First exhibition game- Bradley 85 Upper Iowa 83

[Da Coach]

Because we always seem to have doubters, here are some pictures.
These were taken just after the start of the game after all the fans were in their seats from picking up season tickets.
I'd welcome anyone who wants to make a case that my 1,000 estimate is too low. If anything, looking at these pics, I think my estimate was high.
And for the mentally deficient, these were not photoshopped. -

East Stands-


South & West stands-


West stands-


West & North stands-


North stands-

[BUfan14]

Now I didn't see the game, but I would think starting KB would help us over starting OG. OG can give us some offense and shooting off the bench and KB can run the point to free Walt up a little more, plus KB is pretty good defensively. Seems like a win-win since there was not much offense off the bench tonight and not great defense in the starting lineup tonight. Just my opinion, obviously Geno knows more about the team than me.

I was hoping SZ and especially JS would give us more tonight, not sure why they wouldn't play much in an exhibition, I'm hoping our depth is as good as we thought.

[Bobby Parker]

Here is the postgame recap: http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArt...CLID=209293961

And for what it's worth, the on-campus game in 2006, the first public game after a Sweet 16, drew 2,547. It was an exhibition game played in October against Monday Night Football and Game 5 of the World Series featuring one of the local favorites. Not saying we don't want to draw bigger crowds, but repeated harping on everything that is done here is getting old.

Blast away

[Da Coach]

Game story from BradleyBraves.com-

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=209293961

Official box score-

http://www.bradleybraves.com/pdf9/2558383.pdf?ATCLID=209293961&SPSID=25965&SPID=1498&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=3400

[wily coyote]

Here is the postgame recap: http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArt...CLID=209293961

And for what it's worth, the on-campus game in 2006, the first public game after a Sweet 16, drew 2,547. It was an exhibition game played in October against Monday Night Football and Game 5 of the World Series featuring one of the local favorites. Not saying we don't want to draw bigger crowds, but repeated harping on everything that is done here is getting old.

Blast away

Bobby please don't take this wrong but if the shoe fits you gotta wear it. To please all the lower bowl people who dont show up and charge us $20 to sit in the endzone is a good reason to harp IMO. You folks have done alot to p--s people off and pretty soon your gonna run life long fans off. Maybe just my opinion but that's how I see it. I've always called em like I saw em and that's how I see em.

[Bobby Parker]

Wily, I certainly understand where you are coming from and appreciate constructive and rational feedback, but I used to pay 89 cents for a gallon of gas, too. It's a difficult spot to be in and we are trying to find a place where we can be pleasing to everyone and still pay the ever-increasing bills. Ever try to please everyone?

Yes, it was $20 to purchase a single ticket for tonight's exhibition game. But, we also offered an option that works out to $12.50/ticket for a group of four and that included a hot dog and a drink. Perhaps not the perfect plan, but I think it is a reasonable effort on our part to offer a more cost-friendly alternative. Say what you want about parking at RenCol, but it also is free, which I don't know of being an option downtown.

The complaints are not falling on deaf ears and we appreciate it is becoming more difficult to enjoy a night out to a Bradley game, to a movie or just about anywhere else, but we just can't go back to the old days. The Upper Iowas of the world are not asking for the same 1990s $$$ to come to town.

Mostly, though, I am growing tired of every single move that is made being the subject of the same criticism. It gets old after a while and I am sure I made the mistake of firing back.

[jasonpeoria911]

Maybe Geno's game plan was to come in and not blow them out, allow them to keep the game close and give the guys the mentality of staying cool under pressure and hitting the key shots.

Well gotta think positive anyways, it's just an exhibition.

Jason

[LongTimeFan]

Bobby, I am on the west coast and it is 11:30 here. I have not seen any post that is critical to your response. Any change is never accepted easily.

Those fans that can afford it will always attend and some will be priced out. The opponent and the baseball game tonight probably affected the attendance as much as anything.

[Da Coach]

Dave Reynolds' article-
Lemon leads Bradley men to 85-83 victory over D-II Upper Iowa

http://www.pjstar.com/bradleyhoops/x1155600815/Lemon-leads-Bradley-men-to-85-83-victory-over-D-II-Upper-Iowa

And some great photos from Bob Hunt-

http://blog.bobhuntphoto.com/

[BU Bill]

I was very disappointed in our defense. This team has been practicing since August, and we couldn't stop a horrible team from scoring 83 points against us on our floor. They shot 47% and made 52% on threes. Aren't we supposed to be much bigger and more athletic this year? OTOH we shot 31% on threes, about where we've been the last 2 years. Haven't we had 3 years to fix that? I don't see any way we don't get worse after Walt leaves, and I don't see the impact players the writers told us we had.

[bradleyfan124]

When i got my season tickets I asked can i buy my Upper Iowa tickets yet. I as told yes. I asked are there any tickets in the center on each side. I was told yes.(assuming those were the ones not picked up). I was given 2 tickets and was told they were in the envelope. This is where I failed. I did not check the package while standing there. I got to the game and I had paid $40 for 2 tickets in section 9, the corner. not the side as i was told. Next game iIwill check my ticket location while in line and if they are not what i asked I will refuse the tickets. This ticket situation is a SHAM!. Lower your cost and have it first come first serve. What would you rather have: 1000 people at $20 each or 3000 people at $10 each.

[Buesch N Chips]

Wily, I certainly understand where you are coming from and appreciate constructive and rational feedback, but I used to pay 89 cents for a gallon of gas, too. It's a difficult spot to be in and we are trying to find a place where we can be pleasing to everyone and still pay the ever-increasing bills. Ever try to please everyone?

Yes, it was $20 to purchase a single ticket for tonight's exhibition game. But, we also offered an option that works out to $12.50/ticket for a group of four and that included a hot dog and a drink. Perhaps not the perfect plan, but I think it is a reasonable effort on our part to offer a more cost-friendly alternative. Say what you want about parking at RenCol, but it also is free, which I don't know of being an option downtown.

The complaints are not falling on deaf ears and we appreciate it is becoming more difficult to enjoy a night out to a Bradley game, to a movie or just about anywhere else, but we just can't go back to the old days. The Upper Iowas of the world are not asking for the same 1990s $$$ to come to town.

Mostly, though, I am growing tired of every single move that is made being the subject of the same criticism. It gets old after a while and I am sure I made the mistake of firing back.

That took courage, sir. I appreciate the department's willingness to listen to the fanbase.

You are never going to please everyone. The RC is not for me. It might be if things were cheaper, the seats were more comfortable, and the parking garage wasn't a bottleneck. But I am only one fan. I hope you find a plan that pleases the most people and is successful.

[wily coyote]

Wily, I certainly understand where you are coming from and appreciate constructive and rational feedback, but I used to pay 89 cents for a gallon of gas, too. It's a difficult spot to be in and we are trying to find a place where we can be pleasing to everyone and still pay the ever-increasing bills. Ever try to please everyone?

Yes, it was $20 to purchase a single ticket for tonight's exhibition game. But, we also offered an option that works out to $12.50/ticket for a group of four and that included a hot dog and a drink. Perhaps not the perfect plan, but I think it is a reasonable effort on our part to offer a more cost-friendly alternative. Say what you want about parking at RenCol, but it also is free, which I don't know of being an option downtown.

The complaints are not falling on deaf ears and we appreciate it is becoming more difficult to enjoy a night out to a Bradley game, to a movie or just about anywhere else, but we just can't go back to the old days. The Upper Iowas of the world are not asking for the same 1990s $$$ to come to town.

Mostly, though, I am growing tired of every single move that is made being the subject of the same criticism. It gets old after a while and I am sure I made the mistake of firing back.

Bobby, we appreciate you coming on here and giving BU's side of the story. My objection is simple. I paid $20 for both NIT games at the RC last year and did not complain. Those were meaningful games and I had no problem with that but endzone seats for Upper Iowa will not happen for me again. You can bet on that.By the way I'm a season ticket holder just not in the lower bowl.So baseline to baseline tickets were not in my package. Then when I walk in and could almost pick any seat I wanted between the baselines??? I understand costs for everything has gone up but as a Cat retiree, you people are starting to remind how my old Company operated.For Pete's sake this was Upper Iowa you should have had the price somewhere between $10 to $12 than maybe just maybe you could have had more families or people who don't normally come to BU games attend and maybe just maybe you could have profitted by making new fans and possibly new season ticket holders. I have worked at a local golf course for years and we used to charge $40 thru the week and $50 on weekends,with not much success. When we lowered the prices the number of rounds went up,hence major increase in rounds. Since you brought up free parking,I'll comment on that to. I will never use your "free parking because it is a pain getting out. With that I'm done but thanks again Bobby we appreciate you coming on here and the PJ Star board.

[benchwarmer75]

Interesting people are more upset over tickets than how the team looked against an Upper Iowa team picked pre-season as 14th out of 16 NSIC teams.

[Da Coach]

Interesting people are more upset over tickets than how the team looked against an Upper Iowa team picked pre-season as 14th out of 16 NSIC teams.

There are only a couple concerns about the tickets. From the many people I have talked to this morning and last night, I have heard most talk about our defense, and where we need to improve.

What did you think? Are our problems fixable? I think we need to see more of the freshmen and what they can do.