CBS Sports lead analyst Billy Packer is broadcasting his 34th NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. He and partner Jim Nantz will be calling the action on both the UMBC-Georgetown game as well as the Mount St. Mary’s — North Carolina game from Raleigh.
I spoke to him about the local teams and the Big Dance in general and yes he knows what UMBC stands for and where it is located. Packer not only knows his basketball he also does his homework.
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JW: Can Georgetown return to the Final Four?
BP: “Yes, but this year the field is very, very deep. If the Hoyas can put together a six game run playing their very best basketball with Roy Hibbert dominating the boards and solid guard play from Jeremiah Rivers, Jessie Sapp and Jonathan Wallace controlling the tempo of the games then yes the Hoyas are as good as anyone.”
UMBC faces Georgetown today at 2:30 p.m. on WUSA, the home of the all the tournament action. All Georgetown games can be heard on WTEM (980 AM) along with a number of tournament games.
CBS play-by-play man Verne Lundquist will be doing the American — Tennessee game today at 12:15 p.m.
VL: “I think that the Jeff Jones, American University story is what the NCAA Tournament is all about. A good coach, a fine team making their first-ever appearance in the tournament is what college sports is all about. I am also happy to see George Mason back, the game I did in Washington when they upset UConn to make it the Final Four was one of the most memorable moments of my career.”
Women’s tournament
Sunday at the Comcast Center the Lady Terps will get underway against Coppin State on ESPN at 2:30pm. Proud Maryland grad and Bowie native Pam Ward will be calling all the action for ESPN.
JW: Can Maryland win the National Title?
PW: “Without a doubt. I can see this team making it all the way to the Final Four in Tampa. However I reallythink that UConn could be a real obstacle to them making it to the National Championship Game.
One final note about Ward she has signed a new deal with ESPN and is now doing almost exclusively play by play. She will be continue doing college football, college basketball, WNBA, college softball and college baseball making her the top woman play by play voice in the history of sports. Now that is a local girl done very good.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on examiner.com.
