Busting Brackets Q and A with Jay Bilas

November 18, 2012; Lahaina, HI, USA; ESPN television announcer Jay Bilas moderates a press conference at the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa during media day for the 2012 Maui Invitational. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s Jay Bilas is a lot of things. Lawyer, former assistant coach, tweet craftsman extraordinaire, student-athletes’ rights advocate, and one of the more beloved college basketball personalities around. All of which make him a very important man this time of the year. Luckily for Busting Brackets, though, Jay was able to make some time for us to ask him some questions.

So enough of my gibber-jabber. You didn’t come here to read me ramble. You clicked on the link for your Jay Bilas fix.

I asked Jay about coach behavior on the sideline. Not only did he talk about coaches behaving poorly, but did have some solutions as well.

"Coaches have been out of control. They have been for awhile. It didn’t just happen overnight. I don’t blame the officials either. They are independent contractors. It’s almost like they are timid while making calls because they know coaches have a say in their employment. The NBA does a much better job with their officials. Some of that has to do with the NBA owning their officials."

When asked if one of the first steps of solving coach behavior on the sideline was to make the college officials full-time employees, Bilas said:

"Yes. Definitely.  It’s also not too much to ask out of the coaches to behave. They need to be better, but everyone does as well. Conference commissioners need to hold them (coaches) more responsible for their actions. I feel like the ACC let a golden opportunity get by when they didn’t take more action after the Syracuse, Duke game. Boeheim got ejected, but more could have been done. It is up to the conferences, commissioners, school presidents and even us to set a standard. If it were a player who did what some of these coaches do, we would jump all over it. But because it is a coach it becomes acceptable."

Bilas did point out, a few different times, that “it isn’t all coaches” that are behaving badly. That there are “some very good coaches” around, but that the coaches who are acting like buffoons (my word, not his) need to be dealt with. The underlying theme seemed to be of the conferences and school presidents setting the standard for coach behavior.

That’s not all we got to talk about either. I had a chance to ask him about Mark Cuban’s NBDL talk. You know, how the NCAA (college basketball) is not needed and that the NBDL is a better option.

"It might be a better option for some. Definitely not everybody, though. I really think that everyone is better served with players staying in school. The game itself, the NBA, the players, everyone. I don’t know where every NBDL team is located, but going to school to learn and build character is a far better option in my opinion."

I would mention that some people’s arguments seem to be about players coming out of high school being able to work on their craft and getting paid for it in the NBDL. I asked him if the NCAA finally decided to pay players if that would change the discussion about the NBDL’s worth to players.

"Certainly. I have said it on the air multiple times that I think players should be paid. One of the great lies of our time is that college sports’ ability to function rests in the rule to not pay student-athletes anything more than just tuition and board. It’s laughable. They claim that the athletes have no value. That it’s the enterprise that drives the value, not the player. One of the NCAA’s arguments is about competitive balance. That paying the athletes would result in a bidding war. If it would result in a bidding war, then the players do have a value. College’s don’t have a cap on anything else. Coaches are paid whatever schools want to pay them, facilities are constructed without a cap, everything except the student-athletes function without a cap."

It is worth noting that I may have rushed through the interview a bit. In the interest of full disclosure, I was (wrongly) working off the assumption I had a limited amount of time with him. I had plenty. Truth be told, I could have listened to Jay talk all day and his insights into the world of college basketball are amazing. There might not be a more articulate, smarter or better rapping (yes, rapping, kinda) college basketball personality than Jay Bilas.

That is what happens when a dope like me gets to interview Jay Bilas. Just be happy I didn’t ask him some of the things I had drafted up (if you were a billionaire ten times over and could build a university, what would it be called, where would it be, and who would coach the basketball team), as they would be questions that only I would want the answers to.

However, I have good news for everyone who loves Jay. He is still calling games, can be seen on your picture-box (ESPN, obviously) and will be all over your radio as March continues to get Mad.

Jay is riding along with the ACC Tournament for ESPN. Mr. Bilas isn’t the lone ESPN personality worth following for college basketball, though. There are plenty of others (some of who we have interviewed and those will be posted throughout the weekend).

ESPN will be having all day coverage on Selection Sunday. But don’t wait until than to get your college basketball related fun.

Outside of the awesomeness that is Busting Brackets, if you have particular favorites at ESPN, here is a release from ESPN regarding every game they are carrying and who will be calling them.

Championship Week Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods Schedule

Darren Goldwater & Dean Keender

Asheville, N.C.

ESPN3

Noon

Matt Hogue & Nate Ross

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

ESPN3

1:30 p.m.

Darren Goldwater & Dean Keender

Asheville, N.C.

ESPN3

2 p.m.

Matt Hogue & Nate Ross

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

ESPN3

4:30 p.m.

Darren Goldwater & Dean Keender

Asheville, N.C.

ESPN3

6 p.m.

Patrick Kinas & Ralph Patterson

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

ESPNU

7:30 p.m.

Rich Hollenberg & Adrian Branch

Nashville, Tenn.

ESPN3

8 p.m.

Patrick Kinas & Ralph Patterson

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

ESPNU

9:30 p.m.

Rich Hollenberg & Adrian Branch

Nashville, Tenn.

ESPN3

Noon

Doug Sherman & Rob Kennedy

Springfield, Mass.

ESPN3

Noon

Eric Frede & Frank Sullivan

Albany, N.Y.

ESPN3

Noon

Patrick Kinas & Ralph Patterson

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

ESPN3

Noon

Darren Goldwater & Dean Keender

Asheville, N.C.

ESPN3

2 p.m.

Patrick Kinas & Ralph Patterson

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

ESPN3

2 p.m.

Eric Frede & Frank Sullivan

Albany, N.Y.

ESPN3

2:30 p.m.

Darren Goldwater & Dean Keender

Asheville, N.C.

ESPN3

2:30 p.m.

Doug Sherman & Rob Kennedy

Springfield, Mass.

ESPN3

6 p.m.

Darren Goldwater & Dean Keender

Asheville, N.C.

ESPN3

6 p.m.

Eric Frede & Frank Sullivan

Albany, N.Y.

ESPN3

6:30 p.m.

Doug Sherman & Rob Kennedy

Springfield, Mass.

ESPN2

7 p.m.

Rich Hollenberg & Adrian Branch

Nashville, Tenn.

ESPN3

7 p.m.

Jim Barbar & Malcolm Huckaby

Green Bay, Wis.

ESPN3

8 p.m.

Eric Frede & Frank Sullivan

Albany, N.Y.

ESPN3

8:30 p.m.

Darren Goldwater & Dean Keender

Asheville, N.C.

ESPN2

9 p.m.

Dave Flemming & Sean Farnham

Las Vegas, Nev.

ESPN3

9 p.m.

Doug Sherman & Rob Kennedy

Springfield, Mass.

ESPNU

9:30 p.m.

Jim Barbar & Malcolm Huckaby

Green Bay, Wis.

ESPN2

11 p.m.

Dave Flemming & Sean Farnham

Las Vegas, Nev.

ESPN2

Noon

Roy Philpott & Paul Biancardi

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

ESPN2

2 p.m.

Jason Benetti & Cory Alexander

TBD

ESPN3

4:30 p.m.

Doug Sherman & Rob Kennedy

Springfield, Mass.

ESPN3

5 p.m.

Eric Frede & Frank Sullivan

Albany, N.Y.

ESPN3

7 p.m.

Doug Sherman & Rob Kennedy

Springfield, Mass.

ESPN3

7:30 p.m.

Eric Frede & Frank Sullivan

Albany, N.Y.

ESPN2

7 p.m.

Doug Sherman & Tim Welsh

Springfield, Mass.

ESPN

9 p.m.

Dave Flemming & Sean Farnham

Las Vegas, Nev.

ESPN2

9 p.m.

Adam Amin & Mark Adams

Asheville, N.C.

ESPN2

11:30 p.m.

Dave Flemming & Sean Farnham

Las Vegas, Nev.

ESPN

7 p.m.

Bob Wischusen & TBD

TBD

ESPN2

7 p.m.

Mike Crispino & Miles Simon

TBD

ESPN

9 p.m.

Dave Flemming & Sean Farnham

Las Vegas, Nev.

ESPN2

9 p.m.

Clay Matvick & Darrin Horn

Sioux Falls, S.D.

ESPN2

1 p.m.

Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ESPN2

3 p.m.

Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ESPN2

7 p.m.

Dan Shulman, Sean Farnham & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ESPNU

7 p.m.

Mike Patrick & Len Elmore

Memphis, Tenn.

ESPN2

9:30 p.m.

Dave O’Brien & Doris Burke

Memphis, Tenn.

ESPN

Noon

Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ESPN2

12:30 p.m.

Brent Musburger, Fran Fraschilla & Holly Rowe

Kansas City, Mo.

ESPNU

1 p.m.

Mike Patrick, Len Elmore & Andy Katz

Memphis, Tenn.

ESPN

2 p.m.

Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ESPN2

2:30 p.m.

Brent Musburger, Fran Fraschilla & Holly Rowe

Kansas City, Mo.

ESPNU

3 p.m.

Mike Patrick, Len Elmore & Andy Katz

Memphis, Tenn.

ESPN2

6:30 p.m.

Mike Tirico, Dan Dakich & Allison Williams

Indianapolis, Ind.

ESPN

7 p.m.

Dan Shulman, Sean Farnham & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ESPNU

7 p.m.

Dave O’Brien, Doris Burke & Andy Katz

Memphis, Tenn.

ESPN2

8:30 p.m.

Mike Tirico, Dan Dakich & Allison Williams

Indianapolis, Ind.

ESPN

9 p.m.

Dan Shulman, Sean Farnham & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ESPNU

9 p.m.

Dave O’Brien, Doris Burke & Andy Katz

Memphis, Tenn.

ESPN or ESPN2

Noon

Mike Tirico, Dan Dakich & Allison Williams

Indianapolis, Ind.

ESPN or ESPN2

Noon

Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ESPNU

1 p.m.

Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes & Shannon Spake

Atlanta, Ga.

ESPN or ESPN2

2:30 p.m.

Mike Tirico, Dan Dakich & Allison Williams

Indianapolis, Ind.

ESPN or ESPN2

2:30 p.m.

Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ESPNU

3 p.m.

Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes & Shannon Spake

Atlanta, Ga.

ESPN3

6 p.m.

Katy, Texas

ESPN or ESPN2

7 p.m.

Dan Shulman, Sean Farnham & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ESPN or ESPN2

7 p.m.

Dave O’Brien, Doris Burke & Andy Katz

Memphis, Tenn.

ESPNU ^

7 p.m.

Brent Musburger, Fran Fraschilla & Holly Rowe

Kansas City, Mo.

ESPN3

8:30 p.m.

Katy, Texas

ESPN or ESPN2

9:30 p.m.

Dan Shulman, Sean Farnham & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ESPN or ESPN2

9:30 p.m.

Dave O’Brien, Doris Burke & Andy Katz

Memphis, Tenn.

ESPNU ^

9:30 p.m.

Brent Musburger, Fran Fraschilla & Holly Rowe

Kansas City, Mo.

ESPNU

12 a.m.

Mark Jones & Miles Simon

Anaheim, Calif.

ESPNU

2 a.m.

Mark Jones & Miles Simon

Anaheim, Calif.

ESPN2

11:30 a.m.

Bob Picozzi & Tim Welsh

TBD

ESPN

1 p.m.

Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale or Jay Bilas & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ABC

1 p.m.

Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes & Shannon Spake

Atlanta, Ga.

ESPN

3 p.m.

Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale or Jay Bilas & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ABC

3 p.m.

Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes & Shannon Spake

Atlanta, Ga.

ESPN2

4:30 p.m.

Mark Neely & Jarron Collins

Houston, Texas

ESPN

6 p.m.

Dave O’Brien, Doris Burke & Andy Katz

Memphis, Tenn.

ESPNU

6 p.m.

Tom Hart & Stan Lewter

Norfolk, Va.

ESPN2

6:30 p.m.

Bob Wischusen & LaPhonso Ellis

Cleveland, Ohio

ESPNU

8 p.m.

Roxy Bernstein & Corey Williams

Ogden, Texas

ESPN2

8:30 p.m.

Carter Blackburn & Stephen Howard

Katy, Texas

ESPN

9 p.m.

Brent Musburger, Fran Fraschilla & Holly Rowe

Kansas City, Mo.

ESPNU

10 p.m.

Steve Quis & Jon Crispin

Las Vegas, Nev.

ESPN2

10:30 p.m.

Mark Jones & Miles Simon

Anaheim, Calif.

ESPN

1 p.m.

Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale & Jeannine Edwards

Greensboro, N.C.

ESPN2

1 p.m.

Rich Hollenberg & Mark Adams

New Orleans, La.

ESPN

3:15 p.m.

Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes & Shannon Spake

That’s not all ESPN is doing. Here is more per their media release (as in, more college hoops greatness):

“Super Saturday”: Lineup of 14 Games Including 10 Championships on March 15

ESPN will showcase 14 conference tournament games, including 10 championships, on Saturday, March 15. The “Super Saturday” lineup across ESPN, ABC, ESPN2 and ESPNU will be highlighted by the American and Big 12 title games and ACC and SEC semifinals.

Championship Trophy Presentations & ESPN3 Surround

ESPN3 will provide extra Championship Week coverage with the trophy presentation of all 22 conference championships on an ESPN network and special “ESPN3 Surround” applications on the ACC, American, Big 12 and SEC title games. The newest second-screen initiative, which provides an alternative viewing experience to the traditional telecast with different camera angles and audio, debuted with applications around ESPN’s telecasts of Duke at North Carolina, Syracuse at Duke and Kansas at Oklahoma State.

The ESPN3 Surround productions of the tournament games will be similar to the Syracuse at Duke and Kansas at Oklahoma State matchups, offering  multiple cameras and the natural sound inside the arena.

Follow the Action on Buzzer Beater & WatchESPN

ESPN Buzzer Beater will provide live cut-ins, highlights and up-to-the-minute commentary from numerous Championship Week games from across the ESPN networks on Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14, from noon to 11 p.m.

Every Championship Week game on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3 will also be available via WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members and on Apple TV to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.