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Bradley (8-2) vs. Virginia Tech (8-2)
2012 Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic | 3rd Round
Dec. 22, 2012 - 5 p.m. (PST)
Las Vegas, Nev. – Orleans Arena (7,500)

TV:  None
Radio:  1470 WMBD - Dave Snell (pbp), Chad Kleine (analyst) and Dan DiOrio (pregame)
BradleyBraves.com:  Live Audio | Live Stats
Twitter:  @BPtheBrave - #BRADvVT

Tickets:  $44, $65, $115 for all eight tournament games through the Orleans Arena Box Office (888-234-2334)

Tip-Off
Having completed a season-long, 4-game home stand Wednesday night with a 77-42 win versus Mississippi Valley State, Bradley heads to Orleans Arena for the final two rounds of the 2012 Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic … The Braves will face ACC member Virginia Tech Saturday for the third game of the day and the first-ever meeting between Bradley and the Hokies … Bradley is 12-5 all-time against the current ACC membership and 5-3 all-time against teams that were in the ACC at the time of the game … Saturday's final game features Colorado State and Portland with the two evening winners paired up for Sunday's championship game, which will follow Sunday's consolation game between the two Saturday evening losers … After going 7-25 overall last year, Bradley is shooting for its ninth pre-Christmas win for just the sixth time in program history and the first time since 2006-07 (9-3).

About Virginia Tech
A member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Virginia Polytechnic Institute is a school of 31,000 students located in Blacksburg, Va. … The Hokies returned six lettermen, including three starters, from last year's squad that finished 16-17 overall and tied for 9th in the ACC with a 4-12 league record ... Virginia Tech is  under the direction of first-year head coach James Johnson, who has served on the Hokies staff since 2007 ... The Hokies are led by senior guard Erick Green, the nation's second-leading scorer at 24.8 points per game, who also leads VT with 4.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game ... Junior forward Jarell Eddie is the team's 2nd-leading scorer (15.4 ppg) and tops the squad with 7.2 rpg.

Series History
First Meeting
vs. the ACC:  12-5 vs. current membership
Saturday's game will be Bradley's first-ever matchup against Virginia Tech … Bradley is 12-5 all-time against the current ACC membership with only Maryland, NC State and Virginia Tech yet to face the Braves … Bradley also was 1-0 against South Carolina during USC's ACC tenure, one of the five victories the Braves have in eight games against teams that were ACC members at the time of the game … Prior to an 83-48 loss at then No. 1 Duke in its last game against an ACC opponent Dec. 8, 2010, Bradley had won four straight versus the current ACC, all in tournament environments, since a 1985 Rainbow Classic loss to Clemson … Included in Bradley's recent ACC success is an 83-82 win against then Big East member Miami (Fla.) Nov. 26, 2003 in the Las Vegas Tournament at Valley High School.
Bradley vs. ACC in Tournament Play
3-26-08   at Virginia       W  96-85  CBI
11-26-03  v Miami*          W  83-82  Las Vegas
12-29-95  v Georgia Tech    W  84-82  San Jose
12-30-85  v Wake Forest     W  86-72  Hawaii
12-28-85  v Clemson         L  76-81  Hawaii
12-30-71  v North Carolina  L  69-75  New Orleans
12-12-53  v Wake Forest     W  78-74  Pittsburgh
* Miami was in its final year in the Big East

Bradley also is 19-7 all-time against future ACC members Notre Dame (11-5), Pittsburgh (5-1) and Syracuse (3-1), but the Braves are just 9-27 against one-time  Valley rival Louisville.

Back to Orleans Arena
The last time the Braves visited Orleans Arena, they left with a 72-68 victory against in-state “big brother” and then No. 20 Illinois … That game was played in the consolation of the 2009 HoopTV Las Vegas Invitational … Bradley is 2-2 all-time in MTE games in Las Vegas, also earning an 83-82 win against Miami (Fla.) in the consolation game of the 2003 Las Vegas Tournament at Valley High School.

Last Time Out
at Bradley 77, Mississippi Valley State 42 | Dec. 19, 2012 | Carver Arena
Junior forward Tyshon Pickett led the Braves in scoring (18 points) and rebounds (9 boards) for the second straight game, pacing Bradley to a 77-42 win Wednesday night … Bradley broke away from a 30-23 lead early in the second half by holding the Delta Devils to one field goal from 15:01 until 38 seconds remaining … The Braves got 14 players at least three minutes of action and no one played more than Dyricus Simms-Edwards' 29 minutes … Simms-Edwards filled his stat sheet with 9 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and held MVSU scoring leader Davon Usher (19.3 ppg) to two points on 1-for-6 shooting.

Pre-Christmas Wins
Off to an 8-2 start, Bradley already has surpassed its 2011-12 (7-25) victory total and won eight games before Christmas for just the ninth time in program history … Still with two games remaining before Christmas, the Braves have a shot to equal the program record for pre-Christmas victories … Bradley has won as many as nine games before Christmas just five times in program history and not since the 2006-07 Braves posted a 9-3 record prior to Dec. 25.
Bradley Basketball Pre-Christmas Records
Season  1965-66   10-0     20-6
1985-86    9-0     32-3
1947-48    9-0     28-3
2006-07    9-3    22-13
1950-51    9-0     32-6
2012-13    8-2      TBD
1967-68    8-1     19-9
1960-61    8-0     21-5
1948-49    8-0     27-8

For Comparison's Sake
It is not difficult to identify the reasons behind Bradley's improved play through the first 10 games of this season compared to last year:

Stat Category        2012-13  2011-12
Games Played              10       32
Points Per Game         73.5     61.1
Scoring Defense         61.7     70.5
Field Goal %            .468     .401
Field Goal % Defense    .393     .454
Rebounds Per Game       36.0     32.9
Rebound Margin          +1.0     -4.2
Assists Per Game        15.1     10.8
Turnovers Per Game      11.7     13.7
Turnover Margin         +5.3     -0.7
Steals Per Game         10.9      6.4
Paint Points Per Game   40.7     25.6
Paint Points Allowed    22.8     30.9
Points off Turnovers    20.2     13.2
Points Allowed off TO's  9.6     15.1
Bench Scoring Margin    +6.7     -4.2

Wide Margins
Bradley's 35-point margin of victory Wednesday versus Mississippi Valley State was the team's widest since an 88-49 (+39) win over Wright State Dec. 5, 1996 … The Braves now have won six games by at least 17 points and enjoy an overall +11.8 points-per-game scoring margin for the season … Bradley had not won as many as six games in a season by at least 17 points since also earning six such wide-margined victories in 2006-07 … Bradley has not won as many as seven games by at least 17 points since 2005-06 (8).

That 70's Show
Bradley has scored at least 72 points in seven of its first eight wins and is averaging 73.5 ppg through the first 10 games of the season … The Braves, which are 10-1 the last two years when scoring at least 70 points, reached that plateau just four times during the entire 2011-12 season.

Getting Defensive
Bradley has opened the Las Vegas Classic by holding its first two opponents to no more than 43 points … The Braves beat Georgia Southern, 62-43, Monday night and followed with a 77-42 win against Mississippi Valley State Wednesday … The Braves had not held consecutive opponents to fewer than 50 points since Dec. 17 and Dec. 21, 2005 … Bradley currently is allowing 61.7 points per game on 39.3 percent opponent shooting … During last year's 7-25 season, the Braves surrendered 70.5 points per game on 45.4 percent field goal shooting … The defensive scoring average is Bradley's best since allowing 61.2 ppg in 1998-99.

Spreading the Wealth
Bradley was one of five teams in the nation boasting as many as six players averaging 9.0 points per game before Jake Eastman dropped down to 8.5 ppg after Wednesday's 4-point performance … Bradley has had as many as six players average at least 9.0 ppg for a season only one time in program history, the 1959-60 NIT championship campaign:  Chet Walker (21.7 ppg), Dan Smith (14.0), Al Saunders (13.1), Bobby Joe Mason (12.6 in 18 games), Mack Herndon (10.4 in 10 games) and Mike Owens (9.6) … The Braves have not had five players average 9.0 ppg since 1964-65:  Eddie Jackson (17.6 ppg), Ernie Thompson (16.5), Tom Campbell (13.1), Ron Martin (11.9) and Alex McNutt (11.8).

It's Warm Inside
Bradley is shooting 53.2 percent (238-447) from inside the arc and the Braves are averaging 40.7 points per game in the paint … Bradley's 2-point field goal percentage (.532) was tied for 39th nationally through Dec. 19 … The Braves have outscored their opponents in the paint in each of their eight wins and boast an overall 407-228 scoring advantage in the paint … Bradley is averaging a +17.9 points-per-game scoring advantage in the paint.

Defending the Paint
Bradley is allowing the opposition only 22.8 ppg in the paint and opponents are shooting just 41.3 percent (147-356) from inside the arc.

Defensive Activity
Bradley's defense is forcing 17.0 turnovers per game … Through Wednesday's action, Bradley leads The Valley and ranks eighth nationally by averaging 10.90 steals per game … Bradley boasts a 221-145 (+76) advantage in defensive deflections through 10 games … The defensive activity has allowed the Braves an 202-96 (+106) advantage in points off turnovers … Virginia Tech averages only 11.4 turnovers per game.

Ball Control
While Bradley's defense has been turning over the opposition with success, the Braves are averaging only 11.7 turnovers per game … Through games of Dec. 19, Bradley ranked second nationally with a 0.93 steals/turnover ratio (VCU was first at 0.98) … Bradley ranked 289th last season with a 0.79 assists-to-turnover ratio, but the Braves have improved that ratio to 1.29 this year, which was tied for 29th nationally through games of Dec. 19 … Bradley has committed fewer than 10 turnovers three times this season, including a season-low five turnovers Monday versus Georgia Southern.
National Steals-To-Turnover Ratio
Rk.  School     Ratio  Steals  TO's
1.   VCU         0.98    133    136
2.   Bradley     0.93    109    117
3.   Louisville  0.92    131    142
4.   Arkansas    0.89     87     98
5.   Temple      0.86     94    109

El Hombre
Senior guard Dyricus Simms-Edwards ranks seventh nationally by averaging 3.20 steals per game through games of Dec. 19 … Many of Simms-Edwards' 32 steals to date have happened by simply ripping the ball away from the player he has been guarding, a play described as an “hombre play” by head coach Geno Ford … Simms-Edwards currently is on pace for 102 steals this season, which would eclipse the school (83) and Valley (96) single-season records … Simms-Edwards has committed only 14 turnovers during his 31.4 mpg.
MVC Single-Season Steals Top 10
   102*  Dyricus Simms-Edwards, BU  2012-13
1.  96   Paul Pressey, Tulsa        1980-81
2.  94   Bryan Mullins, SIU         2005-06
3.  92   Nate Green, INS            1999-00
    92   Darren Brooks, SIU         2004-05
5.  85   Larry Bird, INS            1978-79
6.  83   Willie Scott, BU           1982-83
7.  82   Hersey Hawkins, BU         1987-88
    82   Arnold Bernard, MoSt       1990-91
9.  80   Kevin Ault, MoSt           1998-99
    80   Ryan Sears, CU             1999-00
    80   Andy Woodley, UNI          2000-01
* based on 3.20 steals per game for 32 games

Steals-To-Turnover
Not only does Dyricus Simms-Edwards rank seventh nationally with 3.20 steals per game, but he also ranks fourth nationally by averaging 2.29 steals per turnover … Simms-Edwards boasts 32 steals against just 14 turnovers while playing 31.4 minutes per game, easily the best ratio among Bradley players since steal and turnover records were routinely kept starting in 1980-81 … Senior forward Jake Eastman also makes the list of best steals-to-turnover ratio at 1.38 through this season's first 10 games … The last Brave to play at least 10 minutes per game with more steals than turnovers was Chris Roberts in 2009-10 (47 steals, 44 turnovers).
Bradley Single-Season Steals-to-Turnover
1.  2.29  D. Simms-Edwards  32-14  2012-13
2.  1.67  Danny Adams       25-15  2006-07
3.  1.38  Jake Eastman      18-13  2012-13
    1.38  Greg Jones         11-8  1987-88
5.  1.21  Bobby Ford        29-24  1980-81
6.  1.07  Chris Roberts     47-44  2009-10
7.  1.01  Eric Roberson     70-69  1999-00

1,000-Point Pace
Senior guard Dyricus Simms-Edwards is Bradley's active career scoring leader with 916 career points … Averaging 9.2 points per game this year, Simms-Edwards currently is on pace to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau Jan. 23 at Evansville … Junior guard Walt Lemon, Jr. enters Saturday's game with 731 career points … Currently averaging a team-best 13.0 ppg, Lemon is on pace to join the 1,000-Point Club in the regular-season finale March 2 at Missouri State.

Big Media Numbers
Dave Snell is in his 34th season as the radio Voice of the Braves and has participated in 1,026 Bradley Basketball game broadcasts, all in succession, on 1470 WMBD since taking over play-by-play duties for the 1979-80 season … Peoria Journal Star beat writer Dave Reynolds has covered 688 consecutive Bradley games since taking over the beat for the start of the 1990-91 season.

Looking Ahead
The Braves will play their final non-conference tune-up Sunday, taking on either Colorado State or Portland in the final round of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic at Orleans Arena … Bradley has never played either team … Following this weekend's tournament, the Braves will open the Missouri Valley Conference 18-game, double round-robin schedule Dec. 29 at home versus Drake.