FINAL- Bradley 63 University of South Florida 82

[Da Coach]

Why Bloomington?

It may turn out to be a mistake after all. I hear the teams are stuck with a long wait in the Bloomington airport as their flight has been delayed.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

The BU women's team also plays at USF Tuesday at 4:00 PM (CST), just before the men's teams play at 6:30 PM (CST). So in an unusual occurrence, both teams are travelling together to Tampa via commercial airline.
Here is a picture just posted of the teams going through the check-in process at the Bloomington airport-
http://instagram.com/p/SNvy6YJlSr/

I see that the women's team has already converted to Adidas.

[Chico]

It may turn out to be a mistake after all. I hear the teams are stuck with a long wait in the Bloomington airport as their flight has been delayed.

Probably saw their Bradley gear.

[Canton BU fan]

It looks as if streaming is available through USF at $10.95 for a 1 month package. No single game purchase.

[AZ BU Fan]

USF is the 8th largest university in the country with a total enrollment of over 47,000! Yet rarely can they get their 10,411 capacity arena even close to half full. They drew 3,612 for yesterday's game. They have averaged 4,818 through 4 games this season, but that was boosted considerably by the 7,717 they drew for their game against rival UCF. I'd expect well under 4,000 to be at tomorrow's game.
Last year, perhaps their best year in the history of the USF program, they averaged an embarrassing 3,849 home attendance, despite the huge number of students, large fan base (and a lot of them affluent), the nice newly renovated arena, at a cost of $36 million (which in the end will mostly be taxpayer's money), playing a lot of quality Big East opponents, and going 14-2at home. They barely had 2,000 for several home games last year.

Lingering Fallout at USF?

[ph]

USF is the 8th largest university in the country with a total enrollment of over 47,000! Yet rarely can they get their 10,411 capacity arena even close to half full. They drew 3,612 for yesterday's game. They have averaged 4,818 through 4 games this season, but that was boosted considerably by the 7,717 they drew for their game against rival UCF. I'd expect well under 4,000 to be at tomorrow's game.
Last year, perhaps their best year in the history of the USF program, they averaged an embarrassing 3,849 home attendance, despite the huge number of students, large fan base (and a lot of them affluent), the nice newly renovated arena, at a cost of $36 million (which in the end will mostly be taxpayer's money), playing a lot of quality Big East opponents, and going 14-2 at home. They barely had 2,000 for several home games last year.

Interesting demographics at USF... While the main USF campus has an enrollment of 30,500 they only have 3,470 freshmen. (USF also has 2 other, small campuses)
In comparison, there are 33,600 students at the University of Florida at Gainesville, but they have nearly double the Freshman enrollment at 6450.
(Bradley also has that more typical 1/5 ratio with appx 1000 Fr and 5000 total students)

I was expecting to see a huge non-traditional student base, but only 21% of students are 25+ years old, so there must just be a ton of transfers from Jucos or other schools.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

Interesting demographics at USF... While the main USF campus has an enrollment of 30,500 they only have 3,470 freshmen. (USF also has 2 other, small campuses)
In comparison, there are 33,600 students at the University of Florida at Gainesville, but they have nearly double the Freshman enrollment at 6450.
(Bradley also has that more typical 1/5 ratio with appx 1000 Fr and 5000 total students)

I was expecting to see a huge non-traditional student base, but only 21% of students are 25+ years old, so there must just be a ton of transfers from Jucos or other schools.

I always thought it was a big commuter school.

[Da Coach]

Dave Reynolds' pregame article-
USF plans to get defensive with BU

http://www.pjstar.com/bradleyhoops/x719495220/USF-plans-to-get-defensive-with-BU

Perhaps a little hyperbole of praise from USF Coach Stan Heath?
“In a short amount of time, Geno has really turned the corner with the Bradley program,” Heath said. “I like some of the guys I’m watching on film. (Walt) Lemon has the ability to run the team and make plays. (Tyshon) Pickett is as strong as a bull. (Will) Egolf is a good scorer inside and out. I like their roster. They’ve made a nice jump from last year.”

[Gary the Gargoyle]

Dave Reynolds' pregame article-
USF plans to get defensive with BU

http://www.pjstar.com/bradleyhoops/x719495220/USF-plans-to-get-defensive-with-BU

Perhaps a little hyperbole of praise from USF Coach Stan Heath?
???In a short amount of time, Geno has really turned the corner with the Bradley program,??? Heath said. ???I like some of the guys I??™m watching on film. (Walt) Lemon has the ability to run the team and make plays. (Tyshon) Pickett is as strong as a bull. (Will) Egolf is a good scorer inside and out. I like their roster. They??™ve made a nice jump from last year.???

He was definitely being generous with the compliments.

[Chico]

He was definitely being generous with the compliments.

Must have been reading this board.

[Monmouth_Bradley_Fan]

Vegas showing Bradley a little bit of love in this game. Opened only as 8/7.5 point dogs depending on the site. Tonight is a very winnable game against a team that has struggled offensively. Lets make it happen!

[Dubl R 1]

It looks as if streaming is available through USF at $10.95 for a 1 month package. No single game purchase.

I just paid it, now hopefully it'll work tonight

[Da Coach]

Why Bloomington?

I still don't know why the Bradley men's and women's teams flew out of Bloomington yesterday, rather than Peoria, but they are probably wishing they hadn't. The Bloomington flight was to Orlando, which then required a long bus ride to Tampa. With the long delay they experienced at the Bloomington airport, it resulted in a 10 hour travel day.

Dave Reynolds, who is also in Florida, just tweeted this-

https://twitter.com/DaveReynolds2/status/270916881781776386

Braves bussed to Bloomington, then got delayed 2 hours. Flew to Orlando and then bussed over to Tampa. Long day.

Dave also just tweeted this-

https://twitter.com/DaveReynolds2/status/270916281346187264

After 10-hour travel day and practice at Sun Dome last night, Bradley men decide to forego shootaround and rest.

It is even more strange, considering the Peoria Airport has a direct flight from Peoria to Tampa/St. Pete airport for a listed price of $128 one way, and that Tampa/St. Pete airport is only 25 miles away from the USF campus.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

I still don't know why the Bradley men's and women's teams flew out of Bloomington yesterday, rather than Peoria, but they are probably wishing they hadn't. The Bloomington flight was to Orlando, which then required a long bus ride to Tampa. With the long delay they experienced at the Bloomington airport, it resulted in a 10 hour travel day.

Dave Reynolds, who is also in Florida, just tweeted this-

https://twitter.com/DaveReynolds2/status/270916881781776386

Braves bussed to Bloomington, then got delayed 2 hours. Flew to Orlando and then bussed over to Tampa. Long day.

Dave also just tweeted this-

https://twitter.com/DaveReynolds2/status/270916281346187264

After 10-hour travel day and practice at Sun Dome last night, Bradley men decide to forego shootaround and rest.

It is even more strange, considering the Peoria Airport has a direct flight from Peoria to Tampa/St. Pete airport for a listed price of $128 one way, and that Tampa/St. Pete airport is only 25 miles away from the USF campus.

I would presume that at the time the travel was booked, the flight Frontier flight was more affordable, and/or offered more favorable travel times.

EDIT for Addition: As I suspected, Allegiant doesn't fly back to PIA on Wednesdays, whereas Frontier flies non-stop from BMI to Orlando and back to BMI on Monday and Wednesday.

[amckillip]

I think this will be a good litmus test for this team. If we win, I think we will be better in a "statistically significant" matter. We started out 3-0 against the creampuffs last year as well. A win against a better (albeit not entirely special) USF team would certainly indicate that we are an improved team.