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**BUfan17** · 12-08-2019, 11:50 PM

We need to put this game away early and free up some playing time for our freshmen. I'm hoping Ville(or someone else) can finally go off from the 3, we need another shooter come conference play.

**Classof77** · 12-09-2019, 05:38 PM

I don't think we should be playing a Division 2 team this far into the season. But that won't stop me from being there.

**Tommy** · 12-10-2019, 07:18 AM

Originally posted by Classof77 View Post

I don't think we should be playing a Division 2 team this far into the season. But that won't stop me from being there.

That's a great point. While UNI is playing Colorado, we're playing another DII school. Great point that I didn't even think of before reading your post!

**Mikovio** · 12-10-2019, 08:53 AM

Well in fairness it's the first and only D2 team on our regular season schedule. And you can argue there's some benefit to playing a D2 instead of a really bad D1 because the D2 doesn't hurt your RPI/NET.

I think all of us would want better teams coming in but it's easier said than done. The marquee games that have come here have owed to connections, like Michigan and us having a Beilein on staff, Illinois and Kruger/Mo. Ole Miss for some reason came to Bradley and ISU without any seeming connection but they're the exception. I'm sure Wardle has reached out to Marquette and been told no.

Should we do more buy games at a Memphis or Colorado? I kinda wish we had another shot at a marquee win because I think an average shooting day and we go to the wire at Memphis. Gotta hope Kansas State has a good year.

**BUfan39** · 12-10-2019, 10:44 AM

Originally posted by Mikovio View Post

Well in fairness it's the first and only D2 team on our regular season schedule. And you can argue there's some benefit to playing a D2 instead of a really bad D1 because the D2 doesn't hurt your RPI/NET.

I think all of us would want better teams coming in but it's easier said than done. The marquee games that have come here have owed to connections, like Michigan and us having a Beilein on staff, Illinois and Kruger/Mo. Ole Miss for some reason came to Bradley and ISU without any seeming connection but they're the exception. I'm sure Wardle has reached out to Marquette and been told no.

Should we do more buy games at a Memphis or Colorado? I kinda wish we had another shot at a marquee win because I think an average shooting day and we go to the wire at Memphis. Gotta hope Kansas State has a good year.

I wish Toledo hadn't given the Notre Dame game away because that also has potential to be a really good win. It still does but they should be 8-1 with a win at ND. I agree that I'd rather play D2 Maryville at this point than Chicago State like we have in past years because even if you win by 40 it tanks your NET/RPI.

**Da Coach** · 12-10-2019, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by Tommy View Post

That's a great point. While UNI is playing Colorado, we're playing another DII school. Great point that I didn't even think of before reading your post!

Yes, as Mikovio said, this is the one and only non-D1 school Bradley will play this year, and most D1 schools do it every year. Some Division I schools play 2, 3, or as many as 4 non-D1 opponents in their non-conference schedule.

And though it's good to see UNI playing a solid Pac-12 team in Colorado, note that they have already played two Division 3 opponents this season. They played tiny Division III Cornell College of Iowa on Nov. 20 and beat them 88-66, and they played another small Division III school Luther College of Iowa in their last game on Dec. 2, and beat them by a ridiculous 59 point margin, 110-51. Division III is non-scholarship, meaning there are very few D3 schools that can compete with even the worst D1 schools. Otoh, Division II schools give scholarships, are not constrained by the academic hurdles that D1 schools are, and take in a lot of D1 transfers and thus many of them are as competitive as the lower half of D1 schools.

BTW, here is the Bradley pregame article-
https://bradleybraves.com/news/2019/...e-tuesday.aspx

**Tommy** · 12-10-2019, 12:19 PM

My favorite stat from the pre-game notes:
Bradley leads the Valley by allowing teams to shoot only 39.1 percent this season and 27.3 percent from 3-point range. The Braves' 3-point defense also ranks 25th nationally.

**LittleBrave** · 12-10-2019, 12:30 PM

This has to be the most meaningless game we've played in December this millenium? What is the point? Just a little friendly competition? To stay sharp?
Do the stats even count toward the final regular season stats?

**Da Coach** · 12-10-2019, 01:04 PM

Yes, it is a regular season game, and the stats count.
And we have played non-D1 opponents in December in the past. We played D2 Maryville in Coach Wardle's first season on Dec. 17, 2015. And we played D3 Eureka on Dec. 18, 2014, in Geno's final season.
There are several reasons for these games. Perhaps the most significant is that Bradley needs to fill a home schedule, and that is very difficult when few teams are willing to play here. Bradley could play "buy games" against teams like Chicago State, but is that any better? Plus, we'd have to write a check to Chicago State for $80,000 or $90,000, which is the going rate for D1 "buy games". Maryville will take half that to play us, and they will be just as challenging. And, as was mentioned, even a win against a D1 300+ RPI school drags down our RPI/NET number, and playing a D2 is not counted by the NCAA when calculating RPI/NET.

For the record, I am not in favor of playing non-D1 opponents, but as was noted, it is may be better than playing the Chicago State type opponent. Plus, Bradley added a home game to the season ticket package this season. For the first time, Bradley is playing 17 home games. That is the most they have ever played during a regular season home schedule. And there was no increase in season ticket prices. So think of it as an "extra free game" if you are a season ticket buyer.

**Dub** · 12-10-2019, 01:51 PM

Sure, I’d trade out North Carolina A&T for North Carolina, and Maryville for Maryland, but whatever. Let’s play basketball.

i think the story of this game is the strange and unfortunate fact that Antoine Pitman is back as an opponent less than one year removed from a team that he wasn’t able to earn PT in. I don’t think our guys will want to run up the score, and it could create a conflict of interests.

**BUSongwriter** · 12-10-2019, 03:09 PM

Ah, another game my wife and I will miss because of the 6 p.m. start. My guess is the crowd will be very light, though I hope I'm wrong.

And I agree with BUfan17: I hope this is the game that Ville finds his range from 3 in prime time. The rest of his game looks solid. Go Braves!

**Tommy** · 12-10-2019, 03:21 PM

Originally posted by Da Coach View Post

We played D3 Eureka on Dec. 18, 2014, in Geno's final season.

I was at that game, and it was pretty exciting to see us pull out a W in that one. Thanks Geno!

**LittleBrave** · 12-10-2019, 03:29 PM

Originally posted by Da Coach View Post

Yes, it is a regular season game, and the stats count.
And we have played non-D1 opponents in December in the past. We played D2 Maryville in Coach Wardle's first season on Dec. 17, 2015. And we played D3 Eureka on Dec. 18, 2014, in Geno's final season.
There are several reasons for these games. Perhaps the most significant is that Bradley needs to fill a home schedule, and that is very difficult when few teams are willing to play here. Bradley could play "buy games" against teams like Chicago State, but is that any better? Plus, we'd have to write a check to Chicago State for $80,000 or $90,000, which is the going rate for D1 "buy games". Maryville will take half that to play us, and they will be just as challenging. And, as was mentioned, even a win against a D1 300+ RPI school drags down our RPI/NET number, and playing a D2 is not counted by the NCAA when calculating RPI/NET.

For the record, I am not in favor of playing non-D1 opponents, but as was noted, it may be better than playing the Chicago State type opponent. Plus, Bradley added a home game to the season ticket package this season. For the first time, Bradley is playing 17 home games. That is the most they have ever played during a regular season home schedule. And there was no increase in season ticket prices. So think of it as an "extra free game" if you are a season ticket buyer.

Thanks much DC! After your response, seems like a good addition to the schedule...just not sure I want to watch the video replay on ESPN3 later tonight, but I'm a die-hard Braves fan, so never say never!

**Da Coach** · 12-10-2019, 09:01 PM

Final score
Bradley 91 Maryville 58

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Final score: Bradley 91 Maryville 58

Final score: Bradley 91 Maryville 58

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