2015-2016 Bradley schedule

[Da Coach]

Now that the head coach is settled, we'll start a thread about next year's non-conference schedule. I can't recall a previous year when we knew so little about what teams Bradley will be playing the following year.

Here is what is officially known so far-

Bradley does not have any contracted games for next year that remain to be played from a previous agreement.

Bradley is playing in the 2015 Gildan Charleston Classic at the TD Arena in Charleston, SC, on November 19, 20, & 22-

http://www.bradleybraves.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=19332&SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&Q_SEASON=2015

The Gildan Charleston Classic guarantees 3 non-conference games, though Bradley's opponents are not identified yet, so there will be 9 or 10 others yet to come.
Bracket (not yet posted)-

http://espnevents.com/charleston-classic/bracket/

The eight teams in the 2015 Gildan Charleston Classic are: Bradley, George Mason, Long Beach State, Mississippi, Oklahoma State, Seton Hall, Towson State, and Virginia-

http://espnevents.com/charleston-classic/teams/

http://espnevents.com/charleston-classic/news-and-updates/2015-gildan-charleston-classic-schools-net-ncaa-berths/

There are hints that the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge will start in the 2015-16 season, though no official announcement has been made. There are currently 3 other MVC teams that have been announced to be playing MWC teams-

http://www.bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?p=308076#post308076

If the MWC-MVC Challenge does happen, it has previously been reported that Bradley may be matched against Boise State University.

And one more rumor- I have heard that Bradley is close to an agreement on a home-and-home with Western Illinois University.

So if the Boise State and WIU rumors are true, that still would leave 7 or 8 more non-conference games yet to be revealed.

Obviously, there will need to be more work to be done, especially now with the new AD and coach.
If anyone is aware of any other non-conference games, let us know.

[Old Coach]

Now that the head coach is settled, we'll start a thread about next year's non-conference schedule. I can't recall a previous year when we knew so little about what teams Bradley will be playing the following year.

Here is what is officially known so far-

Bradley does not have any contracted games for next year that remain to be played from a previous agreement.

Bradley is playing in the 2015 Gildan Charleston Classic at the TD Arena in Charleston, SC, on November 19, 20, & 22-

http://www.bradleybraves.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=19332&SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&Q_SEASON=2015

The Gildan Charleston Classic guarantees 3 non-conference games, though Bradley's opponents are not identified yet, so there will be 9 or 10 others yet to come.
Bracket (not yet posted)-

http://espnevents.com/charleston-classic/bracket/

The eight teams in the 2015 Gildan Charleston Classic are: Bradley, George Mason, Long Beach State, Mississippi, Oklahoma State, Seton Hall, Towson State, and Virginia-

http://espnevents.com/charleston-classic/teams/

http://espnevents.com/charleston-classic/news-and-updates/2015-gildan-charleston-classic-schools-net-ncaa-berths/

There are hints that the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge will start in the 2015-16 season, though no official announcement has been made. There are currently 3 other MVC teams that have been announced to be playing MWC teams-

http://www.bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?p=308076#post308076

If the MWC-MVC Challenge does happen, it has previously been reported that Bradley may be matched against Boise State University.

And one more rumor- I have heard that Bradley is close to an agreement on a home-and-home with Western Illinois University.

So if the Boise State and WIU rumors are true, that still would leave 7 or 8 more non-conference games yet to be revealed.

Obviously, there will need to be more work to be done, especially now with the new AD and coach.
If anyone is aware of any other non-conference games, let us know.

Why not a home and home with EIU? Spoon has a done a nice job there so far.

[Da Coach]

2 more games are now revealed-
Bradley at Texas-Arlington Dec. 8, 2015
Bradley at Boise State Dec. 20, 2015

http://www.bradleybraves.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=3400&SPID=1498&SPSID=19332

[Da Coach]

Still no home games scheduled, but there is a tentative plan to be in a tournament in Las Vegas December 22-23. No contract has been signed for that tournament yet.

http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150407/SPORTS/150409349/12701/SPORTS?Start=2

[bravesfan6]

If we do play in that Las Vegas Classic, it looks like we might be in the lower tier. According to Blogging the Bracket the four host teams are locked in with Colorado, Penn State, Kent State and SMU.
http://www.bloggingthebracket.com/20...nts-events-MTE

[Da Coach]

If we do play in that Las Vegas Classic, it looks like we might be in the lower tier. According to Blogging the Bracket the four host teams are locked in with Colorado, Penn State, Kent State and SMU.
http://www.bloggingthebracket.com/20...nts-events-MTE

I cannot believe we would play as one of the lower tier teams in this event, and play a bunch more road games and get killed. Either there must be a different tournament at the same time, or the Bradley program has sunk lower than any of us believed.

Could there be another tournament being put together by the South Point Casino?

[Da Coach]

It does appear there is another D1 tournament at the South Point Casino Arena at about the same time-

http://www.sporttours.net/tournaments/D1_Men-s_Tournaments

The dates are slightly different (Dec 19-22) than the dates stated in Dave Reynolds' article (he said Dec. 22-23). Guess we'll have to wait for clarification.

http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150407/SPORTS/150409349/12701/SPORTS

[bravesfan6]

Yeah I would much rather be in a tournament similar to the one we are in this year. But based on the dates, I thought that might be an option.

[LongTimeFan]

Looks like another road trip this year.

[Da Coach]

Another piece of the 2015-1016 schedule puzzle has emerged-

University of Arizona just released most of their pre-conference games (except one) and the schedule includes an early-season home game against Bradley on Monday, November 16 in the McKale Memorial Center in Tuscson.
I believe this is a "buy game" and not part of any deal with a game to be played in Peoria.

http://tucson.com/sports/blogs/pascoe/arizona-basketball-nonconference-schedule-nearly-set/article_2d6eeeb6-e561-11e4-8334-5f0b5bd8bc00.html

There has been no announcement from Bradley, and the schedule page shows only the games at Boise State and UT-Arlington-

http://www.bradleybraves.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=3400&SPID=1498&SPSID=19332

Current known schedule-
Mon. Nov. 16 at Arizona
Thurs. Nov. 19-Sun. Nov. 22- 3 games in the Charleston Classic (other teams G. Mason, LBSU, OK. State, Ole Miss, Seton Hall, Towson, Virginia)
Tues. Dec. 8 at UT-Arlington
Sun. Dec. 20 at Boise State

That is already 3 true road games and 3 neutral-court games pre-conference, and no home games yet!
For comparison, last season, Bradley played only 2 true road games (K-State and Memphis), 4 neutral court games (2 in Corpus Christi and 2 in Las Vegas), and 7 home games prior to the conference schedule.

The 2015-2016 schedule is developing slowly, but appears to be a killer pre-conference schedule for a depleated, rebuilding team.

[LongTimeFan]

DC, I thought there was a Vegas tournament just before Christmas.

[Da Coach]

DC, I thought there was a Vegas tournament just before Christmas.

It's been mentioned but there have been no contracts signed. That is why I am not listing it yet. I have heard they are trying to pull out of it.

If we do play another neutral court tournament in Las Vegas, it would mean there would be 8 road and neutral-court games next year on the schedule prior to the MVC games. That really reduces the number of potential home games that could be scheduled (no more than 5 would be possible), and will really hurt season ticket sales.

Plus, if the Las Vegas tournament locks in 2 obligatory home games, will they be low-quality opponents like that tournament has always provided before? If that happens, that would leave only 3 available home slots. That could drive a lot of potential season ticket holders away. With all the excitement they have created with the changes, I cannot believe they'd douse that excitement with another terrible home schedule like we've had the last 3 seasons.

[LongTimeFan]

Darn, there goes my annual road trip.

[64NIT]

Will there be a return game at Robert Morris? Thanks.

[Da Coach]

Will there be a return game at Robert Morris? Thanks.

Not that I have heard. I believe the Robert Morris game was a single game deal in Peoria.