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CBS
Marches On
Day
Two Effort Improved But Some Glitches Remain
By
Randy Williams
NEW
YORK (AQB)--I've spent all day on the couch and I've been rewarded
as the games come to a close.
Particularly impressive was the CBS broadcasting duo of Tim Brando
and James Worthy, who worked Rhode Island's game with UNC Charlotte.
"Big Game James" misspoke on a couple of occasions, referring
to the UNCC 49ers as the Charlotte Hornets, but showed a fine
eye for the college game he once dominated.
In the second half he questioned Rhode Island coach Jim Harrick,
who left star Lamar Odom in the game when he picked up his fourth
foul with 15 minutes remaining. The ex- Los Angeles Lakers star
said Odom wouldn't be able to play as aggressive defensively, a
point proven as UNCC's Galen Young blew by him for a layup on the
ensuing play.
Brando immediately credited Young for his court awareness and, in
overtime, noted how Odom couldn't challenge for rebounds on the
offensive glass as a result of his foul situation.
In general, CBS had a pretty good day as studio host Greg
Gumbel smoothly moved viewers from game to game. The score updates
were generally timely but I noticed that, occasionally, CBS would
skip the scores of some games.
However, it did take a while to get the final score for the
Tennessee-Delaware contest in the afternoon and CBS didn't switch
to the College of Charleston-Tulsa game as John Kresse's club mounted
a late rally late at night.
Also, Gumbel was uncharacteristically sloppy late in the evening
as he showed some highlights, incorrectly identifying the Miami
band as the Lafayette band and the Evansville cheerleaders as the
Kansas cheerleaders. Still, a decent job by CBS.
Other
news, notes and quotes from a full day of watching college basketball...
Glitch:
Early in the first half, as Brando was talking about the touching
case of UNCC's Charles Hayward, who has cancer, CBS lost its audio.
Interesting:
1. A CBS graphic said UNCC-Rhode Island, Mount St. Mary's-Michigan
State and Mississippi-Villanova, all Midwest Region matchups, had
never met prior to this year's tournament.
2. Brando compared Rhode Island sophomore Lamar Odom with
ex-UNLV star Stacey Augmon.
Request:
Sideline reporter Beth Mowins, crack a smile, please. I'm not
looking for perky, just alive.
What?:
Analyst Al McGuire, during Southwest Missouri's upset of Wisconsin,
said Bears guard Ryan Bettenhausen "is a solid ballplayer.
He has two baskets already in the ballgame..." Already? There
were 10 minutes remaining at the time.
Somebody stop him:
1. "It's Wally's World and you're welcome to it,"
Jim Nantz, as Miami upset Washington. If I hear one more reference
to Wally World, I think I'm going to head to the nearest bridge
with a fifty-pound weight strapped to my back.
2. "This one's really living up to the hype," Brando,
late in the second half of the URI-UNCC game.
3. Rolando Blackman, working with Craig Bolerjack, needs
to slow down his delivery.
Good
work:
CBS did a nice job in reporting the shocking death of John Stewart,
Kentucky's 7-foot recruit who died Friday night after collapsing
a playoff game. CBS not only reported the death but sideline reporter
Bonnie Bernstein interviewed Kentucky Director of Athletics C.M.
Newton about it and Jim Nantz said Kentucky coach Tubby Smith found
out about the death a half-hour before the game but didn't tell
his team. Overall, good work by CBS. Click
here to read ESPN.com's story on the death.
Bad
work:
Did anyone hear CBS give an update on the Minnesota scandal? In
case you're wondering the latest - because CBS won't tell you -
coach Clem Haskins vowed Friday to return next season as University
of Minnesota men's basketball coach despite the allegations against
him and his program. To read more about this, check out the latest
stories from the Minnesota
Star-Tribune and the special report by the
St. Paul Pioneer-Press, which broke the story.
Nice
insight:
1. Blackman, as the George Mason defense harrassed Cincinnati
early, noted that when a team concentrates too much on beating pressure
"you don't think about putting the ball in the hoop."
Obviously, the Bearcats solved GMU, winning in a walk, 72-48.
2. Billy Packer, working Kansas' victory over Evansville,
noted that the Jayhawks "are passing up good shots for better
shots," alluding to their fine inside passing.
3. Packer also noted that KU's big men were doing a great
job of moving quickly to the basket after receiving the pass, preventing
Evansville from double-teaming the post.
Read AQB's review of
Thursday's first round coverage
Do
you agree with our assessments? Do you have items to add to our
page? Then SPEAK
OUT or E-MAIL
US.
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