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12th Polling Place - Voices of the Big Ten

Posted by: Paul Klee

Sunday, March 16, 2008 12:51 AM

(Each season at this time, the News-Gazette polls the Big Ten on a list of questions and issues. In a twist this year we surveyed the radio play-by-play voices of the Big Ten, interviews that are published in their entirety in Sunday's News-Gazette.)

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The play-by-play radio voices of the Big Ten relay much more than time and score. They tell you if a referee is testing Tom Izzo's temperament. They tell you what the view is like - from below floor level - at Mackey Arena. They give you goosebumps when Frank Williams hits a runner to share the Big Ten title.

You want the truth? Go to the radio voices.

Like their diehard fans - and more than any other conference - the Big Ten radio teams are blessed with experience. Combined, the 11 play-by-play men have called 173 seasons of Big Ten games.

- Illinois' Brian Barnhart, in his seventh year calling Illini action.
- Indiana's Don Fischer, the dean of Big Ten voices, in his 35th year covering the Hoosiers.
- Iowa's Gary Dolphin, a Big Ten veteran of 17 years.
- Michigan's Matt Shepard, a Big Ten veteran in his fourth year.
- Michigan State's Will Tieman, in his 12th year covering the Spartans.
- Minnesota's Mike Grimm, a relative Big Ten newcomer in his second year.
- Northwestern's Dave Eanet, a Big Ten veteran of 19 years, 12 in basketball.
- Ohio State's Paul Keels, a Big Ten veteran of 16 years.
- Penn State's Steve Jones, a Big Ten veteran of 16 years.
- Purdue's Larry Clisby, a Big Ten super-veteran of 25 years.
- Wisconsin's Matt Lepay, a Big Ten veteran of 20 years.

Inside their headsets is an encyclopedia of Big Ten basketball knowledge, a virtual Rolodex of coaching personalities, players' superstitions and referees' quirks. But something else stood out in interviews with the radio voices of the Big Ten: their professionalism.

They know their words carry weight. It's their job to speak. And at the Big Ten tournament they spoke to college basketball writer Paul Klee for the 12th annual Polling Place.

Best play-by-play voice
Announcer, School Votes
Don Fischer, Indiana 3
Matt Lepay, Wisconsin 3
Gary Dolphin, Iowa 1
Dave Eanet, Northwestern 1
Paul Keels, Ohio State 1

Dolphin: Matt Lepay. "He's solid, he's succinct, he's to the point, he's very professional. He would be the first guy that comes to mind. Paul Keels is a guy I also admire. Unfortunately for the rest of us, when you're at Ohio State you're probably going to be good every year. It would be easy to have an ego. He doesn't have one."
Lepay: Don Fischer. "Anyone who has had to put up with Bob Knight and Kelvin Sampson in one career deserves a place in heaven. Plus, Don's old, and I want to honor him. Kidding, he's not that old."
Grimm: Dolphin. "He's my mentor. He helped me get into this business. I think we're really lucky. We've got a lot of really good play-by play guys."
Eanet: All. "That's tough because these guys are all my friends. I don't mean to dodge the question, but these guys are really good buddies of mine. I like them all."
Tieman: All. "Because of XM (satellite radio), I've heard a ton of them the last few years. I can't say I have a favorite because the Big Ten has so many good ones. Within our group of 11, we might have the best radio teams in college basketball."
Barnhart: Dave Eanet. "I've heard them all. I just think Dave is exciting, even though his teams usually struggle. He makes it interesting to listen to. He does so many other things, TV, women's basketball."
Fischer: Matt Lepay. "He's a very solid play-by-play and a very objective play-by-play guy. He's not afraid to call a spade a spade."
Jones: Don Fischer: "They're great guys, just as people. But I think there's a reason why Don Fischer's the dean of Big Ten broadcasters." Clisby: Matt Lepay. "It sounds funny, but I don't listen to much radio. When we are able to get Wisconsin (games), I really like what he does."
Keels: Fischer. "A lot of it is because of his experience. He has an incredible knowledge of the Big Ten. The other two are Gary Dolphin at Iowa and Matt Lepay at Wisconsin."
Shepard: Paul Keels. "That's really hard. They've got a lot of good ones. I think Paul Keels has an unbelievable voice and a great rhythm."

Favorite Big Ten arena
Breslin Center, Michigan State 4
Kohl Center, Wisconsin 4
Assembly Hall, Indiana 1
Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa 1
Williams Arena, Minnesota 1

Dolphin: Breslin Center. "Simply because of where the students are situated. They're all down on the floor. Kohl Center is a close second."
Lepay: Breslin Center. "The fans are right on top of the court, plus the student section is great."
Grimm: Assembly Hall (Indiana). "It folds out like an opera house on both sides. It's high and loud. The fans are really smart basketball fans."
Eanet: Kohl Center. "I did Wisconsin's first game there, they played Northwestern. It's such a festive atmosphere. The fans are so into it. To me, it's kind of the perfect atmosphere for college basketball."
Tieman: Kohl Center. "You have the most room and a great courtside view."
Barnhart: Williams Arena. "It's old school. The way it's laid out and doing the game from the balcony. The elevated floor. It's really unique."
Fischer: Kohl Center. "I have to look at it from a broadcaster's standpoint. They give you plenty of room to work. The venue there has been as good as any place in the conference since it has been open."
Jones: Breslin Center: "The Palestra has a better atmosphere than the Breslin. Midwest guys will never understand how great the Palestra is. It's wild."
Clisby: Breslin Center. "The toughest places to play as an opponent is Breslin Center and the Kohl Center."
Keels: Carver-Hawkeye Arena. "I'm one of those guys that likes being up off the floor. Where we are in Columbus is probably right up there."
Shepard: Kohl Center. "You're right there, you're right on top of things, they give you a really big table to spread your stuff out."

Most original student section
Izzone, Michigan State 5
Orange Krush, Illinois 3
Paint Crew, Purdue 2
Grateful Red, Wisconsin 1

Dolphin: Orange Krush. "Uniquely speaking, when the student body would line the floor at halftime, you wouldn't see that anywhere else. Chief Illiniwek was so unique. I hated the way the Chief had to ride off into the sunset."
Lepay: Izzone. "It's a dead heat between the Izzone and the Orange Krush. I love the 'warmups' the Orange Krush will go through before games, and it seems the Izzone's false shot-clock countdown screws up at least a couple of opposing teams every year."
Grimm: Paint Crew. "They got on our guys pretty good. Their basketball IQ is pretty high."
Eanet: Izzone. "It's the most fanatical. They tend to be pretty clever with some of the stuff they yell at some of the players during the pregame warmups. Some of it I can't repeat."
Tieman: Paint Crew. "It seems like a lot of these groups have come after the Izzone. I got a kick out of the Paint Crew. One guy came to the game painted, literally."
Barnhart: The Izzone. "They are really fun. Even the players come out and they just laugh."
Fischer: Izzone. "The first or second year the Breslin Center was open, we went in there three hours before the game. There were notes they had set out for the student body, about what you could yell at the Hoosiers."
Jones: Orange Krush: "The Gene Pool up at Purdue had the best name. But the Trojan horse scam they (Krush) pulled at Penn State last year was unbelievable."
Clisby: Izzone. "That's the one everyone wants to copy."
Keels: Grateful Red. "Really, a lot of these student sections have copied what the Duke students will do in the Cameron Crazies. And that's fine. I like Wisconsin's group."

Favorite Big Ten road trip
Madison, Wis. 4
Minneapolis 4
Columbus, Ohio 1
Iowa City, Iowa 1

Dolphin: Madison. "No. 1, it's a great college town. It's the right size. They've got a lot of great eating places. And they've got great facilities. And right now they're on a roll."
Lepay: Columbus, Ohio. "But that's basically because I have friends and family in the area."
Grimm: Iowa City: "My brother lives there. My parents live there. Mostly for personal reasons."
Eanet: Madison. "It's an easy trip. Madison's just a great town." Tieman: None. "Truth is, it's the same routine wherever you are. You hop on the plane, you go to the hotel, you go to shootaround, back to the hotel. Unless you're going to Columbus and there's 20 inches of snow. Then there's a difference."
Barnhart: Minneapolis. "I have some relatives up there. I just like the city a lot."
Fischer: Minneapolis. "Terrific places to eat. The weather, of course, is awful in the wintertime."
Jones: "Two friends of mine won a trip with the team and asked me where they should go. I said Madison."
Clisby: Madison. "A lot of the games we do are day trips. Everybody loves Madison. Love the downtown. Love the lake, when it's not frozen."
Keels: Minneapolis. "It is a major metropolitan city. Some of the other places are a little more remote."
Shepard: Minneapolis. "I like the people. I like the city. I like Wisconsin, too. I like Penn State, as well."

Best Big Ten referee
Steve Welmer 4
Jim Burr 1
J.D. Collins 1
Donnee Gray 1
Ed Hightower 1
Tom O'Neill 1

Dolphin: Tom O'Neill: "I call him my Joe Pesci lookalike. To me, a good official is a guy that doesn't blow the whistle. Tom O'Neill is a Chicago guy. He interacts with the crowd, he interacts with the scorer's table. I'm a personality guy, and I appreciate what Tommy O'Neill brings into games."
Lepay: Steve Welmer. "You can tell he loves his job, and I think he communicates well with the players and coaches."
Grimm: Steve Welmer: "In my mind, he's always the guy who everybody else should have the standard held to. I also like Ed Hightower. The game's always under control when he's there."
Eanet: Ed Hightower. "I don't know if there's just one. In general, I think (Ed) Hightower does a good job."
Barnhart: Steve Welmer. "He's fair."
Fischer: Steve Welmer. "I think they have the hardest job in sports. That goes for college basketball and NBA basketball."
Jones: Donnee Gray. "I think Ted Hilary does a great job. Rick Hartzell is a guy that you know it's going to be a well-called game." Keels: Jim Burr. "I know Jim at times maybe rubs people the wrong way. But he's been pretty consistent."
Shepard: J.D. Collins. "He's very consistent. That's the most important thing."

Best opposing coach to work with from a media/interview perspective
Tom Izzo, Michigan State 6
Bill Carmody, Northwestern 2
Matt Painter, Purdue 1
Bo Ryan, Wisconsin 1
Bruce Weber, Illinois 1

Dolphin: Tom Izzo. "But there is no more accommodating guy than Bruce Weber. Bruce has given me a ride to the hotel on a number of occasions. That's the kind of accommodating guy he is."
Lepay: Bill Carmody. "My color analyst does the opposing coach interviews, and he has always appreciated Bill Carmody."
Grimm: Tom Izzo: "When Izzo was here (at Minnesota), the student section was setting out these homer hankies out on each seat. Izzo yells over at one of the kids and says, 'I'd like to take one of those home to my son.' I told him the hanky had Tubby's photo on it. He joked and said, 'It's good to blow your nose into.'"
Eanet: Bruce Weber. "I would put him there. I would put (Tom) Izzo up there, as well. I like the way they deal with the opposing coaches and opposing teams."
Tieman: Bill Carmody. "Bruce Weber and Matt Painter are a close second. I find myself listening to what they say. They says things that are worth listening to."
Barnhart: Izzo. "Loren (Tate) and Ed (Bond) go up in his office and he just lets them in. He's got a good sense of humor, and he's easy to talk to."
Fischer: Tom Izzo. "Tom is as good as it gets. He's never going to show you up, and he'll answer honestly. The other guy is Bill Carmody. He's as down-to-earth as you will find."
Jones: Izzo. "He can give you an opinion that can allow you to sit back and say, 'That makes a lot of sense.'"
Clisby: Izzo. "I like Tom Izzo an awful lot. That goes back to the days of Coach Keady being close to Jud (Heathcote)."
Keels: Bo Ryan. "He's probably the one opposing coach that I've had the most chances to be around and interview."
Shepard: Matt Painter. "He's insightful, but he's a really nice guy."

Opposing player you most enjoy watching
Robbie Hummel, Purdue 2
D.J. White, Indiana 2
Jamar Butler, Ohio State 1
Brian Butch, Wisconsin 1
Geary Claxton, Penn State 1
Eric Gordon, Indiana 1
Joe Krabbenhoft, Wisconsin 1
Raymar Morgan, Michigan State 1
Brian Randle, Illinois 1

Dolphin: Brian Butch. "He's had to overcome a lot of adversity. He came out of Appleton (Wis.) with a McDonald's All-American label, and that isn't always the easiest thing. The second guy is D.J. White. The third guy is Jamar Butler."
Lepay: D.J. White. "The way he has improved has really been impressive."
Grimm: Raymar Morgan: "But I kind of like some of those scrappers, too. Michael Flowers, Trent Meacham. Raymar Morgan is just an athlete, though."
Eanet: Robbie Hummel. "I've only seen him twice. He just goes out and plays the game. If they need a midrange jumper, he makes it. If they need a big rebound, he gets it."
Tieman: Jamar Butler. "I was puzzled by his season. I was curious why his numbers weren't better. He was a player that could have been the Player of the Year as a sophomore. The other player would be Eric Gordon. He's bigger, he's quicker, he's better, in person than on a DVD disc."
Barnhart: Joe Krabbenhoft. "He just does so many things. He seems to have glue on his fingers."
Fischer: Robbie Hummel. "That will sound crazy coming from an Indiana guy. But he plays team basketball, and he makes guys around him better."
Jones: Geary Claxton. "I know I voted for D.J. White for Player of the Year, but in terms of pure athleticism I always enjoyed watching."
Clisby: Gordon. "He's a tremendous talent. He's from the state. Even though they're a rival, when you have a chance to watch them play, you have to enjoy it."
Keels: Brian Randle. "He's a guy that I think is maybe underrated with all of the things he can do. When he's been healthy, he shows some incredible athleticism at times. He works as hard on offense as well as defense."
Shepard: D.J. White. "I think he's a very good college basketball player. I don't know how good of a pro he's going to be. But I don't care."

Favorite TV personality
Clark Kellogg 3
Brad Nessler 2
Stephen Bardo 1
Dick Enberg 1
Dick Jerardi 1
Wayne Larrivee/Shon Morris 1
Steve Lavin 1
Brent Musburger 1

Dolphin: Dick Enberg: "I grew up idolizing Dick Enberg, as much for his radio calls when he used to do UCLA games. Dick Enberg was always a hero of mine."
Lepay: Clark Kellogg. "I love his use of the language. You gotta love 'spurt-ability' and 'the stoop' - beats the worn-out term 'the bubble.'"
Grimm: Wayne Larrivee/Shon Morris: "That's a great tandem. Those two guys are always spot on. Larrivee, not only is he good, but he does Packers games on the radio and there's not a better guy who does football than him. ESPN should swoop up Morris."
Eanet: Stephen Bardo. "And I like the Big Ten Network guys. I worked with Tim Doyle, so I'm a little biased toward him. He's a wacko."
Tieman: Steve Lavin. "He stays focused on the game at hand, as opposed to some telecasts that talk about everything but the game. He has intuitiveness on when to say what and how to say it."
Barnhart: Brent Musburger: "I got to know him a lot during the Final Four year. He did a lot of our games. What he is on TV is what he is in person."
Fischer: Clark Kellogg. "He is common sense. He's not overboard with the cliches and all the things some of these guys bring to the table. I think Clark Kellogg is the best in the business."
Jones: Dick Jerardi. "From the Philadelphia Daily News. He analyzes a game the way you might play chess. Jack Ham is the same way."\
Clisby: Clark Kellogg. "Have enjoyed him for a long time. He is tremendously knowledgeable of the game."
Keels: Brad Nessler. "Unfortunately we don't get to see him too much in the Big Ten as far as basketball. The excitement and enthusiasm he has. As far as an analyst goes, he's grown on me more, is Steve Lavin. He's continued to get better in showing all of what he's learned."
Shepard: Brad Nessler. "He's great at what he does. He's as genuine as there is."

Big Ten team that will advance in the NCAA tournament
Michigan State 6
Wisconsin 3
Purdue 2

Dolphin: Michigan State: "I think Purdue's too young this year. I think Wisconsin's solid. I just think when you're Tom Izzo and you have the kind of athleticism Michigan State has, you have the components that can make a big run."
Lepay: Purdue. "They put great pressure on the ball. My only worry would be that it fouls too much."
Grimm: Wisconsin. "I'm not sure any of them are going to go very far. If you asked me three weeks ago I would have said Indiana."
Eanet: Wisconsin. "They're the best mix of power inside, they can rebound, they've got guys who can step out and hit three-pointers. They're a veteran team."
Tieman: Michigan State. "Tom Izzo made an interesting statement in our pregame interview. He said, 'We're good enough where we can beat anybody. But we're not good enough where we can out-talent people.'"
Barnhart: Michigan State. "They can score, and they play good defense. They do both."
Fischer: Michigan State. "I think Indiana has that type of talent. But they are in disarray at the moment. These kids have not responded since Kelvin Sampson resigned three weeks ago, for whatever reason that is."
Jones: Wisconsin. "The playing style, where they defend 20 feet and in, and they also have a system where they'll be very patient. You have to go into a shootaround and you really have to know how to defend."
Clisby: Michigan State. "Indiana and Michigan State, top to bottom, talentwise, have the ingredients to go the farthest."
Keels: Purdue. "I had thought earlier it might be Indiana. Given the things that have happened with them off the court and their loss (Friday) night, I don't know if that will carry over."
Shepard: Michigan State. "They're battle-tested. They've got good guard play."

Coach of the Year
Matt Painter, Purdue 8
Bo Ryan, Wisconsin 3

Dolphin: Bo Ryan. "With all due respect to Matt Painter, Bo just amazes me year in and year out."
Lepay: Matt Painter. "It would appear the Boilers will be very good for the next several years."
Grimm: Bo Ryan. "I voted for Bo. But it was a tossup between Matt Painter and Bo Ryan. I call it a tie, but I gave it to Bo maybe as a lifetime achievement. I can't argue with either one."
Eanet: Matt Painter. "You look at what they've done with all of those kids. They've done it with freshmen and sophomores."
Tieman: Bo Ryan. "What Bo Ryan did was amazing. You go through what he lost. ... But he won the league. Close second is Matt Painter."
Barnhart: Matt Painter. "Just by realizing what he was working with and getting those freshmen to overcome a slow start."
Fischer: Matt Painter. "Both Matt Painter and Bo Ryan deserve it. Most people picked Purdue in the middle of the pack. I think that team is playing terrific basketball, even though Illinois beat them (Friday) night."
Jones: Matt Painter. "But I voted Bo Ryan second and Ed DeChellis third."
Clisby: Matt Painter. "He did beat Wisconsin twice. The whole thing comes down to Brian Butch banking in a three-pointer at Indiana. That decided the Big Ten championship."
Keels: Painter. "Nobody expected them to do much of anything. Considering how the last couple of years, they really had to go through growing pains."
Shepard: Matt Painter. "Hands down."

Player of the Year
D.J. White, Indiana 10
Marcus Landry, Wisconsin 1

Dolphin: Marcus Landry. "I think D.J.'s the obvious pick. To me, it goes back to who wins the Big Ten. I don't know who did more for their team than Marcus Landry. He's probably the closest thing to Tyler Smith that I can think of."
Lepay: D.J. White. "Easy choice for me."
Grimm: D.J. White. "When you're averaging a double-double - or close to it - it's tough to go against him. And the team had success. I thought that was a very easy choice."
Eanet: D.J. White. "I actually considered Brian Butch also. He's so key to that team. Wisconsin would have been pretty good if Butch didn't play. Indiana without D.J. White is not the same team."
Tieman: D.J. White. "He's been good from the beginning."
Barnhart: D.J. White. "He's probably the most complete player. I like (Brian) Butch a lot, too."
Fischer: D.J. White. "D.J. was about a 12- or 13-point scorer and a six or seven rebounder. You don't hear of guys making that kind of a jump from one year to the next. Plus, he's just a great young man."
Jones: White. "The double-double. Every single game you could almost clock in what he would have. You could liken it to a baseball player who's in a contract year. D.J. knew it had to happen this year."
Clisby: D.J. White. "I thought it was clear-cut. Without him, Indiana wouldn't have been a top-three team."
Keels: D.J. White. "The guy works his rear end off, with what he did both scoring and rebounding. And I think people admire the way he's fought back from injuries."
Shepard: D.J. White. "Some people may say Eric Gordon, but I don't think they're anything without D.J. White."

Best future NBA player
Eric Gordon, Indiana 6
Raymar Morgan, Michigan State 5

Dolphin: Raymar Morgan. "I just won't anoint a true freshman like Eric Gordon. I hope he does well, and I wish him well. But when I look at Raymar Morgan, he reminds me a lot of Jason Richardson."
Lepay: Eric Gordon. "Since this will be read by Illini fans, I'll say no more about Eric What's His Name."
Grimm: Raymar Morgan. "I think eventually he's going to be a really good NBA 3-man with his size and strength and the way he can run the floor. He will probably be a lottery pick if he sticks around a year or two."
Eanet: Eric Gordon. "My first instinct is to look at some of the big guys. But to me, it's more a guy like Eric Gordon who can shoot, who can handle the ball. I think he has a lot of room for growth."
Tieman: Eric Gordon. "The consensus seems to be Eric Gordon. But I look at Daequan Cook, shooting 30 percent in college, and he goes high (in the draft). So it's hard to say."
Barnhart: Raymar Morgan. "Athleticism, ability to score. You've got to be able to score in that league."
Fischer: Eric Gordon. "I think he's a terrific young man, on top of that. He's a very humble young man. I don't think he's got comfortable with the wrist injury."
Jones: Gordon. "The underrated part about Gordon is that he is pretty good at using his defense to create some offense. That's something a lot of guys don't get."
Clisby: Raymar Morgan. "I think he's underachieved from time to time, but he's a terrific talent. Eric Gordon's going to be a lottery pick, I don't care what anybody says."
Keels: Raymar Morgan. "You would want to say D.J. White, but he's probably undersized to play center in the NBA. (Morgan) is a guy if you give him another year, he could be a very good NBA player."
Shepard: Eric Gordon. "The kid has unlimited range. He's amazing."

If you could change one thing about college basketball, what would it be?

Dolphin: Go to a trapezoidal lane. "I think that makes for more room inside. This game has gotten so big over the years. Your big guys get into foul trouble too soon."
Lepay: Outlaw weeknight 8 p.m. tipoffs. "Not exactly ideal for the players, not to mention fans who have to drive more than an hour to and from the arena."
Grimm: "Clean up the recruiting, the sleaziness of the AAU stuff. I think it puts good, classy coaches who do it the right way in a tight spot. If you don't go swim in the mud with these guys, you're not going to win. I have no idea how to do that. But if there was some magic wand to wave, that's what I would do."
Eanet: Consistency in scheduling. "This speaks more to the game times. It's obviously driven by TV. One of the strengths of football over the years is you know what times the games are."
Tieman: Officiating schedules. "That's an easy one. The Big Ten has had a horrible season of officiating. They just do too many games. The season wears on me, and I'm not running up and down the court."
Barnhart: Letting recruits sign when they commit. "I think it would eliminate a lot of the nonsense."
Fischer: Less physical play. "I honestly think the game has gotten way too physical. Basketball was invented as a finesse game."
Jones: Banish the five-second call. "There's no need for the five second call because you have a 35-second shot clock. I think that's one thing you can take away from the officials so they can concentrate on something else."
Clisby: More value to the regular season. "Fans, in general, we're failing to enjoy regular season games. Bracketology begins in December. If Duke and Purdue should get together, I think there should be a great emphasis on that than just saying it could hurt their postseason chances."
Keels: Consistency in starting times. "This year we saw anywhere from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. You want to know when your team's going to play."
Shepard: Coaches' contact with players in the summer. "I think it's unfair the universities bring these kids in and don't allow the coaches to be with them during the summer. I think they should have the opportunity to coach them up."

Paul Klee
pklee@news-gazette.com