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If this was any other year, I’d be sitting on my couch watching CBS and tuning in to TruTV for the first time in around 355 days while debating if it’s acceptable to crack a beer before noon as I ready myself for a day filled to the brim with college basketball.
However, unless you’re a massive fan of The Price is Right and/or Impractical Jokers, you’re going to be vastly disappointed if you instinctively turn on either of those channels today to see if the past week or so has just all been a bad dream.
While the NCAA did everything in its power to give us the distraction we need in a time like this, the organization followed the lead of the multiple leagues who put their seasons on hold and went a step further when it announced March Madness was officially canceled last week.
With the world of sports at a virtual standstill aside from some occasional NFL free agency news, broadcasters are scrambling to give fans their fix—including ESPN, which recently announced “The Ocho” will be returning for anyone desperate enough to turn to marble racing and Golden Tee tournaments to fill the current void.
Now, CBS is stepping up to the plate as well, as NCAA media coordinator David Worlock hopped on Twitter on Thursday to reveal the network will be devoting a few afternoons over the next couple of weekends to airing some classic March Madness games for our viewing pleasure.
To help fill the void of not having #MarchMadness this year, CBS is airing these games (1/3):
Saturday, March 21:
12 p.m.: UNC vs. Georgetown (1982 title game)
2 p.m.: NC St. vs Houston (1983 title game)
4 p.m.: Duke vs. Kentucky (1992 regional final)
All times ET— David Worlock (@DavidWorlock) March 19, 2020
(3/3)
Sunday, March 29:
12 p.m.: Villanova vs. Georgetown (1985 title game)
2 p.m.: Arizona vs. Kentucky (1997 title game)
4 p.m.: Duke vs. Butler (2010 title game)
All times ET— David Worlock (@DavidWorlock) March 19, 2020
The slate will feature some throwbacks—including Michael Jordan’s game-winner against Georgetown and Christian Laettner’s legendary shot—in addition to some modern classics like Gordon Hayward’s narrowly-missed miracle against Duke and last year’s championship that needed overtime to be decided.
There is a suspicious lack of UMBC and Florida Gulf Coast on this list but hopefully they’ll get around to those eventually.