CBS play-by-play man Verne Lundquist is in his 30th season of calling the NCAA Tournament and will experience a first when the Big Dance returns to the Garden on Friday night with UConn-Iowa State and Michigan State-Virginia. He talked with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: Are you excited about calling the games in the Garden?
A: Oh my gosh, yeah. Bill (Raftery) has probably done 1,000 games at the Garden, so it’s going to be a little more of a normal routine for him. I hope it’s as special for people who live in New York as it is for those of us who live out in rodeo country. It’s always special for me.
Q: Are you surprised to see UConn here?
A: We saw UConn at their worst when they got pounded out of the building by Louisville (on March 8). You couldn’t have convinced me they would even get into the tournament at that point, but Kevin Ollie and his staff did a great job turning that around. They are playing very well right now, especially defensively, as you could see in the Villanova game. They are going to play well, but Iowa State is a very, very good team.
Q: Did you have any doubt Michigan State could turn it around?
A: We talked with Tom (Izzo) before the Michigan game and he told us, “If we can get everyone back, I really like our chances.” And that’s exactly what happened. But we’ve seen Virginia is a really quality basketball team. They’ll try and slow the pace, and it may be a game where tempo dictates. If Michigan State can up the pace a little bit, it would favor them.
Q: What would you compare the Louisville-Kentucky rivalry with, now being played on the biggest of stages?
A: The closest I can come to is Auburn-Alabama in football. It is intense and it is fierce. Rick Pitino has taken Louisville, and it was obviously in good shape, but he’s brought it to the next level. And John Calipari, even though he says he isn’t, has become the king of one-and-dones. And these kids are peaking at the right time.
Q: This is your 50th year in broadcasting, have you given any thought to when you will retire?
A: I am about to enter the last year of my contract on CBS. I think (CBS Sports chairman) Sean (McManus) has my back and that’s a very comfortable feeling to have; that management has an appreciation for your work. I don’t know how long, but I know that I’ll know. When the pleasure of the preparation and the participation in the telecast is outweighed by the agony of getting to and from the games then it will be time.