For more than three decades, Neal Bradley’s dulcet tones and genuine excitement for Murray State men’s basketball have been staples for Racer fans and opponents alike — offering context and clarity through the radio waves, and during a golden age in the program.
Tuesday afternoon, Bradley and MSU officials announced his retirement from hollering about hoops — more than 1,000 games broadcasted and 32 seasons covered during his time.
He will continue to call MSU football games moving forward, as the Racers embark on their first season in the Missouri Valley Football Conference this fall.
The decision to cut back on travel means more time for family. Bradley told MSU Athletic Director Nico Yantko his intentions of stepping away following the MVC Tournament, leaving more than six months in place for university officials to tap the next “Voice of the Racers.”
In a written statement, Bradley said that when he started with MSU in 1991, he had “no idea” he’d be doing what he loved for three decades. The experiences with Racer basketball were beyond his wildest dreams, and he’s thankful for the players, coaches, support staff, fans, Forever Communications, his color analysts, network sponsors and his family for making the career possible.
According to Associate AD and MSU men’s basketball SID Dave Winder, Bradley called more than 700 victories, 17 Ohio Valley Conference regular-season titles, 13 OVC Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament trips and the opening of the CFSB Center in 1998 and all 25 of its seasons.
The highlights are many, but certainly include the sensational 2011-12 season, which saw the Racers begin the year 23-0 and the last undefeated team behind Isaiah Canaan and company — which sold out those final eight home games in Murray. He bore witness and never wavered in those early moments of Cameron Payne and Ja Morant, both now in the National Basketball Association. Eleven MSU men’s basketball Hall of Famers, and six players with retired jerseys, suited up during his time.
But to add even more gravity, Bradley was on the call for 13 of Murray State’s NCAA Tournament contests — including four of the program’s five wins: against Vanderbilt in 2010, against Colorado State in 2012, against Marquette in 2019, and against San Francisco in 2022.
His first year, 1991-92, was Popeye Jones’ final year, with former Trigg County star Scott Sivills — the “Big Driver” — his prominent backup.
He’s had the watch on Murray State’s last seven coaches in Edgar, Mark Gottfried, Tevester Anderson, Mick Cronin, Billy Kennedy, Steve Prohm (twice) and Matt McMahon.
He’s a member of the 2018 class for MSU’s Hall of Fame and Distinction, and in 2011 he was honored by the OVC for his career service and coverage of the league.
He owns the record for the longest tenure on the job, after Chuck Shufett began doing games on WNBS 1340 AM in the 1950s. Bob Swisher, Hal King, Jim Freeland, Lee Burdorf, Jerry Ferguson, Darryl Gibson and Randy Herndon preceded Bradley. His color has included Mark Hart, Sam Rickman, Nathan Higdon, Paul Bubb and Kenny Roth.
