of the greatest things I’ve ever participated in my whole life! It went over the top today, because at the MGM Grand, they had a pool party this afternoon. Oh my gosh! The bands were there! The bikinis were out in full force! It was absolutely remarkable!

“And then on the way to the game tonight through the lobby and the Golden Lion and the bands were all around that, the cheerleaders were dancing! And at the bottom of the elevator below my room, there was Wolfgang Puck’s open until 6 a.m. in the morning! Come on! This is just fantastic! Thank you, Larry Scott!”

Kudos to Dave Pasch for attempting to make sense out of all the nonsense.

My 17-year-old heard Walton’s act for the first time. He asked, “Who is that guy?”

I replied, “Oh, maybe the best player in college basketball history. If not the best, then top 3.”

My son said, “Really? He’s weird.”

Yes, Bill Walton is an acquired taste.

 

Q/A with Verne Lundquist: Appearing in Happy Gilmore ‘is gift that keeps on giving’; his love for NCAA tournament

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Verne and Raft and all is right in the world.

It wouldn’t be an NCAA tournament without Verne Lundquist. Thanks to some tweeks in his schedule, the popular play-by-play man is rested and anxious to go this week.

Now 72, Lundquist asked CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus for an extended break in the grind during college basketball season as part of his new contract. After he completed his football duties, instead of trekking  to exotic outposts like East Lansing, Mich. and West Lafayette, Ind., he and his wife headed for a trip Down Under.

Lundquist, though, returned to the microphone a few weeks ago.Thursday, he and his good friend, Bill Raftery, will dive in at Auburn Hills, Mich. for what Lundquist calls his favorite assignment. He did his first NCAA tournament game in 1982, teaming up with former LSU coach Dale Brown.

Here is my Q/A with Lundquist on going strong at 72; and how appearing in Happy Gilmore still is paying dividends for him. Also, I am rerunning his comments on calling the famous Duke-Kentucky game from a post I did with him in December.

How does it feel to being doing another NCAA tournament?

I’m coming up on 50 years in the business. Isn’t that staggering? It is to me. I have a good sense of what goes well and when it doesn’t. It’s like a competitor. When it goes badly, you want another at bat. You don’t have too many that go badly. I wouldn’t be here if I did. I’m proud of the fact I’m still working, still considered viable.

Is the tournament your favorite?

I do think so. Raft and I have become such good friends.

How difficult is it to do four games in one day?

It’s the hardest thing ever. There’s nothing equal to it. The first time, I thought I was up to the challenge, but I didn’t know how to organize myself in the proper fashion. You learn you don’t use up too much energy in the first game. Then you pray to high heaven the last game is compelling. There’s nothing like a blowout in that fourth game to make you really weary.

What sets apart the tournament in your view?

You can argue about what is the greatest sporting event. It’s certainly in the top three. To see the public embrace it has been great. Is the Super Bowl bigger? Certainly, from a corporate aspect it is. But it doesn’t have the charm the NCAA has because of the potential of a Butler winning the title. If (Gordon Hayward’s shot) goes in, Duke-Kentucky becomes the second greatest game.

You went more than 10 years without watching a replay of the famous Duke-Kentucky game. Why?

I thought I had a good broadcast. The truth of the matter is I didn’t want to intrude on the reality of my memories. I didn’t want to look at the tape and say, ‘For crying out loud, why did I do that?’

About 10 years ago, Billy Raftery and I were getting ready to do Marquette-Kentucky (in the NCAA tournament). He called and said they were airing the game on ESPN Classic. He knew I hadn’t watched it. I picked it up midway through the game. At the end, I thought I did a pretty good job.

What was going through your mind as Grant Hill got ready through the in-bounds pass?

At first, I was surprised that Rick Pitino didn’t have anyone guard him. I think if Rick had one do-over, he would have put somebody 6-8 on him.

Then for a split second, I remembered I announced Grant Hill’s birth on a Dallas TV station. His father, Calvin, and I were good friends. Now here’s this guy (Grant) about to throw in the pass. I thought, ‘Oh my God.’ It was very personal to me.

What was your assessment of the final call?

You hope you get the call right. Mine wasn’t particularly brilliant. I channeled my inner Marv Albert and yelled ‘Yes!’

Somebody once asked if I was proud of that call? I’m proud I didn’t muck it up. It wasn’t an innovative piece of broadcasting, but it captured the moment. Len and I then had the good sense to shut up and let (director Mike Arnold) do his job.

What was the reason why you didn’t work as many basketball games this year?

When I did my new contract, I asked them if they could relieve me of some games. There was too much travel to places like East Lansing and West Lafayette. It was very gracious of them to do that. I still watched the games, but I was thankful to be able to do it with my wife.

You’re 72. This is supposed to be a young man’s game. Why does it still work for you?

The fact that I’m working at 72 in a high-profile position makes me feel honored. I think there still is some connection to not only the generation younger than me, but maybe two generations. I have to connect with kids 18-22. I think (appearing in) Happy Gilmore is the gift that keeps on giving.

I’m being factious, but something like that accidentally kept me viable with the college kid crowd.

Do you still enjoy it?

I don’t think you can fake a passion for it. You have to do the preparation. You can’t shortcut the process. The only thing I don’t like is the uneasiness of dealing with the airlines. Everything, except getting from point A to point B, I still find immensely pleasurable.

How much longer do you plan to work?

I’m not gilding the lilly when I say I am so appreciative to management that they gave me the time in the winter. I’ve got a contract that (could take him to 75). Then we’ll see.

 

Your broadcast lineups for NCAA tournament

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Here are your best pals for the upcoming feast of basketball:

OPENING ROUND
TUESDAY, MARCH 19

6:40 pm, truTV, Dayton
N.C. A&T vs. Liberty
Marv Albert-Steve Kerr-Craig Sager

9:10 pm, truTV
Mid Tennessee vs. St. Mary’s

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

6:40 pm, truTV
LIU-Brooklyn vs. James Madison
Jim Nantz-Clark Kellogg-Tracy Wolfson

9:10 pm, truTV
Boise St. vs. LaSalle

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

12:15 p.m., CBS, Auburn Hills
Valparaiso vs. Michigan State
Verne Lundquist-Bill Raftery-Rachel Nichols

12:40 p.m., truTV, Lexington
Bucknell vs. Butler
Ian Eagle-Jim Spanarkel-Allie LaForce

1:40 p.m., TBS, Salt Lake City
Wichita St. vs. Pittsburgh
Spero Dedes-Doug Gottlieb-Jamie Maggio

2:10 p.m., TNT, San Jose
New Mexico St. vs. Saint Louis
Brian Anderson-Dan Bonner-Marty Snider

2:45 pm, CBS, Auburn Hills
Mid Tennessee / St. Mary’s vs. Memphis
Lundquist-Raftery-Nichols

3:10, truTV, Lexington
Davidson vs. Marquette
Eagle-Spanarkel-LaForce

4:10, TBS, Salt Lake City
Southern U. vs. Gonzaga
Dedes-Gottlieb-Maggio

4:40, TNT, San Jose
Oregon vs. Oklahoma St.
Anderson-Bonner-Snider

6:50 p.m., TBS, Lexington
N.C. A&T/Liberty vs.Louisville
Eagle-Spanarkel-LaForce

7:15 p.m., CBS, Auburn Hills
South Dakota St. vs. Michigan
Lundquist-Raftery-Nichols

7:20 p.m., TNT, Salt Lake City
Belmont vs. Arizona
Dedes-Gottlieb-Maggio

7:27 p.m., truTV, San Jose
California vs. UNLV
Anderson-Bonner-Snider

9:10, TBS, Lexington
Missouri vs. Colorado St.
Eagle-Spanarkel-LaForce

9:45, CBS, Auburn Hills
Akron vs. VCU
Lundquist-Raftery-Nichols

9:50, TNT, Salt Lake City
Harvard vs. New Mexico
Dedes-Gottlieb-Maggio

9:57, truTV, San Jose
Montana vs. Syracuse
Anderson-Bonner-Snider

FRIDAY, MARCH 22

12:15 p.m., CBS, Philadelphia
Albany vs. Duke
Kevin Harlan-Len Elmore-Reggie Miller-Lewis Johnson

12:40 p.m., truTV, Kansas City
Ole Miss vs. Wisconsin
Albert-Kerr-Sager

1:40 p.m., TBS, Dayton
Temple vs. N.C. State
Nantz-Kellogg-Wolfson

2:10 p.m., TNT, Austin
Pacific vs. Miami
Tim Brando-Mike Gminski-Otis Livingston

2:40, CBS, Philadelphia
Cincinnati vs. Creighton
Harlan-Elmore-Miller-Johnson

3:10, truTV, Kansas City
Boise St./LaSalle vs. Kansas State
Albert-Kerr-Sager

4:10, TBS, Dayton
LIU Brooklyn/James Madison vs. Indiana
Nantz-Kellogg-Wolfson

4:40, TNT, Austin
Colorado vs. Illinois
Brando-Gminski-Livingston

6:50 p.m., TBS, Philadelphia
Florida Gulf Coast vs. Georgetown
Harlan-Elmore-Miller-Johnson

7:15 p.m., CBS, Dayton
Iona vs. Ohio State
Nantz-Kellogg-Wolfson

7:20 p.m., TNT, Kansas City
Villanova vs. North Carolina
Albert-Kerr-Sager

7:27 p.m., truTV, Austin
Northwestern St. vs. Florida
Brando-Gminski-Livingston

9:10, TBS, Philadelphia
Oklahoma vs. San Diego State
Harlan-Elmore-Miller-Johnson

9:45, CBS, Dayton
Iowa St. vs. Notre Dame
Nantz-Kellogg-Wolfson

9:50, TNT, Kansas City
Western Kentucky vs. Kansas
Albert-Kerr-Sager

9:57, truTV, Austin
Minnesota vs. UCLA
Brando-Gminski-Livingston

What’s the point of the Big Ten championship game on Sunday?

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Besides getting me to fork over a bunch of money to sit in the 300 level of the United Center with my kids?

The Chicago Tribune’s Teddy Greenstein points out the game rarely has an impact on seeding for the NCAA tournament. Greenstein writes:

We begin the reporting for this story with a premise: The Big Ten tournament title game is an afterthought. Or more accurately, a before-thought.

It’s the amuse bouche before a 12-course meal, the mixed greens stalling the delivery of your porterhouse.

It has no influence on NCAA tournament seeding, and those watching at home are screaming at the TV: “Just give us the brackets!”

Ah yes, there’s this issue of ratings:

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany: “I don’t feel that (it lacks importance). What the data would show is that as people get ready for Selection Sunday, it’s a different kind of program. If we were going against the show, that would be madness — early March Madness. But leading into the show, we view it as a good thing, and I think CBS views it as a good thing.”

Roger that. The 2011 championship game (Ohio State 71, Penn State 60) drew 3.7 million viewers. Last year’s game (Michigan State 68, Ohio State 64) hit the same mark. The last two Big East championship games (Connecticut-Louisville and Louisville-Cincinnati), played Saturday night on ESPN, drew 2.2 million in 2011 and 3.3 million last year.

CBS analyst Clark Kellogg, who will call Sunday’s final at the United Center with Jim Nantz and Steve Kerr: “Perception is not always reality. There are pockets of folks more interested in the brackets. But because of the quality of the Big Ten and the magnitude of the league, that adds more juice to what is taking place.”

 

New documentary on Kentucky basketball: ‘Center of basketball in United States’

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No, you might get an argument from the folks in New York, North Carolina and elsewhere about that one. However, it is hard to deny the legacy of the Kentucky Wildcats.

A new documentary, Bluegrass Kingdom, airs Sunday on truTV at 8 p.m. ET. If nothing else, it will serve as a good primer for finding truTV next week during the tournament.

Here some of the notables in the documentary. Of course, it includes Ashley Judd:

Pat Riley on Adolph Rupp’s recruiting trip to his home in Schenectady, NY: “When he came up to our house, it was really like royalty. I remember him saying to my mother: ‘Don’t worry we’re going to take care of your son.’ Then he looked at my father and said: ‘Don’t worry we’re going to make him an All-American.’ When he left, my mother told me: ‘That’s where you’re going to go to school.”

Riley on Rupp’s legacy: “Adolph Rupp started this whole tradition – this culture – about what Kentucky basketball is all about. He came to that school in the late 40s to the 60s. It was about Kentucky basketball. It was about the Kentucky Derby. It was about the whiskey. But basketball trumped everything.”

Riley on the 1966 NCAA championship game vs. Texas Western College: “They were playing for a lot more than just a trophy or being a NCAA champion. We were beaten handily.”

Riley retelling a story of meeting up with Coach Rupp in an elevator following the 1966 NCAA Championship game vs. Texas Western College: “Adolph Rupp got on the elevator with us alone…[when] he got off he sorta turned to us and said: ‘This game is going to be really significant in the future. You have no idea what you were a part of tonight.’ He knew. I’m proud to be a part of that loss because I know what that loss meant to a lot of players.”

UK alumna and potential future Kentucky politician Ashley Judd: “Bringing Jamal Mashburn to the University of Kentucky absolutely changed the trajectory of our program.”

Jamal Mashburn on facing Duke in the 1992 NCAA Tournament’s Elite 8 (“Game for the Ages): “Facing Duke…they were bigger than life. That game in itself, and that season, was the bridge to helping revive this program.”

Judd on the 1996 team: “The 1996 team was truly one-of-a-kind. There was just a feeling from the very beginning that they were absolutely destined. And, it would shatter our collective heart if this team didn’t win it all.”

Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari on his temperament: “I’m very protective of my family of people – players and coaches. I don’t think I walk on water. I don’t think I’m the devil either.

As it should be: It’s March and Gus Johnson is going crazy at the Big Ten tournament

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Enough with this soccer stuff.

Gus Johnson is back in his element. At least for a couple of days.

Johnson was on the call for the opener of the Big Ten tournament today. It was vintage Gus, yelling and hyperbolizing down the stretch of a tight Illinois-Minnesota game.

And when Illinois’ Brandon Paul hit the game-winner, Gus kicked in as only he can:

OOOHHOHOHHOH!!!!! AT THE BUZZER!!!! Welcome to the Big Ten!!!!!

It didn’t take long for BTN to post the video.

The game was the first of four Johnson will call for the Big Ten Network; one more this afternoon and then two more Friday night.

And then unfortunately for us, Johnson’s March is over as far as college basketball is concerned. Johnson gave up the NCAA tournament when he moved to Fox.

Johnson has been in the spotlight this winter, as Fox is grooming him to be its voice for soccer and the 2018 World Cup. But as Thursday’s basketball game showed, there’s only one Gus when it comes to capturing the Madness of March.