Final score: Loyola 62 Bradley 54

[Braves2006]

In past years when we had the opportunity, I was always in favor of accepting the bids to the lower level tournaments. I went to the games and I enjoyed them, partly because initially there were some high major programs getting involved to make it more fun. I believe we may have hosted and beaten Cincinnati in 2009 or so for instance. Chris Roberts??™ 3/4 court game winner was a great BU memory, and I believe that was in one of these small tournaments. Plus, you never knew whether in future these tournaments might gain prestige and a title might mean something.

For some reason this year, I??™m not as excited about an opportunity should it arise. For Bradley, these tournament appearances have not prepared/boosted our team toward the next season... just the opposite for us. The major schools have all run away, so that intrigue is basically gone. From a recognition standpoint, there isn??™t any. it??™s actually become a real shame how very little respect even the NIT garners... let alone these others.

Think about it, literally nobody is interested but the winning NIT club, and yet there they stand holding their hard earned trophy alone and in total silence, from a national recognition standpoint. It??™s a shame for us particularly, because it has eroded the perception of our NIT national championships in the eyes of younger basketball fans who don??™t understand the prestige it once held.

Anyhow, I??™m really satisfied with where are are in the progression, and don??™t see a compelling reason to risk ending on a low note, particularly if we would sustain an injury or a bad loss. We went down swinging this year, and I??™m ok if we leave it at that.

However??”??”If our staff and players want to do it, or if Donte Thomas wanted to give it a rip, I would be first in line buying a ticket and cheering at the top of my lungs.

Either way, I have a strong feeling that we will be cutting down nets in Scottrade Center within the next 2-3 years or sooner. That??™s our trajectory, and that??™s where my sporting-hope lies.... and not neccessarily in a low level tournament run. Dr Reynolds and Mr Brian Wardle will know what??™s best, and I??™ll back their decision 100%.

I agree with this Dub. I am not in favor of these EIEIO tournaments. There??™s only 2: the NCAA tournament and the NIT in my book. Great season by the Braves and am happy with the progress and I believe we are on our way to a Valley championship! No need to pay and support these hideous tournaments IMO.

[bradleyfan124]

I agree with this Dub. I am not in favor of these EIEIO tournaments. There’s only 2: the NCAA tournament and the NIT in my book. Great season by the Braves and am happy with the progress and I believe we are on our way to a Valley championship! No need to pay and support these hideous tournaments IMO.

You guys need to join up with the Corrupt 5 conferences. They have an elitist attitude also. Their way of thinking they think our conferences are hideous also

[pfcmsh]

Dave Snell is an exceptional Bradley historian, and has made many great videos for past coaches specifically to show to recruits about Bradley's tradition, history, facilities, and fan support. Dave still works for the athletic department and though I don't know if Coach Wardle uses his video presentations, I suspect they still do.
https://bradleybraves.com/staff.aspx?staff=222

Thank you, Da Coach!!

[tornado]

Re: the CBI or CIT
I say do it for Donte..

we are the only team in the MVC with a .500 or better conference record who has beaten a Top 30 team...
we deserve a post-season bid...


so....what seed does Loyola get?
7? ....8? .... 9? If the anti-mid-major bias of the selection Committee holds true, I say 8 or 9..
they were never Top 25 and only recently began getting a few votes that would put them in the 30-40 range...
But if they are fair & consider the "intangibles" of how good their record is with their starters healthy then maybe a 6 or 7?

[Braves2006]

You guys need to join up with the Corrupt 5 conferences. They have an elitist attitude also. Their way of thinking they think our conferences are hideous also

No elitist here...just not a fan of those tourneys. It??™s ok to have differing opinions.

[Braves2006]

Re: the CBI or CIT
I say do it for Donte..

we are the only team in the MVC with a .500 or better conference record who has beaten a Top 30 team...
we deserve a post-season bid...


so....what seed does Loyola get?
7? ....8? .... 9? If the anti-mid-major bias of the selection Committee holds true, I say 8 or 9..
they were never Top 25 and only recently began getting a few votes that would put them in the 30-40 range...
But if they are fair & consider the "intangibles" of how good their record is with their starters healthy then maybe a 6 or 7?

Some that I have heard are saying 11-12 seed. Kind of ridiculous. Jerry Palm (not a fan) actually has them at a 12 seed.

[Dub]

Their way of thinking they think our conferences are hideous also

That??™s just it B124 - Power conferences do look down on us, and that??™s their problem. Nobody likes an elitist attitude when it comes to judging ???our??? conference affiliation.

Most of us are guilty of this at times when we look at the MVC at #8 and scroll down to see how many mid and ???low??? major conferences we are superior to.

However when it comes to tournament participation, the CBI and CIT are not ???our??? tournaments, nor do I ever want it to come to that. We belong in the NCAA tournament with the big boys and should strive to attain that goal.

If we choose to participate in CBI or CIT, it must never serve to fulfill the ultimate postseason goals we set out for long term.

I??™m a little torn on the whole thing for this year.

[bradleyfan124]

That??™s just it B124 - Power conferences do look down on us, and that??™s their problem. Nobody likes an elitist attitude when it comes to judging ???our??? conference affiliation.

Most of us are guilty of this at times when we look at the MVC at #8 and scroll down to see how many mid and ???low??? major conferences we are superior to.

However when it comes to tournament participation, the CBI and CIT are not ???our??? tournaments, nor do I ever want it to come to that. We belong in the NCAA tournament with the big boys and should strive to attain that goal.

If we choose to participate in CBI or CIT, it must never serve to fulfill the ultimate postseason goals we set out for long term.

I??™m a little torn on the whole thing for this year.

I understand and agree with your last comment about Ultimate goal. We must always shoot for the NCAA as a tournament

[luckydog]

I am not a fan of these tournaments either, but I agree with Tornado. Do it for Donte. Give him a chance to play in a post season tournament after sticking it out and helping the rebuilding process over the last 4 years. He deserves it.

[pfcmsh]

I am not a fan of these tournaments either, but I agree with Tornado. Do it for Donte. Give him a chance to play in a post season tournament after sticking it out and helping the rebuilding process over the last 4 years. He deserves it.

Well said, luckydog. I totally agree. We need exposure right now to help to attract the best talent possible. Perhaps when we get our mojo back and sustain our reputation for great basketball, we become more discerning in our tournament choices.

I will support Dr Reynolds and Coach Wardle decisions because these men know how to return our program to national prominence. We are already on our way!

[tornado]

I am not a fan of these tournaments either, but I agree with Tornado. Do it for Donte. Give him a chance to play in a post season tournament after sticking it out and helping the rebuilding process over the last 4 years. He deserves it.

there's a quote from DR about this in the paper...

"the BU coach will hit the road recruiting for a few days.
Then he’ll huddle with his staff about next year’s schedule and meet with athletics director Chris Reynolds
regarding invitations to the CBI and CIT.com postseason tournaments."

So, contrary to what Coach Wardle said flatly at the Voice of the Braves show at Alexander's Steakhouse, that no team of his would play in those tournaments, it sounds like we might hear something by the end of the week or early next wk.

DR also said
"Wardle can’t yet publicly discuss committed freshmen-to-be newcomers Armon Brummett and Ari Boya because they haven’t signed their National Letters of Intent."
...so I guess the assumption there is that Boya's reclassification to 2018 is a done-deal.

[BUfan39]

there's a quote from DR about this in the paper...

"the BU coach will hit the road recruiting for a few days.
Then he’ll huddle with his staff about next year’s schedule and meet with athletics director Chris Reynolds
regarding invitations to the CBI and CIT.com postseason tournaments."

So, contrary to what Coach Wardle said flatly at the Voice of the Braves show at Alexander's Steakhouse, that no team of his would play in those tournaments, it sounds like we might hear something by the end of the week or early next wk.

DR also said
"Wardle can’t yet publicly discuss committed freshmen-to-be newcomers Armon Brummett and Ari Boya because they haven’t signed their National Letters of Intent."
...so I guess the assumption there is that Boya's reclassification to 2018 is a done-deal.

That would be the best news in a long time! Here's to hoping

[Da Coach]

That is not the case. It will not be known for at least a couple months whether he will be able to reclassify to 2018.

[tornado]

lots of pictures by Bob Hunt

https://www.facebook.com/bob.hunt.9634/posts/10215247703048017?pnref=story.unseen-section

https://www.facebook.com/bob.hunt.9634/posts/10215229251106730