BILLINGS - It turns out all is not lost with the loss of college basketball's 2020 March Madness.
Billings sports radio stations ESPN 910 AM and 105.5 FM have unveiled a best-of-the past slate to re-broadcast on what would have been this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament dates.
"The best part is, it's corona-free," said Jack Seymour, Operations Manager Desert Mountain Broadcasting referring to the latest inundation of coronavirus-filled news updates. "And they're the original broadcasts, so they have that vintage sound when you're listening."
Thursday's classic coverage tipped off with Magic vs. Bird in the 1979 NCAA Championship game played at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Johnson's Michigan State Spartans beat Bird and Co. 75-64 ending Indiana State's iconic run to the title game. It was the first men's championship for MSU.
Select games will air Thursdays - Sundays culminating on what would have been Championship Monday, April 6. That matchup will be a replay of last year's title showdown between Cinderella-squad Texas Tech and the Virginia Cavaliers.
Fri Mar 20
6:00p NCAA Classics
2018 First Round
UMB vs. Virginia
Sat Mar 21
10:00a NCAA Classics double header
2008 First Round
Davidson vs. Gonzaga
Follows 2008 Championship
Kansas vs. Memphis
Sun Mar 22
10:00a NCAA Classics
2013 Second Round
FGCU vs. Georgetown
Follows 2016 Championship
Villanova vs. North Carolina
Thurs Mar 26
6:00p NCAA Classics
2005 Elite 8
Illinois vs. Arizona
Fri Mar 27
6:00p NCAA Classics
1983 Championship
NC State vs. Houston
Sat Mar 28
10:00a NCAA Classics double header
2006 Elite 8
George Mason vs. Connecticut
Follows 2010 Championship
Duke vs. Butler
Sun Mar 29
10:00a NCAA Classics double header
2003 Elite 8
Marquette vs. Kentucky
Follows 1982 Championship
North Carolina vs. Georgetown
Sat Apr 04
10:00a NCAA Classics double header
2015 Final Four
Wisconsin vs. Kentucky
Follows 1985 Championship
Villanova vs. Georgetown
Mon Apr 06
6:00p NCAA Classics
2019 Championship
Virginia vs. Texas Tech
