Voices of the Valley – Jim Benson & Neal Bradley

Courtside Chat #1

(St. Louis, MO) – Murray State broadcaster Neal Bradley and Illinois State beat writer Jim Benson have witnessed hundreds of college basketball games. These veterans of sports reporting joined MVC Associate Commissioner Mike Kern and our Harry Schroeder for a joint podcast. Voices of the Valley is partnering with the MVC!

‘Courtside Chat‘ will be a weekly endeavor to get to know media members and get ‘behind the scenes’ of the great Valley basketball programs.

Neal is broadcasting his 32nd year of Racer athletics and Jim is working his eighteenth season for the Bloomington Pantagraph. During their careers they have seen the highs and lows of college athletics and are knowledgeable about both past and present players, coaches and programs.

At the quarter poll, Murray State (9-6, 4-1) is one of three teams tied for second place behind Indiana State’s spotless 5-0 mark. Despite the success, the long time ‘voice of the Racers’ says he is highly impressed with the league, its star power and rugged defensive style. Oh, and the referees are different too.

 

 

Benson’s Redbirds have already seen all three Valley newcomers (Belmont, Illinois-Chicago and Murray State) during the early portion of the season. The ISU beat writer says each program truly belongs in the Valley and he’s impressed by the new additions.

 

What Are The Coaches Like?

Each of the veterans have seen numerous coaches pass through their programs. Benson’s first year after transitioning from the Fighting Illini beat was Porter Moser’s last at ISU. Bradley’s first season came during Scott Edgar’s initial campaign. Four different head coaches for Benson. Seven for Bradley, if you only count current head coach Steve Prohm once.

Illinois State’s Ryan Pedon was a long time assistant with Ohio State’s Chris Holtmann. This is his first head coaching job. Prohm’s first head coaching job was at Murray, but that was in 2011. After four seasons with the Racers, he spent six with Iowa State. He has come back home to Kentucky.

Benson and Bradley speak positively about the current head coaches.

 

 

Benson (@Pg_Benson) insists he has more social media followers than Pedon’s son Maddox, who hosts the podcast maddoxpedon.com. We’ve run the numbers and Jim is correct.

Voices of the Valley – Where to Eat – Who to Hate?

We at Voices of the Valley need to know where to eat when or if we get to visit these great schools. So, who better to ask than the local voices? Benson suggests a local Italian location and Bradley suggests the Big Apple. Benson has been a frequent guest on Voices of the Valley.

 

 

Valley fans know all about the ‘War on 74’ and the heated rivalry between Illinois State and Bradley University. After a long history in the Ohio Valley Conference Murray State has several contenders for ‘most hated opponent’. There is definitely heat between the Racers and Austin Peay, but when Belmont also joined the Valley, the Bruins may have moved into the top spot.

Neal Bradley confesses the Belmont/Murray rivalry is steeped in respect. The two former OVC powers routinely battled for the regular season and tournament championships. Bradley says winning at Belmont was nearly impossible.

 

 

The entire conversation with Benson, Bradley, Kern and Schroeder can he seen at Courtside Chat on YouTube. Check back here and at the Missouri Valley Conference website for future editions of Courtside Chat and Voices of the Valley.

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