Mike Kennedy, the radio play-by-play voice for Wichita State for 44 years, announced he is receiving treatments for prostate cancer. After being part of 1,419 consecutive broadcasts, Kennedy said he would miss at least two men’s basketball games. Last night was the first of the two as the team travelled to East Carolina and then Charlotte (Sunday Feb. 18). Kennedy hopes to be back behind the microphone Feb. 21 when the Shockers host Tulsa.
“Over the 44 years that I have been privileged to be the play-by-play broadcaster for Wichita State athletics, I have been part of 1,419 consecutive broadcasts of men’s basketball games without ever missing one, and I have loved every minute of that time, representing the WSU programs and the incredible Shocker fans,” Kennedy wrote in a statement posted by the Wichita State Men’s Basketball program X account. “Unfortunately, tonight it is necessary to step back from that labor of love for a moment. I am receiving treatment for prostate cancer, and in order to maintain the optimum schedule for those treatments, I have decided to remain at home and will miss the games at East Carolina and Charlotte. I am roughly two weeks into treatment and tolerating it well and feel good, and if that continues, it is likely I will not miss any more games.
“I want everyone to know that we were fortunate to identify my situation early enough that, while there are never any guarantees, the prognosis for a positive outcome is good, and I am receiving excellent medical care. I have always been blessed with good health and probably have been a little nonchalant about that, but my wife Debbie has stayed after me about keeping regular doctor’s appointments and it was because of that, that the doctors were able to diagnose the cancer in a timely manner. If there is a message in all of this, I urge all men to get checked regularly.”
Shane Dennis, a former baseball player at Wichita State will be the fill-in for Kennedy. Dennis has done play-by-play for Wichita State games carried by ESPN+.
According to the Wichita Eagle, Dennis directed comments to Kennedy at the start of last evening’s pregame show. “I’m very honored to try and fill your shoes,” he said. “I know it will be a shocker to some of Shocker Nation’s system not hearing Mike Kennedy’s voice. But, I’ll do the best that I can do.”
