SportsCenter

Veteran Buccigross guides rookie Bilas for Sunday SportsCenter gig

Selection Sunday – like every other day on the calendar – is ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas’ comfort zone. Opinions? He’s got ’em. Insight? Ditto. Outrage over snubs and undeserving berths? Um, yeah, he’s got that, too.

Throughout the weekend and especially on Selection Sunday, Bilas will be one of ESPN’s go-to analysts, including on the two-hour Bracketology special (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET).

But this Sunday should be a memorable one as Bilas will enter a bit of a less comfortable zone when he finds himself co-anchoring SportsCenter for the first time Sunday at 11 p.m., following the “I Hate Christian Laettner” documentary at 9 p.m.

John Buccigross, a 15-year SportsCenter veteran will be Bilas’ co-anchor Sunday night and and here, he offers “tips” to the “Trill One” in advance of his debut:

1. Come in with realistic expectations: You will be the second most handsome man on the set. Accept this now and it will make things easier on all of us.

2. No favoritism: I’ve been a golf trip roommate with Jay on two Scottsdale golf trips. I’ve already told him “NO DUKE FOOTIE PAJAMAS ON SPORTSCENTER.”

3. Stretch it out: The new SportsCenter set is a big playing field. You have to be able to get up and down the floor. Considering Jay couldn’t in 1986, I don’t like his chances on Sunday night.

4. Formal attire needed: Please wear dress shoes.

Bilas and a full slate of experts can also be seen on Saturday’s College GameDay (11 a.m. on ESPNU, noon on ESPN) live from the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, N.C., in advance of the ACC Championship game.

Then, on Sunday, Bilas will be a part of ESPN’s Selection Sunday coverage throughout the day, including leading into the 5:30 p.m. SportsCenter where the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship field will be shown, followed by the two-hour Bracketology special.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As this “This Is SportsCenter” spot shows, the anchor chair is not for everyone.

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