is clearly GUS JOHNSON!

After he compared Diebler to Craig Ehlo, I think I'll mute him going forward.

Gus Johnson is guaranteed to do some awesome, nail biting game in the tournament every year. I think it's in his contract or something.

Ever? Or Current? I would debate ever, but I am older so I may have seen a couple of people you haven't.

Johnson is verrrry good.

I also love Raftery, Bilas (for insight), and Nantz (obviously only the tourney, which may make this vote biased).

Clark Kellogg

ARE YOU SERIOUS????????? DICK VITALE hands down...

Gus Johnson
Jim Nantz
Dick Vitale

In that order

Dick Vitale circa early to mid '90s was on another level. He was right at top of the best that ever called college basketball broadcasting their profession. I remember bits and pieces of those days (mainly the Duke games), but most of it is now tucked away on video tape and doses of ESPN Classic. He was insightful, passionate, knowledgeable, energetic, spirited and a master of timing and delivery, a far cry from the sad caricature of himself he has since become. I miss that Dick Vitale. Wish he was still here, because basketball certainly isn't the same without him.

The best EVER, though? Al McGuire. The ultimate color commentator. He had the gift. Full of poise, wit and basketball history, McGuire was both a sports broadcaster and entertainer at heart. I hated Billy Packer, but he and McGuire's legendary back-and-forth banter helped popularize basketball on television perhaps more than anything outside of Bird-Magic. I believe his last game came in late 2000, just months before he died of leukemia. Such a shame. My favorite line came in the '99 NCAA Tournament, in Duke's regional final win over Temple, after high-flyer Corey Maggette grabbed the ball from the heavens and put home a ridiculous two-handed slam: Maggette, Maggette spagehetti ... [laughter] ... holy mackerel.

For play-by-play, Dick Enberg. Gus Johnson comes in a close second, but I am in heaven when listening to Enberg call a game in the NCAA Tournament. He's the voice of God as far as I'm concerned. I know he's getting up there in age and not as sharp as he perhaps once was, but I'd take him any day of the week. Love him.

I also like Bob Wenzel, who just so happened to coach at Duke back in the day. He's got a great voice and a little of that Mcguire humor in him.

Kevin Harlan is also good, as is Bill Raftery. Raftery would be my third favorite color commentator of all-time behind Mcguire and '90s Vitale.

THE4RINGZ wrote: Ever? Or Current? I would debate ever, but I am older so I may have seen a couple of people you haven't.

I say current because there has been some great ones to compete with.

No love for Billy Packer? LOL!

Jimmy Dykes is one of the best. He doesn't have a ax to grind or a agenda.

Rec, I agree on Enberg (Indiana Grad) in he has a great voice and calls a great game, for multiple sports.

However, he has slipped WAY to much for me to include him in this discussion. Hes far too old, and just doesnt have "it" anymore.

"Oh My!!"

I agree that he's not at the top of his game any longer, but his voice is still the voice of Dick Enberg and to me that's enough. No one calls a dramatic NCAA tournament game better. Gus is known for this, obviously, as buzzer beating and clutch shot endings are his speciality, but there is something to be said of the statesmen-like manner in which Enberg calls his games. There is an added importance to it. Like what is happening is really shaping history.

I'd be interested, Laley, in your opinion on Dick Vitale in the '90s. Would you agree with my assessment? I know most hate him regardless, but I really do feel he was once one of the greats. He was so much different back then, almost unrecognizable. I was too young to remember him in the early, early '90s but from 1994 until about 2001 he was about the best there was.

I only remember from about 96 on. I thought then that he stuck to the game more. Now he just goes off on tangents and I think tries to grind an ax with people by stating his opinion thinking they might change their views because "Dickie V" thinks opposite. Thais is ESPECIALLY the case when tourney time comes and he wants certain teams in. What he doesnt realize, if we listened to him, we would have about an 85 team tourney.


As a man, there is no one better. I met him at the Final Four in Tampa when my uncle (Mike Lupica) got me tickets to his show Sunday morning. Vitale let us all (me and my cousins) hold the glass trophy. He signed autographs and talked with us about everything but basketball for about an hour and introduced us to Kenyon Martin (who was there with his injury), Jerry Tarkanian, Bob Knight, and a few other coaches/players. For that, I will always have a fond spot in my heart for him.

Enberg went through a period like 5 years ago where he should have retired because he couldn't pronounce any names or even flow during the broadcast. He's actually gotten better lately...not sure what's up there.

March Madness is not the same without Johnson.

That's a really cool story, Laley. I remember now you saying your uncle was Mike Lupica. Pretty tight connection

I would definitely agree with your perception of Vitale as a person. There aren't many better.

Gus Johnson is good and so is Dan Shulman on ESPN.

I'm Al Harrington, I MAKE BUCKETS

I appreciate Bob Knight's insights. He sees the game as well as anyone and he will tell you exactly what's going on and what he'd do. He is the most honest commentator out there. you can learn a lot of basketball by watching and listening to him.

I definitely agree with that, Swamp Fox.

I love Bob Knight as a basketball commentator.

Gus Johnson is most famous for his radio play by play doing the NY Knicks games.

Bob Knight and Bill Rafferty do a nice job. Dickie Simpkins is the worst.