Bradley Hosts Lewis in the First of Two Preseason Exhibitions
Exhibition #1 ? Lewis Flyers at Bradley Braves ? Monday, Nov. 3, 2008 ? 7:05 p.m. ? Carver Arena
TV: None
Radio: 1470 WMBD (Dave Snell, Chuck Buescher and Joe Stowell)
Internet Video: N/A
Live Stats: BradleyBraves.com
Series: Bradley leads 3-0, including 2-0 in exhibitions
Last: Bradley won, 84-65 -- Nov. 12, 2004 at Carver Arena
Bradley Braves
2007-08 Record: 21-17
MVC: 9-9 (T5th)
Head Coach: Jim Les
Alma Mater: Bradley ?86
Career: 105-90 (7th year)
at Bradley: Same
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 7/5
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Lewis Flyers
2007-08 Record: 20-11
GLVC: 11-8 (T4th in the East)
Head Coach: Scott Trost
Alma Mater: Minnesota-Morris ?85
Career: 188-110 (12th year)
at Lewis: 35-24 (3rd year)
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 7/7
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Hot Topics
? The 2008-09 Bradley Braves will face outside competition for the first time when they host NCAA Division II Lewis Monday night in an exhibition game at Carver Arena.
? Bradley has won each of three previous all-time meetings against Lewis, including the exhibition wins in each of the last two encounters against the Flyers.
? Monday's exhibition game against the Flyers is not part of the Bradley season-ticket package.
? Instead, Bradley is selling $10 tickets, good for general admission seating in Carver Arena's lower bowl.
? Monday's exhibition game will be preceded by the inaugural “Fandemonium” experience in the Peoria Civic Center's Exhibit Hall D.
105th Season
? Bradley is prepping for its 105th men's basketball season and the Braves rank 26th in NCAA Division I history with 1,516 all-time wins.
? Bradley played its first men's basketball game Jan. 1, 1903 defeating a YMCA program known as the Invincibles, 12-8.
New-Look Braves
? While returning seven lettermen from the 2007-08 squad, Bradley will insert six newcomers and a redshirt freshman into the lineup this season.
? Bradley has only two scholarship players with more than one year of experience in the program -- fifth-year senior center Sam Singh and junior guard Andrew Warren.
Three Is The Key
? Due in large part to the loss of all-star big men Patrick O'Bryant (early entry NBA lottery pick) and Marcellus Sommerville (graduation) following the 2006 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 season, head coach Jim Les installed a “spread motion” offense modeled after the Phoenix Suns' system in 2006-07.
? Bradley has recruited to the system for three years and has assembled an athletic, skilled lineup that continues to fit with the uptempo style of play.
? The system often utilizes a four-guard attack and has helped Bradley rank third nationally with 695 3-point field goals since the start of the 2006-07 season and finish among the two highest-scoring teams in the Missouri Valley Conference each of the last two years.
? More notably, Bradley has won at least 21 games three consecutive seasons and is tied for eighth nationally with seven postseason wins the last three years.
Who Knew?
? While Bradley has often utilized a four-guard attack the last two years, the Braves do have plenty of size to throw at their competition.
? Bradley's roster features four players that stand at least 6-feet, 9-inches: senior center David Collins (7-0), redshirt freshman center Anthony Thompson (6-10), senior center Sam Singh (6-9) and sophomore forward Will Egolf (6-9).
? Bradley is the only team in The Valley boasting as many as four players standing at least 6-feet, 9-inches.
? Illinois (5), Ohio State (4) and Wisconsin (4) are the only three Big Ten teams that can make a similar claim.
Postseason Streak
? The Braves are attempting to reach the postseason for a fourth consecutive season, a streak the program has not enjoyed since 1994-97.
? In addition, Bradley has won at least one postseason game in each of the last three years, an accomplishment only previously achieved from 1949-51.
Scoring in Threes
? Bradley has ranked among the national leaders in 3-point shooting each of the last two seasons and ranks third with 695 total treys the last two years.
? Bradley became the first-ever Missouri Valley Conference team to make as many as 300 3-pointers in a season with 349 during the 2006-07 season and the Braves followed with 346 more last season.
3-Point FGM (2006-08)
Rk. Team 2006-07 2007-08 2-Yr. Total
1. VMI 442 336 778
2. Houston 330 375 705
3. BRADLEY 349 346 695
4. Davidson 328 328 656
5. Tennessee 327 312 649
6. Belmont 288 357 645
7. Butler 321 319 640
8. West Virginia 371 264 635
9. Oregon 350 279 629
10. Vanderbilt 317 303 620
Scoring Big
? A player standing no taller than 6-foot-5 has led Bradley in scoring in 52 consecutive games, a streak dating back to Jan. 20, 2007 when 6-foot-8 Zach Andrews paced the Braves with 21 points versus Wichita State.
Player Height Scoring Leader
Tyrone Cole-Scott 5-foot-10 Once
Jeremy Crouch 6-foot-5 20 times
Will Franklin 6-foot-0 5 times
Sam Maniscalco 6-foot-0 Once
Daniel Ruffin 5-foot-10 13 times
J.J. Tauai 6-foot-3 Once
Andrew Warren 6-foot-5 9 times
Theron Wilson 6-foot-5 5 times
Unique Staff Makeup
? Bradley's coaching staff is believed to be one of just two in the country to boast two staff members with NCAA Tournament head coaching victories.
? Seventh-year head coach Jim Les led the Braves to the 2006 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, while second-year Bradley assistant Steve Merfeld coached Hampton to the second round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
? North Carolina assistant coach Steve Robinson led both Tulsa (1997) and Florida State (1998) to NCAA Tournament wins.
Graduate Players
? For the fourth consecutive year, Bradley's roster will feature a player who already owns his degree.
? Fifth-year senior center Sam Singh received his bachelor's degree in communications-public relations during commencement ceremonies May 17, 2008.
? Previously, Brandyn Heemskerk (?05), Danny Adams (?06) and Daniel Ruffin (?07) all earned their degrees before completing their eligibility the following season.
About The Flyers
? Lewis is a NCAA Division II program from Romeoville, Ill., that competes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
? The Flyers return seven lettermen, including three starters, from the 2007-08 squad that produced a 20-11 overall record and tied for fourth in the GLVC East Division.
? Former Illinois Wesleyan head coach Scott Trost is beginning his third year at the helm of the Lewis program, where he owns a 35-24 record in his first two seasons.
? The Lewis roster features a pair of NCAA Division II preseason All-Americans: senior forward Jason Genova and senior guard Brandon Dagans.
? The 6-foot-6 Genova was the team's leading scorer last season, averaging 18.0 points per game, as well as the team's top 3-pointer shooter (84 3FGM).
? The 6-foot-1 Dagans was the second-leading scorer at 16.7 ppg and led the team with 1.6 steals per game.
The Lewis Series
? Tonight's game is the fourth all-time meeting between Bradley and Lewis and the third as a preseason exhibition.
? Bradley has won each of the three previous meetings, but needed overtime to knock off the Flyers, 93-89, in a 2002 exhibition at Carver Arena.
Bradley-Lewis Series Results
Date Site W-L Score
12-13-77 Robertson Fieldhouse W 109-77
11-17-02 Carver Arena (exh.) ? OT W 93-89
12-12-04 Carver Arena (exh.) W 84-65
Exhibition History
? Bradley owns a 48-11 (.814) all-time record in exhibition games, including a perfect 17-0 mark against other collegiate programs.
? Seventh year head coach Jim Les is a perfect 17-0 in exhibition games and Bradley has won 18 in a row in the preseason since suffering a 90-87 loss to Athletes in Action Nov. 3, 2001 at Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse.
? Bradley has won nine straight preseason games at Carver Arena, where the Braves are 16-5 all-time in exhibition action.
High-Scoring Preseasons
? In his 17-game preseason history, Jim Les' teams have averaged 88.6 points and have yet to score fewer than 70 points.
? Bradley hit triple digits in both of last year's exhibition games and has scored at least 85 in five straight preseason contests.
Looking Ahead
? Bradley will complete its preseason schedule Sunday by hosting NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Platteville in a 4:05 p.m. exhibition at Carver Arena.
? The game against the Pioneers will cap a Bradley Basketball doubleheader, as the Bradley women will square off against Truman State in a 1:05 p.m. exhibition at Carver Arena.
? The Bradley men officially will open their 105th men's basketball season Nov. 14 when they host UIC in a 7:05 p.m. game at Carver Arena.
Upcoming Events
? The Bradley Basketball program will be highlighted in a pair of annual booster events before the season-opener: the Bradley Basketball Chicago Tip-Off Luncheon Nov. 4 at Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse and Bar in downtown Chicago and the Bradley Basketball Pre-Season Gala Nov. 12 at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria.
? Head coaches Jim Les and Paula Buscher will be the featured speakers at both events.
? Contact the Braves Club Office (309-677-2667) for more information on the two preseason events.
Fandemonium Debuts Monday
? The Bradley Department of Athletics will unveil a new fan-friendly activity -- Fandemonium -- prior to Monday night's exhibition opener versus Lewis.
? Fandemonium is an interactive experience that will be located in the Peoria Civic Center Exhibit Hall D Monday evening.
? Tickets for the event are $5, but will be free to those fans presenting a ticket to Monday's exhibition game (all game tickets are $10 general admission).
? Fandemonium will be divided into four quadrants: Games and Contests Zone, Methodist Family Fun Zone, Braves Interaction Zone and a Food/Drink Zone.
? Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. and the activities will begin at 5 o'clock.
? Bradley men's basketball head coach Jim Les will be available for autographs in the Braves Interaction Zone from 5-6 p.m.
