Debbie Antonelli: "One of The Best Prepared Baskestball Analysts In the Business"

Athens, GA (Feb 2, 2008) - "She is, by far, one of the best prepared analysts I have ever worked with in the business," said Dave Neal of Fox Sports Net South before last Thursday night's broadcast of the University of Kentucky Lady Wildcats upset of the Lady Dogs of the University of Georgia. In speaking about Debbie Antonelli (winner of the Women's College Basketball Association's 2007 Mel Greenberg Media Award), Neal went on, "I can show up to work a game with her and I will know that her pre-work and research has been done without a flaw."

Debbie Antonelli
Basketball Analyst Debbie Antonelli, with play-by-play announcer Dave Neal in background, does last minute preparation of Fox Sports Net South broadcast of Kentucky-Georgia Women's Basketball game on Jan 31, 2008.
Photograph Copyright 2008 by Christopher Byrne/Eye on Sports Media. All Rights Reserved.

Antonelli was a three-year starter at guard for North Carolina State where she helped guide the Wolfpack to four NCAA tournament appearances and two Sweet 16 appearances. The Cary, N.C., native graduated with a double major in business management and economics. She went on to earn her master's degree in sports administration from Ohio University, where she also served as the graduate assistant women's basketball coach.

She did not go straight into broadcasting. Antonelli start out working for four years as the Director of Marketing for the University of Kentucky, and four more in a similar capacity at Ohio State University. She spent five years as the television analyst for the Ohio State women's basketball team and prior to that, she spent three years as the TV analyst for the University of Dayton Flyers men's basketball team.

Antonelli's television resume includes: lead television analyst for the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big XII Conference, Southeastern Conference and CSTV’s coverage of women's basketball. She has also called numerous Division II National Championship Games and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association High School All-American Game on ESPN2. Before joining the broadcast team in Charlotte, Antonelli served as a FOX Sports Net national television analyst during the American Basketball League's first three seasons and was the analyst for the ABL’s Columbus Quest regional television package.

Debbie Antonelli

Basketball Analyst Debbie Antonelli talks woth RAYCOM audio technician before Fox Sports Net South broadcast of Kentucky-Georgia Women's Basketball game on Jan 31, 2008.
Photograph Copyright 2008 by Christopher Byrne/Eye on Sports Media. All Rights Reserved.

Antonelli has also worked first- and second-round games of the women’s NCAA tournament for ESPN and has worked as the radio analyst for the national syndication of the CBS/NCAA Radio Network for the past 10 Women's Final Fours. She also worked as a sideline reporter for CBS Sports during the 2000 Men's NCAA Tournament, and for the past six years, she has been a part of CBS Sports’ women’s basketball tripleheader coverage each January.

It is no wonder that Dave Neal feels completely comfortable sitting at the broadcast position with her.

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2 Comments

Unknown said…
I didn't like how she treated Larry Conley during the Tennesse vs. San Francisco game. I thought she tried to show disrespect to Larry's abilities without success while trying to boost her self-esteem.
didean said…
I think she is very professional. Perhaps your opinion is based on team loyalty?? I do not ever feel that she uses her profession to boost her own "self-esteem". I just think she is so extremely knowledgable about the game and the teams she calls for, that the knowledge can offend others.

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