ON TODAY'S SCORECARD
Hello, Friends

For years, Jim Nantz’s voice has become synonymous with March Madness. His comforting yet commanding presence brought a demeanor that basketball fans were familiar with.

For many, Nantz’s call through the NCAA Tournament was as much a part of the event as the buzzer-beaters and Cinderella stories. But when Nantz surprised fans — and, well, everyone, really — by announcing his decision to step away from his duties as CBS Sports’ lead play-by-play man for March Madness, he left people questioning: why?

If you're wondering where Jim Nantz has been during the 2025 NCAA Tournament, just know you're not alone.

Nantz became the lead play-by-play broadcaster for CBS' coverage of March Madness in 1991. He called countless national title games for the network, including Villanova's epic game-winner over North Carolina in 2016. Fans loved his chemistry with fellow broadcasters Bill Raftery and Grant Hill. 

Unfortunately, Nantz is no longer the voice of March Madness. He decided the 2023 NCAA Tournament would be his last with CBS. "I'm not retiring," Nantz said at the time. "I've still got about 40 weeks a year to cover the NFL, the Super Bowl and golf for another dozen years or so." 

So, why did Nantz decide to step away from calling college basketball games? It ultimately came down to his schedule being a bit too bloated. 

"You’re never going to walk away from the NFL — it’s too big — and golf is deep in my heart," Nantz explained. "It’s been an amazing ride and a glorious part of my life."

Fans have made it clear they miss hearing Nantz's voice. 

"March Madness really needs Jim Nantz," one fan tweeted on Thursday.

Another fan said, "I’m sorry but the NCAA tournament is not the same without Jim Nantz." 

"Obviously March madness is great, but boy do I miss Jim Nantz," a third fan wrote. 

Ian Eagle has replaced Nantz as the No. 1 play-by-play commentator for CBS. There's no doubt in our mind that he's a worthy successor. 

CBS will lean on Eagle, Hill and Raftery for the majority of the NCAA Tournament, including the national title game on April 7. 

With the losses of Nantz and Greg Gumbel, March Madness lost a lot of its charisma this year.

From the 2025 Playbook March Madness Tourney Guide:

NCAA SWEET 16 NOTES

• #1 Seeds are 25-9 ATS off BB SUATS wins    (7-1 ATS L9Y)
• #3 Seed favs are 9-20 ATS (1-8 ATS L12Y) • #6 Seeds are 6-1 ATS L11Y
• #7 Seeds are 1-6 ATS L8Y
• #8 Seed dogs are 6-2-1 ATS
• #9 Seeds are 4-0 ATS L11Y
• #10 or worse Seed dogs > 4 pts are 14-4    ATS L13Y
• Favorites of 4 < pts off a DD ATS win are    17-8-1 ATS L19Y
• Favorites of 11 > pts are 4-10 ATS L22Y
• Underdogs off a SU win of 3 < pts are
   13-5-1 ATS L12Y

Best Team ATS records in this round Connecticut 6-0-1, St Johns 2-0, Kentucky 8-1, Xavier 6-1-1, Oregon 5-1, Illinois, Villanova 4-1, Louisvile 7-2, Wisconsin 3-1, Florida 5-2-1.

Worst Team ATS records in this round
Arizona 0-5, Iowa St 0-4, Texas A&M 0-3, Houston 0-2, Ucla 1-6, Arkansas.

Best Conference ATS records in this round
Big East: 6-1 as favs, Big 10: 5-1 as favs > 2 pts, SEC: 4-1-1 as favs 6 < pts.

Worst Conference ATS records in this round
Big 10: 0-8 as dogs > 3 pts, ACC: 1-6 as favs 7 > pts, Big 12: 1-5 as dogs > 2 pts, Moun West: 1-5-1, Big East: 1-4 as dogs.

TRENDING TODAY
Team Needs Mock

Tools to help guide YOU for YOUR mock draft.

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The official Ourlads Mock 3.0 will be coming your way in just two weeks.

Here is a look at how free agency has altered the top needs for each roster. Under each team we highlight where the top three needs were pre-free agency. In italics underneath are the updated top three needs. You can use this to create and modify your mock draft compilations for the next month-plus.

1: Tennessee Titans
Pre: QB, WR, OG
Now: QB, WR, CB
2: Cleveland Browns
Pre: QB, WR, OT
Now: QB, WR, OT
3: New York Giants
Pre: QB, WR, OG
Now: QB, WR, OG
4: New England Patriots
Pre: OT, WR, CB
Now: WR, OT, TE
5: Jacksonville Jaguars
Pre: OG, S, LB N
ow: LB, DT, TE
6: Las Vegas Raiders
Pre: QB, RB, S
Now: WR, ED, RB
7: New York Jets
Pre: QB, OT, CB
Now: OT, TE, WR
8: Carolina Panthers
Pre: S, CB, WR
Now: CB, OC, ED
9: New Orleans Saints
Pre: CB, ED, DT
Now: CB, ED, WR
10: Chicago Bears
Pre: OG, OC, ED
Now: CB, OT, TE
11: San Francisco 49ers
Pre: OT, CB, DT
Now: OT, DT, RB
12: Dallas Cowboys
Pre: ED, DT, RB
Now: OG, WR, S
13: Miami Dolphins
Pre: S, DT, LB
Now: DT, CB, TE
14: Indianapolis Colts
Pre: OG, OC, TE
Now: OG, OC, TE
15: Atlanta Falcons
Pre: ED, CB, S
Now: S, DT, WR
16: Arizona Cardinals
Pre: DT, ED, LB
Now: CB, DE, WR
17: Cincinnati Bengals
Pre: DT, CB, S
Now: CB, S, ED
18: Seattle Seahawks
Pre: OG, CB, DT
Now: OG, CB, DT
19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pre: OG, WR, ED
Now: CB, DE, S
20: Denver Broncos
Pre: WR, RB, TE
Now: RB, DT, OG
21: Pittsburgh Steelers
Pre: WR, QB, RB
Now: QB, RB, OT
22: Los Angeles Chargers
Pre: ED, DT, CB
Now: LB, OC, WR
23: Green Bay Packers
Pre: WR, DT, ED
Now: WR, DT, ED
24: Minnesota Vikings
Pre: CB, RB, OG
Now: WR, OT, LB
25: Houston Texans
Pre: OG, WR, S
Now: OT, CB, RB
26: Los Angeles Rams
Pre: OT, LB, CB
Now: LB, CB, OT
27: Baltimore Ravens
Pre: OT, OG, CB
Now: OG, CB, ED
28: Detroit Lions
Pre: CB, WR, OG
Now: WR, OG, ED
29: Washington Commanders
Pre: WR, ED, CB
Now: ED, LB, OG
30: Buffalo Bills
Pre: WR, S, CB
Now: S, CB, OT
31: Kansas City Chiefs
Pre: OT, LB, S
Now: S, DT, WR
32: Philadelphia Eagles
Pre: ED, LB, OG
Now: OG, S, DT

Ronnie from the Big Apple wants to know: I know you’re a big Rick Pitino fan. What chance you you give Saint John’s to cut down the nets this this year’s NCAA tourney? 

Marc Says: I would be surprised if they don't make the Final Four, where anything can happen. See the INCREDIBLE STAT in this weekend’s edition of the Coffee Club for more.