Mandatory Credit: Photo by Gregory Payan/AP/Shutterstock (13492951a) Announcer Jim Nantz looks on after NFL Super Bowl 53, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. Nantz will step away from calling the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament after next year and will be succeeded by Ian Eagle. CBS Sports confirmed the news, after it was first reported by the New York Post CBS Nantz Basketball, Atlanta, United States – 04 Feb 2019
Jim Nantz believes Houston Cougars have done enough to secure one-seed, grateful for Kelvin Sampson
The NCAA Tournament is just a week away and in preparation for the big dance, Jim Nantz was on the call of No. 1 Houston’s game against Memphis on Sunday.
Nantz watched the Cougars stun the Memphis Tigers at the buzzer. After the game, he spoke with Gallery Sports and talked about his alma mater, including the team’s stock heading into the tournaments and his gratitude toward head coach Kelvin Sampson.
“Kelvin is just amazing,” Nantz said. “He is just an amazing coach, that is all I can say. We are so fortunate to have him and that family behind this program. They have been the greatest blessing to come our way in a long, long time. They have restored the glory and we owe him a huge, huge thanks.”
The legendary broadcaster will be a part of the lead group on CBS to call NCAA Tournament games throughout March. Nantz and Bill Raftery both called Sunday’s game.
With the American Athletic Conference postseason tournament up next on the schedule for Houston, Nantz believes the Cougars have done enough already to clinch a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Nantz believes Houston will play in Birmingham, Alabama, for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament and take it from there.
Only time will tell if he is correct. Houston is set to play the winner of South Florida and East Carolina in the quarterfinals of the AAC tournament on Friday at noon. During the NCAA Bracket preview show in February, Houston was seeded as the No. 2 overall team in the tournament behind Alabama.
Since then, Alabama has lost once. Houston has not lost heading into the conference tournament. Kansas, despite losing to Texas on Saturday, had picked up steam and inserted itself in the conversation to being a No. 1 overall seed with its success in the Big 12 and its numerous Quadrant 1 victories.
Nantz expects Houston to go far in the NCAA tournament. The Final Four will be held at NRG Stadium in Houston. This year’s Final Four will reportedly also be the final Nantz calls as a broadcaster.
“We’ll give people a really great run,” Nantz said. “Maybe all the way to April 3rd. Maybe close to midnight, the dream story ends with the nets coming down for the hometown team.”
