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Final score: Bradley 73 Drake 61 - Bradley is MVC Champions

A couple more points...
The 16 MVC wins ties the 1985-86 team that went 16-0 for the most MVC wins in a season by Bradley.
Bradley has won their last 10 games, while no other team in the MVC has won ore than 2 in a row.
Bradley finishes the regular season 23-8. They have the best home record in the MVC at 15-1, and the best road record in the MVC at 8-4.

And the win secures the #1 seed, which guarantees Bradley will be playing in either the NCAA Tournament, or the NIT Tournament.

Final standings
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We won the regular season but come Thursday we start a new season and we have a 0-0 record. 3-0 is the goal but it will be tough.
The top 8 teams can all play with BU or Drake so both teams will need their A game if they are going to play next Sunday.
 
There were several former Bradley players at the game...
Marcellus Sommerville, Daniel Ruffin, and Tony Bennett-

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I also saw Danny Adams (he's at a lot of games), and Bayo Akinkunle, too.
 
It amazes me every year that coach has the team improve throughout the season. Except the disastrous year with the legal issues at Missouri State, we are at our best at the end of the year.

I thought this team was in trouble a few months ago. We are so forward heavy, I thought the lack of guards who could create shots and limit turnovers would doom us. We’d be okay defensively but have to win some real rock fights. Leons seems like the obvious defensive player of the year, and I’d make Henry the sixth man of the year favorite. But the development of Hickman as a point guard and Montgomery’s all around leap forward are the two key reasons we won the title. Obviously we need Leons and Mast to come back to remain at the top, but if either Connor or Zek leave it will be devastating.

Congrats guys :-D
 
What more can you say but wow! What an ending to the regular season! It took 27 years. Now let’s finish it off with 3 wins in StLouis!
 
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How often do you get a chance to get a pic with 2 all time greats, only to blow it by closing your eyes!
 
A few other random thoughts to cap off the day:
  • I drove six hours total to attend this game today and it was worth every minute of my time.
  • I almost can't believe the environment today. I guess we can't move back to campus if we draw like that? :biggrin:
  • I love how we have so many guys who don't fear the moment. I recall discussions on here about who is our closer - the team is the closer and it could be any one of 5 guys depending upon the day - today, it was Hickman - what a dunk to give the final :!:
  • I'm really looking forward to hopefully not seeing a lot of these Drake guys anymore. I feel like Stutz in particular has been there for a decade. Really good team though...
  • So glad that in the end, the ref show didn't come back to change the game. They had two stretches (early, when J-Hen got two fouls and then after got up big in the second half) where they were just horrendous and completely changed their style of calling the game. Luckily the rest of the way they were better.
  • It's really funny that in early January people were asking if Wardle was right for the job and now some are wondering if he'd get offers from bigger schools. Crazy how much two months can change people's minds ... it was interesting in his post game how he mentioned this was something he had on his checklist as a coach as something he wanted to do in Peoria. He went on to say how much he enjoys the community. Hope that means he continues to be here for the long haul ...
  • Getting this regular season championship almost feels like whatever happens next is just a bonus. Like, if we go to Arch Madness and don't win it all, will we be disappointed? Sure, but it won't taint how amazing of a season this has been.
  • @Tommy - I got a picture with Cellus and I didn't close my eyes. :)
 
BUBraves2006 said:
A few other random thoughts to cap off the day:
[*]Getting this regular season championship almost feels like whatever happens next is just a bonus. Like, if we go to Arch Madness and don't win it all, will we be disappointed? Sure, but it won't taint how amazing of a season this has been.
[/LIST]
Click to expand...

I wasn’t sure if I’d feel the same, but after that anazing 10-game win streak to break the 27-yr drought, it’s EXACTLY how I feel too!

Arch Madness champions is incredible - especially if you win b2b…but nothing compares to winning the regular season!

Well-deserved, and this team we’ll remember for a lonnngg time - like the ‘95-96 team of Parker, Wright, Jackson, Zobrist, Funch, Klein, Burrell, etc! That was my all-time favorite group of guys, but I may now have a new favorite! The 2022-‘23 squad. What a SPECIAL group of guys, and the epitome of TEAM, driven to give their all for each other.
So proud!!!
 
Malevy Leons was credited with 3 steals in yesterday's game, and although I thought I saw at least 1 block, he was not credited with any blocks.
So he now has 50 steals and 49 blocks for the season. He needs 1 more block to reach that 50/50 level.

Go Malevy! The soon-to-be MVC Defensive Player of the Year.
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What a game. I predicted we would go 10-1 with 11 games to go. I must admit that my loss was to SIU instead of Belmont but I will take that record anyway.
Yesterday was so much fun. If this starting 5 sticks together for 1 more year then next season could be even more special.
Let's go get 3 wins in St Louis and go dancing
 
Great article today from Dave Eminian-
Here are 3 reasons to be even more excited after Bradley's historic basketball victory
https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports...fter-bradley-basketballs-big-win/69941157007/

One correction I'd like to add... Dave says this about Rienk Mast and his option to return-
Mast is set to leave the program, but has the option to return for at least one more season because of his lost COVID year.

This is not exactly true.
Rienk is an academic senior, but in terms of eligibility, he is still a junior. This is his 4th year at Bradley. But he redshirted his first year because he was recovering from an ACL tear and surgery on his knee.
Here are Rienk's complete career stats-
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/4592677/rienk-mast

stats.png

So Rienk has only played 3 seasons at Bradley. He does not need to use his "Covid year" to return next season. He is entitled to return next year for his standard 4th year of NCAA eligibility, which almost every NCAA player does.
He could then use his "Covid year" to return for a 5th year if he chose to.

Ville Tahvanainen's situation is different. He has already played 4 full seasons at Bradley. If he chooses to return to Bradley, it would have to be because of his extra Covid season.
Ville's career stats-
statss.png
 
Da Coach said:
Great article today from Dave Eminian-
Here are 3 reasons to be even more excited after Bradley's historic basketball victory
https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports...fter-bradley-basketballs-big-win/69941157007/

One correction I'd like to add... Dave says this about Rienk Mast and his option to return-
Mast is set to leave the program, but has the option to return for at least one more season because of his lost COVID year.

This is not exactly true.
Rienk is an academic senior, but in terms of eligibility, he is still a junior. This is his 4th year at Bradley. But he redshirted his first year because he was recovering from an ACL tear and surgery on his knee.
Here are Rienk's complete career stats-
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/4592677/rienk-mast

stats.png

So Rienk has only played 3 seasons at Bradley. He does not need to use his "Covid year" to return next season. He is entitled to return next year for his standard 4th year of NCAA eligibility, which almost every NCAA player does.
He could then use his "Covid year" to return for a 5th year if he chose to.

Ville Tahvanainen's situation is different. He has already played 4 full seasons at Bradley. If he chooses to return to Bradley, it would have to be because of his extra Covid season.
Ville's career stats-
statss.png
Click to expand...

Like every BU fan, I hope Mast returns. Would be amazing to have him back. Sounds like he is planning to go play pro in Europe after this season though. At least Chad kept mentioning that on the post game radio show yesterday. Really hope Mast returns though, I have never seen such a skilled big man at Bradley.
 
Some nice pics from the upper bowl!

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