Final score: Bradley 80 SIUE 55

[Da Coach]

Funny story... Early in the 2nd half today, there was a play where Terry Roberts was double-teamed along the sideline right in front of Brian Wardle. One of the SIUE defenders clearly hacked Terry on the arm causing him to drop the ball out of bounds for a turnover. One ref, whose name is Michael Svoboda, was right there but did not call a foul. Coach Wardle was a bit upset, even though Bradley had a big lead at the time. He yelled rather loudly at the ref as the play went back down toward the SIUE end, "Mike, Mike, Mike, I don't know you, but that was a foul!". Most fans on our side heard it clearly, and there was a loud roar of laughter.

[houstonbrave]

Question- I was not in Peoria for the game but did they do something in addition to the moment of silence for Tony Barone ? It was nice that Tony’s wife was there bit did not see anything about Dick V. Any info on how he is doing ?

[Da Coach]

Question- I was not in Peoria for the game but did they do something in addition to the moment of silence for Tony Barone ? It was nice that Tony’s wife was there bit did not see anything about Dick V. Any info on how he is doing ?

For those who missed it, Bradley had a very nice pre-game tribute to former Bradley assistant coach Tony Barone just before the game. It lasted a couple minutes with a video and talk by Paul Herzog outlining Tony's lifetime coaching achievements and history with Bradley. It also included a brief moment of silence. Tony died 2 years ago. The only mention of Versace was part of the tribute that mentioned Tony served as assistant coach under Dick Versace from 1978-1985, before beginning his own head coaching career at Creighton, then Texas A&M, then the Memphis Grizzlies.

They also briefly recognized a guest at the game, former Cubs relief pitcher and MLB Hall of Famer Lee Smith, who was sitting courtside. I have no idea why he was there or why he was honored. No reason was given. To my knowledge, he has no connection to Bradley.

Dave Eminian reported about it in his column-
https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/...ue/8777694002/

As far as Dick Versace, he is now 81 and was still living in Chicago last I knew. I last heard his health was weakening and he doesn't get out much any more. But he still follows basketball.

Btw, another former Bradley assistant coach, Chuck Buescher, was at the game, but was not recognized.

And of course, former Bradley Coordinator of Player Development under Brian Wardle, Troy Pierce (now an assistant coach under Brian Barone), was there on the SIUE bench.

[Bradley3342]

For those who missed it, Bradley had a very nice pre-game tribute to former Bradley assistant coach Tony Barone just before the game. It lasted a couple minutes with a video and talk by Paul Herzog outlining Tony's lifetime coaching achievements and history with Bradley. It also included a brief moment of silence. Tony died 2 years ago. The only mention of Versace was part of the tribute that mentioned Tony served as assistant coach under Dick Versace from 1978-1985, before beginning his own head coaching career at Creighton, then Texas A&M, then the Memphis Grizzlies.

They also briefly recognized a guest at the game, former Cubs relief pitcher and MLB Hall of Famer Lee Smith, who was sitting courtside. I have no idea why he was there or why he was honored. No reason was given. To my knowledge, he has no connection to Bradley.

Dave Eminian reported about it in his column-
https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/...ue/8777694002/

As far as Dick Versace, he is now 81 and was still living in Chicago last I knew. I last heard his health was weakening and he doesn't get out much any more. But he still follows basketball.

Not sure if there was any connection to maybe SIUE but Lee and his wife were leaving the arena at the same time my grandson and I were and I asked him if he would mind having his picture taken with my grandson which he graciously said he would. Even took the time to chat it up with him a little bit also. Seemed like a class act

[Da Coach]

That's nice to hear. He and his wife did stay and watch the entire game and seemed entertained. But I am still puzzled why he was there and given an introduction.
Lee Smith was drafted as a 17-year old out of high school in Louisiana by the Cubs. He did attend Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, but I am not sure he is a graduate.
He worked his way up through the Cubs minor league system, though he never spent any time in Peoria because he made it to the major league club in 1980, five years before the Cubs became affiliated with the Peoria Chiefs in 1985. So I am not finding any connection to Bradley, Peoria, Central Illinois, or SIUE.

[Tommy]

Lee Smith is right up there with Lou Brock, Bruce Sutter, and Dennis Eckersley for the worst losses where Cubs went on to play for the hated Cardinals. I always loved Lee Smith and he has always seemed to be a classy guy, so I'm with you, Joe!
As for why he came to the game, I assume he still lives in the St. Louis area, so very possibly he knows someone on the SIU-Edwardsville team? Just a guess.

Quick takeaways from this game:
1. This team is very unselfish. It's going to be tough to defend this team with the way they share the ball as evidenced by the spread out scoring. I loved it.
2. Mast didn't get a double double, but he did finish quietly with 9 points and 9 rebounds. We definitely are better on the glass with him in there.
3. Our guards are really fast and active. Seems to be a huge upgrade from last year and they appear to be improving by the week.
4. Kent! Nuff said.
5. JaShon is still a man among boys. If he got half the calls for contact that they call him for, he'd shoot 20 FT's a game. Guy is a rock and he never lets the refs get to him.

Hate to leave out anyone as everyone had some highlights worth pointing out, but those are my quick takeaways. Would love to hear what everyone else thought.

[Bradley3342]

Lee Smith is right up there with Lou Brock, Bruce Sutter, and Dennis Eckersley for the worst losses where Cubs went on to play for the hated Cardinals. I always loved Lee Smith and he has always seemed to be a classy guy, so I'm with you, Joe!
As for why he came to the game, I assume he still lives in the St. Louis area, so very possibly he knows someone on the SIU-Edwardsville team? Just a guess.

Quick takeaways from this game:
1. This team is very unselfish. It's going to be tough to defend this team with the way they share the ball as evidenced by the spread out scoring. I loved it.
2. Mast didn't get a double double, but he did finish quietly with 9 points and 9 rebounds. We definitely are better on the glass with him in there.
3. Our guards are really fast and active. Seems to be a huge upgrade from last year and they appear to be improving by the week.
4. Kent! Nuff said.
5. JaShon is still a man among boys. If he got half the calls for contact that they call him for, he'd shoot 20 FT's a game. Guy is a rock and he never lets the refs get to him.

Hate to leave out anyone as everyone had some highlights worth pointing out, but those are my quick takeaways. Would love to hear what everyone else thought.

Ditto to everything said here! Let’s just hope we can take this show on the road now.

[JMG 76]

Pretty sure he was there with Steve Cicciarelli, who owns Pipco. He is also good friends with Fergie Jenkins.

[Dub]

Funny story... Early in the 2nd half today, there was a play where Terry Roberts was double-teamed along the sideline right in front of Brian Wardle. One of the SIUE defenders clearly hacked Terry on the arm causing him to drop the ball out of bounds for a turnover. One ref, whose name is Michael Svoboda, was right there but did not call a foul. Coach Wardle was a bit upset, even though Bradley had a big lead at the time. He yelled rather loudly at the ref as the play went back down toward the SIUE end, "Mike, Mike, Mike, I don't know you, but that was a foul!". Most fans on our side heard it clearly, and there was a loud roar of laughter.

We were down near the opposite bench and saw the tail end of that exchange as Wardle chased him down the sideline loudly exclaiming: “….. AND YOU KNOW IT. YOU KNOW IT!”