March Madness is steeped in tradition, from the selection show through the national championship game. This year’s tournament will have a bit of a different feel for viewers who have become accustomed to the traditional set of broadcasters and studio analysts.
Fans already heard the last of Jim Nantz in 2023, when the legendary CBS broadcaster called the Final Four for the final time. While Nantz’s NFL and Masters coverage have continued, he will give way to Ian Eagle during this year’s NCAA Tournament.
Studio coverage will also undergo a bit of a change, thanks to Greg Gumbel’s absence. Gumbel has been a staple of Selection Sunday since he joined CBS in 1998, becoming the voice that welcomes bubble teams to the tournament and breaks the bad news to bubble teams that don’t make the cut. That role will go elsewhere in 2024.
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Here’s what you need to know about Gumbel’s absence and whether he will be back in studio soon.
Where is Greg Gumbel?
Gumbel won’t be part of NCAA Tournament studio coverage due to family health issues, according to The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch. While no formal replacement has been named, Deitsch reports Ernie Johnson is set to have an expanded role.
CBS/WBD’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament broadcast assignments usually get announced this week but one small piece of news:
Greg Gumbel won’t be working the tournament this year as he deals with family health issues.
Look for Ernie Johnson to pick up more studio time.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) March 12, 2024
Adam Zucker and Brent Stover have also done studio work for CBS during the regular season, Awful Announcing notes, but it isn’t known whether either will pick up some of Gumbel’s work.
Some fans took note that Gumbel wasn’t present for the NCAA’s preview of the top 16 teams in February, four weeks before Selection Sunday, and his absence turned out to be more than just a scheduling conflict.
MORE: When does March Madness start?
Gumbel’s presence will particularly be missed on Selection Sunday, as he has long been the defining voice of the selection show throughout the 21st century. All recent Cinderella runs have begun with Gumbel announcing each team’s region and first-round matchup, with the longtime studio host annually walking fans through each region of the bracket.
Here’s what you need to know about Gumbel’s on-air future.
Did Greg Gumbel retire?
There is no indication that Gumbel is retiring. Gumbel is 77, so he’s likely in the latter stage of his career, but he continues to look and sound as strong and ever when in the studio.
Since the details of the family health issues Gumbel is attending to aren’t known, it’s impossible to know when to expect him back — it just won’t be during this year’s NCAA Tournament.
Gumbel did step away from NFL play-by-play duties after the 2022 season, though he extended his contract with CBS and included NCAA Tournament studio work as part of his future plans. Gumbel has served as a college basketball studio host for CBS since 1998, when he joined the network.
Gumbel’s on-air career began when he joined ESPN as an anchor and play-by-play voice in 1979. His voice has been ageless in recent years, and college basketball fans are certainly hoping one of the sport’s beloved figures is back in the studio for next season.
