Final score: Bradley 65 ISU 59

[elmerb]

Great win! Henry is becoming this seasons Donte Thomas. He's physical, athletic, and a whole lotta desire. He's going to be fun to watch the next 3 years. Here's a question....a month ago people was ready to get rid of Wardle....you still think we should? lol, lol. lol.
Go Braves

[Chibearsfan10125]

Huge win! So happy for the team. I did not think we’d be at 7-7 after we started 0-5. I’m starting to think we may not be playing Thursday night after all.

Also, did anyone else catch Wardle all but confirming Pittman is leaving after the season on the post game show? He was talking about how happy he was for the seniors, mentioning Lundy, DLO, Luuk and Pete, then added “that Pitt is graduating this spring too, so it was good for all of them”.” I know he redshirted last year and this is his fourth year, so graduating isn’t a surprise, but I don’t think coach would’ve mentioned him with the seniors if he was planning on having him back next season.

[Go_Braves]

Great win! Henry is becoming this seasons Donte Thomas. He's physical, athletic, and a whole lotta desire. He's going to be fun to watch the next 3 years. Here's a question....a month ago people was ready to get rid of Wardle....you still think we should? lol, lol. lol.
Go Braves

I totally agree - what a transformation by Ja'Shon. And what a feat of Coaching these past few weeks by Wardle and his coaching staff. These last 2 weeks of the season and then Arch Madness are going to be exciting. Arch Madness is any team's to win and Bradley is now showing it is one of the stronger contenders.

[Classof77]

Great team win tonight!!! Wish I would have gone instead of watching on TV.

[Da_Braves21]

Man What a Game! We were there and the energy was high and great turnout for Bradley Fans. They played well and Henry is a beast! I still think we should keep him coming off the bench but he should be getting 20-25 minutes a game. The flopping and ridiculousness from some of the ISU players was annoying but hey a win is a win and a big win too!

[Da_Braves21]

Huge win! So happy for the team. I did not think we’d be at 7-7 after we started 0-5. I’m starting to think we may not be playing Thursday night after all.

Also, did anyone else catch Wardle all but confirming Pittman is leaving after the season on the post game show? He was talking about how happy he was for the seniors, mentioning Lundy, DLO, Luuk and Pete, then added “that Pitt is graduating this spring too, so it was good for all of them”.” I know he redshirted last year and this is his fourth year, so graduating isn’t a surprise, but I don’t think coach would’ve mentioned him with the seniors if he was planning on having him back next season.

Yeah Pittman just never came to be anything and honestly this is good because now we have another recruit spot open. Bradley should try to get a big man with the last recruiting spot. Pittman is a great team player and is better off just graduating. He is in a similar spot like Alex Foster from a couple years ago.

[AZ BU Fan]

Congratulations Braves and Coach Wardle!

So impressive to turn things around. Team apparently stayed together and believed in their Coach, their system and themselves!

Enjoy the rest of the season, and NEVER forget how you turned things around. Don't take any team/game for granted. Succeed when 3's aren't falling with defense, moving the ball, taking good shots, rebounding and making free throws!

[tornado]

I think our upper bowl fans should have come down and stormed the court - woulda been an instant classic... and probably been #1 on ESPN


btw - this comment from Dan Muller -
"Muller noted how critical that stretch was for his team since leading scorer Milik Yarbrough had twisted his ankle
in the final minutes of the first half and had to sit out the rest of the period.
Yarbrough came back in the second half and would finish with 20 points.
“It was huge,” Muller said. “Without a doubt, when Milik went down, it hurt us. He couldn’t move as well once he got hurt.”

so... with the MVC Tournament just 2 1/2 weeks away - Muller admits he went with Yarbrough while injured (played 31 minutes) - even tho "he couldn't move as well.." He's worn those guys into the ground - I guess we'll see if it hurts them come MVC Tourney time.

[Bradleyfan1]

Dan had to play MY. It was a huge game and he knew he was going to be run out of his own gym if he didnt. Fayne is a stud and should be all mvc first team. IMO. Of course the remaining games count but at this point. Id put him on. Evans played great d on Brown. The birds need Key scoring. Brown stayed patient and got what he could. What a great year. If we wernt hurting so bad after a 0 and 5 start , this wouldn't feel as good. Thanks Srs and congrats.

[Go_Braves]

A interesting and funny and true story...

So I am a huge Bradley fan and Alum who lives in LIttleton, CO. > and I knew that the ISU / Bradley game was Saturday night - and I really really wanted to watch the game but I had a dinner engagement that I could not break. My dinner engagement suggested that we go to Chili's in Littleton.... They set us at a table and I looked up and "low and behold" the Bradley / ISU game just started minutes ago and Bradley was loosing. So I situated myself so that I could periodically glance at the screen and minutes later near the end of the first half - someone changed the channel. So I got the waiter and shared that I was hoping to be able to watch the game and he got a little irritated with me and said he'll see what he can do - and I saw him talking to someone and this bigger and older man came walking up to me and I explained that "I am a Bradley Alum and was watching the Bradley / ISU game on their TV set and shared I was hoping that the station could be turned back to the Bradley game. It turned out that this guy was the Chili's manager and he smiled at me and stated " My Dad is a Bradley Alum " and both of us just laughed - This Chili's manger was born and raised in Peoria and went to the Bradley games at the old Robertson Memorial Field House and his dad went to Bradley when Chet Walker was playing. WHAT ARE THE ODDS.... Needless to say he turned the TV station back to the game. I just shook my head and sighed thinking again - What are the Odds...

[Dub]

Upon reflection: That goes on my short list of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had following sports. What could be better than being a part of a rowdy group of engaged upper bowl fans watching your underdog team defeat your rival on their own court? That was priceless for my family and I. Way to go BU!

[Da Coach]

btw - this comment from Dan Muller -
"Muller noted how critical that stretch was for his team since leading scorer Milik Yarbrough had twisted his ankle
in the final minutes of the first half and had to sit out the rest of the period.
Yarbrough came back in the second half and would finish with 20 points.
“It was huge,” Muller said. “Without a doubt, when Milik went down, it hurt us. He couldn’t move as well once he got hurt.”

so... with the MVC Tournament just 2 1/2 weeks away - Muller admits he went with Yarbrough while injured (played 31 minutes) - even tho "he couldn't move as well.." He's worn those guys into the ground - I guess we'll see if it hurts them come MVC Tourney time.

Yeah, and Yarbrough's injury didn't appear to make any difference IMO. Overall, Muller was very complimentary to Bradley in his postgame comments, so that I appreciate. But he might have given Bradley's defense a bit more credit instead of blaming Yarbrough's injury like he did. And to suggest Yarbrough would have produced more if not for the injury, I am not buying it, He missed only the final 2:12 of the first half after he left the floor with the ankle injury. And he came right back and started the 2nd half, played 18 of the 20 minutes, and was their leading scorer and rebounder in the 2nd half! His totals of 20 points and 8 rebounds in the game were significantly more production than his MVC season averages (15.9 ppg & 6.3 rpg).

And his playing time in the game was 31 minutes, which is also a couple minutes per game more than his season average. It is even more playing time than his average in MVC games.

[tornado]

A interesting and funny and true story...

So I am a huge Bradley fan and Alum who lives in LIttleton, CO. > and I knew that the ISU / Bradley game was Saturday night - and I really really wanted to watch the game but I had a dinner engagement that I could not break. My dinner engagement suggested that we go to Chili's in Littleton.... They set us at a table and I looked up and "low and behold" the Bradley / ISU game just started minutes ago and Bradley was loosing. So I situated myself so that I could periodically glance at the screen and minutes later near the end of the first half - someone changed the channel. So I got the waiter and shared that I was hoping to be able to watch the game and he got a little irritated with me and said he'll see what he can do - and I saw him talking to someone and this bigger and older man came walking up to me and I explained that "I am a Bradley Alum and was watching the Bradley / ISU game on their TV set and shared I was hoping that the station could be turned back to the Bradley game. It turned out that this guy was the Chili's manager and he smiled at me and stated " My Dad is a Bradley Alum " and both of us just laughed - This Chili's manger was born and raised in Peoria and went to the Bradley games at the old Robertson Memorial Field House and his dad went to Bradley when Chet Walker was playing. WHAT ARE THE ODDS.... Needless to say he turned the TV station back to the game. I just shook my head and sighed thinking again - What are the Odds...

that is a GREAT story - thanks for sharing

Yeah, and injury didn't appear to make any difference IMO. ..

Muller sure thought it did and said so in his post-game interviews...
Bradley instantly went on an 8-0 tear to close out the 1st half with Yarbrough going back to the lockerroom -
then in the 2nd half - despite the injury Yarbrough came back & played 18 minutes the 2nd half trying to stem the tide - with Fayne playing all 20 minutes and Evans & Copeland 19 minutes each.

And one more thing - re-watch this play where Ja'Shon steals the ball and goes the length of the court for a slam dunk -
I think it clearly shows Yarbrough was a step slow and barely elevated when he jumped to block the shot

https://twitter.com/bradleyumbb/status/1096959590716055557

[Braves2006]

Anytime you can beat the Deadbirds in Normal to sweep the season is cause for celebration. Great game amidst a season of inconsistency. One thing that IS becoming consistent is this teams hustle, heart and determination. Go get em in Des Moines boys.

[Da Coach]

So if Yarbrough hadn't turned his ankle mildly he would have gone off for 30 or 40 points and carried ISU to victory? I am sure most ISU fans want to believe that, but it is just a convenient excuse. He played more minutes and had more points and rebounds than he averages. Coaches always have excuses, so no surprise Muller used that one, since he's certainly not going to admit any fault of his own. I noticed absolutely no difference after he came back, so I am not buying that excuse. I'll bet he plays 30-35 minutes in their next game.