Bradley blown out by Loyola- Final- Loyola 64 Bradley 49

[Da Coach]

Bradley's next game is their first MVC game- Wednesday, December 31, at 1:00 PM. The game is on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, and ESPN3.

Loyola has been the surprise team in the MVC so far. They were picked 10th in the preseason poll, but they have started 10-2 so far- tied with Wichita State and Evansville for the 2nd best record among MVC schools (UNI is 11-1). Bradley was picked 8th and they are 5-8 in their non-conference schedule.

Loyola basketball website-

http://www.loyolaramblers.com/sports/m-baskbl/loyc-m-baskbl-body.html

Roster-

http://www.loyolaramblers.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/loyc-m-baskbl-mtt.html

Schedule/Results-

http://www.loyolaramblers.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/loyc-m-baskbl-sched.html

Loyola Stats-

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/loyc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/stats/season_stats.pdf

Bradley stats-

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/BRAD.HTM

Overall MVC stats-

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/CONFLDRS.HTM

[SpfldBUAlum]

That is kind of a dumb time if you want much of a crowd I would think many people would be at work!

[tornado]

Loyola is the TOP 3-point shooting team in the MVC thus far....39.8%
..and simultaneously they are also the TOP 3-pt defending team as well - holding opponents to just 29.7%
They also shoot FT's a whole lot better than we do...

[Vent]

I would imagine the early start times in the Valley today, have more to do with it being New Year's Eve. Most of the teams travel by bus whenever possible, to reduce traveling costs. I'm the sure the schools and the league want the teams off the road as early as possible, due to the larger number of people that will be drinking and driving.

[Da Coach]

I would imagine the early start times in the Valley today, have more to do with it being New Year's Eve. Most of the teams travel by bus whenever possible, to reduce traveling costs. I'm the sure the schools and the league want the teams off the road as early as possible, due to the larger number of people that will be drinking and driving.

I can understand an early start time on New Year's Eve, but not at 1:00! The other 3 games- one starts at 3:00 PM and the other 2 at 5:00 PM, which is a more reasonable time for fans. Very few people get the entire day off, but many people work 1/2 day and get off around early afternoon. So a 1:00 start time makes it hard for anyone to watch the game, and impossible for anyone from Peoria to attend the game.

[Da Coach]

The Bradley-Loyola game is scheduled to be on the main Comcast SportsNet channel on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 1:00 PM..
On the Comcast cable that includes channels 56 and 522 (standard definition), and 922 (high definition).

[Da Coach]

Game Center from BUBraves.com

http://www.bradleybraves.com//ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=209826206

[Canton BU fan]

I was going to go and even had hotel reservations but not with the way this team is playing. BTW I can't believe you guys forgot my birthday yesterday.

[Da Coach]

I was going to go and even had hotel reservations but not with the way this team is playing. BTW I can't believe you guys forgot my birthday yesterday.

It was posted at the bottom of the front page as all birthdays are if the poster wants it public. But I haven't been posting threads as much lately for birthdays. I guess it's all part of the malaise we're in.
Anyway- I hope you had a happy birthday! and have a great holiday weekend!

[tornado]

Our guys are probably already safely up in Chicago..but the Wichita State basketball team apparently had a scare

http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article5204559.html

https://twitter.com/KWCH12/status/550092519564800000

[bradleyfan124]

Didn't Wichita State lose its football team in a plane crash several years ago?

[Da Coach]

Didn't Wichita State lose its football team in a plane crash several years ago?

Yes, on Oct. 2, 1970 their plane crashed that was carrying about 1/2 of the team.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wichita_State_University_football_team_plane_crash

They tried rebuilding their football program, but it was never very successful after that, and then, due to financial problems, they discontinued football in Dec., 1986.

[tornado]

On paper this is an interesting game....

Loyola (10-2) was picked LAST in the Media Day poll..... even behind Drake - and yet they really have to be the surprise team thus far at 10-2, with one of the best RPI's in the league.
The Ramblers are on a 6-game winning streak...during that 6-game streak Loyola has been holding their opponents to just 50.5 points per game...
not good news considering our struggles to score points. They have already won as many games as they did ALL LAST YEAR (10)!
Their fans are fully expecting 20 wins and post-season play somewhere this year!

Bradley, along with Missouri State & Indiana State - really have to be described as the most disappointing teams so far...
Bradley at 5-8 - most people would have thought with our weak schedule we'd be at least 8-5 & maybe better.

So this would have been a game Bradley might have been favored up 'til the past few weeks - now it's a team playing at home with a 60 RPI against a 300 RPI opponent.

But still I cannot see Loyola blowing us out - if we hit our layups & FT we can start the Valley season with a win.
Loyola is favored by 7...


Here's Dave Reynolds' pregame coverage from Chicago..

http://www.pjstar.com/article/20141230/SPORTS/141239894/10962/SPORTS

Porter Moser was one of the intermission contestants last night at the Chicago Blackhawks game - shooting for the prizes from mid-ice...
..but he missed on all three attempts and was upstaged by a 10 year old who drilled a winner on his first attempt.
Porter is a lefty and pulled all three attempts to the right

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/head-coach-of-the-loyola-university-basketball-team-porter-news-photo/460898858

Today, Loyola cracked the mid-major Top 25 - and the first time since 2010....they edged past UC-Davis who remain at #25 and Loyola occupies the #24 spot

http://www.loyolaramblers.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122914aaa.html

A couple other facts
- Loyola freshman Donte Ingram is the first Chicago Simeon high schooler to play at Loyola since Bradley's Tim Bankston (also from Simeon) transferred to Loyola after leaving Bradley.
-Peoria Manual's Jeff White is a junior at Loyola averaging 4.8 ppg but 3.1 apg
-One of Warren Jones' other offers was from Loyola.
-Loyola kinda rebuilt this year with EIGHT new players - six freshmen & two juco kids...
-two of their top four and 3 of their top six scorers are new guys
- juco transfers Montel James (forward) and Earl Peterson (guard) are both contributing & hitting well over 50% from the floor
-In their big win over Texas Tech - 3 of their top 4 scorers were new guys
-Loyola & their fans desperately want a win in this game as their next three MVC contests include two extremely tough road games (at UNI & at Evansville)
.. plus a home game against Wichita.
If they lose to Bradley, they would be looking at a strong likelihood of starting the Valley race at 0-4.

BUT - before you feel too sorry for them - note that BU's schedule is no cakewalk early on either...
of our first SIX Valley games, five are against the TOP FIVE teams in the MVC in RPI, and the five that have winning records,
and the only one that's not (SIU) is a team picked ahead of us.

- on a very sad note - the mother of Loyola coach Porter Moser passed away just before Christmas

[tornado]

BU down 28-19 with 5 min to go in 1st half...
once again our offense looks totally hideous....we're gonna be lucky to hit 25 by halftime

Our guys have to learn when to stop jacking up the 3-pt attempts...it's not working
Omari Grier is completely invisible - no offense & no defense
..and of course the latest guy our media has anointed as the "go to guy" is forcing it and not getting it done when we go to him
..and Donte Thoms should never be assigned to guard a 3-pt shooter, and yet he's been on Turk & Doyle giving up trey after trey

The only bright points are Shaw & Cunningham fighting for rebounds

[tornado]

Now down 33-19 and simply not defending any shots....
what's with all this talk about how our defense is historically good??