The first weekend of the 2022 NCAA Tournament lived up to every bit of hype and anticipation fans and media generated. With major upsets, including Kentucky and defending national champion Baylor being eliminated, and Saint Peter’s donning this year’s Cinderella slippers, the four days of the first and second round were absolutely March Madness.
With no disrespect meant to standouts like New Mexico State’s Teddy Allen, Saint Peter’s Doug Edert, Miami’s Isaiah Wong, Purdue’s Jaden Ivey, or Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, the Indiana cheerleader who retrieved a basketball from high behind the backboard, or fellow broadcasters Kevin Harlan and Andrew Catalon, the person who had the best NCAA Tournament weekend was play-by-play virtuoso Ian Eagle.
The shining moment of the 2022 Tournament thus far is Saint Peter’s, the No. 15 seed in the East Region, upsetting No. 2 seed Kentucky, a team many thought could advance to the Final Four if not win the national championship. Who was on the call for a game college basketball fans and bracket participants will likely be talking about for years to come? Ian Eagle.
“You can feel the madness!” Eagle yelled as the clock ran out. “Saint Peter’s pulls off the upset! The Peacocks are giant killers. They defeat Kentucky, 85-79. Cinderella lives in Indianapolis!”
As some pointed out on social media afterward, Eagle did a strong job of fitting in several NCAA Tournament signature phrases in that call. “Madness,” “giant killers,” “Cinderella” were all in there succinctly.
Saint Peter’s continued its magical Tournament run with another upset, albeit one not quite as monumental as beat Kentucky, defeating No. 7 seed Murray State, 70-60. Eagle’s voice may always be associated with the Peacock’s Sweet 16 run for college basketball fans.
“Saint Peter’s has done the unthinkable!” said Eagle. “The Peacocks in uncharted territory! They’re going to the Sweet 16… Saint Peter’s emerges as a tournament darling. They are Jersey City strong.”
By the way, Saint Peter’s head coach is Shaheen Holloway, who played college basketball at Seton Hall. In the 2000 NCAA Tournament, Holloway hit the game-winning shot to lead the Pirates to a 72-71 win over Oregon. Who was on the call for the game 22 years ago? Ian Eagle, with broadcast partner Jim Spanarkel.
Eagle is wonderful at rising to the moment and defining a standout performance with a quick turn of phrase. For instance, Dischon Thomas’s shooting performance for Colorado State in the Rams’ eventual loss to Michigan. Who better to compare to someone shooting the lights out than NBA superstar Steph Curry?
Or Jamaree Bouyea’s 36-point performance for San Francisco in a first-round loss to Murray State. As Jeff Eisenband said, Eagle has the sort of big-game voice that makes a match-up between a No. 7 and No. 10 seed sound like the NBA Finals.
Though Eagle might be most remembered for calling Saint Peter’s improbable victory over Kentucky, he also called one of the best games of the NCAA Tournament’s opening weekend, No. 11 Michigan’s win versus No. 3 Tennessee. Once again, he makes a significant moment sound big, such as Eli Brooks’s hook shot to give the Wolverines a 70-66 lead. (To borrow Bill Raftery’s signature phrase, that shot might have been the dagger.
“Head-and shoulder fake, Brooks tosses it up… OH! OLD SCHOOL!” said Eagle.
But the Eagle call that fans loved — and may have even won over some new admirers, if any weren’t already familiar with his broadcasting brilliance — was using Hunter Dickinson’s name to make not one, not two, but three references to one of the greatest Saturday Night Live skits ever during Michigan’s two victories.
And if those references are lost on you and you don’t know their origin, my goodness, treat yourself to sketch comedy magnificence — if for no other reason than to appreciate Eagle’s broadcast wizardry.
Eagle didn’t force those Bruce Dickinson references into the action, making for an awkward or clunky call. He didn’t have to. He worked them in seamlessly to an extremely appreciative audience.
Some might think Eagle was being too clever, too pop culture referential. Don’t be that buzzkill. Eagle is a professional who calls the action clearly for anyone who just wants the basics with a bit of flair. He gives magnificent performances and shining moments in their proper pedestal. He makes memorable games even more memorable.
But Eagle is also going to have fun along the way, and there’s nothing more fun for sports fans than a broadcaster working in some funny references without trying too hard. Sports is fun, right? Ian Eagle makes them even more fun because he’s so damn good at his job.
Ian Casselberry is a sports media columnist for BSM. He has previously written and edited for Awful Announcing, The Comeback, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, MLive, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation. You can find him on Twitter @iancass or reach him by email at iancass@gmail.com.
