Nov. 12, 2009
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IOWA CITY – – Gus Johnson, recognized as one of the most exciting and entertaining sportscasters in the industry, will call two Iowa men’s basketball games this season on the Big Ten Network. In total, he’ll call at least 15 games this year, an increase over last season.
“Gus has established himself as one of America’s favorite play-by-play announcers because his genuine passion for the game is evident during every telecast,” Big Ten Network VP, Production/Executive Producer Mark Hulsey said. “We’re thrilled to have him back for another year.”
Johnson will call the play-by-play for Hawkeye road games at Illinois (Jan. 5) and Michigan State (Jan. 20). They will be the first Hawkeye games the broadcaster will have called on the Big Ten Network. He most recently called an Iowa men’s basketball game for CBS in the first and second rounds of the 2001 NCAA Tournament against Creighton and Kentucky, respectively.
Johnson, a Detroit native, has called NFL and NCAA Tournament games for CBS since 1996 and made his Big Ten Network debut in November 2008. Johnson’s voice is associated with many memorable NCAA Tournament games of the past 15 years.
Johnson will call seven other conference match-ups throughout the season, including Wisconsin-Michigan State (Jan. 6), Northwestern-Ohio State (Jan. 19), Ohio State-Indiana (Feb. 10), Ohio State-Penn State (Feb. 24) and Wisconsin-Indiana (Feb. 25), plus two Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Quarterfinal games on March 12.
Johnson’s first Big Ten Network assignment comes tonight, when he and Jim Jackson team for the Ohio State-James Madison game in Columbus. Johnson and Jackson will call three game broadcasts together.
As the season begins with six Big Ten teams in the AP Top 25, and two in the Top 10, the Big Ten Network will be the fans’ source for the most coverage, producing nearly 300 men’s and women’s basketball games in 2009-10, including two-thirds of all men’s conference games. Every basketball game on the network will be telecast in high definition.