The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics

Murry Bartow to Handle Color Commentary for Men's Basketball
11/6/2019 3:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – Former UAB men's basketball head coach and letterwinner Murry Bartow will join David Crane as color commentator on WJQX-FM ESPN 100.5 Jox 2 for the upcoming season.
"I had the chance to work with Murry a couple of seasons ago when he filled in for Steve Mitchell on a few road trips, and I thought he was fantastic," said Crane. "I know the fans will miss Steve on the broadcasts, but I'm also positive they will enjoy having a Bartow on the call of UAB games this season. I've been incredibly fortunate in my career to work with great analysts who are also good people, and I'm so excited to have the opportunity to work with Murry this year."
Named the second head coach in UAB history after the 1995-96 season, Bartow guided the Blazers to an 18-14 mark and an NIT appearance in 1996-97. The 18 victories ranked him seventh among 25 first-year head coaches in NCAA Division I play during that season. That set the tone for an even more successful season the following year, as the Blazers finished 21-12 overall and advanced to the second round of the NIT. He followed that with a 20-12 season and a trip to the NCAA tournament. In six overall seasons, Barlow led the Blazers to 103 total victories.
The son of Coach Gene and Mrs. Ruth Bartow, he grew up around the game of basketball, and apprenticed at the side of two of the game's master teachers, Gene Bartow and Indiana's Bob Knight. Bartow began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Indiana (1985-87), and worked with the Hoosiers' 1987 NCAA Championship team.
During his seven seasons as an assistant on the UAB staff (1989-96), Bartow developed a reputation as an energetic teacher and recruiter, and was often mentioned as one of the nation's top defensive strategists.
A 1980 graduate of Birmingham's W.A. Berry High School, Bartow was an outstanding point guard, earning All-Jefferson County honors and his team's MVP award as a senior. He played basketball at UAB from 1981-85, and was part of four NCAA Tournament teams, three Sun Belt Conference championship teams and UAB's 1984 Great Alaska Shootout title team. He was also a member of the golf team while at UAB. Bartow earned his B.A. in business administration from UAB in 1985, and his master's degree from Indiana in 1987.
"I am looking forward to being on all of the radio broadcasts with David this season," said Bartow. "I have been involved with UAB Basketball from a number of vantage points: student-athlete, assistant coach, head coach, now as an analyst on radio. Hopefully I can assist David, who is the real pro, and give the listeners my insight on the flow of the game and what's happening from a technical standpoint."
UAB opens the 2019-20 season tomorrow night at Troy. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Fans can listen live beginning at 6:30 p.m. on WJQX 100.5 FM or stream by using TuneIn.
Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at 205-975-UAB1. Fans can also request more information on ticket options for the upcoming season here. Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 20 tickets. To inquire about group tickets for the 2019-20 season, please contact Chris Curtis at (205) 934-3172 or ccurtis2@uab.edu.
"I had the chance to work with Murry a couple of seasons ago when he filled in for Steve Mitchell on a few road trips, and I thought he was fantastic," said Crane. "I know the fans will miss Steve on the broadcasts, but I'm also positive they will enjoy having a Bartow on the call of UAB games this season. I've been incredibly fortunate in my career to work with great analysts who are also good people, and I'm so excited to have the opportunity to work with Murry this year."
Named the second head coach in UAB history after the 1995-96 season, Bartow guided the Blazers to an 18-14 mark and an NIT appearance in 1996-97. The 18 victories ranked him seventh among 25 first-year head coaches in NCAA Division I play during that season. That set the tone for an even more successful season the following year, as the Blazers finished 21-12 overall and advanced to the second round of the NIT. He followed that with a 20-12 season and a trip to the NCAA tournament. In six overall seasons, Barlow led the Blazers to 103 total victories.
The son of Coach Gene and Mrs. Ruth Bartow, he grew up around the game of basketball, and apprenticed at the side of two of the game's master teachers, Gene Bartow and Indiana's Bob Knight. Bartow began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Indiana (1985-87), and worked with the Hoosiers' 1987 NCAA Championship team.
During his seven seasons as an assistant on the UAB staff (1989-96), Bartow developed a reputation as an energetic teacher and recruiter, and was often mentioned as one of the nation's top defensive strategists.
A 1980 graduate of Birmingham's W.A. Berry High School, Bartow was an outstanding point guard, earning All-Jefferson County honors and his team's MVP award as a senior. He played basketball at UAB from 1981-85, and was part of four NCAA Tournament teams, three Sun Belt Conference championship teams and UAB's 1984 Great Alaska Shootout title team. He was also a member of the golf team while at UAB. Bartow earned his B.A. in business administration from UAB in 1985, and his master's degree from Indiana in 1987.
"I am looking forward to being on all of the radio broadcasts with David this season," said Bartow. "I have been involved with UAB Basketball from a number of vantage points: student-athlete, assistant coach, head coach, now as an analyst on radio. Hopefully I can assist David, who is the real pro, and give the listeners my insight on the flow of the game and what's happening from a technical standpoint."
UAB opens the 2019-20 season tomorrow night at Troy. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Fans can listen live beginning at 6:30 p.m. on WJQX 100.5 FM or stream by using TuneIn.
Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at 205-975-UAB1. Fans can also request more information on ticket options for the upcoming season here. Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 20 tickets. To inquire about group tickets for the 2019-20 season, please contact Chris Curtis at (205) 934-3172 or ccurtis2@uab.edu.
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