Final score: SIU 72 Bradley 68

[Da Coach]

Bradley is now 11-11 overall and 3-6 in the MVC after their 81-73 win at Evansville on Wednesday. SIU is now 11-11 overall, and 4-5 in the MVC after their 88-73 home win over Indiana State Wednesday.

SIU schedule/results-

https://siusalukis.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=333

Main website-

https://siusalukis.com/index.aspx?path=mbball

TV: CBSSports Network
Radio: WMBD 1470 AM and 100.3 FM, and online at www.1470wmbd.com
Chat Room: http://www.chatzy.com/bradleyfans
Live stats: https://bradleybraves.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

Bradley stats- https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sit...dley_stats.pdf

MVC stats- http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/confstat.htm

MVC Standings: http://www.espn.com/mens-college-bas...ngs/_/group/18

[Bradleyfan1]

The discrepancy in first and second halfs is rediculios scoring wise. We will know alot more a week from Sunday. Keep winning and see how high we can climb. Go Braves.

[bigjimmy]

Another must win if we're to avoid the play in game. Looking forward to the Hall of Fame Ceremony at halftime which will include former golfer and former Illini Golf employee Andy Mickelson. Get er done!

[Da Coach]

Another must win if we're to avoid the play in game. Looking forward to the Hall of Fame Ceremony at halftime which will include former golfer and former Illini Golf employee Andy Mickelson. Get er done!

Pregame notes from BradleyBraves.com-

https://bradleybraves.com/news/2019/2/1/mens-basketball-braves-host-southern-illinois-on-hall-of-fame-day.aspx

And here is the description of the promotions today, including the Bradley Hall of Fame induction.
Note that there is a Braves Pregame Party starting at 11:00 am in Civic Center meeting room 400-

Saturday, Feb. 2 | 1 p.m. | vs. Southern Illinois
Game Day Luncheon: The Bradley Braves Club Game Day Luncheon celebrating the Bradley Hall of Fame Class of 2019 is on Feb. 1 at Renaissance Coliseum
Pre-Game Party: The Braves Club Pre-Game Party starts at 11 a.m. in Civic Center Meeting Room 400
Halftime: Induction ceremony for the Class of 2019 into the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame
Kaboom!'s Korner: Inflatables from Fun on the Run, including a Bounce House, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

And in addition to great BU golfer Andy Mickelson, the 2019 HOF class includes Ryan Curry (baseball), Tamara Hart (cross country/track), Luke Kreamalmeyer (soccer), and BU basketball great Daniel Ruffin who helped lead the Braves to the Sweet 16 in 2006.

[tornado]

the class also includes Jerome Robinson but he was previously honored when New Mexico played here

[Da Coach]

Ouch...We lose to an SIU team we beat in Carbondale less than 2 weeks ago.
SIU 72 Bradley 68-

https://bradleybraves.com/sidearmstats/mbball/media

I don't know what others think, but I thought it was a mistake to "go small" just because SIU did. Kavion Pippin was killing Bradley all game (he had 20 points despite playing only 23 minutes and sitting out most of the last 10 minutes). He got his 4th foul with 10:27 left in the game. Barry Hinson decided to go with 5 guards, and Bradley responded by benching their leading rebounder Koch Bar, and playing with 4 guards plus either van Bree or Childs. Bradley stayed with the small lineup the rest of the way, including when Pippin came back into the game late. I am not sure why we worry about "matching up" with a 4-5 team that we've already beaten at their place, instead of exploiting their foul trouble and forcing them them "match up" with us.

Bradley was dominating the rebounding at that point 30-19! Over the final 10 minutes, SIU erased Bradley's 10 point lead and they outrebounded Bradley 17-6 the rest of the way, scoring most of their points on 2nd chance opportunities. SIU had only ONE 2nd chance point in the first half, but had 16 in the 2nd half which lead to their win.

This loss really hurts. Bradley could have been 4-6 and pulled out of last place with Indiana State losing. Instead, Bradley drops to 3-7, will remain tied for last with the Sycamores, and suffers their 4th MVC loss at home in 5 games! Bradley has lost 4 of 5 home games and we still have to play Loyola.

The chance of Bradley pulling out of the Thursday games in St. Louis is now extremely small. Very disappointing.

[Da Coach]

Attendance was 5,968, the 2nd highest attendance game of the season (only the ISU game drew more- 7,122). That makes the total attendance for the 2018-19 season 63,138, and an average through 12 home games 5,262 per game.
The lowest average attendance season in Bradley's history (since the Armory days) was the 2016-17 season at 5,487. So Bradley needs to keep drawing a lot better like today, or this season could still set a new record for lowest average attendance in Bradley's modern history.

Year/rank/Gms..total.....avg....change
2019........12..63,138..5,262
2018 .......15..85,489..5,699 up 212 (all games at Carver)
2017 #96 15 82,318 5,487 down 466 (all games at Carver)
2016 #91 15 89,299 5,953 up 227 (all games at Carver)
2015 #94 16 91,614 5,726 down 882 (Carver average 5827)
2014 #74 17 112,335 6,608 up 51 (Carver average 6,984)
2013 #79 18 118,024 6,557 down 1,083
2012 #68 16 122,245 7,640 down 807
2011 #56 16 135,148 8,447 down 892
2010 #52 15 140,079 9,339 up 229
2009 #55 18 163,981 9,110 down 490
2008 #52 19 183,392 9,600 down 128
2007 #53 17 165,376 9,728 up 508
2006 #54 14 129,086 9,220 down 117
2005 #51 15 140,065 9,337 up 159
2004 #52 15 137,667 9,178 down 173
2003 #47 14 130,907 9,351 up 279
2002 #47 13 117,935 9,072 down 50
2001 #51 15 136,683 9,112 down 1,066
2000 #41 14 142,495 10,178 up 646
1999 #44 15 142,980 9,532 down 237
1998 #41 13 127,001 9,769 up 144
1997 #41 14 134,755 9,625 down 47
1996 #44 13 125,733 9,672 up 151
1995 #47 14 133,288 9,521 up 707
1994 #46 16 140,700 8,794 up 1,523
1993 #67 13 94,523 7,271 up 278
1992 #78 13 90,904 6,993 down 391
1991 #70 13 95,995 7,384 down 357
1990 #65 13 100,632 7,741 down 1,177
1989 #51 13 115,939 8,918 down 1,098
1988 #36 16 160,263 10,016 up 1,307
1987 #41 14 121,922 8,709 down 199
1986 #37 14 124,712 8,908 up 1,366
1985 #60 15 113,124 7,542 up 350
1984 #62 15 107,881 7,192 down 1,821
1983 #38 16 144,209 9,013 up 1,730
1982 #56 17 123,810 7,283 down 33
1981 #55 14 102,430 7,316 up 63
1980 #59 16 116,050 7,253 up 503
1979 #64 14 94,500 6,750 down 113
1978 #56 16 109,800 6,863

[Vent]

As I am only the second post game response, four hours after blowing a 10 point lead at home to a not very good basketball team, it shows how interest is fading in this years team. It wasn’t bad luck that beat us today. During the last 8 minutes, we stood around waiting for the ball to come to us after a missed shot. Meanwhile, SIU went and got the basketball after missed shots. That is athleticism, desire, and competitiveness. Those things aren’t coached. You either have it or you don’t. The fact we have players that don’t have those attributes game in game out, falls back to recruiting. And that falls on the coach. You can only sugar coat this team and the direction of this program, after four years, if you like what you see. If you’re a reserve on this .500 team and aren’t getting game minutes, you never will.

[AZ BU Fan]

Unless BU starts playing better, recruiting better, and/or coaching better, more attendance records will fall. How many BU alumni are still living (or are even alive) in the greater Peoria area to even have a reason to watch games live?

[Vent]

Attendance was 5,968, the 2nd highest attendance game of the season (only the ISU game drew more- 7,122). That makes the total attendance for the 2018-19 season 63,138, and an average through 12 home games 5,262 per game.
The lowest average attendance season in Bradley's history (since the Armory days) was the 2016-17 season at 5,487. So Bradley needs to keep drawing a lot better like today, or this season could still set a new record for lowest average attendance in Bradley's modern history.

Year/rank/Gms..total.....avg....change
2019........12..63,138..5,262
2018 .......15..85,489..5,699 up 212 (all games at Carver)
2017 #96 15 82,318 5,487 down 466 (all games at Carver)
2016 #91 15 89,299 5,953 up 227 (all games at Carver)
2015 #94 16 91,614 5,726 down 882 (Carver average 5827)
2014 #74 17 112,335 6,608 up 51 (Carver average 6,984)
2013 #79 18 118,024 6,557 down 1,083
2012 #68 16 122,245 7,640 down 807
2011 #56 16 135,148 8,447 down 892
2010 #52 15 140,079 9,339 up 229
2009 #55 18 163,981 9,110 down 490
2008 #52 19 183,392 9,600 down 128
2007 #53 17 165,376 9,728 up 508
2006 #54 14 129,086 9,220 down 117
2005 #51 15 140,065 9,337 up 159
2004 #52 15 137,667 9,178 down 173
2003 #47 14 130,907 9,351 up 279
2002 #47 13 117,935 9,072 down 50
2001 #51 15 136,683 9,112 down 1,066
2000 #41 14 142,495 10,178 up 646
1999 #44 15 142,980 9,532 down 237
1998 #41 13 127,001 9,769 up 144
1997 #41 14 134,755 9,625 down 47
1996 #44 13 125,733 9,672 up 151
1995 #47 14 133,288 9,521 up 707
1994 #46 16 140,700 8,794 up 1,523
1993 #67 13 94,523 7,271 up 278
1992 #78 13 90,904 6,993 down 391
1991 #70 13 95,995 7,384 down 357
1990 #65 13 100,632 7,741 down 1,177
1989 #51 13 115,939 8,918 down 1,098
1988 #36 16 160,263 10,016 up 1,307
1987 #41 14 121,922 8,709 down 199
1986 #37 14 124,712 8,908 up 1,366
1985 #60 15 113,124 7,542 up 350
1984 #62 15 107,881 7,192 down 1,821
1983 #38 16 144,209 9,013 up 1,730
1982 #56 17 123,810 7,283 down 33
1981 #55 14 102,430 7,316 up 63
1980 #59 16 116,050 7,253 up 503
1979 #64 14 94,500 6,750 down 113
1978 #56 16 109,800 6,863

They need to give the fans a reason to come out. Difficult to generate interest in a .500 season. Having a pathetic non conference schedule puts you behind the 8 ball going into the season.

[bigjimmy]

Just another wonderfully frustrating train wreck of a game by the most consistently inconsistent team I've followed in a long time. Not quite sure how to explain it but we are 5-10 since December 1. Too many times missing wide open shots. Too many times giving up too many point blank shots. Too many times not having enough want to. In the Mo Valley this season there's not a lot of difference between everyone. It basically comes down to getting a consistent effort and proper execution to win these games. And since December we just haven't had enough of either to succeed. I think the blame is shared by both the players and Wardle. Specific to this game letting them come right out and score the 1st 3 times down the court with little resistance can't happen. Pippen gets his 4th foul midway through the 2nd half and instead of getting more dominant inside we shrink from it. 5 times we had a chance to tie or go ahead in the game in the last 3:00 and all we did was make 1 free throw. We get the ball with :16 and it's Lundy, our 5th option on offense, who gets the ball. Inexcusable. You run a play for either Eli, who was 9-15 for the game or Nate, who was 5-10. It just didn't look like we had anything set up. Just another game in which you walk away shaking your head. 4 teams tied for 4th at 5-5, Missouri State, Valpo, SIU and UNI. Evansville is 8th at 4-6 and we bring up the rear with ISU Blue at 3-7. That's why this game was big. Instead of being out of last place, tied with Evansville and SIU(who we'd have the tiebreaker on) and just a game back of 4th, we're now 2 games behind with just 8 games left. Our margin for error is getting thinner and thinner. With where things stand right now I think we now have to finish 6-2 in order to stay out of the play in game. Can we? I'm having a harder time staying optimistic about not playing on Thursday.

[MacabreMob]

We will go 3-5 at best rest of way. 6-12 MVC record.... at best. Play-in game for sure. And.... likely will lose that. Season can't end soon enough. Obviously something wrong with players and chemistry. I don't care how at times we shine. Doesn't matter. Season is not salvageable. Best to put stock in playing players that will be here next season for player development. If it means we lose a game going with youth and lose - fine. We will still lose enough games with veteran players that won't improve the season and we will not win enough games to make a difference.