CNN Pressroom - In time for the opening tip-off of the 2007 NCAA Final Four, CNN Radio and Headline News sports anchor Will Selva offer a full-court look at this year’s NCAA Division I men’s basketball championship with the network’s latest long-form program, “Tickling the Twine.” This hour-long program was produced by CNN Radio supervising producer Richard Benson.

“Tickling the Twine” features interviews with basketball coaches, analysis from college basketball insiders and a look into the reasons for the popularity of “March Madness.” Selva and CNN Radio also examine some of the financial elements of the tournament and how it means millions for participating schools and even dollars for those filling out their own brackets.

This program’s slate of guests include Southern Illinois coach Chris Lowery; UNLV coach Lon Kruger; former Duke University great Christian Laettner; Mike DeCourcy, a basketball analyst for Sporting News; Joe Ferreira, an executive producer with CBSSportsline.Com; and Billy Packer, a CBS basketball analyst.

“Tickling the Twine” is now available to CNN Radio stations on the private affiliate Web site and as a podcast at www.CNN.com/podcasting/

Here are some excerpts from the program. Please credit CNN Radio in all uses.

Christian Laettner, whose Duke team in 1991 and 1992 was the last to win back-to-back championships, on the difficulty of repeating as champions and whether Florida is up to the challenge:

It's extremely hard, you have to be very well coached. I respect Billy Donovan; he has done a great job.

Billy Packer explaining why he was not surprised with the resulting Final Four:

I thought there were six to eight teams this year in college basketball that probably stood head and shoulders above the next 60 teams.

Laettner on whether he is secretly rooting against the Florida Gators to repeat as champions:

I'm rooting against them, but I would not be surprised if they pulled it off, because they are a great team and very well coached.



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