Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Announces 2020-21 Basketball Broadcast Crew
11/24/2020 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, General
Tom Helmer takes over as the radio voice of EMU men's and women's basketball on WEMU
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics and WEMU (89.1 FM) announced today, Nov. 24, its broadcast schedule for the 2020-21 men's and women's basketball season. In total, EMU will have 36 regular season broadcasts on radio (22 men's, 14 women's) along with 24 home games (13 men's, 11 women's) scheduled to be televised by ESPN3 or ESPN+.
Tom Helmer, 24-year broadcast veteran, takes over as the primary play-by-play voice of EMU men's and women's basketball on WEMU in 2020-21. Helmer has worked the sidelines for FOX NFL Sunday, hosted the Colorado Rockies' pre-and-postgame shows, and hosted various studio shows involving the Denver Broncos as well as college football, basketball, and hockey.
A native of Saline, Mich., Helmer joined Eastern Michigan prior to the 2019-20 season and has contributed in numerous ways including play-by-play, analysis, reporting, and contributing to the Eastern Insider Podcast. No stranger to EMU basketball, Helmer worked the 2019-20 season on EMU's ESPN broadcasts.
"Tom's enthusiasm for EMU sports goes back decades," said Molly Motherwell, the General Manager of WEMU. "We know he'll bring that passion to the broadcast booth for every game and share it with Eagle Nation."
Helmer began his career in Los Angeles, Calif. as a producer for nightly sports reports, and has served in a multitude of roles throughout his career. He was a play-by-play voice for Fox Sports calling both Big 12 Conference and Pac 12 Conference games. Helmer has also been on the call for NCAA Division I men's and women's contests, Arena League Football games, and hosted the nationally televised Fox Sports Net Baseball Report, BCS Breakdown, and the BCS Ratings show.
Helmer won multiple Emmy Awards for Fox Sports Rocky Mountain and also one for KCAL-TV leading up to 1994 World Cup.
"I'm thrilled and honored to be named the voice of EMU basketball," added Helmer. "The University has a rich basketball history and to be able to play even a small role in that means a great deal to me."
Helmer becomes just the fourth basketball play-by-play voice for EMU basketball on WEMU since 1963. He joins the select company that includes, John C. Fountain (1963-2007), who handled football, basketball and baseball broadcasts at EMU for 44 years. Brian Nemerovski (2007-09) and Chad Bush (2009-20) also painted the vocal picture for EMU men's and women's basketball.
In it's 55th year of operation on EMU's campus, WEMU continues to serve as the FM flagship and originating station for EMU football and basketball broadcasts. In 2020-21, WEMU will broadcast more than 40 live games, as well as interviews and stories during WEMU's news programs.
Listeners in eight counties can catch Eagles' games on 89.1 FM. As a public radio station with a large broad-based audience, WEMU's signal extends from Washtenaw County to the Detroit metropolitan and Toledo, Ohio markets. The broadcasts are also streamed live on WEMU.org, and WEMU's free Android and iPhone applications.
On the television side, EMU alumnus Ryan Wooley begins his sixth season as the television play-by-play voice of EMU basketball. Wooley took over the role when Eastern Michigan launched its ESPN campus production initiative during the 2015-16 season.
"I'm thrilled to be returning to Eastern Michigan for a sixth season to call the action for both the men's and women's basketball teams," Wooley said. "Not only is it a privilege to bring the action to life for those watching on ESPN3 or ESPN+, but to do so as a fellow EMU alum is a huge honor and one I don't take for granted. I also love the fact I get to work alongside not only other professionals in the industry on gameday, but students who are getting their first taste of a live production. It truly takes a team to bring these broadcasts to life and I'm so glad I can be a small part of that experience while conveying the stories the teams are telling with their play from Ypsilanti to wherever fans may be watching."
For more than 13 years, Wooley was an afternoon sports anchor for both WWJ Newsradio 950 and 97.1 "The Ticket" in Detroit. During his time on air, he was awarded the "Best Sportscast" by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters six times (including two three-peats in 2012/2013/2014 and 2017/2018/2019) and four Associated Press Media Editors (APME) awards (a three-peat in 2013/2014/2015 and 2017).
Additionally,Wooley was honored at the 2014 EMU Alumni Awards with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. A 2007 graduate of EMU with a bachelor of arts degree in Electronic Media and Film Studies, Wooley served as a news anchor for Eastern Weekly, co-created and hosted "The Eastern Sports Report," was a play-by-play anchor for EMU football and men's and women's basketball on E-TV, was a three-year member of the EMU Marching Band, a four-year member of the EMU Basketball Band, and a member of the National Honorary Band Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi. He was also the recipient of the J. Clarence and Courtney S. Fountain Sportscasters Scholarship.
As a part of the Mid-American Conference's agreement with ESPN, EMU Athletics produces live content that is aired nationally on ESPN3 and ESPN+. The programming is produced entirely by members of the EMU community, including athletics department staff members, distinguished professionals and students from the Department of Communication, Media & Theatre Arts.
EMU students receive valuable hands-on experience working with professional equipment and producing content for a national audience. It is a unique opportunity for students to gain working knowledge and real-time experience. All events will be delivered on ESPN3 or ESPN+, with the option to cut to any event for inclusion on other ESPN platforms.
In five years, EMU has produced 185 events between volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and football signing day.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, this schedule is subject to change at any time.
In accordance with Eastern Michigan University guidelines, there will be no general admittance fans allowed at EMU men's basketball home games in 2020. EMU will continue to monitor the situations revolving around the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the season and will provide updates on any changes to the attendance policy that may be made via EMUEagles.com.
EMU men's basketball tips off the 2020-21 campaign kicks off with a trip north to Michigan State University, Nov. 25, inside the Breslin Center. As the calendar turns to December, the Green and White return to the Convocation Center to welcome Mid-American Conference opponent University of Toledo, Dec. 4, to start the conference slate. The contest against the Rockets was originally scheduled for March 5 before being moved up due to COVID-19 rescheduling precautions.
Meanwhile, the women's team opens up the 2020-21 campaign with a Thanksgiving week road tilt against Southern Illinois, Nov 25. Eastern will play its only non-conference home game of the season when it hosts Illinois-Chicago for a Sunday matinee, Nov. 29.
Tom Helmer, 24-year broadcast veteran, takes over as the primary play-by-play voice of EMU men's and women's basketball on WEMU in 2020-21. Helmer has worked the sidelines for FOX NFL Sunday, hosted the Colorado Rockies' pre-and-postgame shows, and hosted various studio shows involving the Denver Broncos as well as college football, basketball, and hockey.
A native of Saline, Mich., Helmer joined Eastern Michigan prior to the 2019-20 season and has contributed in numerous ways including play-by-play, analysis, reporting, and contributing to the Eastern Insider Podcast. No stranger to EMU basketball, Helmer worked the 2019-20 season on EMU's ESPN broadcasts.
"Tom's enthusiasm for EMU sports goes back decades," said Molly Motherwell, the General Manager of WEMU. "We know he'll bring that passion to the broadcast booth for every game and share it with Eagle Nation."
Helmer began his career in Los Angeles, Calif. as a producer for nightly sports reports, and has served in a multitude of roles throughout his career. He was a play-by-play voice for Fox Sports calling both Big 12 Conference and Pac 12 Conference games. Helmer has also been on the call for NCAA Division I men's and women's contests, Arena League Football games, and hosted the nationally televised Fox Sports Net Baseball Report, BCS Breakdown, and the BCS Ratings show.
Helmer won multiple Emmy Awards for Fox Sports Rocky Mountain and also one for KCAL-TV leading up to 1994 World Cup.
"I'm thrilled and honored to be named the voice of EMU basketball," added Helmer. "The University has a rich basketball history and to be able to play even a small role in that means a great deal to me."
Helmer becomes just the fourth basketball play-by-play voice for EMU basketball on WEMU since 1963. He joins the select company that includes, John C. Fountain (1963-2007), who handled football, basketball and baseball broadcasts at EMU for 44 years. Brian Nemerovski (2007-09) and Chad Bush (2009-20) also painted the vocal picture for EMU men's and women's basketball.
In it's 55th year of operation on EMU's campus, WEMU continues to serve as the FM flagship and originating station for EMU football and basketball broadcasts. In 2020-21, WEMU will broadcast more than 40 live games, as well as interviews and stories during WEMU's news programs.
Listeners in eight counties can catch Eagles' games on 89.1 FM. As a public radio station with a large broad-based audience, WEMU's signal extends from Washtenaw County to the Detroit metropolitan and Toledo, Ohio markets. The broadcasts are also streamed live on WEMU.org, and WEMU's free Android and iPhone applications.
On the television side, EMU alumnus Ryan Wooley begins his sixth season as the television play-by-play voice of EMU basketball. Wooley took over the role when Eastern Michigan launched its ESPN campus production initiative during the 2015-16 season.
"I'm thrilled to be returning to Eastern Michigan for a sixth season to call the action for both the men's and women's basketball teams," Wooley said. "Not only is it a privilege to bring the action to life for those watching on ESPN3 or ESPN+, but to do so as a fellow EMU alum is a huge honor and one I don't take for granted. I also love the fact I get to work alongside not only other professionals in the industry on gameday, but students who are getting their first taste of a live production. It truly takes a team to bring these broadcasts to life and I'm so glad I can be a small part of that experience while conveying the stories the teams are telling with their play from Ypsilanti to wherever fans may be watching."
For more than 13 years, Wooley was an afternoon sports anchor for both WWJ Newsradio 950 and 97.1 "The Ticket" in Detroit. During his time on air, he was awarded the "Best Sportscast" by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters six times (including two three-peats in 2012/2013/2014 and 2017/2018/2019) and four Associated Press Media Editors (APME) awards (a three-peat in 2013/2014/2015 and 2017).
Additionally,Wooley was honored at the 2014 EMU Alumni Awards with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. A 2007 graduate of EMU with a bachelor of arts degree in Electronic Media and Film Studies, Wooley served as a news anchor for Eastern Weekly, co-created and hosted "The Eastern Sports Report," was a play-by-play anchor for EMU football and men's and women's basketball on E-TV, was a three-year member of the EMU Marching Band, a four-year member of the EMU Basketball Band, and a member of the National Honorary Band Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi. He was also the recipient of the J. Clarence and Courtney S. Fountain Sportscasters Scholarship.
As a part of the Mid-American Conference's agreement with ESPN, EMU Athletics produces live content that is aired nationally on ESPN3 and ESPN+. The programming is produced entirely by members of the EMU community, including athletics department staff members, distinguished professionals and students from the Department of Communication, Media & Theatre Arts.
EMU students receive valuable hands-on experience working with professional equipment and producing content for a national audience. It is a unique opportunity for students to gain working knowledge and real-time experience. All events will be delivered on ESPN3 or ESPN+, with the option to cut to any event for inclusion on other ESPN platforms.
In five years, EMU has produced 185 events between volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and football signing day.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, this schedule is subject to change at any time.
In accordance with Eastern Michigan University guidelines, there will be no general admittance fans allowed at EMU men's basketball home games in 2020. EMU will continue to monitor the situations revolving around the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the season and will provide updates on any changes to the attendance policy that may be made via EMUEagles.com.
EMU men's basketball tips off the 2020-21 campaign kicks off with a trip north to Michigan State University, Nov. 25, inside the Breslin Center. As the calendar turns to December, the Green and White return to the Convocation Center to welcome Mid-American Conference opponent University of Toledo, Dec. 4, to start the conference slate. The contest against the Rockets was originally scheduled for March 5 before being moved up due to COVID-19 rescheduling precautions.
Meanwhile, the women's team opens up the 2020-21 campaign with a Thanksgiving week road tilt against Southern Illinois, Nov 25. Eastern will play its only non-conference home game of the season when it hosts Illinois-Chicago for a Sunday matinee, Nov. 29.
2020-21 EMU Basketball Radio and Television Schedule - subject to change
| Day | Date | Sport | Away Team | Home Team | Radio | Radio PXP | TV | TV PXP |
| Wednesday | Nov. 25 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Michigan State | WEMU | Tom Helmer | Big 10 Network | |
| Sunday | Nov. 29 | Women's Basketball | Illinois-Chicago | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3 | Ryan Wooley |
| Friday | Dec. 4 | Men's Basketball | Toledo | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Wednesday | Dec. 9 | Men's Basketball | Adrian | Eastern Michigan | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley | ||
| Friday | Dec. 11 | Women's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Bowling Green | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Wednesday | Dec. 16 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Valparaiso | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Saturday | Dec. 19 | Men's Basketball | Olivet | Eastern Michigan | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley | ||
| Saturday | Jan. 2 | Women's Basketball | Kent State | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Saturday | Jan. 2 | Men's Basketball | Kent State | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Tuesday | Jan. 5 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Buffalo | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Wednesday | Jan. 6 | Women's Basketball | Buffalo | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Saturday | Jan. 9 | Men's Basketball | Akron | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Saturday | Jan. 9 | Women's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Western Michigan | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |||
| Tuesday | Jan. 12 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Toledo | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Wednesday | Jan. 13 | Women's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Miami | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |||
| Thursday | Jan. 14 | Men's Basketball | Calvin | Eastern Michigan | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley | ||
| Saturday | Jan. 16 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Central Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Saturday | Jan. 16 | Women's Basketball | Akron | Eastern Michigan | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley | ||
| Tuesday | Jan. 19 | Men's Basketball | Western Michigan | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Wednesday | Jan.20 | Women's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Central Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Saturday | Jan. 23 | Women's Basketball | Ball State | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Saturday | Jan. 23 | Men's Basketball | Miami | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Tuesday | Jan. 26 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Akron | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Wednesday | Jan. 27 | Women's Basketball | Ohio | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Saturday | Jan. 30 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Northern Illinois | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Saturday | Jan. 30 | Women's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Kent State | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |||
| Tuesday | Feb. 2 | Men's Basketball | Bowling Green | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Wednesday | Feb. 3 | Women's Basketball | Toledo | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Saturday | Feb. 6 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Ohio | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Saturday | Feb. 6 | Women's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Buffalo | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |||
| Tuesday | Feb. 9 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Miami | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Wednesday | Feb. 10 | Women's Basketball | Northern Illinois | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Saturday | Feb. 13 | Women's Basketball | Bowling Green | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Saturday | Feb. 13 | Men's Basketball | Ball State | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Tuesday | Feb. 16 | Men's Basketball | Buffalo | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Wednesday | Feb. 17 | Women's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Akron | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Saturday | Feb. 20 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Kent State | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Saturday | Feb. 20 | Women's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Ball State | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |||
| Tuesday | Feb. 23 | Men's Basketball | Central Michigan | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Wednesday | Feb. 24 | Women's Basketball | Western Michigan | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Saturday | Feb. 27 | Women's Basketball | Central Michigan | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Saturday | Feb. 27 | Men's Basketball | Northern Illinois | Eastern Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | Ryan Wooley |
| Tuesday | Mar. 2 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Ball State | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Wednesday | Mar. 3 | Women's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Northern Illinois | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |||
| Friday | Mar. 5 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Western Michigan | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Saturday | Mar. 6 | Women's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | Toledo | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN3/ESPN+ | |
| Wednesday | Mar. 10 | Women's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | MAC Tournament | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN+ | |
| Thursday | Mar. 11 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | MAC Tournament | WEMU | Tom Helmer | CBS Sports Network | |
| Friday | Mar. 12 | Women's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | MAC Tournament | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN+ | |
| Friday | Mar. 12 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | MAC Tournament | WEMU | Tom Helmer | CBS Sports Network | |
| Saturday | Mar. 13 | Women's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | MAC Tournament | WEMU | Tom Helmer | CBS Sports Network | |
| Saturday | Mar. 13 | Men's Basketball | Eastern Michigan | MAC Tournament | WEMU | Tom Helmer | ESPN2 |
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