Game 30 ? Drake (17-13) at Bradley (16-13) ? Feb. 28, 2009 ? 7:05 p.m. ? Peoria, Ill. ? Carver Arena
Bradley Hosts Drake in Saturday's Regular-Season Finale
PEORIA, Ill. ? Four Bradley seniors ? David Collins, Brian Lavin, Sam Singh and Theron Wilson -- will play their final regular-season home games Saturday night when the Braves (16-13) host Missouri Valley Conference rival Drake (17-13, 7-10 MVC) at a sold-out Carver Arena. With a win, Bradley will finish alone in fourth-place in the league standings, but entering the game, the Braves know they are guaranteed a spot on the second quarterfinal game for the fourth and fifth seeds in next week's State Farm MVC Tournament at Scottrade Center. Everyone in attendance Saturday night will receive a Bradley Basketball t-shirt, and although the game is officially sold out, a limited number of student tickets and a block of tickets for the Boy Scouts still remain.
Game Information
TV: None
Radio: 1470 WMBD (Dave Snell, Chuck Buescher and Joe Stowell)
Video Stream: BradleyBraves.com
Live Stats: BradleyBraves.com
Tickets: Sold Out
Series: Bradley leads 74-52
Last: Drake, 68-54, Feb. 7, 2009 in Des Moines
Bradley Braves
2008-09 Record: 16-13
Missouri Valley: 9-8
Head Coach: Jim Les (Bradley '86)
Career: 121-103 (7th year)
at Bradley: Same
Website: www.BradleyBraves.com
Drake Bulldogs
2008-09 Record: 17-13
Missouri Valley: 7-10
Head Coach: Mark Phelps (Old Dominion '96)
Career: 17-13 (1st year)
at Drake: Same
Website: www.godrakebulldogs.com
Starting Five
? Four Bradley seniors -- David Collins, Brian Lavin, Sam Singh and Theron Wilson -- will play their final regular-season home games Saturday night when the Braves host Drake in a 7:05 p.m. contest at Carver Arena.
? Bradley enters Saturday's game knowing it will play in next Friday's second quarterfinal game at the State Farm MVC Tournament as either the 4 or 5 seed.
? Bradley will finish the regular-season alone in fourth place in the league standings with a win Saturday, but a loss could drop the Braves into a tie for fourth and could make them the No. 5 seed next week.
? Drake can tie for fifth, but the Bulldogs are locked into one of Thursday's two play-in games.
? Bradley needs an attendance total of at least 11,128 for Saturday's game to boost the season home average to 10,000 for the third time in program history.
Bradley Star Watch
Theron Wilson ? Sr. ? F ? Topeka, Kan.
? The only player in The Valley to rank among the league's top five in scoring (13.7 ppg, fifth), rebounding (7.1 rpg, fourth) and steals (1.8 spg, third).
? Needs four points to become the only Valley player this season to reach 400 points (396), 200 rebounds (205), 50 assists (52) and 50 steals (52).
? Leads The Valley by averaging 7.1 free throw attempts per game and is eighth nationally with 206 free throw attempts.
? Recorded his fifth double-double of the season Feb. 11 at Creighton (15 points, 11 rebounds).
? Has scored in double-figures in 25 of Bradley's 29 games, including a team season-high 26 points Feb. 14 versus Evansville.
? Leads The Valley by averaging 1.9 steals in league play.
? With 52 steals, Wilson is in position to join Mitchell Anderson (1979, 1981) as the only front-court players in school history to lead Bradley in steals for a single season.
105th Season
? Now in its 105th men's basketball season, Bradley is 26th in NCAA Division I history with 1,532 wins.
? Bradley played its first men's basketball game Jan. 1, 1903 defeating a YMCA program known as the Invincibles, 12-8.
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.
Style of Play
? 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 sixth nationally with 866 3-pointers the last three years and finish among the two highest-scoring teams in The Valley 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.
New-Look Braves
? While returning seven lettermen from the 2007-08 squad, Bradley is working six newcomers and a redshirt freshman into the lineup this season.
? Bradley entered the season with only two scholarship players boasting more than one year of experience in the program -- fifth-year senior center Sam Singh and junior guard Andrew Warren, both of whom have missed games this season due to injury.
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 Steve Robinson led Tulsa (1997) and Florida State (1998) to NCAA Tourney wins.
Graduate Players
? For the fourth consecutive year, Bradley's roster features 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.
Injury Bug Bites Yet Again
? For the third consecutive year, the injury bug has taken a big bite out of the Bradley lineup.
? Junior guard Andrew Warren, the team's top returning scorer (13.2 ppg in 2007-08), will not play this season due to a stress fracture in his right foot.
? Sophomore center Will Egolf, who was making his third career start, suffered a torn ACL in his right knee with 10:02 remaining Nov. 29 versus East Tennessee State and underwent season-ending surgery Dec. 18.
? Senior center Sam Singh suffered a broken nose Dec. 14 and missed the next two games after undergoing corrective surgery Dec. 17.
? The injury losses left the Braves with just three returning scholarship players during Singh's absence and Singh is now the only scholarship player with as many as two full seasons of experience in the program.
? Junior guard Dodie Dunson, the team's third-leading scorer at 10.7 ppg, injured his shooting hand toward the end of Saturday's game at Loyola and played Wednesday with a padded wrap on the hand.
Newcomer Impact
? With junior guard Andrew Warren (foot) and sophomore forward Will Egolf (knee) unavailable, Bradley's rotation now features six newcomers and four returning players.
? The six newcomers -- Dodie Dunson (27.9 mpg), Chris Roberts (24.8), Eddren McCain (24.6), Darian Norris (12.3), Taylor Brown (11.7) and Anthony Thompson (4.6) -- have combined for 2,973 of the team's 5,800 total minutes played -- 51.3 percent.
? The six rookies also combine to average 31.9 points per game, compared to 33.9 ppg by the four returning players in the current rotation.
Arch Madness Seeding Scenarios
? Bradley will be the No. 4 seed for next week's State Farm MVC Tournament if the Braves beat Drake Saturday night or if Wichita State wins at Southern Illinois.
? Bradley will be the No. 5 seed for next week's tournament only if the Braves lose to Drake, Wichita State loses at Southern Illinois and Evansville wins at UNI.
? Bradley's quarterfinal opponent next week will be either Evansville, Wichita State or Southern Illinois and there is a seemingless endless list of scenarios that will determine which of those three will play the Braves.
? The Valley will conduct a tournament teleconference with the schools at 10:30 Saturday night to review the final standings and postseason seedings and a final bracket will be released shortly thereafter.
About Drake
? The defending Missouri Valley Conference champion returned seven lettermen, but only two starters, from last year's squad that went 28-5 overall.
? Under the direction of first-year head coach Mark Phelps, Drake started well by winning four of its first five Valley games to improve to 13-4 overall.
? The Bulldogs, however, are 4-9 in their last 13 games and are coming off a 56-55 home loss to Southern Illinois Wednesdya night.
? Junior guard Josh Young is The Valley's third-leading scorer at 15.4 ppg.
? Senior forward Jonathan Cox is averaging 12.1 ppg and is the league's top rebounder at 8.3 rpg.
? Drake's field goal percentage (.419-.419) and 3-point percentage (.350-.349) are nearly identical to its opponents, but the Bulldogs have shot more than 100 percentage points better (.757-.650) from the free throw line and have outscored their opponents by 178 points (455-277) from the stripe.
Bradley-Drake Series
? Saturday's game will be the 127th meeting in the all-time series between Bradley and Drake, which dates back to a 31-30 Bulldogs victory in a non-conference affair Dec. 19, 1942 at Peoria Woodruff High School.
? Bradley owns a 74-52 lead in the all-time series against Drake, including a 44-17 record in home games against the Bulldogs.
? Bradley is 21-6 (.778) all-time at Carver Arena against Drake.
BU/DU Tied To Hall Of Famer
? Bradley and Drake are linked to one of Sunday's inductees into the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame.
? Curtis Stuckey, who played basketball at both Drake and Bradley, will be inducted into the GPSHOF Sunday afternoon at the Peoria Civic Center.
? A graduate of Peoria Manual High School, Stuckey began his career at Drake, but returned home and scored 1,248 points in his two-year Bradley career to finish as the school's all-time leader with a 24.5 ppg career scoring average.
Valley's Two Winningest
? Saturday's game matches the two teams with the most league wins in Missouri Valley Conference history.
? Bradley is second all-time with 500 Valley wins in 57 years of league membership.
? Drake is the all-time league leader with 512 Valley wins in 97 years of league membership.
Winning Record at Stake
? Bradley can guarantee a final winning record this year with a victory Saturday against Drake.
? A win would move the Braves to 17-13 with only a postseason games remaining.
? The Braves have won at least 21 games in each of the three previous seasons and are shooting for a fourth straight winning season for the first time since a six-year run from 1993-94 through 1998-99.
Recapping The First Meeting
Drake 68, Bradley 54 ? Feb. 7 ? Des Moines, IA
? Drake guard Josh Young scored a game-high 18 points and the Bulldogs rode an 18-5 first-half-ending scoring run to a 68-54 victory in the first meeting between the two teams Feb. 7 at the Drake Knapp Center.
? Junior guard Dodie Dunson was Bradley's only double-digit scorer with 14 points.
? Senior forward Theron Wilson suffered early foul trouble and finished with just eight points in 20 minutes.
? Bradley had committed a total of just 11, 5 and 10 turnovers in the three previous games, but committed 12 first-half turnovers in the first half en route to a 30-20 deficit at the break.
? The Braves got no closer than eight points in the second half as Drake shot 58.8 percent (10-17) from the floor and 75.0 percent (15-20) from the free throw line in the second half.
? Box score on page 31 of the attached PDF version of this pregame notes packet.
Carver Arena - Home of the Braves
? The Peoria Civic Center's Carver Arena has served as the Bradley men's basketball program's home arena since the start of the 1982-83 season.
? Now in its 27th year playing in downtown Peoria, Bradley will enter Saturday's regular-season finale with a 294-94 (.758) record at Carver Arena.
? The Braves own a 166-64 (.722) Valley record at Carver Arena.
? The Braves are 10-3 at home so far this year.
? Bradley is 15-4 all-time when playing in front of a home crowd in excess of 11,000, including 2-0 this year.
All-Time Bradley Home Crowds of 11,000
1. 11,597 #9 Michigan State 12-07-07 L, 61-66
2. 11,592 Illinois State 1-06-09 W, 56-52
3. 11,444 Illinois State 1-24-07 W, 88-67
4. 11,430 #15 Illinois 11-22-99 L, 62-72
5. 11,421 Illinois State 1-23-08 W, 76-75
6. 11,335 Creighton 2-16-08 W, 87-59
7. 11,320 Indiana State 1-08-00 W, 62-51
8. 11,309 Illinois State 2-21-01 W, 64-52
9. 11,207 Illinois State 2-22-97 W, 69-64
10. 11,164 Illinois State 2-01-06 W, 73-44
11. 11,161 Southern Illinois 1-17-04 L, 62-72
12. 11,117 VCU 12-22-07 L, 64-79
13. 11,080 Wichita State 1-20-07 W, 78-63
11,080 DePaul 11-11-06 W, 78-58
15. 11,079 Southern Illinois 2-26-00 W, 71-63
16. 11,033 Indiana State 1-24-09 W, 68-56
17. 11,030 Illinois State (OT) 2-10-99 W, 74-70
18. 11,007 Indiana State 2-24-07 W, 74-58
19. 11,006 Indiana State 2-17-01 W, 62-60
Exclusive Club
? Already a member of one of the most exclusive, single-season statistical clubs in Bradley Basketball history, senior forward Theron Wilson needs just four points to become a two-time member of the club.
? Those four points will allow Wilson to reach a quartet of milestone numbers for the second consecutive season: at least 400 points (396), 200 rebounds (205), 50 assists (52) and 50 steals (52).
? Two of Bradley's all-time greats -- Hersey Hawkins and Mitchell Anderson -- are the only two Braves to reach all four marks in the same season since Bradley began tracking steals in 1978-79.
? Wilson will join Hawkins as the only Braves to twice hit the marks.
? The only time a Brave has reached all four marks completely during the regular season was in 1987-88 when Hawkins went on to become the national player of the year.
Player, Year GP 400 Pts 200 Reb 50 A 50 S
Theron Wilson, 2008-09 29 396 205 52 52
Theron Wilson, 2007-08 37 434 229 54 50
Hersey Hawkins, 1987-88 31 1125 241 111 82
Hersey Hawkins, 1985-86 35 656 200 104 66
Mitchell Anderson, 1981-82 36 591 275 76 50
Playing the Percentages
? The Braves are 14-1 (.933) this season when they shoot at a better percentage than their opponents and 2-12 (.143) when colder from the floor.
? Along those shooting percentage lines, Bradley is 7-0 when shooting at least 50 percent from the floor and 9-0 when limiting the opposition to less than 40 percent.
First Half Momentum
? Bradley is 14-2 (.875) this season when leading at the half and 2-11 (.154) when trailing at the break.
Surprising Trend
? Bradley is 8-6 (.571) this season when the Braves commit more turnovers than their opponents.
? The Braves are 8-7 when they win the turnover battle (7-6) or the turnovers are equal (1-1).
Defensive Magic Number Is 60
? Bradley suffered its first loss Wednesday, dropping to 8-1, when allowing 60 points or less this season.
? Bradley is 8-12 this season when allowing at least 60 points.
? Drake, meanwhile, is 15-5 when scoring at least 60 points, but 2-8 when scoring less than 60.
Offensive Magic Number Is 66
? The Braves are 10-2 this year when scoring at least 66 points and have won 14 of their last 17 overall when hitting for at least 66.
? Bradley has won six straight when scoring at least 66 points.
? Drake is 3-7 this year and has lost four straight when allowing at least 66 points.
Scoring In Threes
? Bradley is sixth nationally with 866 total treys since the start of 2006-07.
? 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.
Changing Gears
? Bradley entered the season as one of the nation's most proficient 3-point shooting teams the last two years and the Braves still rank sixth nationally with 866 3-pointers since the start of the 2006-07 campaign.
? During a 5-5 start to the season, the Braves were averaging 21.3 3-point field goal attempts per game, but were shooting just 28.6 percent from behind the arc.
? During the last 19 games, however, the Braves have become more selective with their long range shooting, averaging only 16.3 3-point attempts per game, but are connecting on 35.6 percent of those tries.
Bradley's 3-Point Shooting Breakdown
1st 10 Last 19
Record 5-5 11-8
3FGA/gm 21.3 16.3
3FGM/gm 6.1 5.8
3FG% .286 .356
FG% .412 .452
Balanced Distribution
? Bradley is getting a remarkably even distribution of shots among its top three scorers.
? Leading scorer Theron Wilson has attempted 256 field goal attempts, second to Sam Maniscalco's 257 attempts, while third-leading scorer Dodie Dunson is not far behind with 243 attempts.
? While only 22 points separate the scoring totals of Maniscalco (339) and Dunson (317), Wilson has added 206 free throw attempts, leading to 396 total points.
Bench Provides A Lift
? Although the Braves have used nine different starting lineups throughout the season, the lineup shuffle has not prevented the reserves from being contributors off the bench.
? Bradley's bench has outscored the opposition reserves by 134 points (+4.6 ppg) so far this year, 594-460.
? The Bradley bench has been particularly strong of late, winning the reserve scoring battle in nine of the last 13 games by a combined total of 283-175.
Winning The Close Games
? Despite a recent four-game slide in such games, the Braves are 6-4 in games decided by six points or less this season.
? In the last six years, Bradley is 36-22 (.621) in games decided by six points or less.
Free Throw Differential
? Bradley enters Saturday's game second in The Valley by averaging 22.9 free throw attempts per game.
? Bradley is 10-0 this year when it makes at least six more free throws than its opponent.
Leading The Parade To The Line
? Senior forward Theron Wilson continues to lead the parade to the line.
? After easily pacing the Braves with 179 free throw attempts last season (4.8 FTA/gm), Wilson already has smashed that total with 206 charity shots through 29 games (7.1 FTA/gm).
? Wilson is tied for 11th nationally with 206 free throw attempts this season.
? Wilson already has been fouled 176 times in 29 games, drawing 30 percent of the total fouls (590) committed against the Braves.
? The number of trips Wilson makes to the free throw line is a good gauge of Bradley's overall success this season: Wilson has averaged 8.9 free throw attempts in the 16 wins, compared to 4.9 attempts in the 13 losses.
Maui Jim 3-Point Challenge
? Peoria manufacturer Maui Jim is sponsoring Bradley's 3-point shooting in 2008-09, with proceeds to benefit the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research.
? For every 3-pointer the team makes throughout the season, Maui Jim will donate $10 to the Jimmy V Foundation and the company is encouraging fans to join the challenge.
? For every pledge, participants will be entered into a postseason drawing for a pair of Maui Jim Sunglasses, as well as two tickets to the 2008-09 Bradley Basketball Postseason Banquet.
? For more information and to make your pledge, visit the men's basketball page at www.BradleyBraves.com and click on the Maui Jim 3-Point Challenge graphic.
Future Braves
? Bradley signed a pair of 6-foot-8 high school players during the Early Signing Period Nov. 12.
Milos Knezevic, Henderson, Nev., Liberty H.S.
? Averaging 21.2 ppg and 9.9 rpg through 22 games.
? Averaged 14 ppg and 8 rpg as a junior
? Friends with Bradley guard Darian Norris, a freshman from Las Vegas Mojave High School.
Jordan Prosser, Eureka, Ill., Eureka H.S.
? First-team all-state in 2007-08 (Illinois 2A).
? Averaging 23.4 ppg and 12.6 rpg through 22 games.
? Averaged 19.5 ppg and 11.7 rpg as a junior.
? Recently became the all-time leading scorer in Eureka boys basketball history.
Big Media Numbers
? Now in his 30th year as the radio Voice of the Braves, Dave Snell has participated in 914 Bradley Basketball game broadcasts, all in succession, on WMBD AM 1470 since taking over play-by-play duties for the 1979-80 season.
? Snell's longtime radio sidekick, Joe Stowell has been witness to 1,520 Bradley Basketball games in his various roles as player (103, 1947-50); assistant coach (250, 1956-65); head coach (344, 1965-78); assistant athletic director (107, 1978-85); and radio analyst (716, 1985-present).
? Peoria Journal Star beat writer Dave Reynolds has covered 578 Bradley Basketball games, all in succession, since taking over the beat for the start of the 1990-91 season.
