College Basketball on USA

College Basketball on USA is the de facto title for the USA Network's coverage of NCAA men's basketball during the 1980s.[1] USA's telecasts were produced in association with Mizlou TV Sports.

Coverage overview

USA aired games from the Big East Conference leading up to their coverage of the 1983 Big East Tournament.[2] USA also had rights to games from the Big Ten, ACC, and the old Metro Conference.

Regular season games[3] aired on Thursday nights[4] or Saturdays[5] under the title of College Basketball... followed by the corresponding year during the season such as College Basketball '87.[6] The games were subject to local blackouts. By this time[7], USA was airing games involving the Southeastern Conference (such as the Mississippi and Mississippi State[8]) and games featuring UTEP and Wyoming.

USA also aired the National Invitation Tournament[9] including the finals.

Steve Grad and Duane Dow[10] were among the commentators used by USA. USA also employed Al Albert, Mal Campbell, Jim Karvellas, Al Trautwig[11][12], and Pete Maravich.[13] Sometimes, the play-by-play announcers would work with each other and even do color.

On January 24, 1984, Al Albert, working for USA network, called what Syracuse fans call the greatest game in the Carrier Dome ever. Syracuse faced Boston College, and the teams were tied 73-73 after a missed free throw by Boston College's Martin Clark. Sean Kerins passed the rebound to Pearl Washington who took three steps and made a half court shot to win the game. Albert's call lives in infamy as The Greatest Play By Play Call in the Carrier Dome ever: "Washington, two seconds, OHHHH! 'The Pearl' hits it ..at midcourt."[14][15] Syracuse University basketball fans call that the greatest nine words in Syracuse history.

See also

References
  1. World Tennis, Volume 30, Issues 1-6. CBS Publications. 1982.
  2. USA Network Sports Promos (Mar. 8, 1983) on YouTube
  3. USA sports promo, 1983 on YouTube
  4. USA Network College Basketball Utep vs Wyoming Commercial 1988 on YouTube
  5. Wall, Kevin M. (April 12, 2016). "Pearl Washington: An Inspiration On and Off the Court". Nunes Magician.
  6. CGI History - 1987 USA Sports Basketball - Ed Kramer, CGI Expert Wizard on YouTube
  7. Klatell, Marcus, David A., Norman (1988). Sports for sale: television, money, and the fans. Oxford University Press. p. 58.
  8. December 11, 1984 Commercial Breaks 📺 USA Network on YouTube
  9. USA Network 1987 commercials on YouTube
  10. La Salle 1987 NIT Championship Game vs Southern Miss on YouTube
  11. "Al Trautwig '78, to be Honored with Doctor of Humane Letters Degree". Adelphi University. May 9, 2017.
  12. "Al Trautwig (1991) - Hall of Fame - Adelphi University Athletics". Adelphi University Athletics.
  13. Towle, Mike. Pete Maravich: Magician of the Hardwood. Cumberland House Publishing.
  14. Pearl Washington's Half-Court Buzzer-Beater (1984) | Great Moments in Syracuse University Sports on YouTube
  15. Pearl Washington's greatest shot ever against Boston College 1/21/84 on YouTube
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