Bradley

[Jonny2TheP]

Alright, so on to playing the Bradley Braves- two teams from Illinois traveling all the way to south Florida to play a basketball game. Got to love it.

I have not seen a single second of a Bradley game this year, but this is a good team. I'm surprised they are only favored by 2.5 to be honest. They made a run in the MVC tourney last year, won it to get an NCAA bid, and played Michigan State really tough in a 2 vs.15 game, but fell 76-65. They have a few key pieces back from that team- including Elijah Childs and Darrell Brown.

On the current team, it appears they can really spread it around on offense as they have FIVE different guys averaging in double figure points through the first five games. And they have a sixth guy who averages 8.2 points per game. They also have some good size inside with a 6 foot 11 center (Koch Bar).

We've had a few common opponents as they beat both Radford and Norolk State relatively easily- by 9 and 12 points respectively. We all know how we fared in those games.

It's going to take a good effort to win this one. Bradley looks to have several guys that can contribute, and coming off of an NCAA bid, they know how to win games. If I were a betting man and not an NU fan, I'd truly be all over that Bradley -2.5 number. Hope I'm wrong and we come out and surprise like we did against Providence

Anyone else know anything about Bradley or seen them play this year?

 

[GatoLouco]

Know nothing other than they are supposed to be a pretty decent team. Probably fair to think most people believe them to be favorites against us.

Hope we don’t get embarrassed.

Hope they don’t do zone as I get the sense we are awful tacking a 2-3

 

[Styre]

Kenpom has Bradley ranked 117, slightly worse than NU (113) and slightly better than Radford (124). For what that's worth in November.

 

[Jeffrey Cat]

Alright, so on to playing the Bradley Braves- two teams from Illinois traveling all the way to south Florida to play a basketball game. Got to love it.

I have not seen a single second of a Bradley game this year, but this is a good team. I'm surprised they are only favored by 2.5 to be honest. They made a run in the MVC tourney last year, won it to get an NCAA bid, and played Michigan State really tough in a 2 vs.15 game, but fell 76-65. They have a few key pieces back from that team- including Elijah Childs and Darrell Brown.

On the current team, it appears they can really spread it around on offense as they have FIVE different guys averaging in double figure points through the first five games. And they have a sixth guy who averages 8.2 points per game. They also have some good size inside with a 6 foot 11 center (Koch Bar).

We've had a few common opponents as they beat both Radford and Norolk State relatively easily- by 9 and 12 points respectively. We all know how we fared in those games.

It's going to take a good effort to win this one. Bradley looks to have several guys that can contribute, and coming off of an NCAA bid, they know how to win games. If I were a betting man and not an NU fan, I'd truly be all over that Bradley -2.5 number. Hope I'm wrong and we come out and surprise like we did against Providence

Anyone else know anything about Bradley or seen them play this year?

I don’t know a lot about Bradley’s team, but I find it interesting that after all these years we are playing them and we have to go to Ft. Myers to make it happen. We are living down here half the year but I can’t go to the game because it’s the late game and we have a plane to catch in the morning. The Naples Southwest Florida NU alumni club is really pushing the game.

I went to Bradley my freshman year and I have long thought this would be a great game to play every year. They would be a good draw up in Evanston and the Peoria crowd would love a Big Ten team like NU. Bradley has been trying to schedule Illinois for a long time but the Illini want no part of it. I mentioned this to Carmody at one of those pre season event several years ago and of course he brushed me off as only he could do in his own abrasive manner. To me it’s a natural and I would be there if they were playing the early game.

 

[willycat]

I don’t know a lot about Bradley’s team, but I find it interesting that after all these years we are playing them and we have to go to Ft. Myers to make it happen. We are living down here half the year but I can’t go to the game because it’s the late game and we have a plane to catch in the morning. The Naples Southwest Florida NU alumni club is really pushing the game.

I went to Bradley my freshman year and I have long thought this would be a great game to play every year. They would be a good draw up in Evanston and the Peoria crowd would love a Big Ten team like NU. Bradley has been trying to schedule Illinois for a long time but the Illini want no part of it. I mentioned this to Carmody at one of those pre season event several years ago and of course he brushed me off as only he could do in his own abrasive manner. To me it’s a natural and I would be there if they were playing the early game.

Agree and should also play Marquette.

 

[Medill90]

I don’t know a lot about Bradley’s team, but I find it interesting that after all these years we are playing them and we have to go to Ft. Myers to make it happen. We are living down here half the year but I can’t go to the game because it’s the late game and we have a plane to catch in the morning. The Naples Southwest Florida NU alumni club is really pushing the game.

I went to Bradley my freshman year and I have long thought this would be a great game to play every year. They would be a good draw up in Evanston and the Peoria crowd would love a Big Ten team like NU. Bradley has been trying to schedule Illinois for a long time but the Illini want no part of it. I mentioned this to Carmody at one of those pre season event several years ago and of course he brushed me off as only he could do in his own abrasive manner. To me it’s a natural and I would be there if they were playing the early game.

Completely agree.

The issue with Bradley is that if you agree to a three year series there's always that danger they'll good. They still draw the occasional four star recruit out of CPS and the school has a bball culture.

 

[rpm912]

BU alum (former NU season ticket holder) I've watched every Bradley game this year. Still working in a few new pieces this season and looking for a defensive stopper on the perimeter. The team is more athletic than they have been in years. Consistency has been the issue on offense and defense. At times we've looked like a top 25 team. Other times it looks like the 4-5 win a year days. Good luck!

This should be a good game. It all depends on what BU team shows up.

 

[Jeffrey Cat]

Agree and should also play Marquette.

Thanks Willy. I’m a firm believer in playing your natural rivals and if your good enough you go to the tournament. I also think people wouldn’t mind the donation if they were buying seats for good games versus the Merrimack or Mississippi Valley’s of the world. I know you have to play some of those games but there are plenty of schools nearby that are good draws.

This is my first year of not having season tickets after having them for 30 years of good and bad basketball and I frankly miss the games. I’ll go to see the FGCU Screaming Eagles down here, and they have a natural draw of old midwestern basketball fans but it’s not the same. I’ll stub hub it when I’m in town.

 

[Catreporter]

I think the last time we played Bradley was in the one year Chicago4 tourney held at McGaw in the late 80s. Dick Versace was the BU coach and Rich Falk coached the Cats, who pulled off an upset. Bradley also was the opponent that opened the new Welsh-Ryan in late '84(?). Bradley does have a good basketball tradition, although not lately, which makes if all the more amazing that I believe NU is 7-1 against them over the years.

 

[Jonny2TheP]

If I were a betting man and not an NU fan, I'd truly be all over that Bradley -2.5 number

There’s a reason I’m not a betting man.

 

[Titanium999]

Alright, so on to playing the Bradley Braves- two teams from Illinois traveling all the way to south Florida to play a basketball game. Got to love it.

I have not seen a single second of a Bradley game this year, but this is a good team. I'm surprised they are only favored by 2.5 to be honest. They made a run in the MVC tourney last year, won it to get an NCAA bid, and played Michigan State really tough in a 2 vs.15 game, but fell 76-65. They have a few key pieces back from that team- including Elijah Childs and Darrell Brown.

On the current team, it appears they can really spread it around on offense as they have FIVE different guys averaging in double figure points through the first five games. And they have a sixth guy who averages 8.2 points per game. They also have some good size inside with a 6 foot 11 center (Koch Bar).

We've had a few common opponents as they beat both Radford and Norolk State relatively easily- by 9 and 12 points respectively. We all know how we fared in those games.

It's going to take a good effort to win this one. Bradley looks to have several guys that can contribute, and coming off of an NCAA bid, they know how to win games. If I were a betting man and not an NU fan, I'd truly be all over that Bradley -2.5 number. Hope I'm wrong and we come out and surprise like we did against Providence

Anyone else know anything about Bradley or seen them play this year?

We smoked em!

 

[hdhntr1]

There’s a reason I’m not a betting man.

Saved yourself a few bucks on that one

 

[chicagocatfan24]

I talked to UIC's (old) AD last winter and they tried to put together a Chicago tourney. UIC, DePaul, NU and Loyala and I think he mentioned Chicago St. even. NU wanted nothing to do with it

 

[Catreporter]

I think NU sees themselves as a national school and the Chicago recruiting market isn't very fertile for us for a variety of reasons.