Masters of the Mic Masters of the Mic Frank Deford details the connection between a fan and The Voice. NFL Dr. Z thinks solid NFL play-by-play announcers are few and far between. MLB The gems in the baseball booth stand out like no others, says Tom Verducci. NBA Jack McCallum wants an NBA announcer to know when to step back. NHL Michael Farber says NHL broadcasters are a matter of personal taste. College Football Stewart Mandel weighs in on the current crop of college football announcers. College Basketball Grant Wahl wants those in the college hoops booth to tell him something new. Tennis Jon Wertheim is happy with today's roster of tennis broadcasters. Golf Chris Lewis reveals his All-Star team of golf announcers. Best of the Rest Richard Deitsch fills us in on the top announcers from a variety of sports.

I watch a lot of college basketball. And, like you, I have a good idea of what I want -- and don't want -- in a college basketball broadcaster.

What I want is pretty simple: someone who can tell me things I don't already know about the game I'm watching; someone who can tell me what to look for before it happens; someone who's got a sense of humor (but not necessarily a sense of slapstick).

What I don't want is also pretty clear. I don't want Screamers, Homers, Simpletons, Apologists or Bumbling Ex-Jocks. (They're capitalized because they represent a distinct type of broadcaster whom we all know -- and hate.)

So without further ado, here are the broadcasters I do like:

MY TOP PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCERS

In my experience, you're better off not noticing this guy. Here are the ones I like:

1. Dan Shulman: Solid, rarely ever has an off night. Gets "combat" bonus for working with Dick Vitale.

2. Mike Patrick: Quite simply the voice I associate most with the ACC.

3. Jim Nantz: Puts in the time on off days at the NCAA tournament by interviewing players -- just like any other working-stiff journalist. The preparation shows.

MY TOP ANALYSTS

Rick Majerus instantly joins this list next fall:

1. Jay Bilas: Nobody tells you more about the game that you didn't know beforehand.

2. Billy Packer: He may be aggravating, sexist and an ACC homer, but his eye for hoops nuance is the real thing.

3. Bill Raftery: The catchphrase master never lets his shtick become bigger than the game.

4. Len Elmore: Well respected and downright elegant in his delivery, Elmore puts sports in perspective and refuses to feed the hype machine.

5. Doug Gottlieb: While other analysts say what a "great job" every coach is doing, Gottlieb brings a player's perspective and gives it to you straight.

HONORABLE MENTION: Steve Lavin, Fran Fraschilla, Larry Conley, Jon Sundvold.

MY TOP CATCHPHRASES

Is there any contest here? It's Raftery in a rout. This is the man, after all, who has given us:

1. "ONIONS!" Loosely translated as "showing some gumption by hitting a big shot."

2. "Pittsburgh in a ... MANTOMAN!" I'm always depressed when Syracuse fails to win the tip in a Raft-broadcast game.

3. "The KISS!" Do you think Raft ever called his daughter's high school prom dates?

4. "SEND IT IN, Jerome!" Brief, effective, yet still all about the player.

FIVE GUYS I'D LIKE TO SEE IN THE BOOTH

1. Majerus: Can't wait to hear him on ESPN next season -- and hopefully not just in the studio.

2. Tom Brennan: Hilarious Vermont coach already has hugely popular radio show.

3. John Chaney: Just to see if he could do it without emitting a single !@#$%.

4: Johnny Miller: Just to hear somebody (anybody) not spend half his time kissing the posteriors of coaches.

5. Phil Martelli: A very funny guy who already does the TV thing well.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Grant Wahl covers college basketball for the magazine and SI.com.