EIU releases their schedule -- they come to Peoria

[tornado]

on November 24...

http://www.eiupanthers.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=87

[MacabreMob]

on November 24...
http://www.eiupanthers.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=87

The night before Thanksgiving.

[dogsrus]

They tried for a 2 for 1 but like Duke we said NO WAY.....too scared to go to Eastern.

[houstontxbrave]

They tried for a 2 for 1 but like Duke we said NO WAY.....too scared to go to Eastern.

Have you ever been to EIU and its basketball "gym"?

I would never ever want Bradley to visit EIU and for that matter ever again to WIU.

[Rusty 54]

While I see the merit of not going to play at WIU, EIU, etc, it does seem a bit hypocritical to expect or even hope for teams like Duke, Michigan State, or even Illinois to ever play us at Carver. I like most fans dont necessarily want to play at WIU or EIU, but would love to see Duke play in Peoria, or other "big name" teams.

[BUFanatic]

While I see the merit of not going to play at WIU, EIU, etc, it does seem a bit hypocritical to expect or even hope for teams like Duke, Michigan State, or even Illinois to ever play us at Carver. I like most fans dont necessarily want to play at WIU or EIU, but would love to see Duke play in Peoria, or other "big name" teams.

EIU is on such a lower tier than BU, it's not even funny. Besides, EIU's "arena" is about the size of a high school gym. BU's been a DI school forever. EIU just joined the ranks in the last 10 years.

[MacabreMob]

EIU is on such a lower tier than BU, it's not even funny. Besides, EIU's "arena" is about the size of a high school gym. BU's been a DI school forever. EIU just joined the ranks in the last 10 years.

What???

Eastern's been DI since the 81-82 season.

[patrick_o'brian]

EIU is on such a lower tier than BU, it's not even funny. Besides, EIU's "arena" is about the size of a high school gym. BU's been a DI school forever. EIU just joined the ranks in the last 10 years.

It doesn't matter what "tier" EIU is. They are a state school and we should take the opportunity to play our in state teams.

[houstontxbrave]

It doesn't matter what "tier" EIU is. They are a state school and we should take the opportunity to play our in state teams.

So that same holds true for Chicago State?

This very similar to Bradley must have Peoria area players on its roster. If the game is going to help Bradley then lets play but if it is not going to be beneficial to Bradley no need.

And to me if we are going to play EIU or WIU they come to our place we do not go to theirs.

[patrick_o'brian]

So that same holds true for Chicago State?

This very similar to Bradley must have Peoria area players on its roster. If the game is going to help Bradley then lets play but if it is not going to be beneficial to Bradley no need.

And to me if we are going to play EIU or WIU they come to our place we do not go to theirs.

I'm sorry but I do not understand the wording of your post. Would you re-read it and elaborate?

Any game "in-state" is beneficial to Bradley because of the minimal travel costs. It may not help the RPI per se, but getting and keeping a couple state schools on the schedule is always beneficial. I agree with you that they should have to come to Peoria, which is the case now and EIU gets no return game, so I really don't see your arguement. Once again, please elaborate.

[houstontxbrave]

I'm sorry but I do not understand the wording of your post. Would you re-read it and elaborate?

Any game "in-state" is beneficial to Bradley because of the minimal travel costs. It may not help the RPI per se, but getting and keeping a couple state schools on the schedule is always beneficial. I agree with you that they should have to come to Peoria, which is the case now and EIU gets no return game, so I really don't see your arguement. Once again, please elaborate.

Unless a game against a WIU or EIU or a NIU is going to benefit the program at Bradley I do not see any reason to play one of those schools. I do not care about saving a few buck regarding a nights of travel. These programs only play us if they come to Peoria, I NEVER want to see us ever go back to any of those campuses for a game, it is not worth it because they are all inferior programs to Bradley.

This arguement that we should play "instate" schools is to me similar to that Bradley needs to have Peoria area players on its roster. Only if either benefits the program, not just because.

I also asked if the same holds true to the orginal poster regarding Chicago State, because they are within the boarders of Illinois.

[tornado]

Bradley, like a lot of the stronger mid-majors, will always do a couple non-conference guarantee games, with opponents we do not plan to pay back with a game at their place..
Who would you rather have...EIU, or Winston-Salem State, Houston Baptist, and Gambling??

[houstontxbrave]

Bradley, like a lot of the stronger mid-majors, will always do a couple non-conference guarantee games, with opponents we do not plan to pay back with a game at their place..
Who would you rather have...EIU, or Winston-Salem State, Houston Baptist, and Gambling??

Id rather have none of the above. My thought is a school like Bradley has ZERO margin for error. You can not lose a game, but if you do and it is against a very good team or a equal team it is viewed a little less harshly then a lose to the above. If we lost to an EIU or WIU thats it your season, unless you run the rest of the games is toast.

The above game does nothing, period. It doesnt help you with a win and it only kills you with a loss.

I prefer we play similar teams or teams viewed as higher quality. That is why a game like Western Carolina is so difficult to me, it is a viewed as a "lesser" opponent and a loss will stick out bigtime regardless of where it happened. And a win is just that a win.

[it's boogie time]

. My thought is a school like Bradley has ZERO margin for error.

This isn't college football. There is room for error. In 2006, Bradley lost to Loyola, Butler, Drake, SIU twice, Wichita State twice, Creighton, Missouri State, Indiana State and still got an at large bid. There wasn't even a signature non-conference win. It was a better conference then and Bradley played very well down the stretch against some good teams.

[amckillip]

Id rather have none of the above. My thought is a school like Bradley has ZERO margin for error. You can not lose a game, but if you do and it is against a very good team or a equal team it is viewed a little less harshly then a lose to the above. If we lost to an EIU or WIU thats it your season, unless you run the rest of the games is toast.

The above game does nothing, period. It doesnt help you with a win and it only kills you with a loss.

I prefer we play similar teams or teams viewed as higher quality. That is why a game like Western Carolina is so difficult to me, it is a viewed as a "lesser" opponent and a loss will stick out bigtime regardless of where it happened. And a win is just that a win.

How could you possibly execute this philosophy? If we only play teams as good or better than us, we, by definition would finish about .500. I know that's an exaggeration, but come on, make a reasonable non-con schedule that accomplishes this goal. Now extrapolate that out to if EVERYONE used that philosophy, no one could ever get a game. BU year in and year out has one of the best balanced non-BCS schedules in the country, and yet they still get criticized at every turn. We're gonna play teams that aren't as good as us, we're going to play teams that are better than us, both have their reasons, and thinking otherwise isn't reality.