2012 NCAA Tournament TV schedule

Click here for the 2012 NCAA Tournament TV Schedule

Which will it be this year: an NCAA men’s basketball tournament dominated by the high seeds or a tournament with brackets busted by the underdogs? The tournament’s script seems to ebb and flow between the two extremes in recent years, with the strongest (2008) and the weakest (2011) Final Four fields in history happening in only a three-year span.

Historically, if you add up the seeds of Final Four teams, you typically get a number between eight and 11. A look at recent tournaments reveals how much that number has fluctuated:
2006: It was the first tournament since 1980 without a No. 1 seed in the Final Four. A No. 11 seed (George Mason) reached the Final Four for only the second time in history. (Total: 20)
2007: No team seeded lower than eight reached the Sweet 16, and the Final Four consisted of only No. 1 and 2 seeds. (Total: 6)
2008: All four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four for the first time in tournament history. (Total: 4)
2009: All No. 1, 2 and 3 seeds reached the Sweet 16. No seed lower than 3 reached the Final Four. (Total: 7)
2010: Two No. 5 seeds advanced to the Final Four. (Total: 13)
2011: For the first time in history, no teams seeded No. 1 or 2 reached the Final Four. With Nos. 3, 4, 8 and 11 seeds, it’s the weakest Final Four field ever. (Total: 26)

We’re far from a golden age of college basketball, but the tournament has been more entertaining, more unpredictable and more maddening for anyone filling out an office-pool bracket.

CBS and Turner networks again combine to present full, live national TV coverage of every tournament game. Action starts with the First Four, which was added last year in the tournament’s expansion to 68 teams. The First Four earned legitimacy right away as 11 seed Virginia Commonwealth — who some analysts (most vocally ESPN’s Jay Bilas) argued didn’t deserve to be in the tournament — played in the First Four and advanced all the way to the Final Four.

Top teams in the hunt for a Final Four berth at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans include Kentucky, Syracuse, Kansas, North Carolina, Missouri, Duke, Ohio State and Michigan State.

Last year, Butler advanced to the title game for the second year in a row and left with another loss, this time 53-41 to Connecticut in one of the ugliest championship games in memory.

NCAA Tournament TV Schedule
Selection Sunday March 11 (CBS)
First Four March 13-14 (truTV)
Second Round March 15-16 (CBS, TBS, TNT & truTV)
Third Round March 17-18 (CBS, TBS, TNT & truTV)
Regionals March 22-25 (CBS & TBS)
Final Four March 31 & April 2 (CBS)

Full press release from CBS and Turner Sports below, plus detailed TV schedule.

CBS SPORTS AND TURNER SPORTS ANNOUNCE 2012 NCAA® DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TELECAST SCHEDULE

ALL GAMES TO BE BROADCAST NATIONALLY ACROSS TBS, CBS, TNT AND truTV 

Turner Sports and CBS Sports announced today their television schedule for the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. All 67 games will again be available live in their entirety across four national television networks: CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV, allowing viewers to watch and switch between all of the game action across the four networks.

CBS Sports and Turner Sports will present fully integrated game and studio productions across all four networks as well as studio integration across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV with pregame, halftime and post-game shows from studios in New York City and Atlanta. Studio shows will include The Road to the Final Four®, Infiniti NCAA Tip-Off, AT&T At the Half and Inside March Madness® presented by Buick.

The 2012 Division I Men’s Basketball Championship tips off in primetime with the NCAA First Four™ on truTV presented by Northwestern Mutual on Tuesday, March 13 and Wednesday, March 14. Coverage will conclude with the Final Four® games on Saturday, March 31 and for the 31st straight year, CBS Sports will broadcast the National Championship Game on Monday, April 2 at 9:00 PM, ET.

Additional highlights include:

CBS will air the Final Four and National Championship Game for a total of 26 games throughout the tournament, including the second round, third round, Sweet 16® and Elite 8®.
Turner will air 41 games across its three television networks. TBS will air 16 contests, including games in the second round, third round and Sweet 16.
TNT will air 12 games, including second round and third round match ups.
truTV tips off the tournament’s coverage airing all First Four games, as well as a total of 13 games during the First Four and second and third round games. It also will air the Reese’s College All-Star Game on Saturday, March 31, at 1:00 PM, ET.

Coverage of the 2012 NCAA tournament wraps up with extensive live coverage from New Orleans, La. with the Final Four games and National Championship Game. Saturday’s Final Four coverage begins on CBS at 4:00 PM, ET with a two-hour Road to the Final Four®, followed by the broadcast of the two national semifinal games beginning at 6:00 PM, ET. truTV wraps up the day’s Final Four coverage with Inside March Madness presented by Buick.

NCAA® March Madness® Live will provide live streaming video of every broadcast for the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship starting with the NCAA Basketball Selection Show on Sunday, March 11, and continuing through the Men’s Final Four® and National Championship Game from New Orleans on March 31 and April 2.

 2012 NCAA Tournament TV Schedule

All Times Eastern. Schedule subject to change.

 FIRST ROUND GAMES


TUESDAY, MARCH 13

Play-by-Play/Analyst/Reporter

6:40 PM — truTV, Dayton I: Mississippi Valley St. vs. Western Kentucky, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Steve Kerr/Tracy Wolfson

Approximately 9:10 PM — truTV, Dayton II: BYU vs. Iona, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Steve Kerr/Tracy Wolfson

FIRST ROUND GAMES


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14 

6:40 PM — truTV, Dayton I: Lamar vs. Vermont, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Lewis Johnson

Approximately 9:10 PM — truTV, Dayton II: California vs. South Florida, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Lewis Johnson

SECOND ROUND GAMES


THURSDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 15 (12:00 NOON-5:00 PM, ET)

Play-by-Play/Analyst/Reporter

12:15 PM — CBS, Louisville I: Murray State vs. Colorado State, Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Lesley Visser

12:40 PM — truTV, Pittsburgh I: Kansas State vs. Southern Miss, Kevin Harlan/Len Elmore/Reggie Miller/Marty Snider

1:40 PM — TBS, Portland I: Louisville vs. Davidson, Brian Anderson/Dan Bonner/Jenn Hildreth

2:10 PM — TNT, Albuquerque I: Wisconsin vs. Montana, Spero Dedes/Bob Wenzel/Jamie Maggio

Approximately 2:45 PM — CBS, Louisville II:Marquette vs. BYU/Iona, Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Lesley Visser

Approximately 3:10 PM — truTV, Pittsburgh II: Syracuse vs. UNC Asheville, Kevin Harlan/Len Elmore/Reggie Miller/Marty Snider

Approximately 4:10 PM — TBS, Portland II: New Mexico vs. Long Beach St., Brian Anderson/Dan Bonner/Jenn Hildreth

Approximately 4:40 PM — TNT, Albuquerque II: Vanderbilt vs. Harvard, Spero Dedes/Bob Wenzel/Jamie Maggio

SECOND ROUND GAMES


THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 15 (6:30 PM-12:00 AM, ET)

6:50 PM — TBS, Louisville III: Kentucky vs. Mississippi Valley State/Western Kentucky, Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Lesley Visser

7:15 PM — CBS, Portland III: Wichita State vs. VCU, Brian Anderson/Dan Bonner/Jenn Hildreth

7:20 PM — TNT, Pittsburgh III: Gonzaga vs. West Virginia, Kevin Harlan/Len Elmore/Reggie Miller/Marty Snider

7:27 PM — truTV, Albuquerque III: Baylor vs. South Dakota State, Spero Dedes/Bob Wenzel/Jamie Maggio

Approximately 9:20 PM — TBS, Louisville IV: Iowa State vs. Connecticut, Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Lesley Visser

Approximately 9:45 PM — CBS, Portland IV: Indiana vs. New Mexico State, Brian Anderson/Dan Bonner/Jenn Hildreth

Approximately 9:50 PM — TNT, Pittsburgh IV: Ohio State vs. Loyola Maryland, Kevin Harlan/Len Elmore/Reggie Miller/Marty Snider

Approximately 9:57 PM — truTV, Albuquerque IV: UNLV vs. Colorado, Kevin Harlan/Len Elmore/Reggie Miller/Marty Snider

SECOND ROUND GAMES


FRIDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 16 (12:00 NOON-5:00 PM, ET)

Play-by-Play/Analyst/Reporter

12:15 PM — CBS, Nashville I: Cincinnati vs. Texas, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Lewis Johnson

12:40 PM — truTV, Columbus I: San Diego St. vs. NC State, Tim Brando/Mike Gminski/Otis Livingston

1:40 PM — TBS, Greensboro I: Creighton vs. Alabama, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Tracy Wolfson

2:10 PM — TNT, Omaha I: Florida vs. Virginia, Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craig Sager

Approximately 2:45 PM — CBS, Nashville II, Florida State vs. St. Bonaventure, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Lewis Johnson

Appoximately 3:10 PM — truTV, Columbus II: Georgetown vs. Belmont, Tim Brando/Mike Gminski/Otis Livingston

Approximately 4:10 PM — TBS, Greensboro II: North Carolina vs. Lamar/Vermont, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Tracy Wolfson

Approximately 4:40 PM — TNT, Omaha II: Missouri vs. Norfolk St., Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craig Sager

SECOND ROUND GAMES


FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 16 (6:30 PM-12:00 AM, ET)

6:50 PM — TBS, Columbus III: Memphis vs. Saint Louis, Tim Brando/Mike Gminski/Otis Livingston

7:15 PM — CBS, Greensboro III: Duke vs. Lehigh, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Tracy Wolfson

7:20 PM — TNT, Nashville III: Michigan vs. Ohio, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Lewis Johnson

7:27 PM — truTV, Omaha III: St. Mary’s (CA) vs. Purdue, Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craig Sager

Approximately 9:20 PM — TBS, Columbus IV: Michigan State  vs. LIU Brooklyn, Tim Brando/Mike Gminski/Otis Livingston

Approximately 9:45 PM — CBS, Greensboro IV: Notre Dame  vs. Xavier, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Tracy Wolfson

Approximately 9:50 PM — TNT, Nashville IV: Temple vs. California/South Florida, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Lewis Johnson

Approximately 9:57 PM — truTV, Omaha IV: Kansas vs. Detroit, Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craig Sager

Third Round
(Games on TNT, TBS and truTV can switch start times. Order to be announced March 15-16.)
March 17
12:15pm — #8 Kansas State vs. #1 Syracuse, CBS
2:45pm — #7 Gonzaga vs. #2 Ohio State, CBS
5:15pm — #6 Murray State vs. #3 Marquette, CBS; NCAA Tip-Off, TNT
6:10pm — #5 Vanderbilt vs. #4 Wisconsin, TNT
7:10pm — #12 VCU vs. #4 Indiana, TBS
7:45pm — #8 Iowa State vs. #1 Kentucky, CBS
8:40pm — #11 Colorado vs. #3 Baylor, TNT
9:40pm — #5 New Mexico vs. #4 Louisville, TBS
12am — Inside March Madness, TBS
March 18
1215pm — #11 NC State vs. #3 Georgetown, CBS
2:45pm — #9 Saint Louis vs. #1 Michigan State , CBS
5:15pm — #8 Creighton vs. #1 North Carolina, CBS; NCAA Tip-Off, TNT
6:10pm — #15 Norfolk State vs. #7 Florida, TNT
7:10pm — #13 Ohio vs. #12 South Florida, TBS
7:45pm — #15 Lehigh vs. #10 Xavier, truTV
8:40pm — #10 Purdue vs. #2 Kansas, TNT
9:40pm — #6 Cincinnati vs. #3 Florida State, TBS
12am — Inside March Madness, TBS

Sweet 16 Regional Semifinals
THURSDAY, MARCH 22
7:15 PM ET CBS Wisconsin vs. Syracuse, Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Lesley Visser
7:47 PM TBS  Louisville vs. Michigan State, Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Len Elmore/ Marty Snider
9:50 PM CBS  Cincinnati vs. Ohio State, Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Lesley Visser
10:22 PM TBS  Florida vs. Marquette, Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Len Elmore/Marty Snider
FRIDAY, MARCH 23
7:15 PM CBS  Baylor vs. Xavier, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Tracy Wolfson
7:47 PM TBS  North Carolina vs. Ohio, Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craig Sager
9:50 PM CBS  Kentucky vs. Indiana, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Tracy Wolfson
10:22 pm TBS  Kansas vs. N.C. State, Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craig Sager

Elite Eight Regional Finals
March 24
12pm — NCAA Tip-Off, truTV
1pm — NCAA Men’s Division II Championship, CBS
3pm — Road to the Final Four, CBS
4:30 PM CBS Louisville vs. Florida, Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Len Elmore/Marty Snider
7:05 PM CBS Syracuse vs. Ohio State, Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Lesley Visser
March 25
1pm — NCAA Tip-Off, truTV
2pm — Road to the Final Four, CBS
2:20pm — CBS Kentucky vs. Baylor, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Tracy Wolfson
5:05pm — CBS North Carolina vs. Kansas, Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craig Sager

Final Four
March 31
1pm — College All-Star Game, truTV
4pm — Road to the Final Four, CBS
6pm — CBS Kentucky vs. Louisville, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Tracy Wolfson
Approx. 9pm — CBS Kansas vs. Ohio State, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Tracy Wolfson
11pm — Inside March Madness, truTV

National Championship Game
April 2
9pm — NCAA National Championship: Kentucky vs. Kansas, CBS
12am — Inside March Madness, truTV