2013-14 Bradley Basketball Game Notes
Game 1 | Jacksonville State at Bradley | Global Sports Invitational
The Bradley men's basketball team will open its 110th season Friday when the Braves host Jacksonville State in the first round of the Global Sports Invitational at 7 p.m. at Carver Arena.
Game Details
Season Opener
• Bradley Basketball will open its 110th season Friday by hosting Jacksonville State in the first round of the Global Sports Invitational.
• Friday's game is the earliest season-opener in Bradley history.
• The Braves will start the 2013-14 season with a flourish, playing five games in the season's first 10 days, nearly one-sixth of the complete regular-season schedule and almost 40 percent of the non-conference slate.
• Including its participation in the Summer of Thunder Classic in Nassau, Bahamas in August, Bradley completed its extended preseason with a 5-1 record.
• Bradley's roster includes seven eligible first-year Braves.
• Bradley has won its last 15 season-opening home games since suffering an 83-49 loss to Utah in the 1992-93 season-opener, and Bradley is 17-1 in season-openers played at Carver Arena.
Series History
First Meeting
• Friday's game is the first-ever men's basketball contest between Bradley and Jacksonville State.
• The Braves are opening the season against an Ohio Valley Conference opponent for the second consecutive year, however, following last season's 76-53 win against Eastern Illinois at Carver Arena.
• Tennessee Tech is the only team among the six schools in the OVC East division Bradley has faced on the hardwood.
• The Braves have played all six teams in the OVC West division with a 27-16 all-time record.
• Third-year Bradley head coach Geno Ford is 5-1 all-time against the OVC, including 3-0 with the Braves.
Year Three of The Ford Era
• The 2013-14 campaign represents the third year of the Geno Ford coaching era at Bradley.
• As the Braves begin Ford's third season, 12 of the 15 players on the roster are his recruits.
• In Ford's previous third year as a head coach, he guided Kent State to a 25-12 record and third-round appearance in the NIT in 2010-11 before landing the Bradley job.
110th Season
• Bradley is preparing for its 110th all-time men's basketball season.
• The Braves will open their 110th campaign with a 1590-1083 (.595) all-time record.
• Bradley's 1,590 all-time wins rank 26th among all NCAA Division I teams, one more than Connecticut (1,589) and six more than Villanova (1,584).
• Missouri State begins this season second in The Valley and 29th nationally with 1,575 all-time wins.
For Openers
• As Bradley prepares to start its 110th season Friday night, the Braves are 78-31 (.716) all-time in season-openers.
• Bradley is 69-8 (.896) in season-openers that have been played at home, including a 16-1 (.941) record in season-openers at Carver Arena.
• The Braves are working on a three-year, season-opening win streak and Bradley has won 15 consecutive season-openers played at Carver Arena, dating to an 83-49 loss to Utah Dec. 5, 1992.
In-Season Tourney History
• Including a 2-2 record in last year's Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic, Bradley is 61-61 (.500) all-time in regular-season tournament play.
• Bradley is 19-3 (.864) all-time in regular-season tournament home games, including 18-2 (.900) at Carver Arena.
• By playing in the 2013 Global Sports Invitational, the Braves are competing in an exempt, multi-team event (MTE) for the eighth consecutive season.
• Bradley is 17-11 (.607) in its last seven multi-team events, including 11-1 (.917) in its MTE home games.
Preseason Recap
5-1 Overall, 2-0 at Home
• Bradley completed an extended preseason exhibition schedule with a 5-1 record, including a 2-0 mark in the two traditional preseason home exhibitions.
• Senior guard Walt Lemon, Jr. paced the Braves in the exhibition games by averaging 21.7 ppg, including 35.5 ppg in the two home games with the new officiating guidelines enforced.
• While Lemon made 48-of-80 (.600) field goal attempts, including 44-of-64 (.688) from inside the 3-point arc, the rest of the Bradley roster shot just 132-325 (.406) from the field during the 6-game preseason.
• Bradley outrebounded the six opponents by 5.7 rpg and the Braves forced 18.2 turnovers/gm.
Opening Flourish
• Bradley is opening the 2013-14 season by playing five games in just 10 days.
• By the time Bradley completes its Nov. 17 game against Illinois, the Braves already will have played roughly one-sixth (5-of-31) of its regular-season schedule and nearly 40 percent (5-of-13, .385) of its non-conference slate.
• The Braves will return to action by hosting Alabama State in the second round of the Global Sports Invitational Sunday at 4 p.m. on campus at Renaissance Coliseum.
• Bradley will host Central Michigan Tuesday night at Carver Arena in a game that is not part of the GSI, then will resume the tourney schedule by hosting Chicago State Nov. 15 at Carver Arena.
Upcoming Promotions
Friday, Nov. 8 • Jacksonville State
• Friday's 110th season-opener will be a President's Night Out
and Bradley University freshmen will receive free Bradley Tumblers at the game.
Sunday, Nov. 10 • Alabama State
• Coliseum 4-Packs: 4 game tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 drinks for $50 ($12.50/each)
• Halftime Baby Race: Contact the marketing/promotions staff to enter your baby in the halftime race by emailing busportsmarketing@fsmail.bradley.edu.
Tuesday, Nov. 12 • Central Michigan
• Military Appreciation Night: Members of the military will receive free admission to the game and immediate family members may purchase tickets at the group rate (tickets must be purchased in advance at the Bradley Athletics Ticket Office in Renaissance Coliseum).
Friday, Nov. 15 • Chicago State
• Bradley Doubleheader: Men's basketball tickets will be good for the Bradley women's basketball game versus Stony Brook that immediately will follow.
• Social Media Savings: Fans can purchase tickets at the group rates ($4 or $8) by showing they “Like” the Bradley Athletics Facebook page or “Follow” the @BradleyBraves Twitter account (tickets must be purchased in advance at the Bradley Athletics Ticket Office in Renaissance Coliseum).
Big Media Numbers
• Dave Snell has served as the radio Voice of the Braves the last 34 season and has participated in 1,050 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 713 consecutive Bradley games since taking over the beat for the start of the 1990-91 season.
• In his 38th season, public address announcer Paul Herzog has been at the mic for 542 Bradley Basketball home games.
