MEN’S and WOMEN’S ILLINOIS CHALLENGE

[Jim]

I would like to see the Division 1 college men’s and women’s basketball programs in Illinois participate in a yearly tournament.

Obviously the details would have to be negotiated between the schools for this 3-day preconference season tournament. A tournament that would potentially have 13 Illinois colleges representing 7 conferences would be fun to watch. I believe the schools would be:
Bradley – (Missouri Valley), Chicago State – (WAC), DePaul – (Big East), Eastern Illinois – (Ohio Valley), Illinois - (Big Ten), Illinois State – (Missouri Valley), Loyola – (Missouri Valley), Northern Illinois – (MAC), Northwestern – (Big Ten), Southern Illinois – (Missouri Valley), SIUE – (Ohio Valley), UIC – (Horizon), Western Illinois – (Summit).

[Da Coach]

The D1 (for basketball) mid-major state schools would love this, but the 3 major programs, Illinois, Northwestern, and DePaul want no part of any such tournament or arrangement.

[egib52]

The D1 (for basketball) mid-major state schools would love this, but the 3 major programs, Illinois, Northwestern, and DePaul want no part of any such tournament or arrangement.

I know that by conference DePaul is considered a "major", but I cringe when I hear that because I truly think they are historically a weaker team than Bradley. They just lucked out and got pulled into the Big East, when CUSA was changing.

[Bradley3342]

Pretty much the same thing said in another thread. The large schools don’t want anything to do with playing mid majors. I remember Coach Versace claiming the bigs schools were basically like a club that never wanted to play the smaller schools. Simple philosophy. Get beat by a top 20 team and still remain a top 20 team in the polls.

[Da Coach]

After Jim Les' teams beat DePaul 3 straight times between 2004 and 2006 (see results below), the DePaul AD told Ken Kavanagh they would not schedule Bradley again. And they haven't. The 20 point blowout spanking Bradley gave DePaul in the first game of the 2006-07 season was the last time they played Bradley.
All 3 of those final games between Bradley and DePaul were one-sided, double-digit wins by Bradley
12-04-04 Bradley Won 63-53
11-19-05 Bradley Won 75-60
11-11-06 Bradley Won 78-58

So there is little chance DePaul would want to be embarrassed again.

Likewise, Northwestern has refused to schedule Bradley since Bradley beat them 11/30/85. 35 years is a long time to hold a grudge.

And Bruce Weber told Bradley essentially the same thing after Bradley beat them in the 2009 Las Vegas Invitational. Weber told Bradley not to bother calling them about future games. Weber told Bradley he was not going to schedule Bradley again.

https://bradleybraves.com/news/2009/11/29/204841463.aspx

For the record, a couple seasons after Weber left Illinois, Illinois needed one more team to fill their November, 2013 Global Sports Invitational tournament, and new head coach John Groce invited Bradley to play them. The main reason they allowed Bradley into the tournament is because it was on Illinois' home court, and they knew Bradley was a bad team and in the process of rebuilding and that it would be an easy win for them. They have not played again since them.

https://bradleybraves.com/news/2013/11/18/209313485.aspx

[Bradley3342]

Thanks DaCoach . Point made again.

[Mikovio]

I'm hoping Northwestern is the first opponent in Ft. Myers.

Expect Underwood and Wardle will be asked about playing each other at the Itoo Smoker. Maybe for the first time Underwood would have interest?

[Bradley3342]

That would be great! Hope it happens. Sounds like a great tournament. Thinking about heading there in November and then onto Houston for Thanksgiving to see some of our kids and grandchildren!

[Jim]

"Expect Underwood and Wardle will be asked about playing each other at the Itoo Smoker. Maybe for the first time Underwood would have interest?"

Are you talking about the Spaghetti Dinner? If not, tell me more about the Itoo Smoker. I did not know the U of I coach attends Bradley events.

[tornado]

The Smoker is not a Bradley event - it is a charity event put on each fall by the Independent Sports Club
They always get the Bradley head coach and the Illini head coach on a panel and the media asks questions..

you can google it or do a search here on BradleyFans for info about the past ones

[MacabreMob]

I'm hoping Northwestern is the first opponent in Ft. Myers.

Expect Underwood and Wardle will be asked about playing each other at the Itoo Smoker. Maybe for the first time Underwood would have interest?

I am guessing.... but am sure we are the 4 seed. We get Kansas State.

[MacabreMob]

I would like to see the Division 1 college men’s and women’s basketball programs in Illinois participate in a yearly tournament.

Obviously the details would have to be negotiated between the schools for this 3-day preconference season tournament. A tournament that would potentially have 13 Illinois colleges representing 7 conferences would be fun to watch. I believe the schools would be:
Bradley – (Missouri Valley), Chicago State – (WAC), DePaul – (Big East), Eastern Illinois – (Ohio Valley), Illinois - (Big Ten), Illinois State – (Missouri Valley), Loyola – (Missouri Valley), Northern Illinois – (MAC), Northwestern – (Big Ten), Southern Illinois – (Missouri Valley), SIUE – (Ohio Valley), UIC – (Horizon), Western Illinois – (Summit).

Won't happen.

Only way is for Tourney to be without Illini, NW'rn, Depaul... and I would ask to exclude Chicago State. That leaves 9 teams... so for discussion sake... I would alternate SIUc and SIUe (just for discussion sake - same school affiliation but different town) or eliminate UIC since they are an extension of the Illini.

But why the heck would we (the MVC teams) want to play everyone else unless if it doesn't benefits us? Yes - I'm taking on the arrogant stance the Illini/NW'rn/Depaul take. We don't need those games. And to boot - it would likely have a tourney of us playing each other. Something we do twice a year already and sometimes 3 times cause of conference tourney.

Only way I see this "idea" making any sense would be... hold the tourney of the bottom 8-9 field and then winner gets guarantee game at Illinois on a set date later. But even then... that stinks.

Won't happen.

[Tommy]

This discussion just re-enforces my previous argument for mid-majors to boycott the NCAA tournament and create their own. There are more mid-majors than Power 6.

[Jim]

The Smoker is not a Bradley event - it is a charity even put on each fall by the Independent Sports Club
They always get the Bradley head coach and the Illini head coach on a panel and the media asks questions..

you can google it or do a search here on BradleyFans for info about the past ones

Thanks for the information tornado. I had never heard of the Independent Sports Club. The Smoker would be an interesting event to attend.

[Jim]

After Jim Les' teams beat DePaul 3 straight times between 2004 and 2006 (see results below), the DePaul AD told Ken Kavanagh they would not schedule Bradley again. And they haven't. The 20 point blowout spanking Bradley gave DePaul in the first game of the 2006-07 season was the last time they played Bradley.
All 3 of those final games between Bradley and DePaul were one-sided, double-digit wins by Bradley
12-04-04 Bradley Won 63-53
11-19-05 Bradley Won 75-60
11-11-06 Bradley Won 78-58

So there is little chance DePaul would want to be embarrassed again.

Likewise, Northwestern has refused to schedule Bradley since Bradley beat them 11/30/85. 35 years is a long time to hold a grudge.

And Bruce Weber told Bradley essentially the same thing after Bradley beat them in the 2009 Las Vegas Invitational. Weber told Bradley not to bother calling them about future games. Weber told Bradley he was not going to schedule Bradley again.

https://bradleybraves.com/news/2009/11/29/204841463.aspx

For the record, a couple seasons after Weber left Illinois, Illinois needed one more team to fill their November, 2013 Global Sports Invitational tournament, and new head coach John Groce invited Bradley to play them. The main reason they allowed Bradley into the tournament is because it was on Illinois' home court, and they knew Bradley was a bad team and in the process of rebuilding and that it would be an easy win for them. They have not played again since them.

https://bradleybraves.com/news/2013/11/18/209313485.aspx

Thanks for the historical data Coach. I really appreciate your and toronado's willingness to share your knowledge of Bradley basketball!

If DePaul, Northwestern and Illinois would not participate this idea for a preconference tournament probably does not make sense. What's in it for them?

As a fan, I have been frustrated when I watch preconference games that are held in high school sized gyms that only attract a few hundred fans... I think a tournament like this would be well attended.