As studio coverage kicked off ahead of the opening game between Creighton and Louisville, host Ernie Johnson started the broadcast with an emotional tribute to his friend. Clark Kellogg, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith also joined in with kind words about Gumbel.

Ernie Johnson offered an incredibly moving tribute to the late Greg Gumbel, longtime CBS host and a true fixture of March Madness.

Madness began with its usual excitement, but this year, something feels different. The post March Madness: TNT's Ernie Johnson Makes America Cry In Emotional Tribute After Losing Greg Gumbel To Cancer appeared first on EssentiallySports.