Tournament Tips Tuesday on truTV

All the whining has ended, so it's time to focus on the game action and the things that make the NCAA Tournament so compelling -- game-ending, last-second shots and Cinderella teams.

First, though, viewers have to find the games.

Broadcast partner truTV plays host to the newly christened "First Four" on Tuesday and Wednesday nights as the NCAA Tournament begins a new era.

It's an era of bigger money (for the NCAA and it's member institutions) and more responsibility (for viewers).

As part of a 14-year, $10.8 billion deal that begins this year, four different networks carry the games. It's no longer a CBS Sports monopoly, and that means viewers can watch the games of their choice in their entirety. Along with CBS, TV outlets include TBS, TNT and truTV.

Although truTV has been an easy target because it's the least-watched of the four networks in the partnership, it is available to 92 million of the nation's 110 million TV households, so most people should have access to the games.

At the same time, though, balancing the tournament among four broadcast partners means the tournament loses some of what was its accepted and traditional TV format -- that exciting, wonderful switching from game finishes.

Ratings for each of the networks should be up -- again, picking on truTV (and it's true for TBS and TNT as well), the games could draw ratings better than what regular programming on the networks usually pull.

In addition, CBS has wisely balanced the broadcast schedule allowing it to feature big-market teams and traditional powers while giving its partners quality games at the same time. Here's the FULL TV SCHEDULE for the first three rounds.

Games Tuesday/Wednesday are the former play-in/opening round, making games that begin Thursday the first round. Of course, in one of the biggest untold stories of the tournament, do not expect CBS and its partners, or ESPN or any other NCAA broadcast partner, to report on how the simple renaming of rounds means more bonus money for coaches who have incentives in their contracts.

Anyway, with games ready to tip in just hours, here are four things you need to know as the Road to the Final Four gets under way.

First, CBS and its partners enjoy Cinderella performances early but they want big-name teams to advance.
Viewers love excitement and unpredictability, especially in the first few rounds. As things progress, though, notable coaches and traditional powers drive interest and ratings. Plus, as was clear with the No. 1 CBS broadcast team during the Big Ten Conference semifinals, the on-air types know the nuances and news related to visible, well-known programs but they do not have as much of a comfort level with middling or unexpected teams. Good teams make for better broadcasts.

Second, Gus Johnson might be one of the most-hyped second bananas in sports TV history -- and certainly in its current era.
Yes, a second banana is traditionally a sidekick, so the name is not 100 percent accurate but Johnson is the tournament's No. 2 play-by-play announcer, who seems to rank No. 1 in many viewers' hearts. His energy and style are fun, but it's still hard to imagine viewers for any game tuning in to hear a specific announcer. He's close, though, and he gets an awful lot of love from fans and media critics.

Third, three is not a crowd with Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg and Steve Kerr.
On the No. 1 TV team, Steve Kerr has joined Nantz/Kellogg as a second color commentator. He was an OK fit during his debut working the Big Ten semifinals, and hopefully the trio will continue to work out the kinks. However, with two color commentators, Nantz needs to stay away from offering opinions -- he's there to describe the action and sounds preachy when he comments on the sport or issues. Also, we need less behind-the-scenes chuckles and info from this group about what happens at CBS. Best of all, though, it's a group without Billy Packer. His absence has not made my heart remember him fondly.

Fourth, crowded studios and NBA experts crossing over to work college games do bring interesting perspectives.
Everybody expected Charles Barkley to unleash loud rants (and he still might) but ESPN's studio crew, especially Jay Bilas, took care of that during Selection Sunday. We do not need spot-on analysis from the studio types, so the role of NBA guys -- joining the fray because TNT has a part of the action this year -- can be more entertainment and enjoyment. With brackets and the cultural phenom it has become, the tournament has a large casual audience. Barkley and Kenny Smith should be fine providing information and opinions. It might not be so much expertise, because they clearly do not know all they should, but it'll be fine. Plus, the tournament gets Marv Albert (YES!) working games for those who enjoy him.