Former Bradley star Big Mike Davis passes

[Da Coach]

Mike "Big MIke" Davis, who played for Bradley from 1973-1976 has passed away at the age of 65-
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pj...;pid=194271932

Before there was Big Mike Williams in the 1980's, there was Big Mike Davis who played for Bradley from 1973-1976. He was a big kid (6'7", 240 pounds) from Peoria Manual High School who could dominate the paint for Joe Stowell's teams that also included players such as Jim Carruthers, Bobby Humbles, Roger Phegley, Greg Smith, Tom Les, and former Manual teammate Wayne McClain. As a junior, he was voted the team MVP and lead the team with an average of 16.1 ppg. As a senior in 1975-76 Big Mike averaged 20.0 ppg despite playing with a soon-to-be All American in Roger Phegley (who averaged 17.3 ppg as a sophomore that year) and Davis lead the MVC with 9.5 rebounds per game and was named 1st team All MVC.
RIP.
How many remember Big Mike Davis?

[NorthScottsdaleBrave]

My days at Bradley overlapped those of Mike Davis. Mike was highly skilled and made so many big shots for a Bradley team that would beat a nationally ranked Louisville team, that included Junior Bridgeman, Allan Murphy and Wesley Cox and fall just short against a UNLV team lead by Reggie Theus. That UNLV game still ranks with the best I've ever witnessed. While Mike was intimidating on the basketball court he could always be seen with a smile on his face while walking across campus. He was pleasant, always willing to talk to students/fans about last nights game.

RIP Big Mike. You made a lasting impression on those of us fortunate enough to spend our days on the Hilltop along with you.

[NorthScottsdaleBrave]

After many years and many games my memory is not as clear as it once was. I believe the UNLV game occurred after Mike's time at Bradley. Considering that, I believe we would have beaten The Rebels had Big Mike played in that game.

[Da Coach]

My days at Bradley overlapped those of Mike Davis. Mike was highly skilled and made so many big shots for a Bradley team that would beat a nationally ranked Louisville team, that included Junior Bridgeman....

It was Junior Bridgeman of Louisville who was named the Player of the Year in the MVC in 1975-76, but I believe if not for him, it would have gone to Big Mike Davis. He averaged 20.0 ppg and 9.5 rpg that year. I believe that only HOF'er Joe Allen, whose jersey is retired, had a higher season scoring average for a center/post player in Bradley's history. In fact, Mike Davis and Joe Allen are the only centers to lead Bradley in scoring in the modern era (post-1955).
Mike was drafted by the Kansas City Kings (now the Sacramento Kings) in the 1976 NBA Draft (8th round, #125), but never played in the NBA. He was a great player.

[Go_Braves]

I was a Senior at Bradley during the 1974-75 Season. Each season I would watch Bradley play their hearts out and always come up short against Louisville. The 74-75 Bradley team came very / extremely close to defeat # 4 Louisville on January 4, 1975 at Louisville but lost in overtime. Finally 3 weeks later - Mike Davis and the Braves "finally" defeated # 2 Louisville 65 - 59 at Robertson Memorial. I'll never forget that my "new" wife and I could not get seats in the student section so somehow we got seats in the upper rafters on the other side. And before the game we were sitting next to some Louisville fans and they asked me "Does it Get Loud Here" - Double LOL - For those at this game - does anyone ever remember a time when Robertson Memorial was louder? During my time as a student I never have witnessed the students ever rushing the floor like they did after this game.

My Sincere and Deepest Sympathies to the Family and Friends of Mike Davis. He is definitely - Once a Brave - Always A Brave - Who created some of the Bradley Basketball "magic".

[Tommy]

Great post, Go_Braves.
Loud is an understatement. I remember my dad taking me to games there as a kid. What an exciting atmosphere for a kid that was. I love the Civic Center, but it’s not quite the same.

[Go_Braves]

Great post, Go_Braves.
Loud is an understatement. I remember my dad taking me to games there as a kid. What an exciting atmosphere for a kid that was. I love the Civic Center, but it’s not quite the same.

So true Tommy - I as so many others are so glad to have many incredible memories of attending Bradley games at Robertson Memorial. Today's Bradley's students may never understand that it actually took a while for your hearing to come back after you leave a game and never understand what it means to say the lights were swaying above the court due to the cheering and overall noise. Oscar Robertson whose #1 Cincinnati teams never won there said "Good" when he heard that Robertson Memorial was being torn down. Besides the attached article - many other sports writers wrote articles calling Robertson Memorial a "True Snake Pit" for any opposing teams. For such a simple basketball stadium (two airplane hangers put together) - it was amazing, magical and like being inside a drum that just kept on booming.

Robertson Memorial Snake Pitt.JPG