10 most memorable shots in Bradley history (last 1/2 century)

[bradleyfan124]

January 9th, 1982. 70 degree below wind chill factor in Peoria. Bradley upsets Wichita State at the Fieldhouse ( I believe Wichita was #8 in the nation). Most memorable shots were Kerry Cook's two free throws to seal the win (Donald Reese had fouled out). Despite the bitter cold the place was packed. I drove down from Naperville (X-mas break) to see the game. One of the greatest Bradley experiences in the last 40 years for sure and those unlikely free throws were so huge.

I was at that Wichita game. Was it Al Caruso that hit that shot. A jumper from the free throw area

[Da Coach]

January 9th, 1982. 70 degree below wind chill factor in Peoria. Bradley upsets Wichita State at the Fieldhouse ( I believe Wichita was #8 in the nation). Most memorable shots were Kerry Cook's two free throws to seal the win (Donald Reese had fouled out). Despite the bitter cold the place was packed. I drove down from Naperville (X-mas break) to see the game. One of the greatest Bradley experiences in the last 40 years for sure and those unlikely free throws were so huge.

BRAVE82, the game you are recalling, could it have been this one?-
February 27, 1982, Bradley vs. Tulsa. It was the last regular season game of that 1981-82 season, the teams were tied for 1st place in the MVC, and it was for the MVC regular season title. Tulsa was ranked #8 in the country at that time (the announcers mention that several times). Bradley won 82-79 in overtime, thanks in part to 2 late free throws by Kerry Cook with 8 seconds left in the overtime period. Donald Reese had fouled out, as did Willie Scott. And David Thirdkill left the game with an ankle sprain in the overtime period. Thus Kerry Cook, along with freshmen Voise Winters and Willie Harris were on the court in their place. The only 2 starters left at the end were Barney Mines, and Mitchell Anderson, who was limited by recurring back spasms.
The Kerry Cook free throws are at about 4:37:40 of this video (thanks to Tommy for uploading). Click here to see-

https://youtu.be/QjHZfcJzCGc?t=16660

If anyone has the time, it's worth watching the last few minutes of regulation and the overtime of that exciting game. The announcers were Wayne Larivee and Bob Ortegal. There were numerous heroics by the Bradley players to beat a really talented Tulsa team (with Paul Pressey, Mike Anderson, Greg Stewart, Steve Harris, etc). The other thing you'll notice is how many fouls were called on minimal or almost no contact. The Ron Zetcher-lead crew really tried to make themselves the stars of that game with so many whistles down the stretch. Zetcher was noted for calling excessive offensive fouls whenever a defending player flopped backward. FWIW, the only game that Hersey Hawkins ever fouled out of was a game in which Zetcher called 5 offensive fouls against Hersey in a win at Charlotte in Hersey's senior season (Jan. 6, 198

Btw, between the two Kerry Cook free throws, the TV shows a shot of the Bradley crowd. Down in the far right lower corner of that shot is the late Ken Goldin and his wife Pat.

[bradleyfan124]

I was at that Wichita game. Was it Al Caruso that hit that shot. A jumper from the free throw area

I am taking that back. I think it may have been Jimmy Carruthers who made the shot. Not Al Caruso

[BRAVE82]

BRAVE82, the game you are recalling, could it have been this one?-
February 27, 1982, Bradley vs. Tulsa. It was the last regular season game of that 1981-82 season, the teams were tied for 1st place in the MVC, and it was for the MVC regular season title. Tulsa was ranked #8 in the country at that time (the announcers mention that several times). Bradley won 82-79 in overtime, thanks in part to 2 late free throws by Kerry Cook with 8 seconds left in the overtime period. Donald Reese had fouled out, as did Willie Scott. And David Thirdkill left the game with an ankle sprain in the overtime period. Thus Kerry Cook, along with freshmen Voise Winters and Willie Harris were on the court in their place. The only 2 starters left at the end were Barney Mines, and Mitchell Anderson, who was limited by recurring back spasms.
The Kerry Cook free throws are at about 4:37:40 of this video (thanks to Tommy for uploading). Click here to see-

https://youtu.be/QjHZfcJzCGc?t=16660

If anyone has the time, it's worth watching the last few minutes of regulation and the overtime of that exciting game. The announcers were Wayne Larivee and Bob Ortegal. There were numerous heroics by the Bradley players to beat a really talented Tulsa team (with Paul Pressey, Mike Anderson, Greg Stewart, Steve Harris, etc). The other thing you'll notice is how many fouls were called on minimal or almost no contact. The Ron Zetcher-lead crew really tried to make themselves the stars of that game with so many whistles down the stretch. Zetcher was noted for calling excessive offensive fouls whenever a defending player flopped backward. FWIW, the only game that Hersey Hawkins ever fouled out of was a game in which Zetcher called 5 offensive fouls against Hersey in a win at Charlotte in Hersey's senior season (Jan. 6, 198

Btw, between the two Kerry Cook free throws, the TV shows a shot of the Bradley crowd. Down in the far right lower corner of that shot is the late Ken Goldin and his wife Pat.

Yes! Coach you are correct, it was the Tulsa game that Kerry Cook came up big. Both the Tulsa and Wichita games were unreal to experience in person. So we beat two top 10 teams in the nation, won the MVC, and still didn't get invited to the NCAA tournament. This might have been the game where Nolan Richardson tried to go into the stands after a Bradley fan. BU fans were really razzing him at the end of the game. The Wichita game was equally emotional. That was the game with the bitter cold temps. Thanks for correcting, coach, it's been 40 years!

[BRAVE82]

For any of you younger Bradley fans... please watch Tommy's YouTube video that Coach linked. This was Bradley basketball at it's best. When the Braves could go toe to toe with the best teams in the nation. And NOBODY had a more intimidating home court advantage. Thank you coach Versace for the memories. By the way... had the honor of meeting Barney Mines awhile back. He has some great stories and would be glad to share if somebody in Peoria media would reach out to him.

[BRAVE82]

[Da Coach]

Barney Mines was one of the unsung heroes of that 1982 team. His accomplishments were overshadowed by the three great players, Mitchell Anderson, David Thirdkill, and Donald Reese. Barney averaged 8.4 ppg, which was 4th on the team behind those other three. But I believe he started every game and usually defended the best guards on opposing teams like MVC POY Paul Pressey (Tulsa), Aubrey Sherrod (Wichita State), and others.
In the following season (1982-83), after Anderson, Thirdkill, and Reese graduated, Barney improved his scoring average to 15.1 ppg, which trailed only Voise Winters' 15.2 ppg and his FG% was 51.7%, which is great for a shooting guard. And Barney was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in the 1983 NBA Draft. He was picked in the 4th round, 87th overall, but never played in an NBA game. Ironically, the head coach of the New Jersey Nets at that time was another Bradley grad, Stan Albeck, 3 years before he would become the Bradley coach in 1986!

Barney is currently a professor of Sociology at Joliet Junior College, and he is the assistant coach of their men's basketball team.

https://jjcwolves.com/staff-directory/barney-mines/109

https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1725031

One of my memories of Barney is this game-

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/02/13/Barney-Mines-tipped-in-a-rebound-with-five-seconds/8476382424400/

Bradley would not have had a chance to win the MVC that 1982-83 season but for a tip-in of a missed Donald Reese shot with 5 seconds left by Barney in the game at Illinois State that gave Bradley a come-from-behind 48-47 win.

And one other item I came across while searching for Barney Mines. He was the star on the New Lenox Providence Catholic HS team that beat Havana HS 46-33 for the 1979 IHSA Class A state championship. That was when there were only 2 classes, A (small schools) and AA (large schools).

https://twitter.com/ProviBasketball/status/1244994513854246914

One other irony... one of the stars on the undefeated (31-0) Havana team in that 1979 state final was Tracy Trimpe, the older brother of future Bradley player Trevor Trimpe.

[PhiAlphaBoy]

Barney Mines would be the best player on today's Bradley teams and would dominate the current Valley.

[afan]

I was at the bradley/ Dayton game when Hersey tied the game with a half court shot. He only scored like 9 points in the 1st half. Went on to score 32 in the second half. I went over and spoke to Versace after the game. Super nice guy.

[yoda]

I was at the bradley/ Dayton game when Hersey tied the game with a half court shot. He only scored like 9 points in the 1st half. Went on to score 32 in the second half. I went over and spoke to Versace after the game. Super nice guy.

Here's the UPI press story from that game, but they claim Hersey's game tying shot that sent it to overtime was a "6-foot jumper"
when it was obviously closer to a 35-foot jumper. Hawkins scored 25, Les had 24. Attendance was 11,371.
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/01...6476505976400/


The NY Times had this coverage of that game:
"Jan. 13 at Dayton: Bradley 79, Dayton 77 (OT) - Taking the ball out of bounds with one second to play and Dayton ahead by 2, Les throws to Hawkins beyond top of key. Hawkins hits turnaround jumper to tie and Bradley wins in overtime."
https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/02/s...ose-calls.html

[Da Coach]

The Hersey shot at the end of regulation to tie Dayton (on 1/13/86) and send the game to overtime is on this YouTube video (video starts a few seconds before the shot)-

https://youtu.be/YjMrwfuBGBw?t=556

The miracle length of the court pass from Jim Les to Hersey to beat Drake (on 1/11/86) in the game just prior to the Dayton game is here (video starts a few seconds before the shot)-

https://youtu.be/YjMrwfuBGBw?t=445

[PhiAlphaBoy]

I love how much Les' voice changed after becoming a coach and yelling all these years.

[Dub]

I love how much Les' voice changed after becoming a coach and yelling all these years.

In this video his voice (and frankly his appearance as well) bear a strong resemblance to Marty McFly from Back to the Future.

[yoda]

Here's a Bradley history quiz-

Name the top 6 among players who played at Bradley
in NBA career scoring average....
1-
2-
3-
4-
5-
?

Answer- mouse over below
1- Chet the Jet 18.3ppg
2- Danny Granger 16.8ppg
3- Hersey 14.7ppg
4- Walt Lemon, Jr. 9.4ppg
5- Shellie McMillon 9.1ppg
6- Anthony Parker 9.1ppg

[sam hannam]

I'm surprised that Roger Phegley isn't on that list.