The New March Madness Schedule Is.....AWESOME!

I grew a few inches when I first saw this.

The exact times that games will be broadcast during this year's NCAA Tournament have been released, and I am officially pumped for March Madness. Not only are all games going to be on national TV, but the start times have been spread out (especially in the 2nd round 3rd round, meaning you won't be constantly pressing buttons on your remote as much as you initially thought you would. Here is how the times break down for you, from SI's Richard Deitsch.

First Four

Tuesday, March 15
6:30 (truTV)
approx. 9:00 (truTV)

Wednesday, March 16
6:30 (truTV)
approx. 9:00 (truTV)

Second Round

Thursday, March 17

1st Set
12:00 (CBS)
12:30 (truTV)
1:30 (TBS)
2:00 (TNT)

2nd Set
approx. 2:30 (CBS)
approx. 3:00 (truTV)
approx. 4:00 (TBS)
approx. 4:30 (TNT)

3rd set
6:45 (TBS)
7:00 (CBS)
7:15 (TNT)
7:15 (truTV)

4th set
approx. 9:15 (TBS)
approx. 9:30 (CBS)
approx. 9:45 (TNT)
approx. 9:55 (truTV)

Friday, March 18

1st Set
12:00 (CBS)
12:30 (truTV)
1:30 (TBS)
2:00 (TNT)

2nd Set
approx. 2:30 (CBS)
approx. 3:00 (truTV)
approx. 4:00 (TBS)
approx. 4:30 (TNT)

3rd set
6:45 (TBS)
7:00 (CBS)
7:15 (TNT)
7:15 (truTV)

4th set
approx. 9:15 (TBS)
approx. 9:30 (CBS)
approx. 9:45 (TNT)
approx. 9:55 (truTV)

Third Round

Saturday, March 19

12:00 (CBS)
approx. 2:30 (CBS)
5:00 (CBS)
6:00 (TNT)
7:00 (TBS)
approx. 7:30 (CBS)
approx. 8:00 (TNT)
approx. 9:30 (TBS)

Sunday, March 20

12:00 (CBS)
approx. 2:30 (CBS)
5:00 (CBS)
6:00 (TNT)
7:00 (TBS)
approx. 7:30 (truTV)
approx. 8:00 (TNT)
approx. 9:30 (TBS)

Sweet Sixteen

Thursday, March 24

1st Set
7:00 (CBS)
7:15 (TBS)

2nd Set
approx. 9:30 (CBS)
approx. 9:55 (TBS)

Friday, March 25

1st Set
7:00 (CBS)
7:15 (TBS)

2nd Set
approx. 9:30 (CBS)
approx. 9:55 (TBS)

Elite 8

Saturday, March 26
4:20 (CBS)
6:55 (CBS)

Sunday, March 27
2:10 (CBS)
4:55 (CBS)

Final 4

Saturday, April 2
6:00 (CBS)
approx. 8:30 (CBS)

National Championship Game

Monday, April 1
9:00 (CBS)

Of course, chances are these are not the precise tip-off times, but rather the scheduled (or approximately scheduled), but rather the time Jim Nantz says "Hello friends" and whatever it is other announcers use to sign on to broadcasts with. Also, I know right at noon on the Thursday and Friday of what was then known as the first round (now known as the second round) of the NCAA Tournament, a 10-minute local news clip aired before we got sent to the studios with Greg Gumbel. Who knows if they will do that again. So yeah, there are a lot of variables going on and some of these times could be changed by a few minutes or so. But yeah, I love what the NCAA is doing with the staggered start times. If you want a different opinion of this from me, get back to me next year this time when I am student teaching.

(For a break down of the announcers for the tournament, click here)