Final: Eastern Illinois 53 Bradley 76

[Da Coach]

Bradley plays Eastern Illinois Friday, November 9 at Carver Arena. The time has been set for 8:00 PM.

Eastern Illinois played an exhibition game against Trinity International on Monday, Nov. 5 (EIU won 87-34), then their next game will be Friday at Bradley.
They were picked 5th in the Ohio Valley Conference West Division in the OVC preseason poll-

http://www.eiupanthers.com/news/2012/10/23/MBB_1023120914.aspx?path=mbball

They were 12-17 last year, 5-11 in the OVC. EIU has a new coach, Jay Spoonhour, the son of legendary coach Charlie Spoonhour.

http://www.eiupanthers.com/coaches.aspx?rc=345&path=mbball

EIU basketball website-

http://www.eiupanthers.com/index.aspx?path=mbball&tab=0

EIU lost a lot from last year's team.None pof the regular starters from last year's team return. Their top returning scorer and rebounder is sophomore Josh Piper, who averaged only 4.3 ppg, and 2.1 rpg as a reserve last year. They have a number of new players who will see a lot of playing time, including 6'6" wing R.J. McGee who was the leading scorer and a teammate of Tyshon Pickett at Dodge City Community College last year.

http://www.eiupanthers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2886

and also Malcolm Herron, who was recruited by Bradley back in the spring of 2011-

https://www.bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18591

In all, EIU has 9 junior college transfers on their roster.

Roster-

http://www.eiupanthers.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball&

Stats from last season-

http://www.eiupanthers.com/custompages/mbball/2011-12/teamcume.htm

[Gary the Gargoyle]

Here's hoping the game starts at 8:00.

[Braves4Life]

... The time is still to be determined... If Bradley soccer wins ... the basketball game will begin at 8:00 PM. If Bradley loses ... the basketball game will begin at 7:00 PM.

And people wonder why attendance has been lousy and fans have been confused and upset? Isn't this the third time in three games that Bradley Basketball has had an uncertain and conditional start time. I can understand and appreciate what BU is trying to do here but it is at the expense of alienating and confusing the fans of their marquee program. Am I the only one who feels this way?

[Gary the Gargoyle]

And people wonder why attendance has been lousy and fans have been confused and upset? Isn't this the third time in three games that Bradley Basketball has had an uncertain and conditional start time. I can understand and appreciate what BU is trying to do here but it is at the expense of alienating and confusing the fans of their marquee program. Am I the only one who feels this way?

It doesn't bother me one bit; however, I won't tell you that it shouldn't bother you.

[Future Walk-On]

It doesn't bother me one bit; however, I won't tell you that it shouldn't bother you.

It doesn't bother me... but I can see it confusing or surprising the casual sports goer when they show up at 7...

or the people who think 8 pm is too late for a game...

so subtract 1000-2000 right there...

[tornado]

Reggie Smith on the EIU roster was a highly touted kid out of high school but has hopped around and transferred twice already -- from Marquette - to UNLV - then to EIU..
BUT -- Reggie is not eligible and must sit out this season - so we won't see him playing.

In addition to RJ McGhee being a past teammate of one of our guys.....
one other of their guys, Jonathan Miller, went to the same juco that Devon Hodges is now at...
and another guy, Miles Holmes, was a teammate two years ago at St. John's Academy in Milwaukee of Manual's Lawrence Alexander.

[LittleBrave]

And people wonder why attendance has been lousy and fans have been confused and upset? Isn't this the third time in three games that Bradley Basketball has had an uncertain and conditional start time. I can understand and appreciate what BU is trying to do here but it is at the expense of alienating and confusing the fans of their marquee program. Am I the only one who feels this way?

I understand your sentiments. I don't think this is necessarily that big of a deal because it's only 1 hour different, and 1 hour later rather than earlier. Plus it's a Friday night. During the week might be a bigger issue for families.

However, what bothers me is that sometimes there are TBD times on the Valley schedule, and I am very selective about choosing that 1 game of the year when I choose to travel from Chicago to Peoria to take on a Braves fan. <edit: "take in a Braves game"> (thought my typo was kinda funny - didn't want to delete)

I would prefer knowing if a game will be played in the afternoon or evening. I'm not sure what is involved in deciding the time, but I'm pretty sure it's legit why they're not setting a concrete time.

[shaunguth]

And people wonder why attendance has been lousy and fans have been confused and upset? Isn't this the third time in three games that Bradley Basketball has had an uncertain and conditional start time. I can understand and appreciate what BU is trying to do here but it is at the expense of alienating and confusing the fans of their marquee program. Am I the only one who feels this way?

No....you aren't the only one. However, I don't think this is quite as bad as not being able to purchase tickets for the Michigan game until gameday....unless you're willing to purchase tickets for three other games.

[shaunguth]

Here's hoping the game starts at 8:00.

I'm hoping the game starts at 7:00 so I'll be able to go. Otherwise, I'll be listening to the radio broadcast.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

I'm hoping the game starts at 7:00 so I'll be able to go. Otherwise, I'll be listening to the radio broadcast.

I cheer for all of Bradley's teams to win over my convenience in attending a game.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

I hate to cheer against my alma mater, but Bradley needs to win this one worse than Eastern. Besides, EIU's last victory in Peoria was probably a contributing factor in Coach Les's dismissal.

[shaunguth]

I cheer for all of Bradley's teams to win over my convenience in attending a game.

Excellent, but I grew up on Bradley basketball and not Bradley soccer, cross country, tennis, golf, volleyball, etc.

I am unable to go if the game starts at 8:00, so yes.....I am hoping the game starts at 7:00.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

Eastern beat NAIA Trinity by 53 last night.

http://jg-tc.com/sports/panthers-romp-in-exhibition-game/article_4ab88f52-27c9-11e2-8782-0019bb2963f4.html

[BUfan39]

Eastern beat NAIA Trinity by 53 last night.

http://jg-tc.com/sports/panthers-rom...9bb2963f4.html

Hey guys, been reading for about 5 years. This is my first post I could care less what time the game is Friday night, GO BRAVES!

[tornado]

the mark of a great fan, thanks BUfan39!!!