2019-20 Bradley non-conference schedule posted

[Da Coach]

https://bradleybraves.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=2522

Also announced on the Bradley Braves athletics twitter-

https://twitter.com/BradleyBraves/status/1158754951339884548

[Da Coach]

Here is the complete non-conference schedule with most of the game times-

[Mikovio]

Glad someone caught that the Bears/Packers play at noon on Dec 15, so BU plays at 4pm.

[Da Coach]

Here are last year's RPI's for the non-conference teams Bradley will play this season (home games in bold)-
Oct. 29 vs. Millikin (exhibition)
Nov. 5 at St. Joseph's- RPI 190
Nov. 9 vs. IUPUI- RPI 242
Nov. 16 vs. UIC- RPI 217
Nov. 19 vs. Norfolk State- RPI 200
Nov. 22 vs Radford- RPI 96
Nov. 25 Ft. Myers Tip-Off- Northwestern- RPI 199
Nov. 27 Ft. Myers Tip-Off- either Kansas State (RPI- 19) or Pittsburgh (RPI- 184)
Dec. 3 at Memphis- RPI 58
Dec 7 vs. North Carolina A&T- RPI 218
Dec. 10 vs. Maryville (Div. II)
Dec. 15 vs. Georgia Southern- RPI 79
Dec. 21 at Miami- RPI 155
Dec. 28 vs. Toledo- RPI 48

There are a couple cupcakes, but overall, this year's non-conference schedule is notably improved. There are 4 teams (Radford 96, Memphis 58, Ga. Southern 79, and Toledo 48 ) that were in the Top 100 RPI last year, and a possibility that it could be 5 if Bradley plays Kansas State (RPI 19). That doesn't guarantee those teams will be Top 100 teams this year, but, by comparison, Bradley only played 2 non-conference teams last year that were Top 100 RPI (Penn State RPI 91 and Georgia Southern 79).

Plus, there are a total 8 non-conference home games this season, which when combined with 9 MVC home games, will give season ticket buyers a record 17 home games (18 if you throw in the exhibition game)!

[Da Coach]

Coach Wardle's comments on the schedule-

https://twitter.com/ScoutSportsDesk/status/1158763575441313792

[Da Coach]

Story from BradleyBraves.com-
https://bradleybraves.com/news/2019/...-schedule.aspx

Note that the combined winning percentage (last year's winning pct.) for the teams on this season's non-conference schedule (.562) is the best since the 2002-2003 schedule (.564)

[Da Coach]

I've seen it reported elsewhere that Maryville is Division III. That is incorrect. Maryville University is a Division II school in suburban St. Louis. They are a member of one of the best Division II basketball conferences in the country, the Great Lakes Valley Conference, which includes Illinois schools UI-Springfield, McKendree, Quincy, and Lewis University among others.
Bradley played Maryville one previous time on December 17, 2015 in Carver Arena. Coach Wardle's first Bradley team won 61-53.

https://bradleybraves.com/news/2015/12/18/210592245.aspx

[Mikovio]

And according to JaMir Price, Division II is just as good as Division I.

I like the schedule, good balance if teams and not too many SOS anchors. Memphis will be a golden opportunity as they’re expected to be top 15.

[Da Coach]

And according to JaMir Price, Division II is just as good as Division I.

I like the schedule, good balance if teams and not too many SOS anchors. Memphis will be a golden opportunity as they're expected to be top 15.

Now, to be fair, that is not what he said.
Here is his exact quote from the qconline.com article:

"I know that Division I and Division II basketball is not a huge difference outside of the big crowds. The players can play, plus I can transfer now and play right away."

[Mikovio]

I'm just joking around, I hope he has a great career. Would've been cool to schedule Quincy!

[nomonoles4u]

I am happy with our non-conference schedule 8 home 3 road games could be a whole lot worse a couple of cupcakes couple of toughies. Would like to be on national TV playing top 25 but that is a long way. We can make a splash even get a dance card with that schedule. Just gotta win.
nomonoles.

[64NIT]

I notice that SE Louisiana is not on the schedule. Was last year's game a buy game or will there be a return game in a subsequent season?

Also, what was BU's RPI last year?

[Da Coach]

I notice that SE Louisiana is not on the schedule. Was last year's game a buy game or will there be a return game in a subsequent season?

Also, what was BU's RPI last year?

I do not know for sure, but I think the SE Louisiana game was a one-time buy game.
Bradley's RPI was 162 and their NET was 176.

[Mikovio]

The Ft Myers games are on FS1. It’s very conceivable Memphis will be top-10 by the time that game is played in December so that could get picked up on some ESPN channel. I would have liked to see another premier matchup like that but I know it’s easier said than done.

[Da Coach]

Miami (Ohio), one of Bradley's non-conference opponents this season, just posted their non-conference schedule-

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

https://miamiredhawks.com/news/2019/8/8/mens-basketball-announces-2019-20-non-conference-schedule.aspx

They play 3 games against MVC teams- In addition to playing Bradley on Dec. 21, they play Drake on Nov. 25 in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Fort Myers, and they play at Evansville on Dec. 7

Interestingly, their game against Drake is in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Fort Myers at 1:30 PM EDT on November 25.
That is the same day Bradley is in Fort Myers for the Fort Myers Tip-Off, and they play Northwestern that date.
The Fort Myers Tip-Off has not yet announced the times of their games, but they will probably be night games, not afternoon games.
Last year, the games on the Monday of the 2018 Fort Myers Tip-Off started at 6:30 pm EST and 9:00 pm EST, and the Wednesday games were at 5:00 pm EST and 7:30 pm EST. Although those times could be different this year, it is likely they will still be night games, since they will be televised live by FoxSports1. The major sponsors (Rocket Mortgage & Fort Myers tourism bureau) and FoxSports1 would probably want the games to be broadcast at night to reach a much wider audience.
By comparison, the games of the Gulf Coast Showcase are not broadcast for TV, but are available only by online video streaming.
Hopefully, the Fort Myers Tip-off people will post their complete schedule & times soon.

It would be nice if our coaches could watch the Drake - Miami game that is just a few miles away to scout 2 future opponents.
But they will not be able to do that. The NCAA has a rule that bans coaches and staff from in-person scouting of future opponents.
There was an attempt to overturn that rule in 2013, but it failed.

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/9412749/ncaa-falls-short-overturning-live-scouting-ban