Bradley's 2018-19 Schedule

[Da Coach]

Many mid-majors would like to see it. Others objected because it came in the stretch run of their conference schedule or matched them with a lower-RPI opponent that hurt more than helped.

It would need a major TV partner like it was when ESPN was behind it, and there doesn't seem to be any interest from the TV networks or sponsors. One problem was that there were just too many bad matchups, and games that nobody wanted to watch.

Here was an article about its demise-

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/espns-bracketbusters-is-history-after-this-year/

[Mikovio]

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).

Another fact is we have only one top 100 team on the schedule (Penn St/Wright St). UIC might??™ve won 20 games but they lost 16 and ran through a bad CIT field.

I disagree with this ???at large bids are impossible in the MVC now??? notion. Or are you saying you don??™t think we have the talent for it? Even if you think St Louis is our only possible Dance ticket, do you think we have no NIT chance either? Because that committee uses the same metrics as the NCAA.

[tornado]

Another fact is we have only one top 100 team on the schedule (Penn St/Wright St). UIC might’ve won 20 games but they lost 16 and ran through a bad CIT field.

I disagree with this “at large bids are impossible in the MVC now” notion. Or are you saying you don’t think we have the talent for it? Even if you think St Louis is our only possible Dance ticket, do you think we have no NIT chance either? Because that committee uses the same metrics as the NCAA.

when's the last time it happened?
If a team that went 17-1 in the MVC didn't get in, and a team (Loyola) that had FINAL FOUR talent would NOT have gotten in, then I don't see it happening with any team this year - with so few at-large bids going to midmajors.. I hope I am wrong but get back to me when it happens...

and the metrics are not "the same" since the pool of teams the NIT looks at are the teams that are ~50-100th best in DI not Top 50

[Mikovio]

Well as I mentioned before those teams had problems. Plus the Valley a couple years ago was the 12th rated conference, had only one other team inside the top 150 aside from WSU and ISU ??” #147 SIU ??” and they got pantsed in the title game by the Shockers. The Loyola team had Final Four talent but had bad losses when their best player was injured and the committee can??™t consider injuries when making selections??” only in seeding. Again, it??™s only been 5 years since a Valley team got a 1 seed, and you want me to believe an 11 seed is unattainable? Not buying it.

The NIT will consider Q1 and Q2 wins, same as NCAA. Same team printouts. Scheduling matters for that tourney even if you believe the NCAA at large is impossible.

[tornado]

strange - but whenever someone brings up BRADLEY going to the NIT like they did in 2007, they get ridiculed
I don't - I'd proudly accept an NIT bid... if we didn't win in St. Louis

[PhiAlphaBoy]

strange - but whenever someone brings up BRADLEY going to the NIT like they did in 2007, they get ridiculed
I don't - I'd accept that... if we didn't win in St. Louis

That's never happened to me. Why would anyone do that? Plus, that team nearly won the MVC Tournament and was just a hair away from going to the NCAA Tourney.

[tornado]

at the practice Friday, Coach Wardle was asked if there was still a connection with Marquette and could we possibly get a deal to play them...

He laughed and said, they used to play us until we beat them (in 2012 when he was at Green Bay) and now they won't even talk to me about scheduling us..

but the schedule is as it is - probably the best anyone could have done given the circumstance- and it does have something to do with a certain former admin

[tornado]

Schedule UPDATED

(Events in RED are confirmed & on the calendar)

Preseason:
Tuesday July 31, 2018 - 1st exhibition game against opponent from British Basketball League Surrey Scorchers All-Star Select- W 73-66
Thursday August 2, 2018 - depart for Amsterdam
Friday August 3, 2018 - 2nd exhibition game against AMSTERDAM SELECT at 8pm local time, 2pm Central
Saturday August 4, 2018 - FOREIGN TOUR to England & Netherlands concludes and team returns to US

Wednesday September 26 - Basketball practices can begin.
Teams are allowed to begin practicing six weeks (42 days) before the date of their first scheduled game - LINK

THURSDAY October 4th, 2018 - ITOO Supper
WEDNESDAY October 17, 2018 - ISC "Smoker" at The Warehouse - 5:30-8:30pm @ 736 SW Washington St., Peoria
** Red-White scrimmage - yet to be scheduled
SATURDAY October 27, 2018 at 5pm Bid for the Braves Auction @ the Renaissance Coliseum. (Halloween Costume party) - LINK

SEASON STARTS:
Non-Conference:
Thursday November 1, 2018 at 7pm - Exhibition game against Carroll University
WEDNESDAY November 7, 2018 at 7pm - Bradley hosts UW-Parkside as the extra game of the Cancun Challenge- this is the earliest opening game ever for Bradley
Saturday November 10, 2018 at 1pm - Bradley hosts SEMO @ Carver Arena
Wednesday November 14, 2018 - Bradley hosts Jacksonville State- as part of Cancun Challenge - Time 7pm @ Carver Arena- they were one of the best teams in the OVC
Saturday November 17, 2018 - Bradley @ UIC Flames - Flames coming off 20-win season
-also - November 14-21, 2018 - Letter of Intent signing period
Tuesday November 20, 2018 - Cancun Challenge - Bradley vs. SMU in Game 1 (confirmed) @ 5pm
Wednesday November 21, 2018 - then Bradley vs. either Penn State or Wright State in game 2 @ 5 or 7:30pm
Games played @ Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya Convention Center in Cancun

Saturday November 24, 2018 at 1pm - Bradley hosts Chicago State
November 28, 2018 - Wednesday at 6pm - Bradley @ IUPUI
-SATURDAY December 1, 2018 (time to be determined) Home game - MVC/MWC Challenge- New Mexico at Bradley
Tuesday December 4, 2018 - @ 6:30pm - Bradley at University of Arkansas-Little Rock

Saturday December 15, 2019 at 7pm - Bradley hosts Eastern Illinois
Tuesday December 18, 2018 - Bradley at Georgia Southern
Saturday December 22, 2018 - Bradley hosts Southeast Louisiana

Conference:
-18 game Conference schedule then MVC Tournament in March 2019

[64NIT]

Probably OT but UC-Davis will be playing at NIU this coming season (December 5):

https://niuhuskies.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

[Da Coach]

Probably OT but UC-Davis will be playing at NIU this coming season (December 5):

https://niuhuskies.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

Thanks. I saw that NIU released their non-conference schedule today, but I missed the UC Davis game. I had heard Jim Les had arranged a game in the Chicago area this season (they have not released their non-con schedule yet).
And, it's not really off topic. There were a couple dozen Bradley fans at EIU in Nov., 2014 when UCD played there, so I imagine some of those folks might be interested in travelling to DeKalb since there is no Bradley game that night.

[houstonbrave]

I??™m sure there are reasons it won??™t happen yet but UC Davis would be a significant upgrade over a number of teams on our schedule

[braves16]

SIU playing Buffalo twice this season.

http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20180801f6fj0l

[tornado]

Schedule UPDATED
a few additions and game times now determined


(Events in RED are confirmed & on the calendar)

Preseason:
Wednesday September 26 - Basketball practices can begin.
Teams are allowed to begin practicing six weeks (42 days) before the date of their first scheduled game - LINK

THURSDAY October 4th, 2018 - ITOO Supper
WEDNESDAY October 17, 2018 - ISC "Smoker" at The Warehouse - 5:30-8:30pm @ 736 SW Washington St., Peoria
** Red-White scrimmage - yet to be scheduled
SATURDAY October 27, 2018 at 5pm Bid for the Braves Auction @ the Renaissance Coliseum. (Halloween Costume party) - LINK

SEASON STARTS:
Non-Conference:
Thursday November 1, 2018 at 7pm - Exhibition game against Carroll University
WEDNESDAY November 7, 2018 at 7pm - Bradley hosts UW-Parkside as the extra game of the Cancun Challenge- this is the earliest opening game ever for Bradley
Saturday November 10, 2018 at 1pm - Bradley hosts SEMO @ Carver Arena
Wednesday November 14, 2018 - Bradley hosts Jacksonville State- as part of Cancun Challenge - Time 7pm @ Carver Arena- they were one of the best teams in the OVC
Saturday November 17, 2018 - Bradley @ UIC Flames - Flames coming off 20-win season[/b]
-also - November 14-21, 2018 - Letter of Intent signing period
Tuesday November 20, 2018 - Cancun Challenge - Bradley vs. SMU in Game 1 (confirmed) @ 5pm
Wednesday November 21, 2018 - then Bradley vs. either Penn State or Wright State in game 2 @ 5 or 7:30pm
Games played @ Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya Convention Center in Cancun

Saturday November 24, 2018 at 1pm - Bradley hosts Chicago State
November 28, 2018 - Wednesday at 6pm - Bradley @ IUPUI
-SATURDAY December 1, 2018 (time to be determined) Home game - MVC/MWC Challenge- New Mexico at Bradley
Tuesday December 4, 2018 - @ 6:30pm - Bradley at University of Arkansas-Little Rock

Saturday December 15, 2019 at 7pm - Bradley hosts Eastern Illinois
Tuesday December 18, 2018 - Bradley at Georgia Southern
Saturday December 22, 2018 at 1pm - Bradley hosts Southeast Louisiana

Conference:
-18 game Conference schedule then MVC Tournament in March 2019

[Chico]

I??™m sure there are reasons it won??™t happen yet but UC Davis would be a significant upgrade over a number of teams on our schedule

Bradley played Davis in the Fieldhouse years ago. I remember Chet Walker had a great game.

[tornado]

always amazed at your memory Chico

Indeed - per the records book, Bradley has played California-Davis only once...
12/05/1960 - score was Bradley 102 - UC-Davis 65 at the Fieldhouse