Game #2 ? Bradley Braves at #19 Florida Gators ? Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008 ? 2:15 p.m. EST ? Gainesville, Fla.
Bradley Opens O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic at #19 Florida
Peoria, Ill. ? The Bradley men's basketball team will have little time to enjoy Friday night's season-opening win versus UIC, as the Braves (1-0) will return to action Sunday afternoon by visiting #19 Florida in the first round of the 2008 O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. Sunday's game will tip off at 2:15 p.m. EST and will be televised nationally on ESPNU. The Braves will be shooting for their first road win against an SEC squad since knocking off Ole Miss, 63-61, Dec. 28, 1994.
Game Information
Site: Gainesville, Fla. (Stephen C. O'Connell Center)
TV: ESPNU - Rich Waltz and Bob Wenzel
Radio: 1470 WMBD - Dave Snell and Chuck Buescher
Internet Video: N/A
Internet Audio: BradleyBraves.com
Live Stats: GatorZone.com
Series: Bradley leads 1-0
Last: BU 70-65, 12/29/70 at Florida
Bradley Braves
2008-09 Record: 1-0
MVC: 0-0
Head Coach: Jim Les
Alma Mater: Bradley ?86
Career: 106-90 (7th year)
at Bradley: Same
Website: www.BradleyBraves.com
#19 Florida Gators
2008-09 Record: 1-0
SEC: 0-0
Head Coach: Billy Donovan
Alma Mater: Providence ?87
Career: 321-135 (15th year)
at Florida: 286-115 (13th year)
Website: www.GatorZone.com
Hot Topics
? Bradley begins play in the 2008 O'Reilly Auto Parts
CBE Classic Sunday afternoon by visiting #19 Florida.
? Coming off Friday's 67-61 victory against UIC,
Bradley will be shooting for its fifth 2-0 start in Jim Les' first seven years as head coach.
? With a 72-71 win Feb. 19, 2008 at #16 Drake, Bradley will be trying to win consecutive road games against nationally-ranked opponents for just the second time in school history -- Dec. 15, 1956 at #10 Canisius (66-64)
and Jan. 10, 1957 at #12 Oklahoma State (60-49).
? Jim Les owns a 12-5 (.706) record against the six BCS power conferences in his seven years at Bradley, but he is still looking for his first win against a SEC program (0-2).
? Bradley owns an 11-2 (.846) all-time record against nine Florida teams.
105th Season
? Bradley has started its 105th men's basketball season and the Braves rank 26th in NCAA Division I history with 1,517 all-time 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.
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.
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 699 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.
Scoring In Threes
? Bradley has ranked among the national leaders in 3-point shooting each of the last two years and is third with 699 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.
? VMI has made 792 3-pointers since the start of the 2006-07 season, followed by Houston with 718.
Scoring Big
? A player standing no taller than 6-foot-5 has led Bradley in scoring in 53 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.
? Dodie Dunson, a 6-foot-3 guard, continued the streak by leading the Braves with 21 points Friday night versus UIC.
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.
Maui Jim 3-Point challenge
? Peoria manufacturer Maui Jim Sunglasses 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.
? All pledge gifts,which will be tax deductible, will be invoiced at the conclusion of the season and should be made payable to The Jimmy V Foundation.
? 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.
? 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)
? Averaged 19.5 ppg and 11.7 rpg as a junior.
About The Gators
? Florida returns eight lettermen, including four starters, from the 2007-08 squad that finished 24-12 (.667), went 8-8 in the Southeastern Conference and advanced to the NIT Final Four.
? Prior to last year's NIT Final Four appearance, Florida won the 2006 and 2007 national championships, giving the Gators 15 postseason wins the last three years.
? Florida opened the season with an 80-58 victory against Toledo Friday night at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
The Bradley-Florida Series
? Bradley won the only previous meeting against Florida, knocking off the Gators, 70-65, Dec. 29, 1970 in Gainesville.
Sun Shines on Bradley
? Bradley owns an 11-2 (.846) record against teams from the state of Florida.
? The Braves have won seven straight against teams from Florida and have won two in a row in the Sunshine State.
12/3/55 Rollins W 97-61
12/22/55 at Miami-Florida L 73-80
12/8/56 Florida State W 90-66
2/8/61 Tampa W 111-84
12/29/70 at Florida W 70-65
2/13/71 !vs. #6 Jacksonville L 79-87
12/15/79 Rollins W 78-68
1/4/93 at Florida Atlantic W 74-54
12/18/93 Florida Atlantic W 71-46
12/17/94 Florida Atlantic W 79-45
11/26/03 $vs. Miami-Florida W 83-82
11/21/06 Florida A&M W 107-75
11/20/07 Florida Gulf Coast W 82-74
! Chicago, Ill.
$ Las Vegas
? Florida (1-0), Florida A&M (1-0), Florida Atlantic (3-0), Florida Gulf Coast (1-0), Florida State (1-0), Jacksonville (0-1), Miami-Florida (1-1), Rollins (2-0), Tampa (1-0).
Coaching Connection
? Bradley head coach Jim Les has become a regular attendee at Billy Donovan's annual summer “convention” of basketball coaches.
Against The SEC
? Bradley is 7-13 all-time against the current Southeastern Conference membership, but the Braves are an even 2-2 against the SEC on their home courts.
? Sunday's game at Florida will mark the third consecutive year the Braves will have faced an SEC program, all in a tournament setting.
? The Braves dropped a 101-72 decision at Mississippi State in the second round of the 2007 NIT and a suffered a 95-86 loss to Vanderbilt in the championship game of last year's South Padre Island Invitational.
? Bradley has dropped three straight overall to SEC members, also falling to #6 Auburn (64-78) Dec. 16, 1999, at the Coors Classic in Mobile, Ala.
? Bradley's last win against an SEC member was a 63-61 road win Dec. 28, 1994 at Ole Miss.
Against The Top 25
? Bradley is 49-90 all-time against the teams ranked in the Top 25 at the time of the game.
? In their last meeting against a nationally-ranked team, Bradley downed #16 Drake, 72-71, Feb. 19, 2008 in Des Moines.
? Bradley has split its last four road games against Top 25 teams, beginning with a 71-49 victory Feb. 22, 2006 at #25 UNI.
In-Season Tourney Success
? Head coach Jim Les sports an 11-4 (.733) record in four previous regular-season tournaments.
? The Braves have gone 3-1 in each of their last three four-game tournaments.
? Bradley tied for first in the 2003 Las Vegas Tournament and was the runner-up in the 2006 Chicago Invitational Challenge and the 2007 South Padre Island Invitational.
