CBS cuts away from title game, irks MVC officials, fans
ST. LOUIS (AP) – Missouri Valley Conference officials say CBS cut away from the final few minutes of Sunday’s basketball tournament championship game to televise the start of the Indiana-Michigan regular-season finale, with viewers in Omaha, Neb., and Wichita, Kan., among a very limited audience for the finish of Creighton’s 68-65 victory over Wichita State.
Valley commissioner Doug Elgin said in a statement it was “incredibly disappointing” and “disrespectful” to the schools involved and the conference to learn that CBS had made the switch. Watkins said CBS also cut away from the finish of last year’s Valley tournament final, a Creighton overtime victory against Illinois State, for the start of a Michigan State-Ohio State regular-season game.
Valley associate commissioner Jack Watkins said ESPN purchases the rights to the game and then sells it to CBS.