Additionally, Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Webber<\/strong> will be returning to TNT Sports, contributing to its coverage of Players Era during Thanksgiving week and additional key moments during the college basketball season.<\/p>\n \u201cOur studio shows have always had a certain DNA that is unique to TNT Sports, and we take great pride in assembling the right blend of personalities capable of extending that culture,\u201d said Craig Barry<\/strong>, Chief Content Officer, TNT Sports. \u201cWe believe we\u2019ve found a distinctive balance with this college basketball team and we\u2019re confident fans will be entertained by their perspectives, the storytelling and access they provide from their experiences in and around the game.\u201d<\/p>\n “I\u2019ve long admired and deeply respected the way TNT Sports delivers the best studio shows in the industry, along with the way they treat everyone as family, and I could not be more excited to join the amazing team they\u2019ve assembled to cover college basketball,\u201d said Pearl<\/strong>. \u201cThe product has never been in better shape on the court and I\u2019m going to bring the same passion I displayed as a coach to broadcasting. I can\u2019t wait for the start of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been so fortunate to play and cover the game of basketball at every level, with some of my fondest memories coming from my days playing with the Fab Five,\u201d said Rose<\/strong>. \u201cCollege basketball is about legacy, culture, and unforgettable moments, and I\u2019m going to embrace every opportunity to share my perspectives alongside my TNT Sports teammates.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCollege basketball gave me my start, and it\u2019s where so many great basketball stories begin,\u201d said Mashburn<\/strong>. \u201cI\u2019m excited to join TNT Sports and share my perspective on what makes these young players and programs so special.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited to return to TNT Sports and join the fantastic college basketball team they\u2019ve assembled,\u201d said Webber<\/strong>. \u201cTNT Sports has always had world-class studio shows across all sports and we\u2019re going to do everything we can to live up to that standard.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTNT Sports has truly assembled a dream team as it enters its first year of season-long college hoops action,\u201d said Lefkoe<\/strong>. \u201cWith a coach who lives and breathes the game, and legends who shaped its history, we\u2019re bringing fans a new chapter of college basketball on TNT.\u201d<\/p>\n This year will mark TNT Sports\u2019 first year of BIG EAST men\u2019s and women\u2019s college basketball coverage \u2014 72 games in all \u2014 as well as Big 12 men\u2019s college basketball coverage.<\/p>\n The college basketball season will begin on TNT Sports platforms with the Hall of Fame Series<\/strong> in Las Vegas on Monday, November 3<\/strong>, featuring the defending Men\u2019s National Champion Florida Gators taking on the Arizona Wildcats. Capping the night will be BYU, with consensus No. 1 incoming recruit A.J. Dybantsa, facing Villanova.<\/p>\n TNT Sports will also serve as the exclusive U.S. distribution partner for the 2025 Players Era Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s Championships during Thanksgiving week.<\/p>\n The 2025-26 college basketball season will culminate with the 2026 NCAA Men\u2019s Basketball Tournament, jointly produced by TNT Sports and CBS Sports.<\/p>\n About Bruce Pearl<\/strong>\u00a0 About Jalen Rose<\/strong>\u00a0 About Jamal Mashburn<\/strong> About Chris Webber<\/strong> About Adam Lefkoe<\/strong> About TNT Sports<\/strong>![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/tntsports_cbbstudio.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
Pearl recently announced his retirement from coaching, having led the Auburn Tigers to one of the program\u2019s best seasons in its history, culminating with their second Final Four appearance in six years. The team also captured the 2025 SEC regular season title, a school-record 32 wins, and an overall No. 1 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, a men\u2019s program first. In his 11 seasons at Auburn, he led the team to five SEC championships and six NCAA Tournament appearances. Pearl started his head coaching career in 1992, when he took over the Southern Indiana program and led them to the Division II national championship in 1995. He also coached at Milwaukee from 2001-05, and at Tennessee from 2005-11, taking the Volunteers to the NCAA Tournament all six years. Pearl is the only head coach (football or men\u2019s basketball) in SEC history to lead two programs to a No. 1 national ranking (Auburn in 2022 and 2025, and Tennessee in 2008). In 30 seasons as a head coach, he has guided his teams to the NCAA Tournament 22 times and a 694-270 (.721) winning record.<\/p>\n
Rose is a former NBA star, acclaimed broadcaster, and philanthropist who brings decades of basketball experience and cultural perspective to TNT Sports\u2019 college basketball coverage. Rose first captured the spotlight at the University of Michigan as a member of the iconic \u201cFab Five,\u201d helping lead the Michigan Wolverines to back-to-back NCAA Championship game appearances and leaving a lasting imprint on the college game. Drafted in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft, Rose went on to play 13 seasons in the NBA, most prominently with the Indiana Pacers, where he was a key part of their run to the 2000 NBA Finals. He finished his career with more than 13,000 points and a reputation as one of the league\u2019s most versatile guards and forwards. After retiring, Rose transitioned seamlessly into broadcasting, building a national profile as a sharp, insightful analyst known for blending deep basketball knowledge with cultural relevance.<\/p>\n
Jamal Mashburn is a former college and NBA star who has successfully transitioned into broadcasting, business, and philanthropy. A standout at the University of Kentucky, Mashburn was one of the most dominant college players of the early 1990s, earning consensus All-American honors and leading the Wildcats to the 1993 Final Four. Drafted fourth overall in the 1993 NBA Draft, Mashburn went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA, where he was known as a prolific scorer and versatile forward. Nicknamed \u201cMonster Mash,\u201d he averaged more than 19 points per game over his career and was named an NBA All-Star in 2003. Since retiring from basketball, Mashburn has built a successful career as an entrepreneur and commentator, owning and operating dozens of businesses while continuing to stay close to the game through broadcasting.<\/p>\n
Webber is a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer who brings elite-level insight and championship pedigree to TNT Sports\u2019 college basketball coverage. Webber became a household name as part of the famed \u201cFab Five\u201d during his collegiate career at the University of Michigan, helping redefine college basketball\u2019s style and swagger while leading the Wolverines to consecutive NCAA Championship game appearances. Selected first overall in the 1993 NBA Draft, Webber went on to enjoy a 15-year NBA career, earning five All-Star selections and an All-NBA First Team nod while becoming one of the premier power forwards of his era with the Sacramento Kings. Renowned for his combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ, Webber finished with more than 17,000 points, 8,000 rebounds, and 3,500 assists. Following his playing days, he transitioned into broadcasting, serving as an analyst for TNT Sports\u2019 NBA and NCAA Men\u2019s Tournament coverage.<\/p>\n
Lefkoe is an award-winning sports broadcaster and host, known for his energy, humor, and ability to connect with athletes and fans alike. As one of TNT Sports\u2019 most versatile voices, Lefkoe has hosted coverage across the NBA, NCAA, Roland-Garros, MLB, Big 12 football, and a variety of marquee events, establishing himself as a trusted studio anchor and storyteller. Lefkoe first gained national recognition as co-host of The Lefkoe Show podcast and as part of Bleacher Report\u2019s digital programming, where his engaging style and innovative content attracted a wide audience. He later took on hosting duties for TNT Sports\u2019 NBA coverage alongside some of the game\u2019s biggest legends. His on-air presence is marked by his ability to keep the conversation insightful, entertaining, and accessible for all fans.<\/p>\n
TNT Sports is a global leader in the delivery of premium sports content. The TNT Sports U.S. portfolio includes expansive, multi-platform partnerships with Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men\u2019s Basketball Championship, National Hockey League, United States Soccer Federation, College Football Playoff games, BIG EAST, Big 12, NASCAR and Roland-Garros. TNT Sports also produces the iconic Inside the NBA studio show. Owned and operated platforms are highlighted by Bleacher Report, the #1 digital destination for young sports fans, along with House of Highlights, B\/R W, Golf Digest, and a full suite of digital and social portfolio brands. Additionally, TNT Sports co-manages NCAA.com and NCAA March Madness Live. TNT Sports in Europe and the Republic of Ireland includes partnerships with the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup, UEFA, Premiership Rugby, MotoGP, British and World Superbikes, UFC, Australian Open and Roland-Garros, Grand Tour Cycling, the UCI Mountain Bike World Series, every major winter sports World Championship and World Cup event, and the Olympic Games 2026-2032.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"TNT Sports will anchor its season-long BIG EAST and Big 12 college basketball coverage with a studio team…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":308110,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[1339,1317,1337,1338,62,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-308109","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-basketball","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-ncaa","10":"tag-ncaa-basketball","11":"tag-ncaabasketball","12":"tag-sports","13":"tag-united-states","14":"tag-unitedstates","15":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115384018585132119","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/308109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=308109"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/308109\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/308110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=308109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=308109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=308109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}