It’s not difficult for Ernie Johnson to pick a favorite March Madness memory.
Now more than a decade into NCAA Tournament duty, the TNT Sports broadcaster remembers, in vivid detail, watching alongside Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley as Villanova’s Kris Jenkins drained his instant-classic, buzzer-beating 3-pointer to win the 2016 national championship over North Carolina.
“We have our studio right there under the basket where Kris Jenkins made the game-winner,” Johnson told the Daily News. “You’ve got Kenny, a North Carolina alum. You’ve got Chuck, whose daughter went to Villanova.
“When that shot goes down, Kenny dropped his head. Chuck is dancing around on the set. That would have to be one of my [best memories], not just in March Madness, but in my work life, being able to witness that display from those two guys.”
There’s been no shortage of highlights for Johnson since he became a host of the March Madness studio coverage in 2011, when TNT, TBS and TruTV first teamed up with longtime broadcaster CBS to air every tournament game nationally.
Lengthy days on set are a small price to pay to watch and talk about college basketball with a panel of analysts including Barkley and Smith, whom Johnson also hosts TNT’s “Inside the NBA” alongside.
This year’s tournament coverage looks a little different for all involved, including Johnson, who typically shares the studio hosting gig with CBS Sports’ Greg Gumble. Gumble, the venerable anchor who celebrated his 25th year of March Madness coverage in 2023, is missing this year’s Big Dance to tend to a family health issue. He is expected to be back for next year’s tournament.
“For years, I would always go to New York, and Greg and I would split the day on Thursday and Friday and Saturday and Sunday of that first week,” Johnson said. “But the decision was made, ‘Look, you stay in Atlanta with [former Villanova coach] Jay Wright and do the show from there.’
“Now with Gregg’s situation – and we obviously send Greg and his family our best for the health issue they’re dealing with – I’ll be up there. Adam Zucker will be up there, working the studio with me, too. Adam does this all year long, does a great job at it.”
Johnson, a Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer, was still putting the finishing touches on his NCAA bracket when he spoke Tuesday afternoon to the Daily News. Assuming health, one team stood out.
“If they throw the same guys out there every night, nobody beats UConn, but I only feel that strongly about UConn,” Johnson told The News while promoting Buffalo Wild Wings‘ “Beat The Buffalo” bracket challenge.
“I think everybody else is beatable in some way. I look at Houston and the defense they play, but I think being in the same region as Kentucky, that makes things pretty tough because Kentucky can really score. Purdue, after losing their opener last year, do they go farther this year? I like Tennessee coming out of that region. My hangup is on that North Carolina region. There are just so many good teams.”
UConn, the defending NCAA champion, is the tournament’s top overall seed after cruising to a 31-3 record and a Big East Tournament title. The Huskies begin their title defense Friday afternoon at Barclays Center, where they’re set to face 16th-seeded Stetson.
UConn was one of only three Big East teams to make the Big Dance, with Rick Pitino’s St. John’s Red Storm among those that didn’t despite a 20-13 record.
While he said he can “certainly understand” the Red Storm’s disappointment, Johnson said Indiana State – led by 6-10 scoring sensation Robbie Avila – was the omitted team he had most expected to qualify.
“I love the tournament,” Johnson said. “I’ve always loved the tournament, and being able to cover the tournament is tremendous. Kenny and Chuck and I will make the trip to New York, and you’ll see more of us than you’ll care to see.”
