I'm not talking about guys who provide commentary during the game. Obviously that would unanimously be Smellmore. The guys in the studio before games and at halftime. For me it's Digger. He's so smug, I want to step on his face.
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Who is your least favorite studio guy?
- Thread starter Willcampbell
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It's probably Gottlieb. He just doesn't provide a lot, IMO.
I'm not a huge fan of Jay Williams either. Don't get me wrong....love the guy, but something is missing. Maybe he just tries too hard. I don't know. I don't dislike him but he's hardly my favorite.
Greenburg, IMO, continues to improve. Also, while Miles Simon is kind of raw, I think he can be very good too.
Lastly, I enjoyed Bilas more in that setting than I do as a color commentator.
I'm not a huge fan of Jay Williams either. Don't get me wrong....love the guy, but something is missing. Maybe he just tries too hard. I don't know. I don't dislike him but he's hardly my favorite.
Greenburg, IMO, continues to improve. Also, while Miles Simon is kind of raw, I think he can be very good too.
Lastly, I enjoyed Bilas more in that setting than I do as a color commentator.
Dukiejay: Takes guts to call out Jay Williams on this board, but I'm afraid I have to agree. He doesn't bring a lot to the table. I wish he were playing, instead of being just another talking head. I don't think he's long for the gig, because his playing rep is only going to last so long. I love the guy too, but maybe he should call Laettner about a real estate job. Bilas is another story. His head is getting bigger every day; he's like the Barry Bonds of basketball announcing.
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So do you want Hubert Davis or Jalen Rose to take that spot back from Jay? I'm good. We have 2 Dukies on the show. Tells you something with how well spoken and hard working our guys are compared to other programs. He is full of energy and will continue to get better on there. That show is designed to be more upbeat, chipper, on campus, etc. He is just fitting the vibe of the show.
I didn't say Jay wasn't hard-working....he's just not my cup of tea. I prefer others over him. It's not an indictment on him, or me, for that matter.
I admit I'm biased and won't shy away from that, but that doesn't mean I'm going to think someone is excellent or bad at their job just because of where they went to school.
Obviously, the executives at espn think Jay does a very good job. And for what he's asked to do he probably does, but as a personal preference he's not one of my favorites. That doesn't make me any less of a Duke fan or a Jay Williams fan from his playing days at Duke.
Lastly, I didn't like Hubert either. Jalen is pretty good, IMO, but I can't look past some of the things he's said in the past about Duke. Like I said, I've never claimed not to be biased.
I admit I'm biased and won't shy away from that, but that doesn't mean I'm going to think someone is excellent or bad at their job just because of where they went to school.
Obviously, the executives at espn think Jay does a very good job. And for what he's asked to do he probably does, but as a personal preference he's not one of my favorites. That doesn't make me any less of a Duke fan or a Jay Williams fan from his playing days at Duke.
Lastly, I didn't like Hubert either. Jalen is pretty good, IMO, but I can't look past some of the things he's said in the past about Duke. Like I said, I've never claimed not to be biased.
I hope you're right, GTH. I would love to see Jay get better. Only commenting on the body of work so far. As far as Jalen Rose and Hubert Davis are concerned, I'd rather have Tokyo Rose and Bette Davis.
What about the previous comment about Greenberg? Does a guy who got fired deserve to be an "expert?" If so, hire the last four coached from Fordham. Just tweaking. Rather argue about this than how many minutes MP3 should play, BORING!!
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What about the previous comment about Greenberg? Does a guy who got fired deserve to be an "expert?" If so, hire the last four coached from Fordham. Just tweaking. Rather argue about this than how many minutes MP3 should play, BORING!!
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Bilas is starting to come off as somewhat arrogant (ala Billy Packer-like), but he has a very good basketball mind and typically provides somewhat interesting commentary / perspective. While I'm not saying I adore Bilas, I find him to be much better than most commentators (in a world of Walton, Dakich, Fraschilla, Bilas is not that bad).
Battier looks incredibly uncomfortable at this stage, but I think he'll improve with time. He has valuable things to say.
I think J-Will's personality / demeanor etc. have come a long way, and I actually think he's become pretty good at the performance-aspect of being a studio analyst. IMO, the problem is that his basketball analysis is really unsophisticated and, in my view, often not very good.
Battier looks incredibly uncomfortable at this stage, but I think he'll improve with time. He has valuable things to say.
I think J-Will's personality / demeanor etc. have come a long way, and I actually think he's become pretty good at the performance-aspect of being a studio analyst. IMO, the problem is that his basketball analysis is really unsophisticated and, in my view, often not very good.
I prefer Rose to all former Dukies not named Battier. I have met Jay Bilas on a few occasions and actually know J Williams. Those two are a little pompous for my taste, and I feel like they go out of the way to seem not partial. I'm not saying that they have to be part of the hype machine, but give our guys some press too. Bilas has praised Cook, but I have not seen Williams mention him.
Gottlieb no doubt! I LOATHE him.
I've spent time with Bilas and to me he is confident, not cocky or pompous. It is who he is and I love it.
Miles Simon is becoming a favorite, we spent time with him in Vegas and I was so impressed.
I've spent time with Bilas and to me he is confident, not cocky or pompous. It is who he is and I love it.
Miles Simon is becoming a favorite, we spent time with him in Vegas and I was so impressed.
He's more of a color commentary guy versus a "studio" guy, but Dan Dakich is terrible. I think he does mainly B1G games so some of you may not hear him much. You're lucky.
I agree completely on Gottlieb, and unfortunately I largely agree on Jay. As DJ said, I get the impression that he is trying too hard and that his commentary isn't organic or natural. I think that as he continues to work and develop, he will get better and steadily overcome that because I do think he is knowledgeable. He just has to get more comfortable and have the give and take occur more naturally. His trying to manufacture arguments with Greenberg is where he sometimes struggles. As far as Gottlieb, there is no hope.
Hey Will, if you have something to say about Digger, don't hold back, let it out (lmao)!!!! That's so rich!!!!
That's kind of how I feel about Seth Greenburg, he was a loser @VT and is a loser in the booth. As a matter of fact, he is probably hurting Jay Williams, as they definitely clash more than agree!! The other night, when they were both with Rece Davis, Greenburg was basically ripping the hype of Okafor not playing for Duke, and also the excitement "K" was showing before the game, and Jay tore into him about the way Duke does things! Made me proud of Jay, and Rece didn't know what to say!
There are quite a few that are hard to take, including Greenberg, Gottlieb, and Barkley.
Go Duke!!
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I missed this. What all did Jay say? I am proud of him for standing up for Duke and K. He tries too hard not to most of the time. Also, I hated Digger when he was on and Doug is awful. Also, not college basketball, but Skip Bayless may be the biggest waste of space when it comes to talking basketball. Dude knows jack squat about B-ball.
I have to go with Gottlieb also.
And I think Jay is not so bad. He's young, still learning, and with a little more experience I think he'll be a good one.
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And I think Jay is not so bad. He's young, still learning, and with a little more experience I think he'll be a good one.
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The NBA TNT crew during NCAA Tourney drives me nuts. IMO that crew acts as if they are above covering college basketball by taking jabs at teams.Barkley throws out two hundred predictions and when one hits other media members act like he is Nostradomas. They don't know any players names and talk nonsense 90% of time, cannot understand why people think that crew is solid.
Gotleib is a popular choice, and while I am not particularly fond o his style, I think he has pretty good knowledge of the game and makes good and interesting points. Seth Davis is the guy for me. How did he get to be "an expert"? He either states the obvious or is just wrong about things. He doesn't know the game of basketball well at all, IMO... but you knew that.
Digger is harmless. Bilas is the best, though I can see the arrogance (Packer-esque) claim that someone made in this thread. I don't see it that way, but he is definitely getting over-exposed. The same thing happens to all of the best commentators.
Digger is harmless. Bilas is the best, though I can see the arrogance (Packer-esque) claim that someone made in this thread. I don't see it that way, but he is definitely getting over-exposed. The same thing happens to all of the best commentators.
Laettner, I absolutely agree with your post. I have no idea how these guys got this gig, but to me it is the biggest mistake a network could make! What an insult to the best game today, College BB.
I don't even watch when they are on. During the break, when they come on, I change to something else until their done!
Go Duke!!
JC-OFC
Does Bilas still write that insider column for ESPN? I thought he came across as pretty arrogant in that forum, even though I often thought he made good points.
Seth Davis is pretty miserable. Greenberg comes across to me as a jerk and sometimes bitter. I think Gottlieb has good things to say, but he can pretty obnoxious at times. I'm holding out hope for Miles Simon --- I think he has a chance to be really good.
Doug Gottlieb and I would also like to add Stephen A Smith even though he doesn't really do college
I didn't mean for Barkley to show up on this thread, but let's face it: he has the best job in the world, except maybe for meteorologists. He can say the stupidest, most racist things, cash the big check, and then go play golf. The American dream.
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Of the women, Kara Lawson isn't bad. She is very knowledgeable, just kind of boring. I thought Battier was made for the studio in his brief stint, but they are pushing him as an announcer. I think he's better in studio.
Gottdweeb is the worst person on Earth as far as I'm concerned. Personally and professionally.
Gottdweeb is the worst person on Earth as far as I'm concerned. Personally and professionally.
Hill has been improving with each call. I think he should try to end up in the studio. Although, if he ends up on ESPN at some point with Jalen, how awkward would that be?