Top 5 Bradley Basketball Games

[squirrelgotdead]

Top five I've witnessed either first hand or on TV:

1) BU over Kansas 77-73, 2006 NCAA Tournament. The two hottest teams in the nation, Kansas was picked by some to win the National Championship. Others argued BU shouldn't even be in the field. And the game wasn't as close as the four point final margin indicates. The Braves had 5 turnovers in the final 3 or so minutes that gave KU a series of easy scores.

2) BU over Michigan 63-58, 12/8/97. My freshman year at BU. I hate Michigan more than just about anything else. Eric Roberson had a rebound putback dunk over Robert "Tractor" Traylor and Maceo Baston. In their next game Michigan turned around and defeated #1 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

3) BU over Oakland 66-65, 2008 CIT 2nd Round. Seemingly over-matched all night long, Chris Roberts' 75-foot heave sunk the up-and-coming Grizzlies in stunning fashion.

4) BU over Wichita 60-52, 2006 MVC Tournament. BU defeated the regular season champion Shockers to advance to the MVC Championship game for just the 3rd time in 20 years. It was especially rewarding given the frustrating nature of the two regular season losses to Wichita--the blown opportunity in overtime in Wichita and the home embarrassment where WSU led at the first official timeout 17-0.

5) BU wins at Illinois State 69-68, 11/20/1999. Rob Dye three sinks the Redbirds.

[Da Coach]

MDCowboy, you are right about the game being a 2nd round game. The Braves then returned to play Tulane in the "last game" at the Fieldhouse, before advancing to New York.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iXMQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nIsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4128,1977675&dq=bradley+syracuse+nit

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19820316&id=NtYVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TxIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6696,2933465

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19820316&id=5QIMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n1kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4751,181156

But the game was played in the Carrier Dome.

[squirrelgotdead]

I could be wrong Tornado, but I believe the BU-Syracuse NIT game was only a 2nd round game, and I don't think they played at the Carrier Dome for that game. I think they played in a smaller arena. Your point about trying to get a local team in is valid however.

Correct. The 1982 NIT was an evenly bracketed 32-team tourney and went as follows:

BU over American at home
BU over Syracuse at Syracuse
BU over Tulane at home
BU over Oklahoma at MSG
BU over Purdue at MSG

Bracket at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_Na...ion_Tournament

[houstontxbrave]

In my era:

Beating KU (TV)
Beating Pitt (TV)
Coming back V Tulsa at home after being down 21, same thing happened the year before and we lost (in person)
Beating Old Dominion in the NIT, was not a full house but Deon Jackson single handedly won that game, and it was incredibly loud that night.
Ill go way back to beating West Texas State in the Valley tourney in 80 to get an invite to the NCAA's loud crowd and great game.

But there are so many others.
Beating ISU when JL goes end to end, winning the Valley tourney in Hawks senior season, Hawk breaking Phegleys scoring record v SIU at home, beating Purdue in the NIT finals, I didnt see it but UNLV came to Peoria Phegley had a huge night but we lost in what I remember as a huge and great game, losing to New Mexico State after we had a 28-0 lead, beating ISU at ISU on a shot by Rob Dye.

I know I am missing many many games, but the point is there have been tons of memorable games in BU's history and mine only goes back to the mid to late 70's.

[Da Coach]

By the way, if you have the time to search through the new news-archive feature Google has, you will find some interesting articles.

Here is one where Dick Versace railed about being left out of the NCAA in 1982-
Bradley Coach Cries Foul-

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7_kNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VnsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3068,212547&dq=bradley

Some other old articles-
Syracuse Will Face Bradley in NIT Clash-

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LS8TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VAYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6990,6815792&dq=bradley

Bradley, Purdue Advance to Wednesday's NIT Title-

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RFgPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=roYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6741,2253659&dq=bradley

Bradley Vindicated by Winning NIT Title-

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q-YNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lG0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6823,6419485&dq=bradley

Bradley Braves Win NIT Opener-

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0a4SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3902,3586248&dq=bradley

[TNel]

Have all of you youngguys forgot about---BU vs Cincy---Walker vs Robertson---91 to 90 !! Maybe the single greatest game in Bradley history !

Couldn't agree more, Wizard. I was there as a student and still get goose bumps thinking about it. Greatest (of many, many) BU games I've seen, hands down.

[tornado]

I know it was a great game, but most on this board never saw it...

[lake Camelot]

Mine

I would stick with Da Coach's first 3:

"1. vs. Louisville 1/13/68 upset of Louisville at the Fieldhouse, Joe Allen vs. Wes Unseld. BU won 70-68 in the best game I saw as a student at Bradley. Huge crowd, and loudest I ever heard the Fieldhouse.
2. vs. Tulsa 2/27/82 Bradley won 82-79 over #8 ranked Tulsa in OT, at the Fieldhouse to win the MVC conference regular season title.
3. vs Kansas 3/17/06- BU won 77-73 in 1st round NCAA- Bradley outclassed and outplayed a really good Kansas team loaded with future NBA pros."

I remember going to a game when Phegley was playing against UNLV but I don't know the year. We lost 107-106 at the fieldhouse. I think UNLV was #1? They had Reggie Theus.

Also I was a kid at the 7 OT game against Cincy. At the time I thought it was very exiting. Looking back though it was a really ugly game. There were OT periods where only a couple points were scored. I would not have this game on the list.

[Fyrebyrd]

Everyone is listing great games, although one game that I was surprised I didn't see was the CBI game against Ohio U. Last year. Down by 15 with 9 minutes to go and one of the loudest games I've been to. It prolly isn't top 3 for me, but it was an all-around incredible game.

[squirrelgotdead]

That's pretty much how that game went, Lake Camelot. . .

It was one of the last year's before the shot clock was implemented, and this game was cited as a reason for it's implementation.

One team would score and then if they still had the lead when they got the ball back they would just hold on to it.

Shows how much the shot clock has changed the definition of excitement.

[wizard1]

Greatest BU games

I agree on the 7 OT game against Cincy---In actuality, it was a somewhat boring game and everyone sort of went thru a "not another one" as each overtime happened. The only really interesting thing in that game was that Massive Mike Williams who was the Cincy center susequently transferred to BU where he was a great player for a couple of years.
Regarding the 91 to 90, Walker vs Robertson game, the biggest thing about this game was what we were playing for ---BU and Cincy were both vying for the #1 USA ranking and the championship of the (At that time) super strong Missouri Valley Conf. In addition to this, the game featured what were probably the top two players (Both All Americans) in the country, and ended in a triple overtime!
IMO Bradley has since then and may never again play a game where the stakes, national interest, and importance were higher.

[MacabreMob]

2) BU over Michigan 63-58, 12/8/97. My freshman year at BU. I hate Michigan more than just about anything else. Eric Roberson had a rebound putback dunk over Robert "Tractor" Traylor and Maceo Baston. In their next game Michigan turned around and defeated #1 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Michigan did turn around and beat #1 Duke, but it was at Michigan.

http://www.mikedesimone.com/michb97-98.htm

[Da Coach]

I would stick with Da Coach's first 3:

"1. vs. Louisville 1/13/68 upset of Louisville at the Fieldhouse, Joe Allen vs. Wes Unseld. BU won 70-68 in the best game I saw as a student at Bradley. Huge crowd, and loudest I ever heard the Fieldhouse.
2. vs. Tulsa 2/27/82 Bradley won 82-79 over #8 ranked Tulsa in OT, at the Fieldhouse to win the MVC conference regular season title.
3. vs Kansas 3/17/06- BU won 77-73 in 1st round NCAA- Bradley outclassed and outplayed a really good Kansas team loaded with future NBA pros."

I remember going to a game when Phegley was playing against UNLV but I don't know the year. We lost 107-106 at the fieldhouse. I think UNLV was #1? They had Reggie Theus.

I found the details of this game- 2/1/77- UNLV was ranked #4 in the country at the time. Bradley lost 107-106. Bradley finished that season (1976-1977) 9-18

[Beninator]

My top 5

1. BU defeats Kansas 2006 NCAA's (tv)
2. The Brad Pitt game.. BU defeats PITT 2006 NCAA's Sweet 16 baby! (tv)
3. BU defeats Purdue to win the 1982 NIT (tv)
4. BU-Cincinnati 1981 7 OT's (live)
5. BU defeats Oakland-- the Chris Roberts shot--best ending to a game
that I have ever seen in person!!!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
have to mention this one as I was there....

6. BU defeats Wichita ST 1982 at the Fieldhouse (live) BU utilized one of the best zone defenses I have ever seen!!!

[wily coyote]

1.) Far and away best BU game ever Bu vs Cincy . Chet the Jet vs the Big O but Mike Owens from Galesburg wins it with Free throws. Never forget it and it made the cover of SI.

2.) 1982 Bu Vs Tulsa loudest I've ever heard the fieldhouse. Boy I sure miss the FH.

3.) 2006 Bu Vs Kansas Jaycheaters. What more needs to be said when you can go back to their message board and see the respect we got before the game.

4.) 1968 Bu Vs Louisville Joe Allen vs Wes Unseld. Not sure which night was loudest this one or the Tulsa game in 1982. Hope we get back to those days.

5.) 1996 MVC game Bu Vs SWM State when Deon worked his magic. That shot and Chris Roberts shot had to be the two best in BU history.