1980-81 College Basketball Season
Originally written by Jeff Haggar and GRL
Regular Season
OTA & Nationally Syndicated
Sat 11/22/80, #2 DePaul vs #3 Louisville (at Springfield, MA), TVS, 1 pm, Jay Randolph, Billy Packer
Sat 12/6/80, #2 Kentucky @ #5 Indiana, Prime Time College Basketball, 4 pm, Jim Karvellas, Bucky Waters, Mike Eruzione
Sat 12/13/80, #4 Maryland @ Louisville, NBC, 1:30 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Sat 12/20/80, #11 Indiana @ #8 North Carolina, NBC, 3:45 pm, Bob Costas, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Sat 12/27/80, #3 UCLA @ #1 DePaul, NBC, 2 pm, Bob Costas, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Mon 1/5/81, #10 Michigan @ Purdue, Prime Time College Basketball, 8 pm, Jim Karvellas, Bucky Waters
Mon 1/12/81, Texas @ Arkansas, Prime Time College Basketball, 8 pm, Jim Karvellas, Bucky Waters
Sun 1/18/81, Indiana @ Ohio St, NBC, 1 pm (regional), Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Sun 1/18/81, Missouri @ Louisville, NBC, 1 pm (regional) Don Criqui, Gary Thompson
Mon 1/19/81, Fordham @ #13 Notre Dame, Prime Time College Basketball, 8 pm, Jim Karvellas, Bucky Waters
Sat 1/24/81, #13 Notre Dame @ #10 Maryland, NBC, 1:30 pm, Charlie Jones, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Sun 1/25/81, Ohio State @ #2 Virginia, NBC, 2 pm, Don Criqui, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Mon 1/26/81, Providence @ Louisville, Prime Time College Basketball, 8 pm, Jim Karvellas (?), Bucky Waters (?)
Sat 1/31/81, #7 Kentucky @ Georgia, NBC, 1:30 pm (regional), Don Criqui, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Sat 1/31/81, Georgetown @ UNLV, NBC, 1:30 pm (regional), Charlie Jones, Dave Gavitt
Sun 2/1/81, Syracuse @ #3 DePaul, NBC, 2:30 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Mon 2/2/81, Boston College @ St. John's, Prime Time College Basketball, 8 pm, Jim Karvellas (?), Bucky Waters (?)
Sun 2/8/81, #12 UCLA @ #9 Notre Dame, NBC, 2 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Mon 2/9/81, Kansas @ Missouri, Prime Time College Basketball, 8 pm, Jim Karvellas (?), Bucky Waters (?)
Sat 2/14/81, #2 Oregon St vs St John's (at Uniondale), NBC, 3 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Sat 2/14/81, Louisville @ Marquette, Prime Time College Basketball, 8 pm, Jim Karvellas (?), Bucky Waters (?)
Sun 2/15/81, #10 North Carolina @ #19 Maryland, NBC, 1 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Sat 2/21/81, Marquette @ #3 DePaul, Prime Time College Basketball, 8 pm, Jim Karvellas (?), Bucky Waters (?)
Sun 2/22/81, #1 Virginia vs #11 Notre Dame (at Chicago), NBC, 2 pm (regional), Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Sun 2/22/81, Texas A&M @ #4 LSU, NBC, 2 pm (regional), Bob Costas, Lynn Shackelford
Sun 3/1/81, #2 LSU @ #9 Kentucky, NBC, 1 pm (regional), Bob Costas, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Sun 3/1/81, #1 Oregon St @ #13 UCLA, NBC, 6 pm (west coast), Dick Enberg, Gary Thompson
Sun 3/8/81, #6 Notre Dame @ #2 DePaul, NBC, 1:45 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
- For two Dec games, Bob Costas filled in for Enberg (who was on NFL duty).
- Charlie Jones filled in for Enberg on 1/24 and Criqui filled in on 1/25. (Enberg called the SB on 1/25.)
- On 1/25, NBC cut away from this telecast at halftime to cover the hostages returning from Iran and didn't return until 15:48 remained on the clock. NBC also did not air the end of the game as it switched to the Super Bowl pregame show with 0:50 left on the clock.
- Madison Square Garden Television, in association with MetroSports, put together a set of at least nine games under the billing of Prime Time College Basketball. The 10/6/1980 issue of Broadcasting (p.79) indicates that it was anticipated to air over 60% of the country
ESPN
Here is my best research effort at the schedule for the second CBB season on ESPN. Many papers at the time did not include ESPN in the TV listings and the listings were spotty and not always consistent in the ones that did. The primary sources I used (all from Google News) were the Spokesman Review (Spokane), Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Evening Independent (St Pete), Lakeland Ledger, and Tuscaloosa News. And I have very little announcer info.
1980-81 ESPN regular season
Tue 12/2/80, Duke @ South Florida, ESPN, 8:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Dick Vitale
* Wed 12/3/80, #9 Ohio St @ #2 Kentucky, ESPN, 10:30 pm (tape delay - 7:30 pm tip), ??, Dick Vitale
* Thu 12/4/80, Wisconsin @ Alabama, ESPN, 1 am (tape delay - Mon tip), ??, ??
* Sat 12/6/80, South Carolina St @ Alcorn St, ESPN, 2 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 12/6/80, Santa Clara @ #1 DePaul, ESPN, 10 pm (tape delay - 8:30 pm tip), ??, ??
* Sun 12/7/80, Stanford @ Marquette, ESPN, 8 pm (tape delay - Sat tip), ??, ??
Tue 12/9/80, Kansas St @ #15 Arizona St, ESPN, 10 pm (tape delay - Mon tip), Chick Hearn, Herb Brown
* Wed 12/10/80, Detroit @ #20 Syracuse, ESPN, 8 pm, ??, ??
* Wed 12/10/80, Iowa St @ SMU, ESPN, 10 pm (tape delay - Tue tip), ??, ??
* Sun 12/14/80, Illinois @ Marquette, ESPN, 12:30 am (tape delay), ??, ??
* Mon 12/15/80, Kansas @ #2 Kentucky, ESPN, 1:30 pm (tape delay - Sat 7 pm tip), ??, ??
* Tue 12/16/80, Pepperdine @ Houston, ESPN, 9 pm, ??, ??
Fri 12/19/80, Washington vs Providence (at Providence - Industrial National Classic semi), ESPN, 7 pm, Jim Simpson, Dick Vitale
Fri 12/19/80, Utah St vs Michigan St (at Providence - Industrial National Classic semi), ESPN, 9 pm, Jim Simpson, Dick Vitale
Sat 12/20/80, Utah St vs Washington (at Providence - Industrial National Classic final), ESPN, 9 pm, Jim Simpson, Dick Vitale
* Mon 12/22/80, Minnesota @ Louisville, ESPN, 8 pm, ??, ??
* Tue 12/23/80, Texas @ South Carolina, ESPN, 8 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 12/27/80, Florida vs Jacksonville (at Jacksonville - Gator Bowl Tourn semi), ESPN, 1 am (tape delay - Fri 7 pm tip), ??, ??
* Sat 12/27/80, Purdue vs Georgia Tech (at Jacksonville - Gator Bowl Tourn semi), ESPN, 11 am (tape delay - Fri 9 pm tip), ??, ??
* Sat 12/27/80, Purdue vs Florida (at Jacksonville - Gator Bowl Tourn final), ESPN, 9 pm, ??, ??
* Sun 12/28/80, #17 Arkansas vs Kansas St (at Kansas City), ESPN, 8 pm, ??, ??
* Mon 12/29/80, Western Kentucky vs St Louis (at Hartford - Connecticut Mutual Classic semi), ESPN, 11:59 pm (tape delay), ??, ??
* Tue 12/30/80, Connecticut vs Army (at Hartford - Connecticut Mutual Classic semi), ESPN, 8 am (tape delay - Mon tip), ??, ??
* Tue 12/30/80, Western Kentucky vs Connecticut (at Hartford - Connecticut Mutual Classic final), ESPN, 11:59 pm (tape delay - 9 pm tip), ??, ??
* Sat 1/3/81, District of Columbia @ Western Kentucky, ESPN, 3 pm, ??, Dick Vitale
* Sat 1/3/81, #6 North Carolina vs Kansas (at Kansas City), ESPN, 9 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 1/3/81, #19 BYU @ UNLV, ESPN, 11 pm, ??, ??
* Mon 1/5/81, Louisville @ Tulane, ESPN, 8:30 pm, ??, ??
* Mon 1/5/81, Washington St @ #7 UCLA, ESPN, 11 pm, ??, ??
* Tue 1/6/81, Syracuse @ Connecticut, ESPN, 1 am (tape delay - 8 pm tip), ??, ??
* Tue 1/6/81, Texas Tech @ Houston, ESPN, 9 pm, ??, ??
* Thu 1/8/81, Seton Hall @ Providence, ESPN, 5 pm (tape delay - Wed tip), ??, ??
* Fri 1/9/81, Holy Cross @ Connecticut, ESPN, 5 pm (tape delay - Thu tip), ??, ??
* Fri 1/9/81, Stanford @ #2 Oregon St, ESPN, 10:30 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 1/10/81, Louisville @ Cincinnati, ESPN, 1:30 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 1/10/81, #16 North Carolina @ #3 Virginia, ESPN, 7 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 1/10/81, Old Dominion @ #1 DePaul, ESPN, 9 pm, ??, Dick Vitale
* Mon 1/12/81, UNLV @ Air Force, ESPN, 8 am (tape delay - Sat tip), ??, ??
* Mon 1/12/81, Georgetown @ Seton Hall, ESPN, 9 pm, ??, ??
Mon 1/12/81, California @ Oregon, ESPN, 11 pm, Mike Walden, Pete Newell
* Tue 1/13/81, Florida St @ Virginia Tech, ESPN, 2:30 am (tape delay), ??, ??
* Tue 1/13/81, Memphis St @ Marquette, ESPN, 9 pm, ??, Dick Vitale
* Wed 1/14/81, Baylor @ Rice, ESPN, 5 pm (tape delay - Tue tip), ??, ??
* Thu 1/15/81, Villanova @ St John's, ESPN, 5 pm (tape delay - Wed tip), ??, ??
* Fri 1/16/81, Purdue @ #18 Illinois, ESPN, 9:30 pm (tape delay - Thu tip), ??, ??
* Sat 1/17/81, St Louis @ Memphis St, ESPN, 1:30 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 1/17/81, South Carolina @ Marquette, ESPN, 9 pm, ??, Dick Vitale
* Sat 1/17/81, Washington St @ Stanford, ESPN, 11 pm, ??, ??
* Sun 1/18/81, #10 Maryland @ #19 Clemson, ESPN, 5:30 pm (tape delay - Sat 1 pm tip), ??, ??
* Mon 1/19/81, Providence @ Georgetown, ESPN, 9 pm (tape delay - 8 pm tip), ??, ??
Mon 1/19/81, USC @ Arizona, ESPN, 11 pm, Mike Walden, Pete Newell
* Tue 1/20/81, Tulane @ Memphis St, ESPN, 2:30 am (tape delay - Mon tip), ??, ??
* Tue 1/20/81, Rice @ Texas A&M, ESPN, 9 pm, ??, ??
* Thu 1/22/81, Syracuse @ Boston College, ESPN, 5 pm (tape delay - Wed tip), ??, ??
* Sat 1/24/81, Cincinnati @ St Louis, ESPN, 1:30 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 1/24/81, Georgia Tech @ #17 North Carolina, ESPN, 9 pm, ??, ??
* Sun 1/25/81, Georgetown @ #20 Connecticut, ESPN, 6 pm (tape delay - Sat tip), ??, ??
* Mon 1/26/81, Virginia Tech @ St Louis, ESPN, 8:30 pm, ??, ??
Mon 1/26/81, California @ USC, ESPN, 11 pm, Mike Walden, Pete Newell
Tue 1/27/81, Villanova @ Boston College, ESPN, 5 pm (tape delay - Mon 8 pm tip), Len Berman, Dave Gavitt
* Wed 1/28/81, Texas A&M @ Houston, ESPN, 10 pm, ??, ??
* Fri 1/30/81, Rhode Island @ #20 Connecticut, ESPN, 5 pm (tape delay - Thu 8 pm tip), ??, ??
* Sat 1/31/81, Florida St @ Tulane, ESPN, 1:30 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 1/31/81, Duke @ #1 Virginia, ESPN, 10 pm (tape delay - 3 pm tip), ??, ??
* Sun 2/1/81, #5 Arizona St @ Stanford, ESPN, 12:30 am (tape delay), ??, ??
* Sun 2/1/81, #16 South Alabama @ UAB, ESPN, 5 pm (tape delay - Sat tip), ??, ??
* Mon 2/2/81, Tulane @ St Louis, ESPN, 8:30 pm, ??, ??
* Mon 2/2/81, #5 Arizona St @ California, ESPN, 11 pm, ??, ??
Tue 2/3/81, Boston College @ St John's, ESPN, 1 am (tape delay - 8 pm tip), Len Berman, Dave Gavitt
* Tue 2/3/81, Arkansas @ Texas, ESPN, 8:30 pm, ??, ??
Wed 2/4/81, Detroit @ #3 DePaul, ESPN, 9 pm, Jim Simpson, Dick Vitale
* Thu 2/5/81, Villanova @ Georgetown, ESPN, 5 pm (tape delay - Wed 8 pm tip), ??, ??
* Fri 2/6/81, Ohio St @ #18 Illinois, ESPN, 12:30 am, ??, ??
* Fri 2/6/81, #2 Oregon St @ California, ESPN, 11 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 2/7/81, #13 Maryland @ Duke, ESPN, 6:30 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 2/7/81, UAB @ #3 DePaul, ESPN, 8:30 pm, ??, ??
* Sun 2/8/81, Jacksonville @ #20 South Alabama, ESPN, 5 pm, ??, ??
* Sun 2/8/81, Boston College @ Connecticut, ESPN, 7:30 pm (tape delay - Sat tip), ??, ??
Mon 2/9/81, Washington @ #5 Arizona St, ESPN, 11 pm, Mike Walden, Pete Newell
* Tue 2/10/81, Louisville @ Virginia Tech, ESPN, 5 pm (tape delay - Mon tip), ??, ??
* Tue 2/10/81, Texas A&M @ SMU, ESPN, 8 pm, ??, ??
Tue 2/10/81, Georgetown @ Syracuse, ESPN, 10 pm (tape delay - 8 pm Mon tip), Len Berman, Dave Gavitt
* Wed 2/11/81, Providence @ Boston College, ESPN, 7:30 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 2/14/81, Cincinnati @ Florida St, ESPN, 5:30 pm, ??, ??
* Sun 2/15/81, UAB @ VCU, ESPN, 6 pm (tape delay - 3 pm tip), ??, ??
* Mon 2/16/81, Memphis St @ Louisville, ESPN, 8:30 pm, ??, ??
Mon 2/16/81, Stanford @ Washington St, ESPN, 11 pm, Mike Walden, Pete Newell
* Tue 2/17/81, Houston @ TCU, ESPN, 8:30 pm, ??, ??
Wed 2/18/81, Boston College @ Georgetown, ESPN, 8 pm, Jim Simpson, Dick Vitale
* Thu 2/19/81, #6 UCLA @ California, ESPN, 11 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 2/21/81, Memphis St @ Virginia Tech, ESPN, 1:30 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 2/21/81, #5 Wake Forest @ #20 Maryland, ESPN, 7 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 2/21/81, #6 UCLA @ Stanford, ESPN, 10:30 pm, ??, ??
* Sun 2/22/81, Providence @ Connecticut, ESPN, 12:30 am (tape delay), ??, ??
* Mon 2/23/81, Cincinnati @ #20 Louisville, ESPN, 8:30 pm, ??, ??
Mon 2/23/81, Washington @ #1 Oregon St, ESPN, 11 pm, Mike Walden, Pete Newell
* Tue 2/24/81, Villanova @ Connecticut, ESPN, 1 am (tape delay - 8 pm tip), ??, ??
* Tue 2/24/81, SMU @ #18 Arkansas, ESPN, 11:59 pm (tape delay), ??, ??
* Wed 2/25/81, Georgetown @ Providence, ESPN, 8 pm, Jim Simpson, ??
* Sat 2/28/81, Florida St @ Memphis St, ESPN, 5 pm (tape delay - 1:30 pm tip), ??, ??
* Sat 2/28/81, Connecticut @ Georgetown, ESPN, 9 pm, ??, ??
* Sun 3/1/81, VCU vs UAB (at Jacksonville - Sun Belt final), ESPN, 3 pm, ??, ??
* Fri 3/6/81, Fresno St vs Utah St (at Anaheim - PCAA semi), ESPN, 10 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 3/7/81, San Jose St vs Long Beach St (at Anaheim - PCAA semi), ESPN, 12:30 am, ??, ??
* Sat 3/7/81, Creighton vs Wichita St (at Wichita - MVC final), ESPN, 5 pm, ??, ??
* Sat 3/7/81, Western Kentucky vs Murray St (at Bowling Green, KY - OVC final), ESPN, 8 pm, ??, John Andariese
* Sat 3/7/81, Fresno St vs San Jose St (at Anaheim - PCAA final), ESPN, 10:30 pm, ??, ??
Sat 3/21/81, Florida Southern vs Cal Poly (at Springfield - D2 semi), ESPN, 7:30 pm (tape delay - Fri 6:30 pm tip), Tom Rosen, Dick Vitale
Sat 3/21/81, Mount St Mary's vs Wisc Green Bay (at Springfield - D2 semi), ESPN, 11:59 pm (tape delay - Fri 8:30 pm tip), Tom Rosen, Dick Vitale
Sun 3/22/81, Florida Southern vs Mount St Mary's (at Springfield - D2 final), ESPN, 11 am (tape delay - Sat 8:30 pm tip), Tom Rosen, Dick Vitale
Mon 3/23/81, Potsdam St vs Augustana (at Rock Island, IL - D3 final), ESPN, 8 am (tape delay - from Sat), Kevin Slaten, John Andariese
* any help on missing games or missing announcers appreciated
- for the semis of the Gator Bowl and Connecticut Mutual tournaments all of which ESPN aired on tape delay, the TV listings did not indicate which semi aired in which slot, so I assumed that ESPN aired the semis in the same order that the games were played (similarly, I also assumed that ESPN aired both semis during its first two semi tape delay windows rather than re-airing the same semi)
NCAA Tournament
Thu 3/12 (first round)
9 St Joseph's vs 8 Creighton (at Dayton), ESPN, 7 pm, John Ferguson, Gary Thompson
6 Maryland vs 11 Tenn-Chat (at Dayton), ESPN, 9:30 pm, John Ferguson, Gary Thompson
other NCAA Productions games
10 James Madison vs 7 Georgetown (at Providence), NCAAProd, 7 pm, Bill O'Donnell, Jeff Mullins
8 Lamar vs 9 Missouri (at Austin), NCAAProd, 8 pm, Frank Fallon, Dan Spika
6 BYU vs 11 Princeton (at Providence), NCAAProd, 9:30 pm, Bill O'Donnell, Jeff Mullins
8 Kansas St vs 9 San Francisco (at Los Angeles), NCAAProd, 10 pm, Jay Randolph, Lynn Shackelford
5 Arkansas vs 12 Mercer (at Austin), NCAAProd, 10:30 pm, Frank Fallon, Dan Spika
5 Wyoming vs 12 Howard (at Los Angeles), NCAAProd, 12:30 am, Jay Randolph, Lynn Shackelford
Fri 3/13 (first round)
5 Boston College vs 12 Ball St (at Tuscaloosa), ESPN, 8 pm, Tom Hammond, Larry Conley
7 UAB vs 10 Western Ky (at Tuscaloosa), ESPN, 10:30 pm, Tom Hammond, Larry Conley
other NCAA Productions games
5 VCU vs 12 LIU (at Charlotte), NCAAProd, 7 pm, Jim Thacker, Bones McKinney
* 7 Kansas vs 10 Mississippi (at Wichita), NCAAProd, 8 pm, ??, ??
10 Pittsburgh vs 7 Idaho (at El Paso), NCAAProd, 9 pm, Larry Zimmer, Irv Brown
9 Villanova vs 8 Houston (at Charlotte), NCAAProd, 9:30 pm, Jim Thacker, Bones McKinney
* 6 Wichita St vs 11 Southern (at Wichita), NCAAProd, 10:30 pm, ??, ??
11 Northeastern vs 6 Fresno St (at El Paso), NCAAProd, 11:30 pm, Larry Zimmer, Irv Brown
Sat 3/14 (second round) - doubleheader (all regionalized)
9 St Joseph's vs 1 DePaul (at Dayton), NBC, 1:15 pm, Don Criqui, Gary Thompson
6 BYU vs 3 UCLA (at Providence), NBC, 1:15 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
1 LSU vs 8 Lamar (at Austin), NBC, 1:15 pm, Marv Albert, Bucky Waters
2 Notre Dame vs 10 James Madison (at Providence), NBC, 3:30 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
3 Indiana vs 6 Maryland (at Dayton), NBC, 3:30 pm, Don Criqui, Gary Thompson
5 Arkansas vs 4 Louisville (at Austin), NBC, 3:30 pm, Marv Albert, Bucky Waters
8 Kansas St vs 1 Oregon St (at Los Angeles), NBC, 3:45 pm, Jay Randolph, Steve Grote
4 Illinois vs 5 Wyoming (at Los Angeles), NBC, 6 pm, Jay Randolph, Steve Grote
Sun 3/15 (second round) - doubleheader (all regionalized)
7 UAB vs 2 Kentucky (at Tuscaloosa), NBC, 1 pm, Bob Costas, Gary Thompson
6 Wichita St vs 3 Iowa (at Wichita), NBC, 1 pm, Charlie Jones, Lynn Shackelford
1 Virginia vs 9 Villanova (at Charlotte), NBC, 3 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
5 Boston College vs 4 Wake Forest (at Tuscaloosa), NBC, 3:15 pm, Bob Costas, Gary Thompson
7 Kansas vs 2 Arizona St (at Wichita), NBC, 3:15 pm, Charlie Jones, Lynn Shackelford
2 North Carolina vs 10 Pittsburgh (at El Paso), NBC, 3:30 pm, Merle Harmon, Matt Guokas
4 Tennessee vs 5 VCU (at Charlotte), NBC, 5:15 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
3 Utah vs 11 Northeastern (at El Paso), NBC, 5:45 pm, Merle Harmon, Matt Guokas
Thu 3/19 (regional semifinals)
1 Virginia vs 4 Tennessee (at Atlanta), ESPN, 7 pm, Bill O'Donnell, Jeff Mullins
6 BYU vs 2 Notre Dame (at Atlanta), ESPN, 9:30 pm, Bill O'Donnell, Jeff Mullins
8 Kansas St vs 4 Illinois (at Salt Lake City), ESPN, 11:30 pm, Tom Hammond, Gary Thompson
2 North Carolina vs 3 Utah (at Salt Lake City), ESPN, 1:30 am (tape delay - 9 pm tip), Tom Hammond, Gary Thompson
Fri 3/20 (regional semifinals)
9 St Joseph's vs 5 Boston College (at Bloomington), ESPN, 7 pm, Jim Thacker, Steve Grote
3 Indiana vs 7 UAB (at Bloomington), ESPN, 9:30 pm, Jim Thacker, Steve Grote
1 LSU vs 5 Arkansas (at New Orleans), ESPN, 11:30 pm (tape delay - 10:30 pm tip), Fred White, Larry Conley
6 Wichita St vs 7 Kansas (at New Orleans), ESPN, 1:30 am (tape delay - 8 pm tip), Fred White, Larry Conley
Sat 3/21 (regional finals)
2 North Carolina vs 8 Kansas St (at Salt Lake City), NBC, 1:15 pm, Don Criqui, Gary Thompson
1 Virginia vs 6 BYU (at Atlanta), NBC, 3:30 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Sun 3/22 (regional finals)
3 Indiana vs 9 St Joseph's (at Bloomington), NBC, 1 pm, Marv Albert, Steve Grote
1 LSU vs 6 Wichita St (at New Orleans), NBC, 3 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire
Sat 3/28 (Final Four)
3 Indiana vs 1 LSU (at Philadelphia), NBC, 12:45 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire, Bryant Gumbel
2 North Carolina vs 1 Virginia (at Philadelphia), NBC, 3:15 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire, Bryant Gumbel
Mon 3/30 (consolation/championship)
1 Virginia vs 1 LSU (at Philadelphia), ESPN, 5 pm, Jim Thacker, Gary Thompson
3 Indiana vs 2 North Carolina (at Philadelphia), NBC, 8 pm, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer, Al McGuire, Bryant Gumbel
* any help on missing announcers appreciated
- This was the last year that NBC carried the tournament.
- Bryant Gumbel was the NBC studio host.
- This time, NBC kept its #1 announcer team intact for the entire tournament.
- ESPN aired the NCAA productions telecasts of all 16 first round games (12 on tape delay). I only listed the live first round games here.
- Sat 3/14 was one of the most dramatic days in tournament history with three buzzer beaters (#1 seeds DePaul and Oregon State both upset plus the U.S. Reed halfcourt shot to lift Arkansas over defending champ Louisville - the last two of these occuring very close in time). I believe that events of this day combined with all the tournament coverage provided by ESPN during the early 1980s helped fuel the explosive increase in interest in this event.
- The 3/19 BYU game was the famous Danny Ainge coast-to-coast buzzer beater.
- ESPN also aired the (last ever) Final Four consolation game.