What a game! Bradley 78 DePaul 58

[IlliBraves]

Ok, I realize this is only the first game, but, as I felt before this game, this Bradley team is underrated. The recruiting class is great, and it seems like Crouch and Ruffin have improved a lot. I'm really excited about the new guys, especially Andrew Warren and Salley. We'll see if they can keep it up, as obviously, the Braves will see more stiff competition, especially in Valley play.

[BUBraves06]

That was amazing! Atmosphere is nothing like I thought could ever happen in Carver!!!!!

[flipper]

i actually think that we can finish higher than last season in the conference. maybe 3rd or 4th. awesome experience 2night.

[Da Coach]

That was the most fun I've had at a home game in years!

Bradley 78 DePaul 58, and the game wasn't that close! Bradley lead by more than 20 points most of the 2nd half.
Crouch was awesome. Ruffin was spectacular! 12 points and 7 assists in just 24 minutes. Will Franklin has turned into another Daniel Ruffin, he can do it all, and everyone played great defense. It didn't matter which players we had in the game. The game plan was perfection. I thought DePaul actually played and shot well, and they were still dominated from start to finish.

Is there anyone else as impressed with Andrew Warren as I am? He plays like a mature veteran, and is only going to get better.

[BU Bill]

Great game. Everyone played fantastic.

Here is the box score--

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/boxscore?gid=200611110062

[Big Mike]

The guard play of the Braves will give problems to everyone we play! DePaul starters were huge with a 6'5 being the smallest and the Braves guards just keep coming in waves and wore them out! Great atmoshere all around.....very fun tonight!

[Grassman]

WOW! for years, 3 1/2 to be exact. I listened to all those members of the Wayne McClain fan club, mostly Illin fans, I will not mention names, about the problems with Jim Les and the Bradley athletic administration. I like Wayne McClain, but I do not know who it is but, somebody(s) on that Bradley bench can flat out COACH!

[flipper]

best game i have seen at carver. what an atmosphere. tremendous.

[Da Coach]

There will always be some doubters. And I hope WM gets a coaching gig soon, so we can move past the JL vs WM thing that some people are still stuck on. But you are right, Grassman. Jim Les outcoached Jerry Wainwright tonight.

I listened to WSCR and the DePaul postgame show while driving home. Wainwright was very complimentary to Bradley and Jim Les. And he conceded that they had been outplayed and outcoached.

[BTID]

I wasn't able to listen to the game--just got home, but I am totally floored by this result! No doubt, opening night in most sports is special, and Bradley had much to celebrate given last year's accomplishments. Still, I never would have expected to maul DePaul two years in a row. Who knows, if the Braves keep this up, those trips to East Lansing and Des Moines to face Iowa State may seem less daunting than the annual sojourns to Wichita, Carbondale, Springfield, and Omaha. NICE WIN BU!

[squeaky]

Box score--

DePaul
Name Min FG 3Pt FT Off Reb Ast TO Stl Blk PF Pts
K. Clarke 32 2-5 1-2 3-5 0 8 1 0 1 0 3 8
W. Chandler 24 5-7 1-2 1-3 0 5 0 5 0 0 4 12
W. Green 14 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
J. Currie 23 1-5 1-4 0-1 1 2 4 4 0 0 1 3
S. Mejia 32 8-12 1-4 1-1 3 5 3 2 0 0 2 18
D. Burns 23 3-8 1-5 0-0 0 0 3 3 2 0 2 7
C. Clinkscales 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
T. Moses 5 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
M. Heard 23 2-2 1-1 0-1 1 3 0 1 0 0 3 5
W. Walker 20 1-4 1-4 2-2 0 4 2 3 1 0 1 5

Totals 200 22-46 7-23 7-13 6 28 13 18 5 0 18 58
Percentages: .478 .304 .538 Team Rebounds: None

Bradley
Name Min FG 3Pt FT Off Reb Ast TO Stl Blk PF Pts
J.J. Tauai 28 2-2 1-1 2-2 0 1 2 1 1 0 3 7
Z. Andrews 32 5-8 0-0 2-9 1 10 2 2 0 0 4 12
W. Franklin 33 4-9 1-5 2-2 0 2 4 3 2 0 2 11
J. Crouch 27 6-10 6-9 4-4 0 4 3 2 1 0 4 22
D. Ruffin 24 4-6 4-5 0-0 0 0 7 2 2 0 4 12
S. Jassey 1 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
R. Phillips 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
M. Salley 19 2-5 0-1 0-4 2 4 1 1 2 0 0 4
A. Warren 20 3-5 0-1 1-1 1 4 0 0 1 0 2 7
D. Adams 13 1-2 1-2 0-0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 3
B. Lavin 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 200 27-48 13-25 11-22 5 27 19 11 9 0 20 78
Percentages: .562 .520 .500 Team Rebounds: 2

[mike radigan]

The crowd stood until the 1st media timeout of both halfs and again from the last media timeout until the end of the half / game. What a crowd. It was electric. I cannot say enough about the students, admin, and whoever else had a hand in putting it together.

The refs called carrying the ball 3 times. Better get use to it guys as it seems to be a point of emphasis.

ZA needs to work some more on his free throws, and as a team I'm guessing the percentage wasn't that good, at least not in the beginning. We got called for moving screens, too. That's not only a foolish foul, but a lose of possession.

All in all though, just a magical night. Enjoy the evening BU Nation!

[squeaky]

Zach's line is great, except the free throws. He and Salley were 2-13 between them.
Everything else was exceptional. Zach with a double-double 12 points and 10 rebounds, Ruffin with 12 points and 7 assists, Will with 34 minutes, 11 points and 4 assists, Crouch with 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists-- he deserved POG.

[BTID]

Thanks for the stats squeaky. I hope Zach can develop a good stroke from the foul line this year. He may have seen more playing time down the stretch in some games last season, but his poor foul shooting proved to be a liability. Experienced depth could be a problem for the Braves this season which means he'll probably be in more games during the late stages where free throw shooting is definitely a factor in the final outcome.

[DannyCooksey]

Nice win for you guys. Congrats and way to do the Valley proud and slay a member of the Big East.

Nicely Done!!!!!!!!