Brian Anderson Misses NCAA Tournament Coverage Due to Voice Issues

Brian Anderson from TNT announced that he won’t be able to cover the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament because he has lost his voice. NBC’s Jason Benetti will take over for him during Thursday’s games.

Anderson’s hoarseness was evident during Tuesday’s broadcast alongside Charles Barkley and Dick Vitale. He expressed hope to return by Saturday, saying, “I can’t play the first game on Thursday. I lost my voice.” He shared a post on Instagram that included a sick emoji and remarked, “I am feeling better and I hope to be back on Saturday. We have prepared a lot for these games, and it’s a shame to not be able to get to the fun part!”

He mentioned with gratitude how he recommended Jason Benetti, noting that he is a trusted friend and colleague. Anderson thanked the executives at TNT Sports and CBS for accommodating this change, emphasizing that Benetti knows the team and production staff well. He also acknowledged Rick Cordella and others at NBC for helping facilitate the arrangement.

Benetti, who has experience covering the NCAA Tournament for Westwood One radio, will be joining analyst Jim Jackson and sideline reporter Allie LaForce in Buffalo for the event.

As a seasoned broadcaster with 15 years under his belt, Benetti is currently the play-by-play voice for the Detroit Tigers on Detroit Sportsnet. Additionally, it’s worth noting that in March, it was announced he will be the play-by-play voice for NBC and Peacock’s “Sunday Night Baseball” in the upcoming season.

Looking ahead, Anderson noted that Pat McCarthy from Westwood One, who covers the Mets and St. Joseph men’s basketball, will step in for Benetti on Thursday. He expressed enthusiasm about the new voices saying, “It’s bad timing, but it gives two new voices a chance to be heard on a big stage, and I’m sure they’ll both smash it.”