So, for the second straight year, the Turner channels did something really cool for the Final Four. One channel carried the national broadcast, with Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery and Grant Hill, and sister channels carried team-specific commentary: TNT features a Duke stream with Alaa Abdelnaby and a Kentucky stream with Rex Chapman in the second game, and truTV features a Michigan State stream with Mateen Cleaves and a Wisconsin stream announced by Wayne Larrivee..
And for the second straight year, fans didn't figure this out and got super mad.
Here's a bunch of people who got upset about the Kentucky broadcasters on TNT -- including Deion Sanders!
This announcer is so biased towards Kentucky! You can tell he wants them to win. Wow. I don't care who wins I just like great games. #Truth
— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) April 5, 2015
Who says Thank u as a announcer after a bucket and foul!?
— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) April 5, 2015
We think Kevin Durant did, too:
Who is this guy announcing the game? Please don't let him be on ever again.
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) April 5, 2015
And many more:
This announcer on TNT has to go....soo Kentucky bias.....he's awful
— James Laurinaitis (@JLaurinaitis55) April 5, 2015
Dear TNT announcer, you are not Kentucky. All you are suppose to do is announce and report what is happening. Note:Do not watch @NBAonTNT
— Blake Evans (@BbBigmz) April 5, 2015
#TNT should be ashamed of themselves for having the terrible announcers. They're so rooting for Kentucky it's not even funny. Pathetic
— Adam Perez ⚾ (@AP804) April 5, 2015
TNT color analyst is just awful. So much Kentucky bias.
— Mike Monahan (@MoNo_Hands) April 5, 2015
Why are the commentators rooting for Kentucky on #TNT?#NCAATournament should be pissed about referee criticism by TNT
— Gary Engdahl (@UncleGary55) April 5, 2015
Currently watching the game on mute thanks to this unbelievably biased commentator.. Think someone's got money on Kentucky? Holy hell!
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) April 5, 2015
Who is this guy announcing the Wisc-Kentucky game? I've never heard a more blatantly biased announcer in my life. Where's the mute button.
— Grind City (@grindcitymem) April 5, 2015
I can't tell if these commentators work for Kentucky or TNT
— Enoch Smith Jr. (@ESmithJr_56) April 5, 2015
Wow this announcer on TNT is a big time homer!!!! For Kentucky! Call the game right bozo!!!! #FinalFour
— BeastMode74 (@agaribay74) April 5, 2015
I have literally never watched a game with such biased announcers. They could not be routing for Kentucky any harder. TNT should be ashamed
— Mike Nittolo (@MikeNittolo) April 5, 2015
The commentary of this game is BLATANTLY rooting for Kentucky. Is that legal ??
— UGA's Michael Ealy (@_WakeUpMrWest) April 5, 2015
This commentator on TNT is all over Kentucky's nutts. How did he get this job on such a big stage? He's terrible! #FinalFour
— Kala Patao (@KalaPatao) April 5, 2015
I just love how the TNT announcers are rooting for Kentucky! What hell happened to being objective!!! #tnthomers #tntfail
— Moses Rodriguez (@rodriguezmoses) April 5, 2015
Kentucky announcers on tnt are so biased
— Brady H (@BradyHeytens14) April 5, 2015
what happened to unbiased game commentary? tonight's announcers of #NCAATournament on #tnt for wisconsin/kentucky game are so, so bad.
— Laurie Pickei (@LauriePickei) April 5, 2015
I have never seen a more biased reporting of a basketball game than the @TNT reporters of this Kentucky vs Wisconsin Final Four game
— Tyler Sibley (@TSibz) April 5, 2015
The fucking announcers on #TNT are clearly #kentucky homers. It's disgusting how bad it is.
— RealGabagool (@RealGabagool) April 5, 2015
@TNT next time try to get more bias announcers... its like listening to a kentucky pep rally #annoying
— Andrew Rebmann (@a_rebs06) April 5, 2015
Announcers for #FinalFour are so obviously for #kentucky it's disgusting. #TNT
— Al The Beige (@DarthBeige) April 5, 2015
I have never seen such bad commentating in my life. This guy is coaching Kentucky #NCAATournament #TNT
— Steven Sajous (@StevenSajous) April 5, 2015
Hey TNT, It would be so much nicer to listen to your announcers if they weren't so busy cheering for Kentucky #MarchMadness
— Stephen Loomis (@StephenLoomis) April 5, 2015
This commentator on TNT #FinalFour is #annoying. Everything he says all for #Kentucky. Thought they were supposed to be neutral
— Chris Haldi (@ChrisHaldi) April 5, 2015
The dude calling the game on tnt is a Kentucky homer. No one knows who he is but he is a Kentucky hunker. FU loser. Go Wisconsin! It is ovr
— Kenny Peacock (@kennygp3) April 5, 2015
Why's this TNT commentator so in love with Kentucky
— Alec Tobey (@Alec_Tobey15) April 5, 2015
These TNT commentators are so bias towards Kentucky
— Gary English (@GaryTriplee) April 5, 2015
This TNT broadcast is HILARIOUS. The guy is literally cheering for Kentucky.
— Jordan James (@iordaniames) April 5, 2015
Is this announce FOR Kentucky? #TNT
— Brian DeCandia (@brian_decandia) April 5, 2015
This TNT announcer sound like he rooting for Kentucky lol
— Barrdastar™ (@Barrdastar) April 5, 2015
This TNT commentators are obvious they want kentucky to win #MarchMaddness
— Jade Moreno (@JMorenoNYC) April 5, 2015
These announcers on tnt are so biased towards Kentucky it's unreal
— Ryan Manning (@Ryan_Man_Ning) April 5, 2015
Man are the TNT announcers rooting for Kentucky or what!!!!
— Bobby Roses (@bigbadbruin4) April 5, 2015
This announcer for TNT is awful. Obvious he wants Kentucky to win and is crying like a baby
— ☀Trey Mitchell☀ (@TheTreyinator) April 5, 2015
These TNT announcers should be fired. I don't even care who wins but they are actively routing on the air for Kentucky.. Weird!!
— Dave Gilson (@djgils) April 5, 2015
Can these TNT announcers be any more in love with Kentucky. Please some objectivity.
— Tim Hufler (@HuflerTim) April 5, 2015
These fans were watching the Duke stream in the first game:
What's up with these Duke homers on TNT?
— Brian Joyce (@bjoyce_hoops) April 4, 2015
TNT is so bias to duke
— David Hawes (@hawzie32) April 4, 2015
Tnt commentator sure does love duke, I wander why
— Glenn Sr (@gjsgjjzj) April 4, 2015
Why is the whole TNT broadcast about Duke!? #onesided #MSUpride #imintheIzzone #michiganstatespartans
— Amanda Jo Dale (@AmandaJoWB) April 4, 2015
Do the TNT announcers know there's another team besides Duke
— jim fischer (@jmfisch4) April 4, 2015
TNT has a bromance with Duke. Not sure if the they know MSU is the other team. #GoGreen
— Brent Pilarski (@BrentPilarski) April 4, 2015
I've never felt my team be more ignored by a network than TNT today
— TUMTUM (@RynMcCrthy) April 4, 2015
Am I watching Duke TV or TNT? Fair and balanced coverage #FinalFour
— Ken Williams (@kendog65) April 4, 2015
The games also had different feeds -- these fans were specifically mad that Tom Izzo wasn't getting facetime:
Why is Izzo getting zero face time? Hate this. Show some love for the Spartans TNT!!!!
— Karli Nutter (@karlinutter) April 4, 2015
Is Tom Izzo at the game? 96 shots of coach K - 0 shots of Izzo on TNT #whereisIzzo
— Joel Wyttenhove (@joelwytt) April 4, 2015
The haven't even had a camera shot of Tom Izzo all half or the Spartan bench, no respect. #tnt #MarchMadness #FinalFour
— Marcus Hard(Gärv)ly (@jaylocsta37) April 4, 2015
What's with TNT not showing a single shot of Coach Izzo from the sideline?? Where is Izzo??!!
— Paul Cuadros (@LosJetsSoccer) April 4, 2015
(Hat-tip to Stewart Mandel for finding some of these.)
* * *
Greatest Cinderella: Was it the NC State Wolfpack or Butler Bulldogs?
Be sure to subscribe to SB Nation's YouTube channel for highlight videos, features, analysis and more