The unofficial start of the Bradley 2015-16 basketball season

[tornado]

The Itoo Spaghetti Supper is the first fall event and marks the unofficial start to the season -
the fans can get up close and talk with the players and see & hear some presentations by coaches and players as well.

Go Braves!

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

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=210226427

[tornado]

One other event I'd love to see...
a preseason Alumni Game....get a bunch of the old guys & legends back and have a weekend event at Ren-Col - and fans would love it...
UNC & Kentucky just did it...

http://northcarolina.247sports.com/Bolt/ESPNU-to-televise-alumni-game-39285446

Lots of other schools do it...
LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK


We've done it a couple times....
We had one back about 15 years ago in the pre-season at the old Fieldhouse - I can still remember some of the players from the late 40's & 50's pumping up those two-handed set shots!
Hersey was in attendance, but did not play as it was not approved under his NBA contract.

Then we had one that Ken Kavanagh was quite proud about - he got over 30 basketball greats & alumni to come just before the Fieldhouse was torn down...
Even Danny Granger was there to bury the hatchet!

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4254

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4346

[tornado]

Itoo suggestions.....nothing mandatory but just suggestions...
most of you already know this...

-wear red
-show up early & show up hungry
-bring others - especially kids - nice way to start building the tradition for the next generation- remember, most of the fans Thursday will have MORE Itoo Supper experience than the players & staff
-find others to chat with - maybe even someone you do not know- I've never met an unfriendly fan at an Itoo Supper
-chat with the players & coaches - that's exactly what they are there for, plus it'll you help figure out who is who when the games start
-ask them about their homes, their families... I've never seen any of the players who hated talking about their families
(example- Ronnie Suggs' brother is playing in the D-League, Drew Adams just got married & Coach Wardle's brother just got married, Alex Foster was ranked #1 in the entire nation at one time, Antoine Pittman is from the same high school as Fred Van Vleet, and even though they are foreigners - Luuk van Bree, Callum Barker, and Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye ALL speak perfect English!!!!)
-bring something and ask players to autograph - they love being treated like the stars and being asked for their autographs
-thank the staff that's cooking & serving
-enjoy chicken & spaghetti
-can't give money or gifts to the players - that's an NCAA no-no
-make sure everyone in charge knows how much you enjoyed it so we do it again and again
-if they have a table selling t-shirts, etc....get 'em early - they used to sell out in the past - and pick up a few pocket schedules to hand out at work & to friends
-enjoy

[BRADLEY FAN 49]

Itoo suggestions.....nothing mandatory but just suggestions...
most of you already know this...

-wear red
-show up early & show up hungry
-bring others - especially kids - nice way to start building the tradition for the next generation- remember, most of the fans Thursday will have MORE Itoo Supper experience than the players & staff
-find others to chat with - maybe even someone you do not know- I've never met an unfriendly fan at an Itoo Supper
-chat with the players & coaches - that's exactly what they are there for, plus it'll you help figure out who is who when the games start
-ask them about their homes, their families... I've never seen any of the players who hated talking about their families
(example- Ronnie Suggs' brother is playing in the D-League, Drew Adams just got married & Coach Wardle's brother just got married, Alex Foster was ranked #1 in the entire nation at one time, Antoine Pittman is from the same high school as Fred Van Vleet, and even though they are foreigners - Luuk van Bree, Callum Barker, and Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye ALL speak perfect English!!!!)
-bring something and ask players to autograph - they love being treated like the stars and being asked for their autographs
-thank the staff that's cooking & serving
-enjoy chicken & spaghetti
-can't give money or gifts to the players - that's an NCAA no-no
-make sure everyone in charge knows how much you enjoyed it so we do it again and again
-if they have a table selling t-shirts, etc....get 'em early - they used to sell out in the past - and pick up a few pocket schedules to hand out at work & to friends
-enjoy

What time do the doors open?

[pfcmsh]

Doors Open

6pm

[tornado]

Thursday 6pm
Directions- since it's been a few years (2009) since the last time we've had this event at the Itoo Hall

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/''/itoo+hall/data=!4m5!4m4!1m0!1m2!1m1!1s0x880a5e660690145f:0xe1f639fb9719cee8?sa=X&ved=0COsEEPUXMGhqFQoTCLqrivic_McCFQZcHgodRoAFhA

Here's some links to a few of the great Itoo events from the past with pictures

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9406

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9499

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1538

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1537

[tornado]

I heard someone say that the players don't like events like this...but I beg to differ...I think this group does and will demonstrate it tonight.
I think people will note that this particular group of players are very personable, friendly, polite, and enjoy interacting with fans...
I have met many of the players more than once thus far and each has spontaneously greeted me and been eager to introduce themselves & chat...especially about basketball.
One time over the summer, I walked unannounced with a member of the Athletic Dept. into the practice gym at Ren-Col while a dozen of the players were scrimmaging, and one by one each of the players walked over and politely greeted us and introduced themselves to me and others...
I suppose possibly they were prompted to do so but it sure seemed spontaneous & genuine to me.
Anyway - I would be surprised if they just congregated by themselves in a corner tonight.

[lefty]

I heard someone say that the players don't like events like this...but I beg to differ...I think this group does and will demonstrate it tonight.
I think people will note that this particular group of players are very personable, friendly, polite, and enjoy interacting with fans...
I have met many of the players more than once thus far and each has spontaneously greeted me and been eager to introduce themselves & chat...especially about basketball.
One time over the summer, I walked unannounced with a member of the Athletic Dept. into the practice gym at Ren-Col while a dozen of the players were scrimmaging, and one by one each of the players walked over and politely greeted us and introduced themselves to me and others...
I suppose possibly they were prompted to do so but it sure seemed spontaneous & genuine to me.
Anyway - I would be surprised if they just congregated by themselves in a corner tonight.

I went to a workout recently and the same thing happened...there were 3 players that came over and introduced themselves...none of them were going through the workouts at the time.....now it could be just good character type kids or Coach Wardle wanting them to do this every chance they get....or probably a combination of both....I did talk to one of them for a bit though and he told me it's all different from years past, especially regarding discipline

[tornado]

thanks lefty- heard the same thing - I think they know if they want to or try to be jerks they will be gone very quickly..
...even the top scorer would not get a pass on bad behavior

[bz]

So someone notices a difference with these players. Did u know half the team getting a 4.0 so far?

[Da Coach]

So someone notices a difference with these players. Did u know half the team getting a 4.0 so far?

Excellent news! Great to hear!

[Jeffesh]

Are tickets available at the door tonight?

[tornado]

yes, they will be

[Da Coach]

Contrary to some who have mocked and predicted an underwhelming response of fans to the resumption of the Itoo Hall Spaghetti Supper, it looks like there were huge crowds of fans are already lining up well before the opening time according to Dave Reynolds-

https://twitter.com/DaveReynolds2/status/644644041230057472

At 5:45, they're lined up 50 deep at the door of the Itoo Hall for the Bradley spaghetti dinner. Event returns here for 1st time since '09.

[tornado]

Dave & Kirk were there - can't wait for their report on the event...