NEW YORK -- Former college basketball stars Donny Marshall of Connecticut and Rex Chapman of Kentucky will be among the commentators for the team-specific broadcasts of Saturday's Final Four games.
Turner Sports and CBS are experimenting with airing two additional telecasts of both NCAA semifinals. Along with the main coverage on TBS, there will be separate versions on TNT and truTV with different announcing crews connected to each school.
For the early game, the Florida broadcast will be on TNT and UConn's on truTV. Kentucky will be on TNT and Wisconsin on truTV for the second semifinal.
The commentator teams were revealed Tuesday, with announcers from local and regional TV handling play-by-play duties.Florida Teamcast at 6 p.m. ET on TNT
David Steele, who has previously hosted Florida basketball and football television and radio coverage and is the current voice of the Orlando Magic, will provide play-by-play for the TNT telecast. Analyst Mark Wise, a 14-year veteran analyst for the Gator Basketball Network, and reporter James Bates, a former member of the Florida football team who played on four consecutive SEC title teams and a national championship team in 1996, will join Steele.
Connecticut Teamcast at 6 p.m. ET on truTV
Eric Frede, a Connecticut native who covered the UConn men’s program this year as a studio host for CSN New England, will call the action on truTV. Frede is also the current play-by-play commentator for SNY’s coverage of the UConn women’s basketball program. Joining him courtside will be UConn standout Donny Marshall, a member of UConn Men’s Basketball All-Century Team who led the Huskies to the Elite Eight in 1995 while averaging 22.3 points per game. Marshall currently provides analysis for YES Network on the Brooklyn Nets. Additionally, UConn legend Swin Cash – a two-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time WNBA champion and two time NCAA champion at Connecticut – will be the courtside reporter.
Kentucky Teamcast following the first game on TNT
Play-by-play commentator Rob Bromley, a long-time Kentucky sports anchor who has handled play-by-play, sideline and color commentary for basketball and football on UKTV for more than 30 years, will team with former Kentucky star Rex Chapman as the analyst. Chapman was a two-time All-SEC player at Kentucky and a 12-year NBA veteran. Dave Baker, a television play-by-play commentator for UK/IMG telecasts of Kentucky basketball games and long-time sports anchor and reporter at WKYT, will serve as the reporter for the game.
Wisconsin Teamcast following the first game on truTV
Wayne Larrivee, who has called Wisconsin games on the Big Ten Network this season, will provide play-by-play commentary. Larrivee is also the current radio voice of the Green Bay Packers. Larrivee will be joined by former Badger Mike Kelley, who helped guide the team to the Final Four in 2000.
