Who is your favorite BTN announcing crew for RU games?

[RUonBrain]

Without a doubt, mine is Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo.

I have heard some (well deserved) praise here and there on this board for Bardo. He is great and seems to be a big fan of Pikiell and Rutgers.


But I don’t recall anyone talking about Kugler.

I think he does a fantastic job and imagine most RU fans feel the same way as he gives us so much genuine love and respect.

It is the total opposite of watching someone like Matt Millen calling one of our football games (granted, no football announcer can praise our current team very much) or Wenzel with his strangely placed veiled shots at our players.


Kugler really caught my ear during the B1G tournament at the Garden. I think he did all 3 of our games, and his emphatic calls of Corey Sanders’ dunks really solidified my love for him.

I absolutely loved his, “Corey SANDERS with the HAMMER!!!” calls during last year’s tournament run. I think he had the same Hammer calls with Mathis vs Iowa. I think it’s a great signature call.

His genuine excitement when RU does well is a JOY to listen to.
LOVE IT when I find out Kugler is calling our game!

 

[kcg88]

It's a small thing but Gus Johnson and Bill Raftery doing our tournament game against Purdue was great. Finally one of our games had a primetime feel.

I really like Robbie Hummel. Not sure if he's actually done any of our games but he does his homework.

Kugler and Bardo are definitely a solid team.

Jon Crispin is alright but doesn't let the game breathe at all.

 

[Plum Street]

Without a doubt, mine is Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo.

I have heard some (well deserved) praise here and there on this board for Bardo. He is great and seems to be a big fan of Pikiell and Rutgers.


But I don’t recall anyone talking about Kugler.

I think he does a fantastic job and imagine most RU fans feel the same way as he gives us so much genuine love and respect.

It is the total opposite of watching someone like Matt Millen calling one of our football games (granted, no football announcer can praise our current team very much) or Wenzel with his strangely placed veiled shots at our players.


Kugler really caught my ear during the B1G tournament at the Garden. I think he did all 3 of our games, and his emphatic calls of Corey Sanders’ dunks really solidified my love for him.

I absolutely loved his, “Corey SANDERS with the HAMMER!!!” calls during last year’s tournament run. I think he had the same Hammer calls with Mathis vs Iowa. I think it’s a great signature call.

His genuine excitement when RU does well is a JOY to listen to.
LOVE IT when I find out Kugler is calling our game!

I don’t really care about the play by play guy too much. But I think bardo is excellent . Crispin is good too.

 

[RUJMM78]

I like announcers where Rutgers wins the game.They are a side issue like yelling at referees.

 

[Southside Lonny]

Love Bardo (and he seems to really like/respect RU).

 

[Mr Magoo]

Without a doubt, mine is Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo.

I have heard some (well deserved) praise here and there on this board for Bardo. He is great and seems to be a big fan of Pikiell and Rutgers.


But I don’t recall anyone talking about Kugler.

I think he does a fantastic job and imagine most RU fans feel the same way as he gives us so much genuine love and respect.

It is the total opposite of watching someone like Matt Millen calling one of our football games (granted, no football announcer can praise our current team very much) or Wenzel with his strangely placed veiled shots at our players.


Kugler really caught my ear during the B1G tournament at the Garden. I think he did all 3 of our games, and his emphatic calls of Corey Sanders’ dunks really solidified my love for him.

I absolutely loved his, “Corey SANDERS with the HAMMER!!!” calls during last year’s tournament run. I think he had the same Hammer calls with Mathis vs Iowa. I think it’s a great signature call.

His genuine excitement when RU does well is a JOY to listen to.
LOVE IT when I find out Kugler is calling our game!

I agree that Bardo is excellent.

 

[Local Shill]

Bardo seems like a genuinely good dude that you'd enjoy having a beer with and talking hoops. I like Shon Morris' sense of humor, too.

RU fans would probably be the most familiar with the BTN broadcast teams as all but one RU conference game has been on BTN. Everyone else has had multiple contests on either CBS, FS1 or the ESPN networks. Maybe that changes next year.

 

[RocktheRac]

Funny comment made by Brodo during a game I was watching. Someone made a nice jump shot and he said nothing but cotton . I thought nets were made of nylon?

 

[Rutgers25]

Bardo is great. Really like him.

I used to like Crispin, but starting to find him a little annoying.

Love Hummel in the studio, but don’t think he’s actually called one of our games.

 

[MadRU]

It's a small thing but Gus Johnson and Bill Raftery doing our tournament game against Purdue was great. Finally one of our games had a primetime feel.

I really like Robbie Hummel. Not sure if he's actually done any of our games but he does his homework.

Kugler and Bardo are definitely a solid team.

Jon Crispin is alright but doesn't let the game breathe at all.

I like Raff, but that game he kept calling Isaac Haas Isaac Hayes. He had to do it 10 times at least.

 

[TDIrish27]

I like Raff, but that game he kept calling Isaac Haas Isaac Hayes. He had to do it 10 times at least.

I like Kugler and Bardo personally and think Morris is good too. I've met Shon Morris and he's a really nice guy.

Raf is OK-----Gus Johnson gives me a headache.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

For commentators, Bardo and then Crispin

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

bardo

 

[MV9000]

ditto on probably everyone, Bardo.

 

[knightfan7]

Like Bardo's enthusiasm. Loves the game but doesn't go over the top.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Shon Morris tomorrow night

 

[knightfan7]

Shon Morris tomorrow night

OOPS wrong Morris. Never mind

 

[Scangg]

I like Bardo too and the B1G plus guys from the first games.

Gus and Rafferty is a dream pair. Kiss with the Kiss call from Rafferty would be awesome.

Bill Walton or Walt Frazier would also be great while I'm dreaming

 

[knightfan7]

I like Bardo too and the B1G plus guys from the first games.

Gus and Rafferty is a dream pair. Kiss with the Kiss call from Rafferty would be awesome.

Bill Walton or Walt Frazier would also be great while I'm dreaming

I watched Walton do an Oregon game the other day. He was talking about uniforms, "celebs" in the stands, and other things while the game was going on. At one point the play by play guy said something to the effect "You keep looking around for Phil Knight, I'll do the game."

 

[goru7]

I like Bardo too and the B1G plus guys from the first games.

Gus and Rafferty is a dream pair. Kiss with the Kiss call from Rafferty would be awesome.

Bill Walton or Walt Frazier would also be great while I'm dreaming

Shon Morris has been singing the praises of Coach since Year 1. Bardo was not so complementary early on but is fully on board this year. Kevin Kugler is the best play by play guy that does BTN games. He is informative and always says great things about us. Gus Johnson is awesome with Rafferty. When they do one of our games you know we have arrived. That Rutgers/ Purdue game at MSG last year felt like we had arrived. Hopefully we are rounding the corner

 

[kcg88]

I watched Walton do an Oregon game the other day. He was talking about uniforms, "celebs" in the stands, and other things while the game was going on. At one point the play by play guy said something to the effect "You keep looking around for Phil Knight, I'll do the game."

Bill Walton is great for the Maui tournament and random late Pac-12 games. Wouldn't want him calling any games of significance for my team though.

 

[ru66]

I know he's not on BTN team but Spanarkle is the worst --he seems to hate RU--maybe because his kid went to Seton Hall or the fact he's a Dukeie from Jersey City--and I hate that perfect free throw line when he's trying to sell himself to a client

 

[littlenis5]

Bardo is great. Two Bardoisms I love:

1) Every time Shaq Carter checks in he says he wants to see him get touches. He’s a huge fan after calling the game where he had like 13 points

2) out of nowhere he’ll say “I really love these young guys’ hair. Look at Geo Baker man, I love it”

 

[RUinFla]

Bardo was the guy criticizing all the bad ref calls against RU. Kept emphasizing Iowa's long FG drought. Don't know who the other guy was, but he seemed to keep hoping for an Iowa comeback.
TL

 

[TDIrish27]

I know he's not on BTN team but Spanarkle is the worst --he seems to hate RU--maybe because his kid went to Seton Hall or the fact he's a Dukeie from Jersey City--and I hate that perfect free throw line when he's trying to sell himself to a client

Spanarkle IMO is very knowledgeable but boring.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Love Bardo (and he seems to really like/respect RU).

Yup and he knows the game. Bardo and kugler are great

 

[whofrewdatmataRU13]

Love Bardo

 

[Igniteshield]

+1 for the Bardo train. I love his praise for Myles

 

[Degaz-RU]

Gus and Rafferty is a dream pair. Kiss with the Kiss call from Rafferty would be awesome.

I've been saying this to my kids all year. Just praying we make a run in the BTT and we get the chance to hear Raftery make the "Kiss WITH THE KISS!" call.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Funny comment made by Brodo during a game I was watching. Someone made a nice jump shot and he said nothing but cotton . I thought nets were made of nylon?

Way back when I played hs ball I got a net from school and it was cotton. But I would guess them now nylon due to wear and tear savings ( not that I abused our cotton too much lol)

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Bardo was the guy criticizing all the bad ref calls against RU. Kept emphasizing Iowa's long FG drought. Don't know who the other guy was, but he seemed to keep hoping for an Iowa comeback.
TL

All announcers hope for a comeback when a team is trailing big. They want to call an exciting game and don't want to lose viewers.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Steve
Shon
John
Dan
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bob