PEORIA, Ill. -- As the Bradley men's basketball team prepares for its first-round game versus Providence (18-12) in the 2007 MasterCard National Invitation Tournament, the athletic department is planning several promotions for the game Wednesday night versus the Friars.
Bradley University students are reminded the athletic department will sponsor a pregame party beginning at 4:45 Wednesday afternoon at the Michel Student Center. For $5 at the door, Bradley University students with a valid ID will receive a game ticket, bus transportation to Carver Arena, a special red t-shirt and dinner (nacho/taco bar). The Braves Club and Bradley Alumni Association also will be sponsoring a pregame party from 5 to 7 p.m. at a yet-to-be-determined site.
After conducting two successful “Red-Out” promotions during the regular season, Bradley is sponsoring its first “White-Out” of the year Wednesday night. Thanks to the sponsorship of Methodist Medical Center, Prairie Home Alliance and Wingate Properties, special white t-shirts will be available at Carver Arena Wednesday night. Fans simply will need to present their NIT ticket at designated locations throughout Carver Arena to receive their t-shirts.
The following plan has been devised for NIT ticket sales:
1) Ticket prices will begin at $1 for Bradley University students with valid ID and would increase to $9-12-18-25-30, based on location.
2) Bradley's 2006-07 season-ticket holders will be allowed to claim their seats at the Robertson Fieldhouse Box Office Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Season tickets that are not purchased by closing time Tuesday night will become available to the general public Wednesday morning. The ticket office staff asks season-ticket holders to please present a valid ID when purchasing their NIT tickets.
3) Those fans who received parking passes throughout the regular-season will receive their same parking priviliges during the NIT. Those who parked in the A Lot will receive new passes when they pick up their season-tickets, while those who have B Lot priviliges will continue to use their regular-season passes.
4) The general public will be allowed to purchase available seats throughout the arena at the Carver Arena Box Office or through TicketMaster beginning Monday morning. The Carver Arena Box Office opens daily at 10 a.m.
5) Bradley students may purchase their tickets at Robertson Fieldhouse throughout the week or at the pregame party Wednesday evening at the Michel Student Center.
Having earned a postseason bid for the second consecutive season, Bradley is making its 21st appearance in the NIT, second-most in tournament history to the 27 appearances by St. John's. Bradley also is second all-time with four NIT championships (1957, 1960, 1964 and 1982) and fourth with 25 NIT victories. Providence also owns a proud NIT history. The Friars are making their 17th NIT appearance, boasting two titles (1961 and 1963) and ranking third all-time with 30 NIT victories. The Braves are 3-0 all-time against Providence, including an 88-72 win in the championship game of the 1960 NIT at Madison Square Garden.
Including a 3-0 record against Providence, Bradley owns an 85-97 all-time record against the current Big East Conference 16-team membership. The Braves have won five straight against the current Big East membership, including a 78-58 season-opening win against DePaul at Carver Arena and a 101-72 neutral-site win against Rutgers Nov. 24 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill. In addition to three straight wins against DePaul, Bradley's fifth win in the current Big East streak was the 72-66 triumph against Pittsburgh in the second round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament.
In the three-game series against Providence began with a 57-55 win Dec. 14, 1959 at Robertson Fieldhouse and most recenlty included an 84-52 win Dec. 29, 1978 in New Orleans.
The winner of the Bradley-Providence game will face the winner of the Mississippi State-Mississippi Valley State contest. Mississippi State (18-12) is the top seed in the bracket and if the Bulldogs win, they would host the second-round game March 17 in Starkville, Miss.
