Next game BU vs. SIU Friday, January 1st, 2010, 7:05 pm Carver Arena

[Southside]

?

What do you think the attendance will be tonight? I'm thinking about making the trip down if there are tickets left.

[tornado]

students gone, adverse weather, holiday and folks may be out of town...
all combine to suggest the attendance will be low, and the paper said there'll be plentiful tickets at all levels

[Southside]

Tickets

Thanks T.

[Bravesfan]

Can I have some of what you are smoking? Do you do any homework on your opponent? I wouldnt exactly call Lowery top-tier in the league, but how many NCAA wins does Les have exactly? The reason for the "collapse" last year is that we DRESSED 8 players in the MVC game, including 5 first year players. Pretty hard to have a successful year with that, especially with your best player on the shelf for a good chunk of the second half of the schedule.

While we are still pretty green down in the front court, Nick Evans has been turning it up lately, and that should be a pretty good matchup, unless Fay is put on him. The guard matchups favor SIU and down low to Bradley

BTW- what is up w/ Singh? averaging .9 points this year? Is he hurt?

Welcome to the boards candyman! I don't think Singh is hurt, but he's not usually a starter either. Not sure why we haven't seen too much of him this year though.

Well it's going to come down to SIU's revamped run and gun offense or our defense. Ironically, Les took over the team eight years ago saying he was going to make Bradley a more offensive team. And while he has, this game will come down to whether our defensive effort will offset SIU's offense.

This should be a tight game and the outcome will give us at least an idea into which direction our respective teams will be headed. It should be a dandy game tonight!

[Da Coach]

One of SIU's players, Jack Crowder, a 6'4" junior college transfer who played a significant role in the Saluki's first 6 games, has missed their last 4 games with a shoulder injury. He returned to practice yesterday for the first time since he injured himself December 9. It is reported that he may be available to play in tonight's game.

[BradleyBrave]

Make that BU -3.5
http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-...m/team/bradley

Yes, that does make more sense. It's now down to BU -1.

[Da Coach]

Pregame notes from BUBraves.com

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25965&SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=204863479

Get there early to get you free Bradley Car Flag!

Game Info
Game 12 - Southern Illinois Salukis (8-2, 1-0 MVC) at Bradley Braves (6-5, 1-0 MVC)
Friday, Jan. 1 - 7:05 p.m. CST - Peoria, Ill. - Carver Arena (11,164)
Series History - Bradley leads 40-36

Television: Mediacom in southern Illinois

Radio: 1470 AM WMBD -- Dave Snell (play-by-play), Chuck Buescher (analyst), Joe Stowell (analyst) and Dan DiOrio (pregame host)

Online: BradleyBraves.com -- subscription video streams, free audio streams and live stats
Tickets: Available ($9-20) through the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, all TicketMaster outlets and online at www.BradleyBraves.com.

Valley Home Opener
Bradley will play its 58th Missouri Valley Conference home opener Friday when the Braves host Southern Illinois in a 7:05 p.m . tip at Carver Arena...The Braves also hosted Southern Illinois in last year's Valley opener, downing the Salukis 79-63 to improve to 43-14 (.754) all-time in their first MVC home games of a season...Friday's game will be just the 14th New Year's Day game in Bradley history, the first since 1989 and just the second since 1953...Bradley is 9-4 all time on New Year's Day, but Friday's game against the Salukis will be its first-ever Valley game played on Jan. 1...Bradley is 40-36 all-time against Southern Illinois, including 19-8 at Carver Arena...Although the Salukis have won 15 of the last 20 in the series, Bradley took 2-of-3 meetings last year.

Bradley Car Flags
The first 4,000 fans in attendance Friday will receive Bradley car flags, courtesy of Methodist Medical Center...Friday's game also will be the first game in Bradley's annual Missouri Valley Conference mini-pack ticket plan.
Series Notes
Friday's game will be the 77th all-time meeting between Bradley and Southern Illinois and the Braves own a 40-36 edge in the series...The Salukis have dominated the series of late, however, winning 15 of the last 20 meetings, dating to the start of the 2001-02 season...Bradley is 19-8 all-time at Carver Arena against Southern Illinois, equalling the fourth-best victory total against a single opponent in the venue's 28-year history...The Braves have won three of the last four home meetings against Southern Illinois.
Looking Ahead
Bradley will head back out on the road for a Sunday afternoon clash at Wichita State (11-2, 0-1 MVC) ... Sunday's 2:05 p.m. tilt will be televised in both Central Illinois (74) and the Chicagoland area (102) on Comcast cable systems with Frank Bussone and Dick Versace providing the call ... The Braves will return home Jan. 6 to host Indiana State in a 7:05 p.m. tip at Carver Arena.

[ghunt]

Why is Phillips playing?

I am wondering why in the he** Ryan Phillips is getting several minutes in the heart of the game? Also, did Milosc and AT disappear?

[ghunt]

Best half this year?

Looks like BU's best half so far this year--good job guys :-)

[Bradleyguy10]

I might have to eat my words saying that I didn't think BU would ever reach the 79 pt mark this year. They've looked like they could make it a few times after the first half this season but have just collapsed in the 2nd half. This, so far, has been their best opportunity to reach 80pts or more in a game.

I'm really hoping I eat my words cuz it likely means a BU win. Let's play some defense and bring this one home.

[Bradleyguy10]

un.....be....lievable

[ghunt]

I have never seen anything like this

I have never seen anything like this...it is like they are trying (and succeeding) to lose. Did certain elements get to them in Vegas? (Just kidding) This is bizzare. And, the best players on the team make *****ic mistakes/turnovers. Great first half, but they just cannot focus for a full 40.

[Tulsa Brave]

Tulsa....stop by section 16 concourse against the wall. We usually gather there before game and during intermission.

OB74 stops by and a few other posters hang out there also....like to say Hi if you get the chance.

Juist seeing this post now...sorry we missed you...we weren't that far away over in section 20 just in front of the SIU contingent that was adding to my frustration that final minute...

[Big Mike]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/southern-illinois-rallies-late-tops-bradley.html

WOW...according to the Chicago Tribune the were Braves outscored 14-2 in the final minute and a half?

[shaunguth]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com...s-bradley.html

WOW...according to the Chicago Tribune the were Braves outscored 14-2 in the final minute and a half?

No too surprising when we continue giving them the ball!