Final score: Bradley 69 Loyola 67

[tornado]

JC is listed as connecting on seven 3-pointers, 12/01/07
JC went 7-9 and finished the game with 25 points

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/2007-08/html/bu-d1.htm

In that game Daniel Ruffin had 8 assists and Sam Maniscalco had 5 assists so you can tell they knew who to get the ball to

[Dub]

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

Today I listened to KW??™s little podcast ahead of tomorrow??™s game. The overwhelming opinion of both of those basketball experts was that Loyola is on a whole other level right now than Bradley, and that it would take a fluke outing for Bradley to win tomorrow at Carver Arena. Maybe that??™s correct, but I??™m not convinced it??™s quite that cut and dry. I guess we will see.

[Da Coach]

Loyola is playing very well, but to suggest they are at a far higher level than anyone else, or that Loyola has become the next Wichita State or Creighton is wrong. They are good, but they are not unbeatable, IMO.
Ironically, that is what some were saying about Drake until they lost 3 of their last 4 games.

[Da Coach]

Pregame report from BradleyBraves.com
Second-Place Braves Host First-Place Loyola Wednesday

http://www.bradleybraves.com/news/2018/1/30/mens-basketball-second-place-braves-host-first-place-loyola-wednesday.aspx

[tornado]

and right on cue they write exactly what I just said

[MacabreMob]

I'll be attending my first Bradley game since 2011.

[Da Coach]

Welcome back Mac! I hope you bring the Braves good luck!

[patrick_o'brian]

Welcome back Mac! You have been missed! To my friends in Section 18, tomorrow, I may not be sitting much! I apologize in advance! Been looking forward to this game since Sunday!! Let??™s do this!! Go BU!!

[Braves2006]

Welcome back Mac! You have been missed! To my friends in Section 18, tomorrow, I may not be sitting much! I apologize in advance! Been looking forward to this game since Sunday!! Let??™s do this!! Go BU!!

Patrick, unfortunately I won??™t be at the game as I have another obligation.... But it was nice meeting you the other night! GO BRAVES

[patrick_o'brian]

Patrick, unfortunately I won??™t be at the game as I have another obligation.... But it was nice meeting you the other night! GO BRAVES

Likewise Braves2006. I??™ll cheer loud enough for the both of us!

[BUfan39]

I'll be attending my first Bradley game since 2011.

Welcome back! Man, I'm awfully excited for the game tonight...

[tornado]

FWIW- I think Elijah Childs is beginning to produce like some of the very best big men in the MVC

Elijah Childs' averages since being moved into the starting lineup after the loss up at Loyola
10.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg in 26 minutes per game

For comparison, here are the preseason Player of the Year Alize Johnson's stats over the same exact span...
12.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg in 29 minutes per game

and highly touted freshman Cameron Krutwig's numbers over the same span
13.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg in 24 minutes per game

[Da Coach]

Pregame report from BradleyBraves.com
Second-Place Braves Host First-Place Loyola Wednesday
http://www.bradleybraves.com/news/20...wednesday.aspx

Not to throw cold water on the big matchup tonight between Bradley and Loyola, but it is no longer a game between the 1st and 2nd place teams.
With SIU winning last night, they upped their record to 7-4 and they are all alone in 2nd place now, and Bradley is in 3rd place.

Current MVC Standings-

[tornado]

as badly as the SIU fans want to fire Barry - (and they have a 420 page FIRE BARRY HINSON thread perpetually at the top of their message board)
..wouldn't it be a gas if he wins the Valley and wins the Coach of the Year again!

[amettrick]

The key tonight will be if Bradley has made an adjustment to how they defend that high ball screen well outside the 3-pt line. Loyola killed us over and over again with that high pick and roll knowing our bigs would stray to far outside to hedge the screen and not get back in time. I expect Loyola will test this very early on, likely the first possession ir two, and if Bradley hasn??™t adjusted, it will be a long night and a big game for Krutwig.