In recent weeks, Awful Announcing invited readers to vote for the best broadcast booth in sports. Throughout this 32-team tournament, there were numerous close matchups and many deserving contenders, but only one team could emerge victorious: CBS’s lead NCAA Tournament broadcast team of Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, and Grant Hill.
The trio overcame the NFL on Fox duo of Joe Davis and Greg Olsen in the final with a decisive 61-39% vote after narrowly defeating ESPN’s Monday Night Football team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman by a slim 52-48% in the Final Four. Remarkably, the CBS team was the only non-NFL booth to reach that final stage of the tournament.
Ian Eagle has been a beloved voice in sports for many years, consistently delivering humor, excitement, and top-notch game calls, regardless of whether he’s covering the NBA, NFL, or college basketball. After years in the rotation, he finally stepped up as the lead voice of the NCAA Tournament following Jim Nantz’s retirement last year, and he has excelled in this role.
Ian Eagle: “We may have to change the nomenclature because nobody punches a ticket anymore. You just scan a QR code.”
Bill Raftery: “The older people still do it the old way.”
Ian Eagle: “You’re the only person in America still printing your boarding pass.” 🏀🎙️🎟️😂 pic.twitter.com/boxSpxjKV7
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 16, 2025
Assisting in this transition is the ever-charismatic Bill Raftery. At 81, Raftery remains as sharp and witty as ever, calling an impressive schedule of college basketball games across CBS Sports and FS1. His chemistry with Eagle is unparalleled and dates back to their days calling New Jersey Nets games. Luckily, he shows no signs of retiring soon.
Similar to Eagle, Raftery had to wait patiently for his opportunity at a lead role with CBS, after years of regional game coverage during the NCAA Tournament. Following Billy Packer’s retirement in 2008, CBS initially turned to studio analyst Clark Kellogg. Next, the partnership with Turner Sports brought Steve Kerr on board for a three-man booth, followed by Greg Anthony stepping in temporarily before being replaced due to a solicitation arrest. Finally, Raftery and Grant Hill were named the lead analysts in 2015, a role they have maintained ever since.
While Eagle and Raftery receive significant praise, Hill’s steady presence as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time completes the booth perfectly. He enhances Raftery’s personality with his insights, offering ample space for Raftery’s catchphrases to shine. Their decade-long collaboration undoubtedly reflects their developed chemistry.
“CLAYTON… GOT IT! A DOWNTOWN HIT!” – Ian Eagle
*Bill Raftery noises*
“A lotta sushi for him!” – Grant Hill
“Sushi! With some caviar! And some onions on the side!” – Bill Raftery
🏀🔥🐊🧅🎙️ #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ZpQudhA24s
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 23, 2025
Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, and Grant Hill encompass everything fans desire from a broadcast booth: a captivating play-by-play announcer who rises to the occasion, a top player who shares insights from the highest stages, and an iconic figure whose passion for the sport is infectious. Watching them call a game is as enjoyable as sitting alongside them at a bar. While recency bias may influence their victory, especially with the NCAA Tournament currently capturing attention, it is undoubtedly a well-deserved accolade.
