Analyzing the Sweet 16 Announcers and their Assignments

The broadcast teams for each Sweet 16 game on CBS and TBS have been announced and each grouping matches the matchups they’ve been assigned. Let’s take a look at them.

Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Dana Jacobson

No. 12 Oregon State vs. No. 8 Loyola Chicago
No. 15 Oral Roberts vs. No. 3 Arkansas

The legend Kevin Harlan will be providing the voice for two games that could potentially go off the rails in Oregon State/Loyola Chicago and Oral Roberts/Arkansas. Should you end up in a situation where, say, Max Abmas buries a late three to tie the game, Harlan’s call will be right there to properly convey the excitement and intensity of the moment.

Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce

No. 5 Villanova vs. No. 1 Baylor
No. 11 Syracuse vs. No. 2 Houston

Anderson, Jackson and LaForce have developed a tight rapport as a unit, especially with Jackson emerging as an insightful voice of a former player. Should Nova-Baylor get into barnburner territory, Anderson will potentially lose his voice calling the action.

Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, Jamie Erdahl

No. 5 Creighton vs. No. 1 Gonzaga
No. 11 UCLA vs. No. 2 Alabama

While interesting Sweet 16 battles in their own right, these have the potential to also be blowouts. That’s where Eagle and Spanarkel come in, who both are effective at filling dead air and provide funny quips to get you through the contest.

Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson

No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 1 Michigan
No. 7 Oregon vs. No. 6 USC

I can’t put my finger on it, but these two matchups have the most “Sunday evening on CBS” feeling of any of the Sweet 16 matchups, making the A-team Nantz, Raftery, Hill, and Wolfson the appropriate voices for the action. Michigan-Florida State has the potential to be a marquee battle of heavyweights and you want the best crew of the bunch to call it.