Bradley's 2018-19 Schedule

[tornado]

even top schools like Kansas, Kentucky, Oregon & Big Ten schools schedule the likes of Prairie View A&M, Kennesaw State & Canisius....

so a game or two against those guys won't hurt....
but you gotta get a bunch of top 100 teams - that is what our staff is trying to do -

[wizard1]

Bradleys 2018 Schedule

t..... I understand what you are saying but I don't understand how other MVC programs seem to be able to schedule games with better teams and we do not. I am beginning to wonder how much effort we are putting into this scheduling situation. Also, over the years in business, I've learned that trying to open meaningful discussions by phone or letter is very tough to do. These kind of things need to be done face-to-face on a personal basis. Our AD and Coaching staff needs to get on a plane and aggressively pursue a much better schedule.

Also, I don't believe that our program has become so strong that we are scaring off high level teams. We are improving but big time programs are not avoiding us because we are too strong for them!

In summary, our fans deserve a better schedule, our kids want to play good opponents, and the growth of our program needs better scheduling.

Wizard

[Da Coach]

...
Also, I don't believe that our program has become so strong that we are scaring off high level teams.

Although it may seem hard to believe, this is happening. The top 6 conference guys who were willing to give Bradley a "buy game" back when we were bottom-dwellers simply do not want to play us now that there is a chance of an at-large bid-killing upset. They'd rather schedule Evansville, or one of the other teams at the bottom or rebuilding.

[wizard1]

2018 Schedule

Chico....I agree with you that our program is improving, our recruiting is much better, and games are more fun to watch. What I am concerned about is that we do not lose the momentum in rebuilding our program. We need to keep doing the "right" things. A few wrong turns and the momentum is lost and we remain a middle of the road program in the middle of our conference with few post season tournament bids. Bad scheduling can cause this if we are not very careful.
I suggest you look at the pre season schedules of other MVC programs and see how we stack up against them. I just do not want to perpetually end up 5th or 6th in the conference or at the best in 4th. We can do much better but it will take a lot of work to do this.
Wiz

[tornado]

t...... but I don't understand how other MVC programs seem to be able to schedule games with better teams and we do not. ...

in short -- two words - Joanne Glasser
those other programs did not spend 6-7 years destroying every favorable relationship & contact with every other program & AD in DI. People just don't know how badly JG & Cross destroyed a once- prominent & respected Department of Athletics at Bradley and turned us into a laughingstock....or even worse, turning it into a pariah that other programs didn't even want to play.
Remember - Joanne & Mike's idea of running a DI program involved moving our premier sport to the women's gym, scheduling Eureka College, Mississippi Valley State and all the other 350 RPI gems, and telling the fanbase how stupid and impatient we all were for actually coming to games and expecting decent play and maybe a win now & then...

People seem to forget that Ken Kavanagh & Jim Les used to regularly get Butler, VCU, Illinois, Michigan State & Tom Izzo, and numerous other Big East, Big Ten & Big 12 teams to come in here... Plus the likes of DUKE, Florida, Butler, and multiple other TOP schools away from home..

Chris Reynolds & Brian Wardle are fast restoring the prestige and dignity in our programs but bridges & relationships have been badly & irreparably burned...

[PhiAlphaBoy]

in short -- two words - Joanne Glasser
those other programs did not spend 6-7 years destroying every favorable relationship & contact with every other program & AD in DI. People just don't know how badly JG & Cross destroyed a once- prominent & respected Department of Athletics at Bradley and turned us into a laughingstock....or even worse, turning it into a pariah that other programs didn't even want to play.
Remember - Joanne & Mike's idea of running a DI program involved moving our premier sport to the women's gym, scheduling Eureka College, Mississippi Valley State and all the other 350 RPI gems, and telling the fanbase how stupid and impatient we all were for actually coming to games and expecting decent play and maybe a win now & then...

People seem to forget that Ken Kavanagh & Jim Les used to regularly get Butler, VCU, Illinois, Michigan State & Tom Izzo, and numerous other Big East, Big Ten & Big 12 teams to come in here... Plus the likes of DUKE, Florida, Butler, and multiple other TOP schools away from home..

Chris Reynolds & Brian Wardle are fast restoring the prestige and dignity in our programs but bridges & relationships have been badly & irreparably burned...

This is without a doubt one of the most asinine posts I've seen made here. Please, tell me you don't actually believe this? I'd be curious what the chorus thinks as well. This is just crazy talk! The schedule may be weak but it has nothing to do with our last President and AD.

[Da Coach]

I don't agree with much of what was said, but to be clear, there is no doubt the demise of the men's and women's basketball programs starting in 2011 (as well as most other sports) that lead to the worst years in the history of the programs and the departure of a number of fine coaches was caused exclusively by the previous President and AD.

I believe we are back on the right track now with capable leaders, but the better part of a decade and tens of millions of dollars were wasted.

[tornado]

This is without a doubt one of the most asinine posts I've seen made here. Please, tell me you don't actually believe this? I'd be curious what the chorus thinks as well. This is just crazy talk! The schedule may be weak but it has nothing to do with our last President and AD.

you're entitled to believe or disbelieve whatever - but DI AD's are a pretty small, tight knit community overall - and just about everyone knows everyone else & their programs...
They are on the phone constantly with each other scheduling for a dozen or more different sports...and trust me - a lot of them had some good chuckles when they saw what was going on at Bradley between 2009 & 2015. We are on the way back but damage was done.
..btw- the PJStar writers had no qualms about quoting Mike Cross and backing him up when he ridiculously & falsely claimed the former administration

[Mikovio]

I am no fan of Glasser but to blame her for our inability to get a series with any team in the B1G, Big XII, Pac 12, ACC, SEC, Big East, or hell even AAC or A10 4 years after she left is really out there. I??™d think even Ken Kavanaugh would be past that by now.

[Mikovio]

even top schools like Kansas, Kentucky, Oregon & Big Ten schools schedule the likes of Prairie View A&M, Kennesaw State & Canisius....

so a game or two against those guys won't hurt....
but you gotta get a bunch of top 100 teams - that is what our staff is trying to do -

That??™s different though because Kansas and Kentucky will get a dozen chances at quality wins just in league play. We might get a few in ours, but we rely much more on noncon scheduling to offer opportunities for quality wins.

I don??™t mind a game or two, but this is too much. 5 teams had RPI of 250 or lower. Again, I see them as wasted opportunities.

I realize some of these are multi year contracts which are expiring. Let??™s hope they get replaced with much better.

[tornado]

I don’t mind a game or two, but this is too much. 5 teams had RPI of 250 or lower. Again, I see them as wasted opportunities.

I realize some of these are multi year contracts which are expiring. Let’s hope they get replaced with much better.

I know - we all want better...but are you suggesting our staff wants to play a weak schedule? That they are intentionally loading up on teams they know the fans won't be excited about?
Or that they have dropped the ball or just aren't trying or taking this seriously?

[Mikovio]

I don??™t know enough to say, so I give them the benefit of the doubt. All I know is I don??™t like the result and not going to sugarcoat it. I will say they could have done worse than SE Louisiana for the last addition, so I don??™t think it??™s intentionally being tanked. I think some series with bad teams were started when we were worse and seemed competitive at the time, so maybe the length of those series??™ were a mistake then? Hard to say.

[PurpleAceFan]

I am no fan of Glasser but to blame her for our inability to get a series with any team in the B1G, Big XII, Pac 12, ACC, SEC, Big East, or hell even AAC or A10 4 years after she left is really out there. I??™d think even Ken Kavanaugh would be past that by now.

I agree completely. It's just an insane thought to think that schools are afraid to play Bradley and that a person who left 4 years ago is what is causing BU to have to play the schedule they play. I remember people on here being up in arms with the schedule that ISU's Coach Jank used to play. Now when the same thing is happening at BU, there are a myriad of excuses as to why. Just be honest with yourselves for those who believe there are reasons behind this schedule. The excuses being used now are the same one that some die-hard Marty Simmons supported used.

Face the facts, you have to want to play good teams in order to get them on your schedule. Coming on a year where you have the advantage of the extra practices, the summer trip, and an experienced team, it is total incompetence to have this schedule. It basically puts you out of the running for even an NIT bid if you don't win the Valley tourney.

Coach's who constantly schedule cupcakes are looking to rack up easy wins to either keep their job or move on. Plain and simple.

[tornado]

I don’t know enough to say.... not going to sugarcoat it. ....

well, I am hardly sugarcoating anything...
here are a couple of the things I have already said about our schedule

we're gonna have to win in St. Louis, this won't get us an at large bid...

it is not super-strong..

.....you gotta get a bunch of top 100 teams -

I know - we all want better..

can't imagine it really matters -
...unless Bradley played a Gonzaga-like non-con schedule do you think we'd ever get an at-large bid?

but once again -- this year we have more 20-win teams and more TOP 150 RPI teams than in almost any year since 2006. Those are the actual FACTS.
I know people go on their perception - and that will happen again this year as well...
but as I said - unless we win a lot and win in St. Louis, we are not going to get an at large bid even if we have a schedule like ISU did last year (Top 20 in all of DI).

[houstonbrave]

Maybe a silly question but....

Years ago we had the bracket buster and that fell apart for reasons I never really understood. Over the last several years scheduling has gotten even more difficult for good mid major teams. Why not restart some version of the bracket buster. For the few mid majors with a shot at an at large bid it gives the opportunity to build their resume-of course you have to win..