North Carolina, Connecticut, Michigan State and Villanova

 Vie for College Basketball's National Championship

  

Clark Kellogg CBS Sports' Lead Analyst Calls His First Final Four and Championship Game

  

North Carolina, Connecticut, Michigan State and Villanova are on the road to Detroit as CBS Sports culminates its 28^th consecutive year as exclusive network broadcaster of the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship and Final Four with live coverage of the national semi-final games on Saturday, April 4 (6:00-11:00 PM, ET) and the National Championship game on Monday, April 6 (9:00 PM, ET-conclusion) from Ford Field. 

 

Saturday's Final Four features Connecticut versus Michigan State, with tip-off scheduled for 6:07 PM, ET.  Forty minutes after the game concludes North Carolina takes on Villanova to determine the final participant in Monday night's championship game. For the first time in 28 years, CBS Sports' basketball coverage has a new lead analyst as Clark Kellogg becomes only the second analyst in CBS Sports history to call the Final Four and Championship games. Kellogg teams with lead play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz, who is covering his 24^th Final Four.

 

CBS Sports' coverage tips off on Saturday with THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR®: OUTSIDE THE GAMES (3:30-4:00 PM, ET). Seth Davis hosts as CBS Sports examines the impact the current economic crisis is having on higher education, both in the classroom and on the playing field. The show also explores commercialism in college sports. The show features interviews with NCAA President Myles Brand, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive, Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson and University Presidents, Chancellors and Athletics Directors from a variety of schools.

  

Greg Gumbel, Greg Anthony and Davis host THE FINAL FOUR SHOW (4:00-6:00 PM, ET) featuring tournament highlights, analysis of the four participants and interviews with coaches and players. Contributing to the program are Dick Enberg and Tracy Wolfson. Included in the broadcast are features on:

  

            * 30^th Anniversary of the Indiana State/ Michigan State 1979 NCAA Championship Game - CBS Sports take an intimate look back at the 1979 NCAA Championship Game between Indiana State and Michigan State, one of the most historic games in NCAA history.  Players from both teams reflect on the 1979 season and the "Game that changed the Game," and their lives over the last 30 years. The piece features interviews with Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Larry Bird reminiscing about their memories and the lasting impact of the 1979 NCAA Championship. The feature is narrated by CBS Sports' Dick Enberg who was the play-by-play announcer for the game. Deb Boulac produces.

 

           * Spirit of the Game - In 2006, Jason McElwain, an autistic boy from Rochester ,New York, and team manager of his high school basketball team, captured the nation by not only getting to play in his team's final regular-season home game, but scoring 20 points in under four minutes.  Three years later, Jason's story has inspired two other boys to follow in his footsteps,  Josh Titus, a senior at Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine who is autistic,  and 20 miles down the road in Portland, Maine, Patrick Thibodeau, who has Down syndrome attends Greely High School.  CBS Sports tells the stories of Josh and Patrick, as they were both given the opportunity to play in their teams' final home games. Neither disappointed their teammates.  Josh scored nine points with two rebounds, and Patrick hit two three pointers, one right before the end of game buzzer.  In the aftermath of these incredible events, both boys were given the Spirit of the Game Awards by the Maine Association of Basketball coaches, which were presented by Jason, uniting these three incredible stories on one magical night. Actor Joe Mantegna narrates and Pete Radovich, Jr. produces.

 

            * Tyler Hansbrough - Tyler Hansbrough has spent the past four years at North Carolina. During that time, his game and his on-court demeanor have become legendary. Tyler credits his older brother Greg with his drive and intensity. When Tyler was five, Greg, at the age of seven was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. After successful surgery the Hansbrough's were told Greg would most likely never walk again. Tyler watched his older brother push himself everyday, learning to talk again and eventually leaving his wheelchair and learning to walk. It is that adversity that shaped Tyler into the player he is today. Deb Gelman produces.

 

            * A.J. Price - Senior guard A.J. Price has endured a tremendous amount of adversity throughout his tenure at the University of Connecticut. Price overcame a brain hemorrhage as a freshman,  and a suspension during his sophomore season for stealing and re-selling laptops.  During his junior year he tore his ACL less than 10 minutes into the Huskies first-round NCAA Tournament game.  Now as a senior, Price explains how he has overcome three years of adversity to lead his team to the Final Four.  Ironically, 30 years ago, Price's father, Tony, led his 1979 Penn team to the Final Four to play Michigan State. Saturday, A.J. leads his Huskies as they take on Michigan State at the Final Four. Jeff St. Arromand produces.

 

            * Scottie Reynolds - It has been a long journey for Scottie Reynolds to Villanova. The standout guard was named the 2009 NCAA East Regional Most Outstanding Player and hit the game-winning shot against Pittsburgh to put the Wildcats in the Final Four  As in infant he was put up for adoption by his 18 year-old birth mother and adopted by Rick and Pam Reynolds. He spent his youth in Virginia and Illinois. As a McDonald's High School All-American, he originally signed a letter of intent to attend Oklahoma University but was released from that obligation when head coach Kelvin Sampson accepted a position at Indiana University in April 2006. Three years later, Reynolds has a chance to lead Villanova to their second NCAA Championship.  Alanna Campbell produces.

 

            * Willie Johnson  - Willie Johnson grew up in Morehouse Parish, La. where he was taught many positive life lessons at Mr. Lucky's house, a commonplace for himself and other neighborhood kids to go play and socialize in a safe and secure environment.  Willie took those lessons with him to Detroit, where he and his wife, Norma, raised their five children.  In a time when drug dealers and danger ruled the Detroit streets, Willie built a full basketball court in his yard to give the local children sanctuary.  Twenty-eight years later, the basketball court has proven to be a haven for generations of Detroit's own.  Every child is welcome, as long as they follow the rules: no profanity, no bad grades and no fighting.  Recognizing his efforts, the city of Detroit, along with the Detroit Pistons, recently updated the court in an effort to prolong the message that Willie has dedicated his life to spread. Pete Radovich, Jr. produces.

 

 

            * Michigan State Homecoming - When the NCAA announced the 2009 NCAA Final Four would be held in Detroit, it became the dream and goal of Tom Izzo and his Michigan State Spartans to play in this year's Final Four. Over the last 11 seasons, Izzo has led Michigan State to five Final Fours and a National Championship in 2000.  No other Final Four may mean more to a team, a school, and a city than the one being played on Saturday, as the Michigan community, in the midst of the recession, rallies around the Spartans. Could this year's Spartan team find some magic 30 years after their first national championship? Sarah Rinaldi produces.

 

  PRELUDE TO A CHAMPIONSHIP with Gumbel, Anthony and Davis precedes Monday evening's National Championship game.

 

Bob Dekas, coordinating producer of CBS Sports' NCAA basketball coverage, produces the 2009 Final Four and Bob Fishman directs.  Eric Mann produces the preview and halftime programs, and Bob Matina directs.

 

Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

 

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CBS SPORTS 2009 NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP BROADCAST SCHEDULE

 

Date                       Time (ET)                     Game(s) and Specials                                                 

Sat., April 4             3:30-4:00 PM                 THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR                            National

                                                                       "Outside the Games"

 

                                4:00-6:00 PM                 THE FINAL FOUR SHOW                                          National

 

6:00-11:00 PM               NCAA MEN'S FINAL FOUR                                      National

                                                                      Ford Field

                                                                      Detroit, Mich.

 

Mon., April 6           9:00-11:30 PM               PRELUDE TO A CHAMPIONSHIP                             National

 

                                                                      NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP      National                                                                   Ford Field

                                                                      Detroit, Mich.

 

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CBS Sports Contacts:    Jen Sabatelle              212 975-4120               jsabatelle@cbs.com     

                                      In Detroit                   917-576-2435 

                                      LeslieAnne Wade      212 975-5171               lwade@cbs.com

                                      In Detroit                   917-751-7693