Bradley Braves men's basketball
Bradley Braves | |||
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University | Bradley University | ||
Conference | Missouri Valley Conference | ||
Location | Peoria, IL | ||
Head coach | Brian Wardle (2nd year) | ||
Arena |
Carver Arena (Capacity: 11,442) | ||
Nickname | Braves | ||
Colors |
Red and White[1] | ||
Uniforms | |||
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NCAA Tournament runner-up | |||
1950, 1954 | |||
NCAA Tournament Final Four | |||
1950, 1954 | |||
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight | |||
1954, 1955 | |||
NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen | |||
1954, 1955, 2006 | |||
NCAA Tournament appearances | |||
1950, 1954, 1955, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1996, 2006 | |||
Conference tournament champions | |||
1980, 1988 | |||
Conference regular season champions | |||
1950, 1962, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1996 |
The Bradley Braves men's basketball team represents Bradley University, located in Peoria, Illinois, United States, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2006, reaching the "Sweet Sixteen". The Braves are currently coached by Brian Wardle.
Bradley has also appeared in the National Invitation Tournament 21 times; have an all-time NIT record of 26–18, with four titles (1957, 1960, 1964, and 1982). Until the introduction of the Vegas 16 Tournament in 2016, the program held the distinction of being invited to the initial offering of every national postseason tournament.
The Bradley Braves men's basketball team plays their home games at Carver Arena (11,442).
Post-season
NCAA Tournament results
The Braves have appeared in 8 NCAA Tournaments and have advanced to two final fours and two national championship games. Their combined record of 11–8.
Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result/Score |
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1950 | Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game | UCLA Baylor CCNY | W 73–59 W 68–66 L 68–71 | |
1954 | Round of 24 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game | Oklahoma City Colorado Oklahoma A&M Southern California La Salle | W 61–55 W 76–64 W 71–57 W 74–72 L 76–92 | |
1955 | Round of 24 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | Oklahoma City Southern Methodist Colorado | W 69–65 W 81–79 L 81–93 | |
1980 | #11 | Round of 48 | #6bTexas A&M | L 53–55 |
1986 | #7 | Round of 64 Round of 32 | #10 UTEP #2 Louisville | W 83–65 L 68–82 |
1988 | #9 | Round of 64 | #8 Auburn | L 86–90 |
1996 | #8 | Round of 64 | #9 Stanford | L 58–66 |
2006 | #13 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen | #4 Kansas #5 Pittsburgh #1 Memphis | W 77–73 W 72–66 L 64–80 |
NIT results
The Braves have appeared in 21 National Invitation Tournaments and are four-time champions (1957, 1960, 1964, and 1982). Their combined record is 25–18.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result/Score |
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1938 | Quarterfinals | Temple | L 40–53 |
1939 | Semifinals | Long Island | L 32–36 |
1947 | Quarterfinals | West Virginia | L 60–69 |
1949 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Third Place Game | NYU Western Kentucky Loyola (IL) Bowling Green | W 78–66 W 82–72 L 61–69 L 77–82 |
1950 | Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship Game | Syracuse St. John's CCNY | W 78–66 W 83–65 L 61–69 |
1957 | Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship Game | Xavier Temple Memphis State | W 116–81 W 94–66 W 84–83 |
1958 | Quarterfinals | Xavier | L 62–72 |
1959 | Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship Game | Butler NYU St. John's | W 83–77 W 59–57 L 71–76 |
1960 | Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship Game | Dayton St. Bonaventure Providence | W 78–64 W 82–71 W 88–72 |
1962 | Quarterfinals | Duquesne | L 85–88 |
1964 | Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship Game | St. Joseph's Army New Mexico | W 83–81 W 67–52 W 86–54 |
1965 | First Round | NYU | L 70–71 |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Long Island | L 77–80 |
1982 | First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four Championship Game | American Syracuse Tulane Oklahoma Purdue | W 76–65 W 95–81 W 77–61 W 84–68 W 67–58 |
1985 | First Round | Marquette | L 68–77 |
1994 | First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | Murray State Old Dominion Siena | W 66–58 W 79–75 L 62–75 |
1995 | First Round Sweet Sixteen | Eastern Michigan Canisius | W 86–85 L 53–55 |
1997 | First Round Sweet Sixteen | Drexel Connecticut | W 66–53 L 47–63 |
1999 | First Round | Butler | L 50–51 |
2001 | First Round | Detroit-Mercy | L 49–68 |
2007 | First Round Sweet Sixteen | Providence Mississippi St. | W 90–78 L 72–101 |
CBI results
The Braves have participated in one College Basketball Invitational in 2008 where they advanced to the 3–game series final. Their combined record is 4–2.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result/Score |
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2008 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals Game 1 Finals Game 2 Finals Game 3 | Cincinnati Ohio Virginia Tulsa Tulsa Tulsa | W 70–67 W 79–73 W 96–85 L 68–73 W 83–74 L 64–70 |
CIT Results
The Braves have participated in two CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournaments (CIT). In 2009 where they advanced to the championship game. Their combined record is 5–2.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result/Score |
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2009 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship | Austin Peay Oakland Pacific Old Dominion | W 81–74 W 76–75 W 59–46 L 62–66 |
2013 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | Green Bay Tulane Northern Iowa | W 75–69 W 77–72 L 77–90 |
NCIT Results
Bradley participated in the 1974 National Commissioners Invitational Tournament where they advanced to the semifinals. Their record is 1–1.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result/Score |
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1974 | First Round Semifinals | Kansas State Southern California | W 68–64 L 73–76 |
National Campus Basketball Tournament results
The Braves appeared in, and hosted, the only National Campus Basketball Tournament. Their record is 2–1.[2]
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
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1951 | Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals | Western Kentucky Wyoming Syracuse | W 75–71 W 77–63 L 75–76 |
I-74 Rivalry
The I-74 Rivalry (also known as The War on I-74) is an annual rivalry game between the Illinois State and Bradley University.[3]
Notable players
- Danny Granger
- Hersey Hawkins
- Jim Les
- Bobby Joe Mason
- Shellie McMillon
- Gene Melchiorre
- Patrick O'Bryant
- Anthony Parker
- Roger Phegley
- David Thirdkill
- Paul Unruh
- Chet Walker