Marv Albert‘s departure from NCAA Tournament coverage has resulted in a major promotion for Brian Anderson.
Anderson will serve as the play-by-play voice on CBS/Turner Sports’ secondary NCAA Tournament broadcast team, it was announced Tuesday, working alongside his returning partner Steve Smith and sideline reporter Dana Jacobson. He replaces Albert, who will no longer work NCAA Tournament games as part of his recently renewed contract with Turner Sports.
Anderson, whose profile has steadily risen since joining Turner Sports six years ago, will work through the Elite Eight. He called a game during the round last year, filling in for Albert on the much-hyped thriller between Kentucky and Notre Dame. His last-minute performance on that telecast no doubt contributed to his promotion.
The promotion of Anderson and Smith, who only worked through the first weekend last year, has set off some dominoes.
Chris Webber and Len Elmore, who were paired with Albert last year, will work with Ian Eagle this time around. The three-man booth will only work through the first weekend of the tournament. Eagle’s partner last year, Doug Gottlieb, will work with Spero Dedes. Dedes’ partner last year, Mike Gminski, will work with newcomer Carter Blackburn.
Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery and Grant Hill remain the lead broadcast team for the NCAA Tournament, with Tracy Wolfson on the sidelines. Also returning in tact are the teams of Verne Lundquist and Jim Spanarkel, Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller and Dan Bonner, and Andrew Catalon and Steve Lappas.
Rounding out the other changes, Craig Sager was not listed among the sideline reporters for this year’s tournament. He missed last year due to illness. Ros Gold-Onwude has joined the roster of sideline reporters, replacing the departed Rachel Nichols. Wally Szczerbiak and Swin Cash have joined the Atlanta-based studio crew, the latter just for the First Four.
(News from Turner Sports)
