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 SlingTVAt 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
| Play-by-Play | Analyst(s) | Reporter | ||
| Jim Nantz | Bill Raftery | Grant Hill | Tracy Wolfson | ** |
| Brian Anderson | Jim Jackson | – | Allie LaForce | ** |
| Ian Eagle | Jim Spanarkel | Evan Washburn | ** | |
| Kevin Harlan | Dan Bonner | Stan Van Gundy | Lauren Shehadi | ** |
| Lisa Byington | Steve Smith | Avery Johnson | Andy Katz | |
| Andrew Catalon | Steve Lappas | – | Jaime Erdahl | |
| Spero Dedes | Deb Antonelli | – | AJ Ross | |
| Brad Nessler | Brendan Haywood | – | Dana Jacobson |
**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
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Announcers |
|---|---|---|---|
| (9) Maryland vs. (8) West Virginia | 12:15 p.m. | CBS | Nantz, Raftery, Hill, Wolfson |
| (13) Furman vs. (4) Virginia | 12:40 p.m. | TruTV, Sling TV | Harlan, Bonner, Van Gundy, Shehadi |
| (10) Utah St. vs. (7) Missouri | 1:40 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV | Nessler, Haywood, Jacobson |
| (16) Howard vs. (1) Kansas | 2 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | Anderson, Jackson, LaForce |
| (16) SE Missouri St./Texas A&M-CC vs. (1) Alabama | 2:45 p.m. | CBS | Nantz, Raftery, Hill, Wolfson |
| (12) Col. of Charleston vs. (5) San Diego St. | 3:10 p.m. | TruTV, Sling TV | Harlan, Bonner, Van Gundy, Shehadi |
| (15) Princeton vs. (2) Arizona | 4:10 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV | Nessler, Haywood, Jacobson |
| (9) Illinois vs. (8) Arkansas | 4:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | Anderson, Jackson, LaForce |
| (9) Auburn vs. (8) Iowa | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV | Nantz, Raftery, Hill, Wolfson |
| (12) Oral Roberts vs. (5) Duke | 7:10 p.m. | CBS | Harlan, Bonner, Van Gundy, Shehadi |
| (15) Colgate vs. (2) Texas | 7:25 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | Anderson, Jackson, LaForce |
| (10) Boise State vs. (7) Northwestern | 7:35 p.m. | TruTV, Sling TV | Nessler, Haywood, Jacobson |
| (16) N. Kentucky vs. (1) Houston | 9:20 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV | Nantz, Raftery, Hill, Wolfson |
| (13) Louisiana vs. (4) Tennessee | 9:40 p.m. | CBS | Harlan, Bonner, Van Gundy, Shehadi |
| (10) Penn St. vs. (7) Texas A&M | 9:55 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | Anderson, Jackson, LaForce |
| (15) UNC Asheville vs. (2) UCLA | 10:05 p.m. | TruTV, Sling TV | Nessler, Haywood, Jacobson |
Friday, March 17
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Announcers |
|---|---|---|---|
| (10) USC vs. (7) Michigan State | 12:15 p.m. | CBS | Catalon, Lappas, Erdahl |
| (14) Kennesaw State vs. (3) Xavier | 12:40 p.m. | TruTV, Sling TV | Eagle, Spanarkel, Washburn |
| (14) UC Santa Barbara vs. (3) Baylor | 1:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV | Byington, Smith, Johnson, Katz |
| (12) VCU vs. (5) Saint Mary’s | 2 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | Dedes, Antonelli, Ross |
| (15) Vermont vs. (2) Marquette | 2:45 p.m. | CBS | Catalon, Lappas, Erdahl |
| (11) Mississippi State/Pitt vs. (6) Iowa State | 3:10 p.m. | TruTV, Sling TV | Eagle, Spanarkel, Washburn |
| (11) N.C. State vs. (6) Creighton | 4 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV | Byington, Smith, Johnson, Katz |
| (13) Iona vs. (4) UConn | 4:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | Dedes, Antonelli, Ross |
| (16) Texas Southern/FDU vs. (1) Purdue | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV | Catalon, Lappas, Erdahl |
| (11) Providence vs. (6) Kentucky | 7:10 p.m. | CBS | Eagle, Spanarkel, Washburn |
| (12) Drake vs. (5) Miami (Fla.) | 7:25 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | Dedes, Antonelli, Ross |
| (14) Grand Canyon vs. (3) Gonzaga | 7:35 p.m. | TruTV, Sling TV | Byington, Smith, Johnson, Katz |
| (9) Florida Atlantic vs. (8) Memphis | 9:20 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV | Catalon, Lappas, Erdahl |
| (14) Montana State vs. (3) Kansas State | 9:40 p.m. | CBS | Eagle, Spanarkel, Washburn |
| (13) Kent State vs. (4) Indiana | 9:55 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | Dedes, Antonelli, Ross |
| (11) Arizona State/Nevada vs. (6) TCU | 10:05 p.m. | TruTV, Sling TV | Byington, Smith, Johnson, Katz |
Round 2
Saturday, March 18
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Announcers |
|---|---|---|---|
| (13) Furman vs. (5) San Diego St. | 12:10 p.m. | CBS | Harlan, Bonner, Van Gundy, Shehadi |
| (5) Duke vs. Tennessee | 2:40 p.m. | CBS | Harlan, Bonner, Van Gundy, Shehadi |
| (8) Arkansas vs. (1) Kansas | 5:15 p.m. | CBS | Anderson, Jackson, LaForce |
| (15) Princeton vs. (7) Missouri | 6:10 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV | Nessler, Haywood, Jacobson |
| (9) Auburn vs. (1) Houston | 7:10 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | Nantz, Raftery, Hill, Wolfson |
| (10) Penn State vs. (2) Texas | 7:45 p.m. | CBS | Anderson, Jackson, LaForce |
| (7) Northwestern vs. (2) UCLA | 8:40 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV | Nessler, Haywood, Jacobson |
| (8) Maryland vs. (1) Alabama | 9:40 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | Nantz, Raftery, Hill, Wolfson |
Sunday, March 19
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Announcers |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 12 p.m. | CBS | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 2:30 p.m. | CBS | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 5 p.m. | CBS | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | TruTV, Sling TV | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | TBD |
Sweet 16
Thursday, March 23
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Announcers |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 6:15 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | CBS | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:45 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 p.m. | CBS | TBD |
Friday, March 24
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Announcers |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 6:15 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | CBS | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:45 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 p.m. | CBS | TBD |
Elite Eight
Saturday, March 25
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Announcers |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV | TBD |
Sunday, March 26
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Announcers |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 2 p.m. | CBS | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 4:55 p.m. | CBS | TBD |
Final Four
Saturday, April 1
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Announcers |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | CBS | TBD |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. | CBS | TBD |
National championship
Monday, April 3
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Announcers |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 9 p.m. | CBS | Nantz, Raftery, Hill, Wolfson |
