Final score: Loyola 67 Bradley 66

[wily coyote]

Mike O’Neil is the worst referee in history.

That wasn't Mike ,that was his dad Tommy who has worked many NCAA tournaments in his career. Do agree he had a very bad last minute but if we would have taken care of the first 39 minutes the last minute would not have mattered. Don't think I've ever seen coach as mad as he was with Tommy that last minute. Under normal circumstances coach probably would have been T'ed up but it's really hard to do with so much on the line and he knew he'd probably missed a couple calls in that last minute.

[bigjimmy]

For us to have a chance to repeat as Arch Madness champions we need to do a few things. When we're not efficient and strong with the ball on offense we struggle. If refs aren't going to call overly physical defense on our guy who has the ball then our guy needs to respond to that physicality. Use that aggressiveness against them. But that requires the ability to move the ball and too often we stand around until we have to force up a shot. On defense when we're engaged and digging in we are tough to score on. We need to do a better job in not giving up wide open 3's and back door layups. We're tough to beat when our effort and efficiency on both ends is over 30 minutes. We know how to win Arch Madness. Our chance for our 2nd straight NCAA tournament begins on Friday. Clean a few things up and we'll be ready to rock and roll again in St. Louis. Let's go boys! GET ER DONE!

[Lights down]

#30 pulled 11 rebounds for Loyola and some big free throws, but with OVER 8 min to play he had 4 fouls..... and finished the game! Why we didn’t take it to him and get him out is one of many frustrations.

[Tommy]

#30 pulled 11 rebounds for Loyola and some big free throws, but with OVER 8 min to play he had 4 fouls..... and finished the game! Why we didn’t take it to him and get him out is one of many frustrations.

Great observation, and I was saying the same thing throughout this game. We should have been driving right at him from that point forward.

We went on runs every time he sat out.

[patrick_o'brian]

That wasn't Mike ,that was his dad Tommy who has worked many NCAA tournaments in his career. Do agree he had a very bad last minute but if we would have taken care of the first 39 minutes the last minute would not have mattered. Don't think I've ever seen coach as mad as he was with Tommy that last minute. Under normal circumstances coach probably would have been T'ed up but it's really hard to do with so much on the line and he knew he'd probably missed a couple calls in that last minute.

You're right Wily. My fault! Tom O'Neil is the worst referee in history.

[egib52]

So I guess the rules on technical fouls are fungible. "If we're going by the letter of the law that should be a technical".

Exciting game though. Should've won it. But damn did we play our heart out.

Which play is this in reference too???

[egib52]

There was an instance late in the game when Darrell Brown forced a travel out high on Clemons. Porter Moser appeared irate and charged down toward Brian Wardle and started screaming at him. Maybe it was because the travel call came after Wardle yelled at the ref to call something, but then he seemed surprised that Moser shouted at him. Wardle just shrugged it off with a wave of his hand, but Moser stayed mad and then started yelling at the refs.
Did anyone else see this? And did the announcers on TV say anything about it?

For the record, I thought Nate also got fouled when he drove down the lane at the end, was bumped, fell, and was called for a travelling violation.

Box score-
https://bradleybraves.com/documents/...Bradley_66.pdf

I was up top, but did see Moser stomp towards Wardle and start yelling at him, but was not able to tell what it was about.

[egib52]

HUGE gap between UNI and Loyola and the rest of the conference. I’ll eat my hat if one of those teams don’t win the tournament. Braves swept by both.

Huge gap??? We were in all four games. The two UNI I games, and first Loyola game we didn't have Eli.

[egib52]

That wasn't Mike ,that was his dad Tommy who has worked many NCAA tournaments in his career. Do agree he had a very bad last minute but if we would have taken care of the first 39 minutes the last minute would not have mattered. Don't think I've ever seen coach as mad as he was with Tommy that last minute. Under normal circumstances coach probably would have been T'ed up but it's really hard to do with so much on the line and he knew he'd probably missed a couple calls in that last minute.

I agree it was good restraint by the officials because I thought for sure he was going to get a technical. However, I always believe they will take a little more at the end of the game when they know they blew some calls.

[egib52]

I listened to post game show after I got back to my car, and it was obvious Wardle was enraged. He made some vague comment, and I won't phrase it right, about having to overcome not just things in the game, but also things outside of the game. Anyone have insight into what he was referring too?

[Jim]

I thought he was referring to things outside his and the team's control ... inconsistent decisions by the referees.

[egib52]

I thought he was referring to things outside his and the team's control ... inconsistent decisions by the referees.

Maybe I misunderstood him then.

[wily coyote]

[QUOTE=egib52;n491607]

I agree it was good restraint by the officials because I thought for sure he was going to get a technical. However, I always believe they will take a little more at the end of the game when they know they blew some calls.[/QUOTe Your comment sounds like someone who is an official or once was. It takes good preventive officiating to defuse a situation where it was possible a call was missed and a T could have been called , anytime during a game not just the last minute. Don't get me wrong , if a situation merits a T by what was said or the antics a coach provides ,you have to do what you have to do. I have NEVER seen coach that mad and we were very fortunate Tommy didn't T him up.

[LittleBrave]

Tommy- please stop by my seat sometime today. I will finally bring the book!

If you have never met DaCoach in person, better do so...very friendly guy who knows his hoops.
We are blessed to have a good guy like him moderating this great site!

[LittleBrave]

HUGE gap between UNI and Loyola and the rest of the conference. I’ll eat my hat if one of those teams don’t win the tournament. Braves swept by both.

Don't agree.
Bradley is even with Loyola - some might argue BU is slightly better talent-wise (including myself).
Indy State is a young team and quite dangerous. Don't count them out!
I think the disparity between 1 and 4 is not huge in the league.