Next game- Saturday 2PM Bradley vs. Iowa State

[Da Coach]

Bradley (6-3) plays Iowa State (7-3) at 2 PM Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center in Des Moines in the Mediacom Cyclone Capital Classic. There is a fan bus trip planned, contact Bradley if interested.

Bradley games notes--

http://www.bubraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25965&SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=718075

The Mediacom Cyclone Capital Classic is a 2 game event with the Iowa State women's team playing at 11AM against St. Louis University, and the Iowa State men's team playing against Bradley at 2PM.

Iowa State is coached by ex-Northern Iowa coach Greg McDermott. Their 3 losses have been to Northern Iowa (57-70), Drake (78-80), and Iowa (59-77). Their 7 wins have been against UC Riverside (RPI 277), Louisiana-Monroe (RPI 153), Eastern Illinois (RPI 312), Norfolk State (RPI 334), Minnesota (RPI 161), Lake Superior State (Div 2), and Savannah State (RPI 262).
http://kenpom.com/sked.php?&y=2007&team=Iowa%20St.

According to Realtimerpi.com, as of the time of this post, Iowa State's RPI is 191, Bradley's is 118.

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_Men.html

Links of interest--
Iowa State Men's basketball site--

http://www.cyclones.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10700&KEY=&SPID=4252&SPSID=46661

Iowa State's schedule and results--

http://www.cyclones.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10700&KEY=&SPID=4252&SPSID=46663

ISU's roster--

http://www.cyclones.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10700&KEY=&SPID=4252&SPSID=46664

ISU's stats--

http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/10700/STATS/MBB/2006-07_MBB/teamcume.htm?SPSID=46665&SPID=4252&DB_OEM_ID=10700

Iowa State fan sites--
Scout- http://mb31.scout.com/fiowastatefrm4
Rivals- http://iowastate.rivals.com/forum.asp?sid=916&fid=89

[New Guy]

Does anyone know of a pre-game get together or party close to the arena?

[BU fan]

I am not aware of any organized get-together.
The fan bus trip is an over-and-back trip, so there is no overnight stay. Thus no hotel site to have a meeting.
I don't know if the fan bus includes plans to stop anywhere in Des Moines for food before the game. The area directly around the Wells Fargo Center does not have any decent restaurants.

If anyone would like to suggest a place to meet, feel free.
The Wells Fargo Center opens up at 10:00 Saturday morning, because there is an Iowa State womens game at 11:00. Maybe Bradley fans should just congregate in the arena somewhere.

[DUBulldog]

I am not aware of any organized get-together.
The fan bus trip is an over-and-back trip, so there is no overnight stay. Thus no hotel site to have a meeting.
I don't know if the fan bus includes plans to stop anywhere in Des Moines for food before the game. The area directly around the Wells Fargo Center does not have any decent restaurants.

Not only does the area around WFA not have any decent restaurants; it doesn't have any restaurants at all. They built the arena at the far northern edge of downtown, virtually all the downtown bars/restaurants are at the far southern edge of downtown. Parking can also be a challenge there, depending on what time you get there. I'd recommend parking somewhere south of the arena, going over to Court Avenue area to eat and then walk the 10-15 minutes to the Arena (weather is supposed to be very nice).

[Da Coach]

Thanks DUBulldog. I just heard the weather report, and it should be around 60 degrees Saturday afternoon in Des Moines.

The new Wells Fargo Arena is at 330 Park St., north of downtown, and just west of the Des Moines River. It is just adjacent and south of the old Veterans Arena, where Drake played before the Knapp Center was built on campus.

Below is a map of the downtown area. There are a number of restaurants along Court St., at the southeast end of the downtown area. There are several hotels just east of the river along Locust St., though on this trip, the team is staying at the Marriott at 700 Grand Avenue.

Map of downtown Des Moines

[BradleyBrave]

I believe there is some sort of pre-game event somewhere near the arena. I received an email about it a month or so ago.

Anyone else planning on doing the MVC/BCS double-dip by going to the Drake/Iowa game Saturday night?

[New Guy]

I believe there is some sort of pre-game event somewhere near the arena. I received an email about it a month or so ago.

Anyone else planning on doing the MVC/BCS double-dip by going to the Drake/Iowa game Saturday night?

Right you are BB. I still had the e-mail, see below. I can judge by their name they will have what I am lookng for. I had not thought about the Drake game yet, but who knows.

Pre-Game Gathering
11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Court Avenue Brewing Co.
309 Court Ave.
Des Moines, IA

Join us for food and drinks (off the menu), BU door prizes and good spirits!

[Da Coach]

Thanks, New Guy. I'll be there.

Here are the latest BUBraves.com game notes--

http://www.bubraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25965&SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=723653

[Da Coach]

http://pjstar.com/stories/121606/BRA_BBQNUPO8.W02.shtml

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061216/SPORTS020604/612160363/-1/ENT06

[mike radigan]

We're going to miss the start of the game as the football game is running late on the Duece.