The Holy Land of Hoops

I've been really enjoying the FS1 coverage, game presentation and halftime shows. The play-by-play and color guys have all been great, solid, and/or are legends.

I'm missing some, but have seen these combinations:
Gus Johnson with Bill Raftery (BC at Providence).
Gary Thorne with Tarik Turner (Vermont at Providence).
Dick Stockton with Bill Raftery (Bucknell at St John's).
(someone solid) with Tarik Turner (Towson at Villanova).
Dick Stockton with (???) (Wright State at Georgetown).
Added (thanks CPJays):
Kevin Kugler with Kevin O'Neill (UMKC at Creighton).

Gus Johnson is big time, excellent. Makes the games a real must-see "event".

Gary Thorne is fantastic. I didn't realize he was part of the FS1 announcing crew! I watch Oriole TV games sometimes just to hear his calls. He's an absolute legend in hockey along with Mike Emrick. Always prepared, and only yells when necessary.

Dick Stockton is a legend from way back, NBA, NFL, and so on. I remember him even further back as the play-by-play guy for the 1975 Red Sox on TV-38. For the '75 Series, NBC would have their guys do some innings (was it Curt Gowdy or Joe Garagiola?), then the local guy do some other innings... so luckily for us Stockton had the bottom of the 12th for Fisk's homer as the local Red Sox guy ("if it stays fair...").

Tarik Turner is one of the most well-prepared game analysts I've ever heard. When I re-watched the PC-UVM later, he knew as much as anyone about each Friar player, their value and how they're used by Cooley. He was fantastic in the Villanova game I watched.

Raftery of course is a legend. The St John's vs Bucknell game was tight and the Johnnies had a great comeback and Raff and Stockton had a great presence.

At halftime, Friar Austin Croshere has been excellent. Great analyses walking us through strategies and gameplay. No nonsense and like Turner, he really knows his stuff about each Big East team and player.

The Butler game announcers were good too, I just had the volume low so the kids could finish their homework.

Which other announcing crews have I left out? If only Al McGuire was still with us, or we could convince Dick Enberg to call a few games too...!

I didn't reailize they had gotten Gary Thorne. I totally agree with you- he's fantasitc.

I had been hoping Dick Stockton would be doing the games- my gosh I remember him doing NBA games way back! Listening to him on the Georgetown game last week was just awesome!!!

I'd look for Bob Carpenter(the Nats play by play guy) as well- I heard him doing a game earlier on FSN between Oklahoma and Alabama. I think he's a really good one as well. I think he's got a house in St Louis so some of the games at like Butler, DePaul, Marquette, etc.

Dick Enberg? Oh my!!!!!! For my money, the best play by play guy ever.

Kevin Kugler and Kevin O'Neill did the UMKC-Creighton game. I am not sure how other CU fans feel about Kugler since he came up a Nebraska guy, but I think he is one of the best color guys in the business. Kugler has called every Final Four on the radio since '08 with John Thompson and Raftery.

billyjack wrote:I've been really enjoying the FS1 coverage, game presentation and halftime shows. The play-by-play and color guys have all been great, solid, and/or are legends.

I'm missing some, but have seen these combinations:
Gus Johnson with Bill Raftery (BC at Providence).
Gary Thorne with Tarik Turner (Vermont at Providence).
Dick Stockton with Bill Raftery (Bucknell at St John's).
(someone solid) with Tarik Turner (Towson at Villanova).
Dick Stockton with (???) (Wright State at Georgetown).

Gus Johnson is big time, excellent. Makes the games a real must-see "event".

Gary Thorne is fantastic. I didn't realize he was part of the FS1 announcing crew! I watch Oriole TV games sometimes just to hear his calls. He's an absolute legend in hockey along with Mike Emrick. Always prepared, and only yells when necessary.

Dick Stockton is a legend from way back, NBA, NFL, and so on. I remember him even further back as the play-by-play guy for the 1975 Red Sox on TV-38. For the '75 Series, NBC would have their guys do some innings (was it Curt Gowdy or Joe Garagiola?), then the local guy do some other innings... so luckily for us Stockton had the bottom of the 12th for Fisk's homer as the local Red Sox guy ("if it stays fair...").

Tarik Turner is one of the most well-prepared game analysts I've ever heard. When I re-watched the PC-UVM later, he knew as much as anyone about each Friar player, their value and how they're used by Cooley. He was fantastic in the Villanova game I watched.

Raftery of course is a legend. The St John's vs Bucknell game was tight and the Johnnies had a great comeback and Raff and Stockton had a great presence.

At halftime, Friar Austin Croshere has been excellent. Great analyses walking us through strategies and gameplay. No nonsense and like Turner, he really knows his stuff about each Big East team and player.

The Butler game announcers were good too, I just had the volume low so the kids could finish their homework.

Which other announcing crews have I left out? If only Al McGuire was still with us, or we could convince Dick Enberg to call a few games too...!

Couldn't agree more. He brings a true pg approach to his broadcasts.

Love Stockton, heard him call the SJ the "Redmen" last night. Old school!

Wizard of Westroads wrote:Love Stockton, heard him call the SJ the "Redmen" last night. Old school!

Did he really? That's awesome!!! Of course he'll be told to cease and desist on that!!! I'm sure St John's fans loved hearing that just one time!!!!

CPJays wrote:Kevin Kugler and Kevin O'Neill did the UMKC-Creighton game. I am not sure how other CU fans feel about Kugler since he came up a Nebraska guy, but I think he is one of the best color guys in the business. Kugler has called every Final Four on the radio since '08 with John Thompson and Raftery.

Kugler isn't a color guy, he is the pbp guy.

Wait, Gary Thorne calls basketball games!?

Hell yes. Diehard O's fan here.