Next game- Oakland at Bradley- Monday, March 23 7:05 pm

[Braves4Life]

They were still terrible and a team we should never lose to. The game wasn't competitive and was by far UMKC's largest margin of victory for the year.

Yep! And had BU beat the far inferior teams we lost to we would have been an automatic NIT team. But, since we're in this thing and playing second-rate teams with little to no D-1 tradition then we'd sure as he11 better win the whole d@mn thing!

[Big Mike]

the Tribune on the Braves /Oakland CIT game....BU is the last team in Illinois playing!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-23-bradley-oakland-college-insidmar23,0,6674612.story

[Da Coach]

BU is the last team in Illinois playing!

Just as they were last year, 2008, and in 2006!

There were only 4 Illinois teams, out of 12 D1 programs (soon to be 13) that were even invited to a postseason tournament.
Illinois- NCAA - one and done (loss to WKU)
Illinois State- NIT- one and done (loss to Kansas State)
Northwestern- NIT- one and done (loss to Tulsa)
Bradley- CIT- still playing

Pretty pathetic for a state like Illinois that has arguably the best and most abundant high school talent in the country.

[dogsrus]

If someone thinks that the Bradley loss to UMKC, coupled with the fact the Oakland beat UMKC at Oakland the only time they met, is somehow proof that Oakland is better than Bradley is simply foolish.

I don't think anyone is saying that at all.....I think that many are just saying we have NO reason to be over confident. As a fan though or as fans think it really doesn't matter.

JL and the Braves will NOT take this team lightly and thats all that matters.

[Da Coach]

Agreed. I think the coaches do a good job preparing the team for games. I have never heard anyone connected with this team or past teams ever suggest they were taking a game lightly, or that they expected an easy win.

[BradleyBrave]

Agreed. I think the coaches do a good job preparing the team for games. I have never heard anyone connected with this team or past teams ever suggest they were taking a game lightly, or that they expected an easy win.

I agree. We'll be ready to play tomorrow night.

[ifarania]

I appreciate the confidence and zeal from some of you, but I think that it's misplaced. We are going to have a lot of work to do tomorrow night against a team with a couple of very solid players. I think we'll win, but I don't think we have any right to EXPECT a double digit trouncing of any team in the post season (except maybe a #16 seed in the big dance). This BU team has struggled all season (save a nice win streak to start the MVC) for a variety of reasons, so go into the game anticipating a fight. I don't want us to have to eat our words after the fact.

[Big Mike]

PJS.....Oakland @ BU...DR picks the Braves by 4!

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x1331539032/Oakland-vs-Bradley

[Braves4Life]

I know I'm not skipping dinner Monday night. If I have to eat crow I'll just have to wash it down with a cold one

(I'm still predicting a 10+ point victory...... BU 87- 73)

[Da Coach]

Dave Reynolds' pregame article-

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x2087807872/Good-grief-Oakland-is-inspired

[Out of Bounce]

I know I'm not skipping dinner Monday night. If I have to eat crow I'll just have to wash it down with a cold one

I'm still predicting a 10+ point victory...... BU 87- 73)

Eating crow isn't so bad B4L Take it from someone who knows. Sometimes, somethings are just not in the the cards the way you think they should be Hope your right

[SFP]

B4L if you keep picking those great avatars I'll be glad to help you eat that crow if needed.

[ph]

Just as they were last year, 2008, and in 2006!

There were only 4 Illinois teams, out of 12 D1 programs (soon to be 13) that were even invited to a postseason tournament.
Illinois- NCAA - one and done (loss to WKU)
Illinois State- NIT- one and done (loss to Kansas State)
Northwestern- NIT- one and done (loss to Tulsa)
Bradley- CIT- still playing

Pretty pathetic for a state like Illinois that has arguably the best and most abundant high school talent in the country.

By the (mostly meaningless) "still playing" measure, Bradley was "still playing" longer than Duke in the previous 3 seasons:
06 (by ~15 minutes in the S16. BU had a later game start time),
07 (Duke NCAA 3/15 vs Bradley NIT 3/17),
08 (Duke NCAA 3/22 vs Bradley CBI 4/4)...
(Yes, I'd gladly trade our last 2 preseasons)

[BradleyBrave]

Our last 2 and even arguably our last 3 postseasons have been practice for the following year. I'll give the NIT a bit more credit because of it's history and I think it's quality (there are some very good teams in the field this year), but at the end of the day they're all still 'not invited' tournaments. I'd be disappointed if this was our 3rd NIT in a row, and I am disappointed that we're not in the NCAA's. Next year needs to be an NCAA year or we're falling behind.

[ph]

Our last 2 and even arguably our last 3 postseasons have been practice for the following year. I'll give the NIT a bit more credit because of it's history and I think it's quality (there are some very good teams in the field this year), but at the end of the day they're all still 'not invited' tournaments. I'd be disappointed if this was our 3rd NIT in a row, and I am disappointed that we're not in the NCAA's. Next year needs to be an NCAA year or we're falling behind.

sorry if I stated it wrong, I did not intend to mean that our participation in the CBI was totally meaningless for the team and fans. I've enjoyed the past 2, but it has been too long since the joy of the NCAA's.
Just pointing out the realistic view that a team still playing in the NIT/CBI/CIT did not have a higher rated postseason than a NCAA one and done team. Lets take all the joy and experience we can get out of the CIT and win it all!