CBS’s Kevin Harlan Has Perfect Call As Confetti Blast Delays A-10 Tournament Final

Someone made a mistake behind the scenes at Barclays Center as Duquesne and VCU battled for an NCAA tournament berth in Brooklyn.

Someone behind the scenes of the Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball tournament was thinking a little too far ahead Sunday afternoon, and CBS’s Kevin Harlan handled the unexpected delay as a true professional. 

With 18 minutes left in Sunday’s championship game between Duquesne and VCU in Brooklyn, confetti prematurely began to fall on the court at the Barclays Center, forcing officials to delay the game. Harlan, being the broadcast legend that he is, took the moment in stride and described it in a way that only he could. 

“We can’t see our notes. The players can’t work on this court—CONFETTI is everywhere!” Harlan exclaimed. “Somebody hit the wrong button!” 

The confetti has fallen a little early 😅 pic.twitter.com/kUVRNnq3Lm

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 17, 2024

From the CBS broadcast, it sounded as if the scorer’s table got the worst of the mess, and play resumed shortly afterward. Duquesne went on to win, 57–51, to earn its first NCAA tournament berth since 1977. 

“That was an early ejection right there,” Harlan said. “You gonna have to reload it now for the winner?”