Bradley's non-conference schedule to be released tomorrow (Thursday 8/16) starting at 10 AM

[tornado]

Brian Wardle's comments on the schedule

https://twitter.com/bradleyumbb/status/898627947619172352

-he believes several will be better than they appear on paper because of players returning from injury
-some return 4 & 5 starters
-he firmly believes this schedule is what we need to prepare the team for the MVC season
-many will be contenders in their leagues and that's who we want to be playing
-and, as usual, he confirms that scheduling is hard
-teams avoided us because we have 96% of our scoring returning
-"I hope our fans come and support this team"

[Da Coach]

the small loss in attendance between 2015 and 2017 can be accounted for by people moving, people dying or people retiring and being less mobile or leaving the area....

This is not quite accurate. Throughout the last 40+ years Bradley has always had way more demand for seats near the court than they had supply. Even until 2012 & 2013 and later, despite the big drop in overall tickets sales, Bradley still had waiting lists for fans to buy into or move down to the lower bowl on the side-court if openings occurred.
But now when those lower bowl seats open, there is hardly anyone waiting to take them. I know quite a few lower bowl, long time season ticket buyers who have not renewed in the last couple years, yet I see few new people in those seats. The fan base is still shrinking and it is partly because the home schedule is not very appealing, and not just because fans are dying off.

[bradleyfan124]

I don't like this schedule either. However I do think they have a hard time scheduling good opponents in the NCAA College atmosphere these days. With all that being said I think one sure fire remedy for this whole situation is this.........WIN!!!!!!!!!

[tornado]

..Bradley has always had way more demand for seats near the court than they had supply. ...

again, talk to Mike Cross about that-
he's the one who doubled ticket prices and TRIPLED the maintenance for those seats in the first 2-3 rows...and insulted plenty of long time fans & donors who chose to give up their seats and their donations rather than bow down to the extortion. Now literally 1/2 of all those premium seats in the first few rows go empty or get poached by cheapskatesrus who sneak down there from the upper bowl to get better seats.

[Vent]

Look around at the three or four rows of courtside seats. Most are empty. I know several of these people. Last season, most of them couldn't get their business clients to go to games. A lot of times their wives no longer wanted to go. Often times they would try to give their tickets away to the grandkids and they didn't want to go. Many of those empty seats are sold but unused.

I talked to a couple people that have seats in those same rows since the non conference schedule has been released. They are not happy campers.

A couple of them have told me they will continue to make financial contributions to Bradley after this year. It will be more of a general fund contribution as opposed to the basketball program.

It may be time for Bradley to drop to Division II. With this schedule they would be lucky have the RC on campus half full.

[Braves2006]

Yes this scheduled is a total joke...BUT... we cannot forget....we are in year 3 of a complete and total rebuild. Let's just wait and see what happens on the court. That is what is most important at this point. We will certainly be able to tell if this team is better and improved, no matter who we play.

[MacabreMob]

Brian Wardle's comments on the schedule

https://twitter.com/bradleyumbb/status/898627947619172352

-he believes several will be better than they appear on paper because of players returning from injury
-some return 4 & 5 starters
-he firmly believes this schedule is what we need to prepare the team for the MVC season
-many will be contenders in their leagues and that's who we want to be playing
-and, as usual, he confirms that scheduling is hard
-teams avoided us because we have 96% of our scoring returning
-"I hope our fans come and support this team"

I completely agree with this. The MVC is gonna stink. I think it's ripe for the taking. And I think Bradley can be competitive. We'll need a soft non-con to build confidence, work on getting better (instead of getting beaten), learn to play with a lead, and learn how to close out a game and win. Then when Valley play begins, I think they will be prepared for the MVC season to be competitive and heck.... maybe even win it!