March Madness 2026 play-by-play voice missing first round after painful broadcast

TNT’s Brian Anderson said “my voice is wrecked” and that NBC play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti will fill-in for him during the first-round coverage of the NCAA Men’s Tournament on Thursday.

Anderson, who was noticeably hoarse on Tuesday’s First Four broadcast with Charles Barkley and Dick Vitale, said he hopes to be back on Saturday.

“I’m a no-go for Round 1 Thursday. My voice is wrecked,” Anderson shared Wednesday in an Instagram post, including an image of a sick emoji face. “It’s getting better and I hope to return Saturday. We put a lot of prep into these games and it’s crushing to not get to the fun part!

“I recommended the great Jason Benetti, a trusted friend and colleague. I’m grateful the execs at TNT Sports and CBS made it happen. He knows the teams and our production crew well already. It’s a big ask. Special thanks to Rick Cordella of NBC and @westwoodonesports for their grace allowing JB to do this.”

Benetti — who is working the NCAA Tournament doing radio for Westwood One — will join analyst Jim Jackson and sideline reporter Allie LaForce in Buffalo.

A 15-year veteran of MLB broadcasting, Benetti is the play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Tigers on Detroit SportsNet.

It was announced in March that Benetti will be the lead play-by-play voice for “Sunday Night Baseball” on NBC and Peacock for the 2026 season.

He previously called MLB and Olympic baseball for NBC Sports.

Jason Benetti before a Hall of Fame Series college basketball game between the Connecticut Huskies and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Madison Square Garden on December 14, 2024 in New York City. Getty Images

Pat McCarthy, a radio broadcaster for Westwood One covering the Mets and Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball, will fill in for Benetti on Thursday, Anderson said.

“Pat will step in to call the national radio pxp. He and his dad Tom will be calling the same Big Dance!” Anderson added. “I love that. Thanks for the well wishes. Timing stinks but 2 new voices will get the chance to be heard on a big stage and they will both crush it.”