College Basketball on USA
GenreCollege basketball telecasts
StarringAl Albert
Bruce Beck
Mal Campbell
Howard David
Eddie Doucette
Duane Dow
Steve Grad
Jim Karvellas
Pete Maravich
Bill Raftery
Pat Scanlon
Al Trautwig
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons7
Production
Executive producerVic Piano
ProducerBrad Fuss
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time120 minutes or until end of game
Production companiesUSA Sports
Mizlou TV Sports
NBC Sports
Original release
NetworkUSA
Release1982 (1982) - 1988 (1988)
2022 (2022) - present

College Basketball on USA is the de facto title for the USA Network's coverage of NCAA men's basketball.[1] During the 1980s, USA's telecasts were produced in association with Mizlou TV Sports.

Beginning in 2022, a majority of Atlantic 10 basketball games that previously aired on NBCSN will air on USA Network. These games will be produced by NBC Sports.

History

1980s coverage overview

USA aired games from the Big East Conference[2] leading up to their coverage of the 1983 Big East tournament.[3] USA also had rights to games from the Big Ten, ACC, and the old Metro Conference.

Regular season games[4] aired on Thursday nights[5] or Saturdays[6] under the title of College Basketball... followed by the corresponding year during the season such as College Basketball '87.[7] The games were subject to local blackouts. By this time,[8] USA was airing games involving the Southeastern Conference (such as the Mississippi and Mississippi State[9]) and games featuring UTEP and Wyoming.

USA also aired the National Invitation Tournament[10] including the finals[11] from 1985–1988.

Howard David, Bill Raftery, Steve Grad, and Duane Dow[12] were among the commentators used by USA. USA also employed Al Albert, Mal Campbell, Eddie Doucette, Jim Karvellas, Al Trautwig,[13][14] Pat Scanlon, Bruce Beck, and Pete Maravich.[15] Sometimes, the play-by-play announcers would work with each other and even do color.

On January 24, 1984, Al Albert, working for USA network, called what Syracuse fans call the greatest game in the Carrier Dome ever. Syracuse faced Boston College, and the teams were tied 73-73 after a missed free throw by Boston College's Martin Clark. Sean Kerins passed the rebound to Pearl Washington who took three steps and made a half court shot to win the game. Albert's call lives in infamy as The Greatest Play By Play Call in the Carrier Dome ever: "Washington, two seconds, OHHHH! 'The Pearl' hits it ..at midcourt."[16][17] Syracuse University basketball fans call that the greatest nine words in Syracuse history.

2020s coverage overview

Currently NBC Sports holds the rights to 35 men's and women's Atlantic 10 basketball games. As previously mentioned, beginning with 2022, the majority of these games will air on the USA Network.[18]

2022 schedule

DateGameTipoff Time
(Eastern Time)
Sunday, 1/2/22Davidson vs. VCU2:30 p.m.
Saturday, 1/8/22Dayton vs. George Washington12:00 p.m.
VCU vs. La Salle2:00 p.m.
Saturday, 1/15/22Dayton vs. Duquesne12:30 p.m.
Fordham vs. Saint Louis2:30 p.m.
Rhode Island vs. UMass4:30 p.m.
Saturday, 1/22/22George Washington vs. Rhode Island12:30 p.m.
Saint Joseph's vs. VCU2:30 p.m.
Richmond vs. La Salle4:30 p.m.
Sunday, 1/23/22UMass vs. Saint Louis2:30 p.m.
Saturday, 1/29/22La Salle vs. Davidson12:00 p.m.
Saint Joseph's vs. St. Bonaventure2:00 p.m.
Sunday, 1/30/22Fordham vs. George Washington12:00 p.m.
George Mason vs. UMass2:00 p.m.
Sunday, 2/20/22George Mason vs. Fordham2:30 p.m.
Saturday, 2/26/22Duquesne vs. Rhode Island12:30 p.m.
Fordham vs. Davidson2:30 p.m.
VCU vs. UMass4:30 p.m.
Sunday, 2/27/22George Washington vs. George Mason2:30 p.m.
Saturday, 3/5/22Davidson vs. Dayton12:30 p.m.

See also

References

  1. ↑ World Tennis, Volume 30, Issues 1-6. CBS Publications. 1982.
  2. ↑ Edes, Gordon (February 16, 1986). "Pac-10: No Big Men and Very Little Tournament Success : THE DEMISE OF WEST COAST BASKETBALL". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ↑ USA Network Sports Promos (Mar. 8, 1983) on YouTube
  4. ↑ USA sports promo, 1983 on YouTube
  5. ↑ USA Network College Basketball Utep vs Wyoming Commercial 1988 on YouTube
  6. ↑ Wall, Kevin M. (April 12, 2016). "Pearl Washington: An Inspiration On and Off the Court". Nunes Magician.
  7. ↑ CGI History - 1987 USA Sports Basketball - Ed Kramer, CGI Expert Wizard on YouTube
  8. ↑ Klatell, Marcus, David A., Norman (1988). Sports for sale: television, money, and the fans. Oxford University Press. p. 58. ISBN 9780195038361.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ December 11, 1984 Commercial Breaks 📺 USA Network on YouTube
  10. ↑ USA Network 1987 commercials on YouTube
  11. ↑ "FRIDAY SPORTS Basketball". The New York Times. March 29, 1985.
  12. ↑ La Salle 1987 NIT Championship Game vs Southern Miss on YouTube
  13. ↑ "Al Trautwig '78, to be Honored with Doctor of Humane Letters Degree". Adelphi University. May 9, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Al Trautwig (1991) - Hall of Fame - Adelphi University Athletics". Adelphi University Athletics.
  15. ↑ Towle, Mike (2003). Pete Maravich: Magician of the Hardwood. Cumberland House Publishing. ISBN 9781581823745.
  16. ↑ Pearl Washington's Half-Court Buzzer-Beater (1984) | Great Moments in Syracuse University Sports on YouTube
  17. ↑ Pearl Washington's greatest shot ever against Boston College 1/21/84 on YouTube
  18. ↑ "NBC confirms USA Network's sports coverage plans for 2022". Sports Pro Media.
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