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Former Alabama basketball coach Avery Johnson to broadcast Tide's NCAA Tournament game

The Tuscaloosa News

A familiar face will be broadcasting the Alabama men's basketball first-round game in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

The NCAA announced Sunday night that former Alabama men's basketball head coach Avery Johnson will be one of the broadcasters on the game.

Alabama is scheduled to play at 3:15 p.m. CT on Friday. The game will be broadcast on TNT and include broadcasters Johnson and Steve Smith as the analysts on the game with Lisa Byington (play-by-play) and Lauren Shehadi (reporter).

The Alabama Crimson Tide are scheduled to face the winner of Wednesday's play-in game between Rutgers and Notre Dame.

Feb 9, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Avery Johnson during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Memorial Gymnasium. Alabama won 77-67. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Johnson was the Alabama men's basketball head coach from 2015-19, and he took Alabama to the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

Alabama enters the tournament at 19-13 overall. Most recently, Vanderbilt beat Alabama 82-76 on March 10 in the SEC Tournament second round.

Nate Oats is the current Alabama men’s basketball head coach. This is his third season as the Alabama head coach. He previously took Alabama to the NCAA Tournament during the 2020-21 season.

Alabama's 2020-21 season ended with an 88-78 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 loss to No. 11-seeded UCLA.

The Alabama men’s basketball program made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament during the 1974-75 season. Alabama has never reached the Final Four. The furthest Alabama has advanced in the NCAA Tournament is to the Elite Eight in 2003-04.

Here’s more Alabama basketball news:

Avery Johnson:Former Alabama basketball coach Avery Johnson credits Nate Oats for 'magnificent job' | Hurt
NCAA Tournament:Game time, TV announced for Alabama basketball's NCAA Tournament opener
Alabama basketball betting odds:What are the Alabama basketball odds to win the NCAA Tournament in 2022
Jahvon Quinerly:Alabama basketball's Jahvon Quinerly sentimental in late-night tweets to fans, teammates

The 2022 NCAA Tournament Final Four in New Orleans starts Saturday, April 2. The NCAA Tournament national championship game is scheduled to take place Monday, April 4.

Erik Hall is the lead digital producer for sports with the USA Today Network. You can find him on Twitter @HallErik.