Media Release

CBS Sports and Turner Sports Announce Studio Programming Plans for 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four in Phoenix

NCAA March Madness

Pregame Coverage on Saturday, April 1, Begins with At the Final Four presented by Infiniti at 3 p.m. ET,
Followed by The Final Four Show at 4 p.m., on CBS

Villanova Coach Jay Wright Joins as Guest Analyst

Turner Sports and CBS Sports will provide exclusive coverage of the 2017 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship from Phoenix with North Carolina, Gonzaga, Oregon and South Carolina competing for the National Championship.  CBS will televise the NCAA Final Four National Semifinals on Saturday, April 1, and National Championship on Monday, April 3, marking the 35th time the National Championship will air on CBS.

Saturday’s pregame studio coverage will utilize two desks, with Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Clark Kellogg and Kenny Smith from the indoor set courtside at University of Phoenix Stadium.  The day’s coverage will tip off with Greg Gumbel, analysts Steve Smith, Seth Davis and guest analyst Villanova coach Jay Wright from the outdoor set, located in the NCAA’s tipoff tailgate arena, on At the Final Four presented by Infiniti at 3 p.m. ET.

In addition to analysis, discussion and interviews with the coaches, pregame coverage will include the following features on Saturday:

  • Butch Lee was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1977 Final Four, leading Marquette, coached by Al McGuire, to a National Championship 40 years ago.  Lee, a native of Puerto Rico, went on to become the first Latino athlete to play in the NBA.  Lee sits down to discuss his trailblazing career and NCAA Tournament memories.
  • The Shooter – Reggie Miller offers insight on the art of the last second shot, recreating some of the most important and iconic shots from NCAA Tournament history
  • Behind the scenes with each of the four remaining teams as part of the Tournament NCAA March Madness Confidential coverage

Saturday’s NCAA Final Four National Semifinals will feature Gonzaga against South Carolina at 6:09 p.m.  North Carolina against Oregon follows 40 minutes after the completion of the first game.  Jim Nantz will call the action with analysts Grant Hill and Bill Raftery and reporter Tracy Wolfson.  Nantz will be calling his 27th Final Four and National Championship, with Hill and Raftery working the marquee event for the third consecutive year.  On Monday, Capital One Championship Central will tip off coverage at 8:30 p.m.

Accompanying the live television coverage, NCAA March Madness Live will once again provide live streaming of the NCAA Final Four National Semifinals and National Championship Game.

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