Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg to call Sooners’ NCAA tournament game

CBS has assigned its top team of Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg to the Memphis Regional to broadcast the South Regional games on Friday night: OU-Syracuse game at 6:27 p.m. and North Carolina-Gonzaga at about 9 p.m. It shows the network believes it’s the best set of games in the Sweet 16. North Carolina was ranked No. 1 entering the tournament and OU has the national player of the year in Blake Griffin.

The good contingent of Kansas fans in Oklahoma should get to see most of the Jayhawks game against Michigan State, following the conclusion of the OU game. Of course, they can get on the Internet and watch all the game at March Madness on Demand at NCAA.com.

Ratings for the first two rounds are up 6 percent from 2008, averaging a 5.4 in metered markets.

The other broadcast pairings:

West Regional, Glendale, Ariz., 6:07 p.m. Thursday, Connecticut vs. Purdue, about 8:30 p.m., Memphis vs. Missouri. Dick Enberg and Jay Bilas.

East Regional, Boston, 6:27 p.m. Thursday, Pittsburgh vs. Xavier, about 9 p.m. Duke vs. Villanova. Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery.

Midwest Regional, Indianapolis, 6:07 p.m., Louisville vs. Arizona, about 8:30 p.m., Kansas vs. Michigan State. Gus Johnson and Len Elmore.

Although Billy Packer has retired from CBS, he is still providing analysis on the NCAA tournament. Teaming with Bob Knight, his “Billy Packer’s Survive and Advance” airs at midnight Sunday on FSOK. A repeats airs at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Barkley’s hit list

Charles Barkley reveals his golf “hit list” on this week’s episode of “The Haney Project,” 8 p.m. Monday on Golf Channel. Philadelphia sports talk host, Howard Eskin, who is on the “Top 7,” has vowed to run around the golf course in his underwear if Barkley ever beats him.

The Top 7 are the people who have ticked Barkley off and wants to beat on the golf course:

1. Michael Jordan

2. Tiger Woods

3, Dave the Bartender, CHOPS Restaurant & Bar in Philadelphia.

4. Howard Eskin, sports radio personality for WIP-AM in Philadelphia.

5. Roy Green, former NFL wide receiver.

6. Seth Joyner, former NFL linebacker.

7. Jim Murphy, director of golf at Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.

 

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