Raftery to make Final Four TV debut

Longtime college basketball announcer Bill Raftery will make his Final Four television debut this year.

Raftery and his signature “Onions!” call, and Grant Hill, will join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson throughout the NCAA Tournament. The Final Four will take place April 4 and April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

CBS and Turner Sports decided on Raftery and Hill after suspending former lead basketball color commentator Greg Anthony. Anthony was charged with soliciting a prostitute at a Washington, D.C., hotel on Jan. 16. On Monday, he entered a not guilty plea in D.C. Superior court.

Raftery has been calling college basketball games for CBS Sports since 1983. He has called the Final Four for the past 23 years on the radio.

Raftery and Nantz will be paired for the first time on March 14 during the Big Ten tournament semifinals.