TSN hits the hardcourt this month with a new recruit, as former Toronto Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell joins Canada’s Sports Leader’s broadcast team for the 2013 NCAA® MARCH MADNESS®tournament.Mitchell will appear in studio throughout TSN and TSN2’s complete live coverage of NCAA® MARCH MADNESS® in Canada, working alongside host Kate Beirness and analysts Jack Armstrong and Dan Shulman.
“Sam is one of basketball’s boldest and refreshingly candid personalities and, as we saw during his days with the Raptors, he is not afraid to speak his mind on pretty much any subject,” said Ken Volden, Vice-President and Executive Producer, TSN. “With more Canadians in the spotlight for NCAA® MARCH MADNESS®, we’re looking forward to Sam’s insight on all the action from his perspective as both a former basketball player and coach.”
“MARCH MADNESS® is one of my favourite times of the year. It is a phenomenal basketball tournament where anything can happen and where the games exude raw energy, passion, and drama,” said Mitchell. “I absolutely love that Canadians have embraced the tournament in a big way, and I’m very excited to talk hoops with some of the best basketball minds in the business at TSN – and also show them how to pick a winning bracket!”
Mitchell was named head coach of the Toronto Raptors in 2004 and spent four seasons with the team. Under Mitchell, the Raptors appeared in the playoffs twice and won their first division title in franchise history during the 2006-07 NBA season. That same season, Mitchell was named the NBA’s Coach of the Year. Most recently, Mitchell was an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets.
Prior to joining the Raptors, Mitchell was an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons (2002-2004). Mitchell also played 13 seasons in the NBA, splitting his time between the Minnesota Timberwolves (1989-1992 and 1995-2002) and Indiana Pacers (1992-1995). He was drafted 54th overall in the 1985 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets.
TSN and TSN2 have exclusive live coverage of NCAA® MARCH MADNESS® in Canada. Coverage tips-off on Thursday, March 21 with Second Round match-ups beginning at 11 a.m. ET on TSN2 and 12 noon ET on TSN. Leading into the Second Round, TSN.ca has live streaming of the First Four round match-ups on March 19 and 20 beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET each night. The tournament culminates with the championship game on Monday, April 8 at 9 p.m. ET live on TSN.
