Gus Johnson joins BTN basketball broadcast team

Play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson will join the Big Ten Network for men's basketball telecasts this season, working with former Big Ten stars Kendall Gill of Illinois and Steve Smith of Michigan State.

"We couldn't be more excited," said Leon Schweir, Big Ten Network executive producer. "These play-by-play announcers and analysts have a great understanding of the history and tradition of the Big Ten and many of these individuals themselves are a part of that legacy."

Johnson, a Detroit native, has called NFL and NCAA Tournament games for CBS since 1996. Johnson's voice is associated with many memorable NCAA Tournament games of the past 15 years, including Princeton's upset of UCLA in 1996, Gonzaga's upset of Florida in 1999, Vermont's upset of Syracuse in 2005 and the nail-biters between UCLA-Gonzaga in 2006, Ohio State-Xavier in 2007 and Davidson-Kansas in 2008. Johnson is also currently the radio voice of the New York Knicks.

Johnson will be joined on many BTN broadcasts by Smith, the former Michigan State all-American, NBA all-star and Olympic gold medalist.

Gill, who led the "Flying Illini" to the 1989 Final Four, will add studio analysis during "Big Ten Tonight" shows and the "Big Ten Tip-Off Show," which will be anchored by Dave Revsine along with former Purdue head coach Gene Keady, Ohio State legend Jim Jackson and former Northwestern star Tim Doyle.