Charles Barkley, NCAA tournament perfect together

I wasn't a fan of the expanded NCAA tournament when the cash grab was announced last year.

Yes, I'll have a chance to watch all of the games through a basic cable setup. But first, I have to find something called truTV. And call me old school (Can you be 27 and old school?), but I loved the way CBS would run through all of the games before the Internet and watch-every-game PPV packages changed things.

You'd see your team play but you'd also see the other matchups airing at the same time. You'd sit there for three hours and see five game-winning buzzer-beaters, two blowouts and a game decided in overtime. You couldn't walk away.

I still think the new format and additional TV will change the experience for casual fans ... the ones that support the multibillion-dollar March Madness.

But I'm more optimistic knowing that Charles Barkley will be a part of the coverage.

CBS/Turner Sports announced their analyst pairings Thursday. According to a joint release, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Greg Anthony will join Greg Gumbel/Ernie Johnson to "provide analysis throughout the tournament."

Barkley as a studio analyst? This will be classic. He'll draw millions of viewers by himself.

-Call BYU's Jimmer Fredette, Frimmer Jedette

-Say something like "San Diego State is stupid!" ... without offering further explanation

-Blame North Carolina's problems on LeBron's decision to go pro after high school instead of joining the Tar Heels. Then, he'll note that he talked to LeBron and admit that King James told him that he never really considered North Carolina, but Barkley won't correct his earlier remarks

-Ask Ernie Johnson and Greg Gumbel, "Who wants to go to a school called Wofford?"

If you're not excited yet, check out the following clip:

-In a Ramsey County courthouse, Trevor Mbakwe entered a not guilty plea Thursday in response to a charge that he violated a harassment restraining order. The Gophers forward was arrested Jan. 12 when a woman went to St. Paul police after Mbawke sent her a Facebook message. Mbakwe attended Thursday's hearing.

Mbakwe's lawyer, Laura Nolen, said she and the prosecutor will try to resolve the case during Mbakwe's next court date, Feb. 7. He currently faces 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine although jail time is unlikely in the case.

Mbakwe was charged with felony assault in Miami last year. He entered a pretrial program in August to resolve the case. But he never pled guilty.