Final score: Bradley 69 Loyola 67

[Da Coach]

Next game: Loyola (18-4 overall, 8-2 in MVC, and 6-3 on the road) at Bradley ( 16-7 overall, 6-4 in MVC, and 11-0 at home) Wednesday night, January 31, at 7:00 PM at Carver Arena.

After losing 2 of their first 3 MVC games, Loyola has now won their last 7 conference games in a row. They are all alone in 1st place in the MVC after the first 10 games. They are coming off a 70-47 home win against UNI.
Bradley has won their last 3 MVC games, and are coming off one of their best performances of the season in an 81-73 road win at Indiana State. Bradley is tied for 2nd place with Drake and SIU with a 6-4 league record.

Team comparison-

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game?gameId=400989722

The game will be televised on the MVC-TV Network (NBCSports Chicago, FoxSports Midwest, FoxSports Indiana), and on ESPN3.com outside the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri).

Live stats-

http://www.sidearmstats.com/bradley/mbball/

Chat room-

http://us21.chatzy.com/bradleyfans

Radio-

http://www.1470wmbd.com/

Tickets-

https://www1.ticketmaster.com/bradley-braves-vs-loyola-chicago-ramblers-peoria-illinois-01-31-2018/event/07005333C61733F3?artistid=847595&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=7&tm_link=artist_msg-0_07005333C61733F3

Loyola website-

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

Loyola stats-

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/luc.htm#team.ind

Bradley stats-

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/brad.htm#team.ind

MVC stats-
Overall-

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/confldrs.htm

MVC games only-

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/confonly.htm

[BUSongwriter]

Two thoughts on this game:

1) Memo to Bradley students: Your men's basketball team is exciting and in second place. This is a very important game, and now would be a good time for more than a few dozen of you to show up. We miss the Red Sea. Be loud, be proud.

2) Memo to the Bradley Braves. This game is being played on my 60th birthday. A win over Loyola would be a really nice present to this longtime season-ticket holder. Thank you.

[Da Coach]

Happy birthday to you BUsongwriter! And speaking of birthdays, today is frequent poster Dub's birthday. Happy birthday Dub!

[Dub]

Happy birthday to you BUsongwriter! And speaking of birthdays, today is frequent poster Dub's birthday. Happy birthday Dub!

Thank you!
I hope our men can get the job done for BUsongwriter on Wed!!

[BUSongwriter]

Battle for Illinois

I think we're one game behind Loyola in the MVC "Battle for Illinois" deal, but in my opinion Wednesday's game is a true battle for men's basketball Illinois bragging rights. It can be argued, certainly through RPI, that Loyola and Bradley are the two best college teams in the state so far this year.

We owe Loyola payback. I really hope we get it tomorrow night and at least get to share state bragging rights . . . for now.

[Da Coach]

Though the freshman Cameron Krutwig killed Bradley in the last game, and he has been one of the 2 best freshmen in the MVC this season, Loyola has several key seniors who will be gone next year. So this year may be their best chance to win the league. Sometimes that is a good motivating factor.
And they have played better than anyone in the MVC on the road. They are 6-3 overall on the road, and no other MVC is anywhere close to a winning road record. In fact, Bradley's 3-6 road record (wins at SEMO, Chicago State, and Indiana State) is the next best true road record after Loyola.

They are 4-1 in MVC road games with wins at UNI, ILSU, Valpo, & Drake. Their only road loss was the first MVC game of the season back on Dec. 22 at Missouri State. The next best MVC road records are Indiana State, SIU, and Drake at 2-3.

Here are the conference road records for every team-
LU 4-1
Drake 2-3
INSU 2-3
SIU 2-3
BU 1-4
ILSU 1-4
MSU 1-4
UNI 0-5
UE 0-5
VU 0-5

The overall record for MVC road teams is 13-37. So the road team has won only 26% of the time. That was boosted a little this past weekend when SIU and Bradley both won on the road.

Let's hope Bradley can keep their home winning streak going!

[Bradleyfan1]

A win and we??™re in the fight for 1st a loss and we??™re in the fight to stay out of Thursday night.

[Bradleyfan1]

A win and we??™re in the fight for 1st a loss and we??™re in the fight to stay out of Thursday night.

[tornado]

I think every team in the league except one is rooting for us to beat Loyola

[BUfan39]

I think every team in the league except one is rooting for us to beat Loyola

Moral of the story is every game is big if you want to finish in the top 3. With many of the teams separated by just a game or two, this homestand with Loyola and Drake is crucial. If we can come out of this 2-0 with a valley record of 8-4 we'll be in great shape. Here's to keeping the home winning streak alive! Go Braves!

[pfcmsh]

Confidence

I surely hope we can hold home court advantage and defeat Loyola. At Gentile arena we simply didn't play well. I believe that the Braves are gaining confidence and will only get better in the days ahead. I am confident that, even if we lose to Loyola at home, we are good enough to avoid a Thursday game in St Louis.

[tornado]

Hey- anyone remember this line...

"it's been years since we've seen BU play a meaningful conference game in February"
or
"Bradley has been out of contention by Feb. 1. Every season"
or
"it's been years since Bradley has been in the race for a Valley title after mid-January"
or
"Bradley has not competed for a Valley championship in a long time.... Only a couple of times since 2001 have they posted truly outstanding home-court records."
or
"we should be competing for championships!"

these are the lines the negative nellies have used for years, that the grumbling fans have claimed as the excuse for not going to games, that Wessler used to drum up anti-Jim Les sentiment, that Michael Cross made excuses for but never solved...

BUT now we have the next couple games -- critical to the MVC race and we must win them....

Come on fans - show up in big numbers, and Wessler - how about a few positive columns instead of stuff on Loyola and Quick Change

[BUfan39]

Nate Kennell's 7 three pointers

Does anyone know who holds the record for most threes in a game for the Braves? Dave and Chad mentioned on the radio show after the ISUB game that he was one short of the school record.

[tornado]

Danny Adams, Jerome Robinson, Anthony Parker, Aaron Zobrist & Anthony Manuel have all made 8 in a game

Anthony Parker's took place in the NCAA Tournament game against Stanford on March 14, 1996

[BUfan39]

Danny Adams, Jerome Robinson, Anthony Parker, Aaron Zobrist & Anthony Manuel have all made 8 in a game

Anthony Parker's took place in the NCAA Tournament game against Stanford on March 14, 1996

Thanks for the info! I was assuming it would be a combination of some of those guys however I'm shocked to see no mention of JC!