Former NCAA Senior VP/Basketball & Business Strategies Greg Shaheen will be a guest analyst this weekend on ESPN’s college basketball coverage, providing insight into the NCAA’s selection committee process. Shaheen said he was contacted about a month ago by ESPN Senior VP/College Sports Programming Burke Magnus. He wanted Shaheen to share with viewers what it will be like inside the selection committee room as the weekend unfolds, leading up to Selection Sunday. Shaheen said, “Anytime you can provide insight rather than speculation, that makes it a better experience for the viewer.” Shaheen championed the notion of making the selection process more transparent during his 12 years ('00-12) at the NCAA. Starting in '07, the NCAA invited media to take part in a mock selection, which has become an annual event. Magnus and former ESPN Exec VP/College Sports Programming Chuck Gerber were two members of the mock selection committee that first year. Shaheen said he does not expect this to be the start of a new career. “Nobody needs to be worried about their job,” he said with a laugh. “I’m just looking forward to having fun with it.” Since leaving the NCAA last year, Shaheen has started a consulting business called OSM Advisors, based from his home in Fishers, Ind., just outside of Indianapolis. OSM is short for “One Shining Moment.” Among his clients is the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, where former NCAA Assistant to the Associate Dir Jacqie Carpenter is commissioner (Michael Smith, Staff Writer).
INSIGHT INTO THE PROCESS: Shaheen said, "When I was approached about this, I did pause for a minute. The more I thought about it, the more I thought of the opportunity to continue giving insight of the process, the dynamics of the room and I hope this elicits discussion and explain what they are doing as part of the process. It won’t have to do as much with the debate of specific teams." ESPN Senior VP & Exec Producer Mark Gross said of Shaheen, "He has seen so much and he can give us a sense of context, a sense of the time and space of the moment. We will use Greg all around on our shows, games and halftimes. As we get closer to the selection show, there will be a short window for the fans where they will hear explanations they haven’t before” (AP, 3/12).
