Michigan State.

Give me Michigan State and UNC (even though I'm a Nova fan; UNC will just be too much for them).

The first Final Four in a long time without Billy Packer. As Judge Mills Lane would say, "Let's get it on!"

UConn and North Carolina in the national championship game. UConn will be looking to get revenge from the football game this year.

I can't wait to see what phrases Clark says.

How tall is Clark?

Jim looking to get out of town as soon as possible to go to Augusta. He will still go a great job, as always.

That was a good opening by Kid Rock.

Agreed on point one.

Agreed on point two.

Agreed on point three.

Good so far.

Clark is bad at this. I understand that they don't want Verne and Rafftery, but at least put Bilas with Nantz.

Good points on UConn as well.

He sounds so much better than Dick Chaney's long lost twin brother.

No more Gus Johnson for a while, thankfully.

"A tradition unlike any other...playing important college basketball games in cavernous professional football stadiums".

And no more Tim Brando, either.

This one might not be as bad because the shooting backdrop has seats.

Here we go.

Thankfully they are not 300 bare-chested Spartans.

We need more baking soda references from Clark.

Suton looks like Gerard Butler.

Emeka Okafor is not walking through that door.

I like the CBS graphics with the player's signature on them. Although I'm not quite sure why they have Jim Nantz doing the player intros.

Can I make it eight in a row?

Not quite.

Jim has been linked to this event since CBS axed Bababa in 1990.

He can do almost anything in this event.

This one might be like the first half in 2000 against Wisconsin. It was 19-17 at halftime.

Hey, Nathan Brice. Slow it down a bit?

I did not see this type of a pace for this game. This is looking a little more like I envisioned Villanova-UNC to be.

MSU is a little too keyed up. Izzo needs to get them to slow it down.

"I see sit through dining versus drive-in dining for UConn." - Clark Kellogg giving us our first gem of the day.

I wonder if they serve baking soda at that diner...

"Walton bangin' home a two." - Jim Nantz

So gross.

From the "No, Duh" Dept - Clark: "The reason Izzo uses his bench is to keep his team fresh".

Still not getting this game in HD! Come on Channel 5 Nashville.

@ifiok25 - another reason you need DirecTV.

Clark: "They have to play this game in rollerblades. They can't play in tennis shoes."

I have directv. This is shocking. And an HD receiver that's never had this issue before.

@Mal - has Kellogg watched even a single Michigan State game this year? He would know that's not what makes them successful.

what a fucking idiot.

- not you, whistling Clark.

Clark was a bad choice for this. He's not even close to the best color guy that CBS has and he is trying way too hard (laughing hysterically at Nantz's bad jokes, making ridiculous analogies, etc.).

Raft or maybe even Len Elmore would have been better for the job.

Raft is great. Not an Elmore fan. Bilas can be annoying, but I think he's a solid color guy.

@ifiok25 - in Nashville too, with Directv HD and having the same problem. About 5 seconds total in HD. WTF?!!!

Clark Kellog: "Tom Izzo likes to use his bench in order to wear down the opposing team."

Really???? Thanks Captain Obvious. I would love to get paid millions to point out common sense facts.

OK then outofcontrolguy, it's not just me. I'm pissed too. They went to HD with no commentators and changed back. I never knew the difference between HD and SD was that big.

I'm in nashville also.

I can't even enjoy the game I'm so pissed, ikiok25. I've had HD for years and have NEVER had this problem.

Can CBS please turn down the volume on the mic they have on the rims?

It's happened with some games on FOX, but it gets fixed quickly. The game is ugly to watch on TV.

The refs are calling the game so tight against MSU.

to the guys in nashville, i had major problems with MSU and UofM at the beginning of the tournament. almost no HD for UofM, and in and out picture in general for MSU. it's definitely a directv issue. i just flip it over to OTA HD antenna.

and draymon green is the dancing bear from now on thanks to clark kellogg.

It wasn't mentioned, but thanks to TiVo - "Izzo circled this 6 years ago when the final four was announced for Detroit. He didn't mention it until this week."

Nothing like being praised for something you may not actually have done and never told anyone about doing until it actually happened six years later.

Clark: "He got pogo-ed right there" - after Summers dunk.

MSU is gonna win this and I cannot wait to hear about how a championship will rejuvenate the auto industry.

Clark: "This is exactly where Connecticut did not want to be" - as they are down 10 with five minutes to play. Really? Do you think we should ask Calhoun that one?

MSU has taken some unnecessary quick shots and not worked any clock at all - yet no mention of it by our crack announcing crew.

bullshit 4 point play by UConn.

Officiating has been slanted heavily towards UConn. Amazing that the Spartans are gonna win.

Kemba Walker just had a horrible game for UConn. That combined with the missed freebies from the entire team spelled the Huskies doom in this one.

I really wish NBC was doing this. More cheerleaders, fewer wife shots.

Hell, I'd take FOX's band fetish over a weepy kid.

Congrats to Michigan State on advancing to the national championship game!

It's a local station issue with the HD. They had a crawl on the bottom throughout the 2nd half saying that. One of our rooms has OTA and it's not in HD either.

Am I the only one who is insulted about how Michigan State is going to cheer up Michigan? The Spartans advancing to the championship is going to cheer up the unemployed guy who can't find a job? I mean seriously...its a basketball game. The people who say this stuff are the talking heads who have no money issues. Sorry, but Michigan State winning is not going to pay the rent, car payment, buy clothes, or get someone a job. Sports sports sports, is your whole life about sports?

"Good hand position on the ball." - Clark Kellogg

I grew up in Michigan. If you are a Michigan State fan who just lost your job, in addition to being dumped on your whole life for being a State fan, this helped you out. Michigan fan arrogance, real or perceived, does that to people. It doesn't pay the bills, but none of the announcers have claimed it would. It does brighten the day.

For the guys who think Michigan State doesn't want to run, that's a very common misconception. They want to run. The Big 10 teams they play against just don't let them. They chose not to run against Louisville so they could maximize every bit of time possible.

Michigan State typically does better in NCAA tournament play than Big 10 tournament play. It's because they get to run a lot more against teams that don't know them as well.

Anyway, back to announcing: Hubert Davis asked before the game how Michigan State would score. Apparently, like they voted in Chicago back in the day-early and often.

"Johnson joins the paratroopers club." - Clark Kellogg

Somewhere, Billy Packer is in his basement surrounded by empty Schlitz cans screaming at his TV: "This game isssssss...ovah!"

Funkdoctor I agree with everything you've just said. It's unbelievable that Michigan State is being used to help the economic crisis. It's irritating as well. I'm rooting for them because I don't like any of the teams left. That's why.

Sports is important, because it really isn't important. It can be something that a community can rally around or can be a welcome, but temorary distraction from the real problems of life. If MSU wins will it set all right that is wrong in Michigan? Of course not. But if this can help some people get their minds off the relentless economic mess they deal with every day, then that is a good thing.

It's not wrong at all. I just feel the whole thing was overblown.

I agree with Mal. It won't solve the problems there, but it can take everyone's mind off of there problems, even if it's just for a couple hours.

Is it my feed or is Clark Kellogg's voice darn near completely shot? The guy sounds pretty hoarse and has been sitting a few plays out.

I agree, Gibbon Jockey. His voice has gone as the night as gone along.

Spurtability? Isn't that something a porn star has?