Your First Round Announcer Pairings

Sure this was supposed to be posted prior to the tip of the first game but getting beers, food and phoning in my early bets were far more important.

Anyways, this kind of stuff is a big deal for me. It determines which games are merely watchable because its the tournament and which ones are must see just in case there is an upset (i.e. any game Gus Johnson calls).

This year, I like what CBS has done with the pairings. Gminksi and Brando are great together. Elmore and Johnson are good too. Lenny seems to stay out of Gus' way just enough. Anything Jay Bilas does is professional so I like him with Dick Enberg. Not sold on Clark Kellogg. I think CBS needs to reevaluate after this year's Final and find a long term solution for the whole created by Billy Packer's "retirement".

THURSDAY

Greensboro, LSU vs. Butler, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg
Kansas City, Memphis vs. Cal. St. Northridge, Tim Brando/Mike Gminski
Philadelphia, BYU vs. Texas A&M, Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas
Portland, Purdue vs. Northern Iowa, Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner

Greensboro, North Carolina vs. Radford, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg
Kansas City, California vs. Maryland, Tim Brando/Mike Gminski
Philadelphia, Connecticut vs. Chattanooga, Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas
Portland, Washington vs. Mississippi St., Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner

Greensboro, Texas vs. Minnesota, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg
Kansas City, Clemson vs. Michigan, Tim Brando/Mike Gminski
Philadelphia, Villanova vs. American, Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas
Portland, Gonzaga vs. Akron, Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner

Greensboro, Duke vs. Binghamton, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg
Kansas City, Oklahoma vs. Morgan State, Tim Brando/Mike Gminski
Philadelphia, UCLA vs. VCU, Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas
Portland, Illinois vs. Western Kentucky, Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner

FRIDAY

Miami, Syracuse vs. Stephen F. Austin, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
Dayton, Oklahoma St. vs. Tennessee, Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
Minneapolis, Kansas vs. North Dakota State, Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
Boise, Marquette vs. Utah State, Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel

Miami, Arizona State vs. Temple, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
Dayton, Pittsburgh vs. E. Tennessee St., Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
Minneapolis, West Virginia vs. Dayton, Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
Boise, Missouri vs. Cornell, Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel

Miami, Utah vs. Arizona, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
Dayton, Louisville vs. Alabama St./Morehead St., Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
Minneapolis, Boston College vs. USC, Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
Boise, Xavier vs. Portland State, Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel

Miami, Wake Forest vs. Cleveland State, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
Dayton, Ohio State vs. Siena, Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
Minneapolis, Michigan State vs. Robert Morris, Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
Boise, Florida State vs. Wisconsin, Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel