1954-55 College Basketball Season
Originally written by GRL
For the 1954-1955 college basketball season, coverage switched to a new network (CBS), with Jack Drees becoming the new play-by-play announcer.
The most important change, however, came in terms of the games being covered. CBS contracted with the Big Ten (without the NCAA serving in any capacity) for their basketball coverage, with all games involving at least one Big Ten team.
Any further details or corrections shall be much appreciated.
Regular Season
DECEMBER
Saturday 12/11:
Indiana-Notre Dame, 3:00, CBS. Jack Drees
Saturday 12/18:
Tulane-Northwestern, 3:00, CBS. Jack Drees
JANUARY
Saturday 1/8:
Wisconsin-Michigan State, 3:00, CBS. Jack Drees
Saturday 1/15:
Illinois-Ohio State, 3:00, CBS. Jack Drees
Saturday 1/22:
Iowa-Northwestern, 3:00, CBS. Jack Drees
Saturday 1/29:
Northwestern-Ohio State, 3:00, CBS. Jack Drees
FEBRUARY
Saturday 2/5:
Purdue-Iowa, 3:00, CBS. Jack Drees
Saturday 2/12:
Illinois-Minnesota, 3:00, CBS. Jack Drees
Saturday 2/19:
Minnesota-Michigan, 3:00, CBS. Jack Drees
Saturday 2/26:
Michigan-Iowa, 3:00, CBS. Jack Drees
MARCH
Saturday 3/5:
Michigan State-Michigan, 3:00, CBS. Jack Drees
NIT
Saturday 3/12- NIT First Round
St. Louis-Connecticut, 9:30, syndicated. Bud Palmer
Monday 3/14- NIT Quarterfinals
Cincinnati-Niagara, 9:30, syndicated. Bud Palmer
Tuesday 3/15- NIT Quarterfinals
Dayton-St. Louis, 9:30, syndicated. Bud Palmer
Thursday 3/17- NIT Semifinals
Duquesne-Cincinnati, 9:30, syndicated. Bud Palmer
Saturday 3/19- NIT Championship
Duquesne-Dayton, 9:30, syndicated. Bud Palmer
-WPIX provided these games to their Telepool system of affiliated UHF stations- WMGT in Adams [MA], WHUM in Reading, WGLV in Easton [PA], and WTVU in Scranton are all known to have carried at least some of these games.
-KDKA in Pittsburgh aired the 3/17 and 3/19 games as a late pickup from WENS, almost certainly of the Telepool feed- it also aired the 3/14 quarterfinals game between Duquesne and Louisville beginning at 7:45, presumably with Bud Palmer as announcer, though it is unknown if any other stations aired this game.