2024-25 College Basketball Season (NCAA tournament)
Television
This is the 14th time that CBS Sports and TNT Sports are teaming up to show all 67 games of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. This time, it is CBS' turn to air the Final Four.
With the death of longtime studio host Greg Gumbel on Dec. 27, 2024, some significant changes are in the offing. Adam Zucker revealed the field and first-round pairings on March 16 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS, then turned over primary host duties to Ernie Johnson Jr., with Zucker (New York City) and Adam Lefkoe (Atlanta) also serving as hosts. Also, Jalen Rose made his debut as both a game and studio analyst.
Also, for the first time since the NCAA moved the national championship game to Monday night in 1973, the scheduled starting time is before 9 p.m. ET. In another scheduling note, there were 35 minutes between games in each first-round session, returning to the usual 30-minute breaks after that.
ESPN will produce the Final Four games for distribution outside the United States.
Radio
Westwood One will once again broadcast all games, in both constant feed and whip-around formats.
First Four
Dayton, OH
Tuesday 3/18
16 Saint Francis U vs. 16 Alabama State, 6:40, TruTV - Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel, Jon Rothstein
11 North Carolina vs. 11 San Diego State, 9:10, TruTV - Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel, Jon Rothstein
Wednesday 3/19
16 Mount St. Mary's vs. 16 American, 6:40, TruTV - Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel, Jon Rothstein
11 Xavier vs. 11 Texas, 9:10, TruTV - Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel, Jon Rothstein
Westwood One: Nate Gatter, King McClure
First round
Site keys: (D)Denver, (L)Lexington, (P)Providence, (W)Wichita
Thursday 3/20
(L)South: 9 Creighton vs. 8 Louisville, 12:15, CBS - Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
(P)MW: 13 High Point vs. 4 Purdue, 12:40, TruTV - Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn
(D)East: 14 Montana vs. 3 Wisconsin, 1:30, TNT - Brad Nessler, Brendan Haywood, Dana Jacobson
(W)MW: 16 SIU Edwardsville vs. 1 Houston, 2:00, TBS - Tom McCarthy, Debbie Antonelli, Steve Smith, AJ Ross
(L)South: 16 Alabama State vs. 1 Auburn, 2:50, CBS - Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
(P)MW: 12 McNeese vs. 5 Clemson, 3:15, TruTV - Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn
(D)East: 11 VCU vs. 6 BYU, 4:05, TNT - Brad Nessler, Brendan Haywood, Dana Jacobson
(W)MW: 9 Georgia vs. 8 Gonzaga, 4:35, TBS - Tom McCarthy, Debbie Antonelli, Steve Smith, AJ Ross
(L)MW: 15 Wofford vs. 2 Tennessee, 6:50, TNT - Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
(P)West: 10 Arkansas vs. 7 Kansas, 7:10, CBS - Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn
(D)South: 13 Yale vs. 4 Texas A&M, 7:25, TBS - Brad Nessler, Brendan Haywood, Dana Jacobson
(W)West: 11 Drake vs. 6 Missouri, 7:35, TruTV - Tom McCarthy, Debbie Antonelli, Steve Smith, AJ Ross
(L)MW: 10 Utah State vs. 7 UCLA, 9:25, TNT - Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
(P)West: 15 Omaha vs. 2 St. John's, 9:45, CBS - Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn
(D)South: 12 UC San Diego vs. 5 Michigan, 10:00, TBS - Brad Nessler, Brendan Haywood, Dana Jacobson
(W)West: 14 UNC Wilmington vs. 3 Texas Tech, 10:10, TruTV - Tom McCarthy, Debbie Antonelli, Steve Smith, AJ Ross
Westwood One: (D)Kevin Kugler, Austin Croshere; (L)John Sadak, LaPhonso Ellis; (P)Chris Carrino, Jordan Cornette; (W)Ted Emrich, Casey Jacobsen
Friday 3/21
Site keys: (C)Cleveland, (M)Milwaukee, (R)Raleigh, (S)Seattle
(R)East: 9 Baylor vs. 8 Mississippi State, 12:15, CBS - Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
(C)East: 15 Robert Morris vs. 2 Alabama, 12:40, TruTV - Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel, Jon Rothstein
(M)South: 14 Lipscomb vs. 3 Iowa State, 1:30, TNT - Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi
(S)West: 12 Colorado State vs. 5 Memphis, 2:00, TBS - Lisa Byington, Robbie Hummel, Jalen Rose, Andy Katz
(R)East: 16 Mount St. Mary's vs. 1 Duke, 2:50, CBS - Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
(C)East: 10 Vanderbilt vs. 7 Saint Mary's, 3:15, TruTV - Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel, Jon Rothstein
(M)South: 11 North Carolina vs. 6 Ole Miss, 4:05, TNT - Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi
(S)West: 13 Grand Canyon vs. 4 Maryland, 4:35, TBS - Lisa Byington, Robbie Hummel, Jalen Rose, Andy Katz
(R)West: 16 Norfolk State vs. 1 Florida, 6:50, TNT - Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
(M)MW: 14 Troy vs. 3 Kentucky, 7:10, CBS - Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi
(C)South: 10 New Mexico vs. 7 Marquette, 7:25, TBS - Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel, Jon Rothstein
(S)East: 13 Akron vs. 4 Arizona, 7:35, TruTV - Lisa Byington, Robbie Hummel, Jalen Rose, Andy Katz
(R)West: 9 Oklahoma vs. 8 UConn, 9:25, TNT - Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
(M)MW: 11 Xavier vs. 6 Illinois, 9:45, CBS - Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi
(C)South: 15 Bryant vs. 2 Michigan State, 10:00, TBS - Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel, Jon Rothstein
(S)East: 12 Liberty vs. 5 Oregon, 10:10, TruTV - Lisa Byington, Robbie Hummel, Jalen Rose, Andy Katz
Westwood One: (C)Scott Graham, Jon Crispin, (M)Noah Eagle, Tom Crean; (R)Jason Benetti, Sarah Kustok; (S)Ryan Radtke, PJ Carlesimo
Second round
Site keys: (D)Denver, (L)Lexington, (P)Providence, (W)Wichita
Saturday 3/22
(P)MW: 12 McNeese vs. 4 Purdue, 12:10, CBS - Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn
(P)West: 10 Arkansas vs. 2 St. John's, 2:40, CBS - Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn
(D)East: 5 Michigan vs. 4 Texas A&M, 5:30, CBS - Brad Nessler, Brendan Haywood, Dana Jacobson
Start of session delayed 15 minutes from original time
(W)West: 11 Drake vs. 3 Texas Tech, 6:10, TNT - Tom McCarthy, Debbie Antonelli, Steve Smith, AJ Ross
(L)South: 9 Creighton vs. 1 Auburn, 7:10, TBS/TruTV - Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
(D)South: 6 BYU vs. 3 Wisconsin, 8:00, CBS - Brad Nessler, Brendan Haywood, Dana Jacobson
(W)MW: 8 Gonzaga vs. 1 Houston, 8:40, TNT - Tom McCarthy, Debbie Antonelli, Steve Smith, AJ Ross
(L)MW: 7 UCLA vs. 2 Tennessee, 9:40, TBS/TruTV - Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
Westwood One: (D)Kevin Kugler, Austin Croshere; (L)John Sadak, LaPhonso Ellis; (P)Chris Carrino, Jordan Cornette; (W)Ted Emrich, Casey Jacobsen
Sunday 3/23
Site keys: (C)Cleveland, (M)Milwaukee, (R)Raleigh, (S)Seattle
(R)West: 8 UConn vs. 1 Florida, 12:10, CBS - Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
(R)East: 9 Baylor vs. 1 Duke, 2:40, CBS - Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
(M)MW: 6 Illinois vs. 3 Kentucky, 5:15, CBS - Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi
(C)East: 7 Saint Mary's vs. 2 Alabama, 6:10, TNT - Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel, Jon Rothstein
(S)West: 12 Colorado State vs. 4 Maryland, 7:10, TBS - Lisa Byington, Robbie Hummel, Jalen Rose, Andy Katz
(M)South: 6 Ole Miss vs. 3 Iowa State, 7:45, TruTV - Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi
(C)South: 10 New Mexico vs. 2 Michigan State, 8:40, TNT - Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel, Jon Rothstein
(S)East: 5 Oregon vs. 4 Arizona, 9:40, TBS - Lisa Byington, Robbie Hummel, Jalen Rose, Andy Katz
Westwood One: (C)Scott Graham, Jon Crispin, (M)Noah Eagle, Tom Crean; (R)Jason Benetti, Sarah Kustok; (S)Ryan Radtke, PJ Carlesimo
Sweet 16
East region at Newark, NJ; West region at San Francisco
Thursday 3/27
East: 6 BYU vs. 2 Alabama, 7:09, CBS - Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
West: 4 Maryland vs. 1 Florida, 7:39, TBS/TruTV - Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi
East: 4 Arizona vs. 1 Duke, 9:39, CBS - Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
West: 10 Arkansas vs. 3 Texas Tech, 10:09, TBS/TruTV - Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi
Westwood One: East - Scott Graham, Jordan Cornette; West - Ryan Radtke, PJ Carlesimo
Midwest region at Indianapolis; South region at Atlanta
Friday 3/28
South: 6 Ole Miss vs. 2 Michigan State, 7:09, CBS - Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
MW: 3 Kentucky vs. 2 Tennessee, 7:39, TBS/TruTV - Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn
South: 5 Michigan vs. 1 Auburn, 9:39, CBS - Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
MW: 4 Purdue vs. 1 Houston, 10:09, TBS/TruTV - Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn
Westwood One: Midwest - Kevin Kugler, Robbie Hummel; South - Spero Dedes, Tom Crean
Elite 8
East region at Newark, NJ; West region at San Francisco
Saturday 3/29
West: 3 Texas Tech vs. 1 Florida, 6:09, TBS/TruTV - Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi
East: 2 Alabama vs. 1 Duke, 8:49, TBS/TruTV - Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
Westwood One: East - Scott Graham, Jordan Cornette; West - Ryan Radtke, PJ Carlesimo
Midwest region at Indianapolis; South region at Atlanta
Sunday 3/30
MW: 2 Tennessee vs. 1 Houston, 2:20, CBS - Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn
South: 2 Michigan State vs. 1 Auburn, 5:00, CBS - Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
Westwood One: Midwest - Kevin Kugler, Robbie Hummel; South - Spero Dedes, Tom Crean
Final Four
San Antonio
Saturday 4/5
Natl. semifinal, 6:09, CBS - Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
Natl. semifinal, 8:49, CBS - Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
Monday 4/7
Natl. championship, 8:50, CBS - Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
ESPN International:
Westwood One: Kevin Kugler, Robbie Hummel, PJ Carlesimo, Andy Katz