Courtside Chat – Reis & Wheeler

Courtside Chat # 4

(St. Louis, MO) – Mike Reis and Wyatt Wheeler bring roughly 50 years of Missouri Valley Conference experiences to every conversation. They are both close friends with Missouri State broadcaster Art Hains and they are the guests of this week’s ‘Courtside Chat’.

Reis, the ‘voice of Saluki sports’ owns 44 of those years and Wheeler, of the Springfield Newsleader possesses six. During our weekly conversations with MVC media members we learned about the programs they follow, we also heard how they got started in the business. Most importantly we found out more about our friend Art Hains.

Reis and previous guest Dave Snell (Bradley) are the Valley’s longest tenured broadcasters and are something  of legends in their given regions. Mike is an SIU alum and has been broadcasting SIU sports since 1978.

Wheeler is becoming one of the Valley’s longest tenured beat writers. He is a Missouri State alum and on top of writing for the Newsleader, is Art Hain’s co-host on a daily radio program. Wyatt is working his sixth academic year as the Bears’ beat writer.

Both Mike and Wyatt are close friends with Missouri State announcer Art Hains who is fighting the effects of West Nile Disease. Mike tells us about his friendships in the league and his appreciation to Wyatt about his true friendship towards Art.

 

 

Wheeler has been visiting the legendary Bears’ broadcaster and gives us a hopeful report on Art’s condition.

 

 

The MSU beat writer is famous, or infamous for his ‘MVC Power Rankings’ where routinely someone or some team is ranked below being ‘hit by a bus’. He insists his lists are all about fun.

 

 

Courtside Chat – The Teams

Southern Illinois (17-5, 9-2) is tied for first place and Missouri State (11-10, 7-4) is tied for fourth. Finishing in the Valley’s top four spots will be a huge advantage at Arch Madness. Both teams won four-point decisions at home on Tuesday and each team travels to MVC road destinations this weekend.

Reis says the Salukis are having their best year in a long time. The veteran broadcaster says solid defense and ‘finishing games’ is the key to their success.

 

 

Wheeler says Missouri State coach Dana Ford is still adjusting his lineup. Ford is trying to find reliable combinations of players and the right distribution of minutes.

 

 

To catch our entire conversation, head to YouTube.

Our ‘Courtside Chat’ is co-hosted with Missouri Valley Associate Commissioner Mike Kern.

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