Ernie Johnson has his own theory why CBS/Turner Sports' coverage of the NCAA March Madness men's basketball tournament is drawing boffo television ratings.

At an angry, confusing time when half the population seems at war with the other half, the fresh-faced kids from North Carolina, Oregon, Northwestern and other schools are giving viewers an escape. There's no rage, no politics, no millionaire NBA players "resting" on the bench. Just pure competition and fun, the longtime studio host noted.

You know, the way sports used to be.

FINAL FOUR: NCAA Tournament bracket

"It's such a good thing for our country, because it brings people together at a time when everybody is so stinking confrontational these days. I mean, it just seems to me that everybody wants to get on each other, everybody wants to attack everybody," Johnson told Sporting News during a phone interview Tuesday.

"This is one of those things where you can go to the water cooler and talk to somebody you may not have talked to before. Suddenly, you're having a discussion about whether you think Michigan has a chance to move on, or whether North Dakota can make a run. That's what I've always loved about the tournament. I just think the ratings go up because people need it. People actually need an event like that so they can kind of say, 'Let's get away from everything for a little while and watch a little college hoop.'"

Sports fans now live in a time where they can express "at the touch of a send button," noted Johnson, who will host studio coverage of the Final Four on Saturday with analysts Charles Barkley, Clark Kellogg and Kenny Smith.

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That's not always a good thing given social media.

"I just wish Twitter was used in a more positive way. I'm not singling out Twitter, there's a lot of social media. But I think we're missing a real opportunity if we don't try to be positive," Johnson said. "I think we can help a lot more than we are right now. Too many people use it as just a way to get at people, and attack, and try out their mean material. 'Aren't I funny? Didn't I eviscerate this guy?'

"I don't like that part of it. We're better than that. We, as people, are better than that."

The TV numbers from this year's tournament according to SportsBusiness Daily certainly back up Johnson.

Ratings for CBS/Turner's coverage of Elite Eight games this weekend averaged a 6.5 overnight rating, up 8 percent from last year. North Carolina's thrilling 75-73 victory over Kentucky drew a big 9.5 overnight rating. Overall TV ratings are up 8 percent vs. last year, according to SBJ, with "March Madness Live" already drawing a record 88 million live streams. That's up 31 percent from last year.

Part of that is the tournament's ability to attract "fringe" basketball fans, Johnson noted.

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"They don't have to know who the backup point guard for South Dakota State is. All they have to know is, 'Hey, I filled out a bracket. Now I want to watch this.'"

It's not surprising that Johnson would seek out the best in human nature. The cancer survivor is one of the few sportscasters to wear his deeply held Christian faith on his sleeve.

Consider the powerful moment on TNT's "Inside the NBA" where he said he would "pray" for the success of President Donald Trump, just like he would pray for the success of any American leader.

"In short, I'm praying for America," Johnson said. You could hear a pin drop on set at that point.

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Once the Final Four is a wrap, Johnson will host studio coverage from the national championship game on Monday. The next day he'll release his new book, "Unscripted: The Unpredictable Moments that Make Life Extraordinary." He described the book as one about fathers and sons and the "unscripted" moments that make life special.

Through it all, he and his Turner colleagues will remember their friend Craig Sager, the late TNT sideline reporter who died of cancer in December at age 65.

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MORE: Johnson honors Sager with touching poem at memorial

Sager, a Northwestern alum, would have loved watching his old school make a run in this year's tournament.

"Sags probably would have put on the old Willie the Wildcat costume," said Johnson. (Sager wore the Willie outfit for three years in college.)