Announcers and Analysts

[Jaydumo20]

There is no right or wrong here (or anywhere for that matter). I see more than a few posts about the quality of the in game analysts and play by play.

I have never cared, nor paid attention to the quality of the analysis. I could take it or leave it and it doesn't make my enjoyment of uconn bball any better or worse if it's Fanta, JJ, Donnie, Pat G, Bilas or anyone else. It's not why I watch.

But that's me. I wish I knew enough about what makes a good or bad broadcaster. But I'd love to know.

Please share if it matters to you and why?
Who are some of your faves and why?

 

[husky429]

I don't pay attention to it. Even the best analysts are speaking to the lowest common denominator. There's very little about basketball to learn from them. I'l tune in for something like an injury update.

 

[JerseyAlum]

Vitale and Nantz were listenable for TV but at some point some biases crept in - Vitale was all over Chris Smith "carrying" the ball that he became a turn off.

These days I'm more into the live experience of going to games than watching on TV. Even Wedndesday night vs Xavier I will likely 'watch' on my phone on FS1 just to see how certain matchups go and how our players function together, team O working or not.

The commentators are not moving the ball even a cm so I will have volume off.

 

[HooperScooper]

Vitale and Nantz were listenable for TV but at some point some biases crept in - Vitale was all over Chris Smith "carrying" the ball that he became a turn off.

Is that Billy Packer you're talking about? Don't think Vitale and Nantz worked together.

I noticed on Saturday that I didn't even listen to what Jackson and Benetti were saying. It was such a good game that I was concentrating on the game and pretty much tuned them out.

 

[Huskybass]

Vitale and Nantz were listenable for TV but at some point some biases crept in - Vitale was all over Chris Smith "carrying" the ball that he became a turn off.

These days I'm more into the live experience of going to games than watching on TV. Even Wedndesday night vs Xavier I will likely 'watch' on my phone on FS1 just to see how certain matchups go and how our players function together, team O working or not.

The commentators are not moving the ball even a cm so I will have volume off.

That was Billy Packer who was all over Chris Smith. Vitale got annoying over the years, but he certainly loves the college game.

 

[bluestreak]

Watching the Gonzaga game I was thinking that I like Jim Jackson's analytics. He has interesting takes on the X's and O's and movements on the court during the game. And he's not too annoying with it.

 

[SoCalCanine]

Watching the Gonzaga game I was thinking that I like Jim Jackson's analytics. He has interesting takes on the X's and O's and movements on the court during the game. And he's not too annoying with it.

Funny how different we can react. I find Jackson insufferable. Not that he says anything wrong, he just NEVER stops talking. He leaves no room for the play by play guy to tell us the stuff we really NEED to know, like who the foul was on, how many he has, who is substituting, etc.

 

[Huskybass]

I've been watching UConn basketball since 1981 so I never feel like I need the commentary. That said, I've enjoyed a bunch of them over the years including Raf, Jimmy Jackson, Bilas, Nantz, Kellog and Walton...even Dickey "Hot like fire" Simpkins. They all bring their unique spin, and it adds something, imo.

 

[bluestreak]

Funny how different we can react. I find Jackson insufferable. Not that he says anything wrong, he just NEVER stops talking. He leaves no room for the play by play guy to tell us the stuff we really NEED to know, like who the foul was on, how many he has, who is substituting, etc.

I'm surprised I didn't notice that. One of my pet peeves is chit chat that ignores the play by play.

My wife is used to seeing me stand up and shout at the TV. FOUL or TRAVEL?? OB or foul?? Who's the foul on?? One of the advantages to being at the game, you can usually tell what's happening on the jumbotron.

 

[Leebo]

I forget what game it was, but recently there was a clock review where neither of the announcers understood why more time would come off the game clock than the shot clock after a made basket and inbound. It was perplexing how people paid to explain basketball could be so clueless. Did they never notice that the game clock doesn't stop after baskets until the last minute?

 

[sledog]

Raf and Bilas. rest stink

 

[boog204]

I’m 100% all in on Raftery and have been since the 1980s. I loved Bill Walton bc he seemed to be one do the coolest and strangest ppl on Earth and when he did do analysis, his knowledge of the game trumped everyone else. I loved having Vitale for UConn games but like almost everyone else, found his ACC fanboy thing beyond annoying. Bilas is usually solid. A lot of the other announcers I liked are all retired or doing other stuff (Steve Kerr)

I cannot stand Fanta, Donny, Jimmy Jackson, or pretty much anyone else and tend to mute more often then not.

 

[cordeodato]

Watch the game with audio off. Play jazz in the background. Much better experience.

 

[Viet Vet]

Nola’s is the best.

Raf and Bilas. rest stink

Bilas is the best. Clark Kellogg was great. RAF is my #3.

Any announcer that mentions who’s in the stands while the ball is in play………..buzz off.

 

[bendm]

During a recent game (zags? Texas?) Donny said 23 UConn was better than 24 UConn so he lost all credibility right then and there if he hadn’t already

 

[StllH8L8ner]

I’m so locked into the game, I don’t really even hear the announcers most of the time. There was one time when I was putting together some furniture so I was half watching and half listening and I remember thinking “OMG Donny, we get it you played for UConn, shut the hell up”.

Historically, Raf is my favorite.

 

[Kathy]

Vitale and Nantz were listenable for TV but at some point some biases crept in - Vitale was all over Chris Smith "carrying" the ball that he became a turn off.

These days I'm more into the live experience of going to games than watching on TV. Even Wedndesday night vs Xavier I will likely 'watch' on my phone on FS1 just to see how certain matchups go and how our players function together, team O working or not.

The commentators are not moving the ball even a cm so I will have volume off.

You confused Vitale with Billy Packer - I know because I confronted Billy after the BE tournament when he approached my husband and I asking what subway car to take. He was so condescending as if I knew nothing about the game.

 

[navery12]

There's certain play by play guys that will make a game feel important, but once a game starts I don't even notice or pay attention to anything an analyst says

 

[alphasigko]

Raftery is the Cadillac. Jim Jackson and Fanta are decent. Donnie is hard to listen to. I could not stand to listen to Dickie V. Billy Packer did a decent job and Bill Walton (RIP) was insufferable.

 

[slepers]

During a recent game (zags? Texas?) Donny said 23 UConn was better than 24 UConn so he lost all credibility right then and there if he hadn’t already

Donny didn’t do zags that was jackson

 

[navery12]

During a recent game (zags? Texas?) Donny said 23 UConn was better than 24 UConn so he lost all credibility right then and there if he hadn’t already

Pretty sure that was Jim Jackson during the Gonzaga game, but he said 24 was better and then backtracked a little bit and said 23 was good too after Jason Benetti was shocked he answered the question

 

[HooperScooper]

Donny didn’t do zags that was jackson

Not Texas either. That was Bilas. Bald guys, they all sound the same.

 

[MJ1]

During a recent game (zags? Texas?) Donny said 23 UConn was better than 24 UConn so he lost all credibility right then and there if he hadn’t already

Jimmy Jackson also said 23 with Andre Jackson team was better. Too close to call for me.

 

[Jaydumo20]

Watch the game with audio off. Play jazz in the background. Much better experience.

Me too. Except for some home games. Let's just say Chick Corea's ghost has to be a uconn fan with all the games he's "watched" with me.

 

[UCLJ0211]

Doesn’t get much better than Kevin Harlan calling the NCAAT games.