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Final score: Bradley 61 UIC 60

Da Coach

Da Coach

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Bradley (13-3, 4-1, NET 79) at UIC (10-5, 3-2, NET 118 ), Saturday, Jan. 11, 2:00 pm

The game is on ESPN+ - https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/e7c0175d-a45b-4aed-bafb-8aeb9a7befb0
Live stats- https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=547239
Chat room - https://www.chatzy.com/bradleyfans

UIC links-
Schedule/results- https://uicflames.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule
Roster- https://uicflames.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Coaches- https://uicflames.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster#sidearm-roster-coaches
Stats- https://uicflames.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats

New head coach Rob Ehsan has almost completely rebuilt the UIC roster after Luke Yaklich was fired last March, and most of the UIC players left.
He landed 8 players from the transfer portal, and a couple freshmen. There are two significant holdovers, senior Filip Skobalj and 6'4" senior guard Ethan Pickett.
They are a pretty good 3-point shooting team (37.4%), and they are near the top of the MVC in rebounding (lead the MVC in offensive rebounds).
Top scorer is Javon Jackson (12.7 ppg), a 6'3" junior guard who transferred from Utah State. Xavier transfer, 6'9" forward Sasa Ciani leads the MVC in rebounds (8.7 rpg), and is second on UIC in scoring (11.6 ppg).
Other usual starters are: Ahmad Henderson, a 5'9" guard transfer from Niagara (10.9 ppg) and 6'7" senior forward Filip Skobalj (9.7 ppg).
Four others have started some of their games- 6'4" junior guard transfer from Texas State Jordan Mason (9.5 ppg), 6'5" 5th year transfer guard from Texas State Tyem Freeman (10.1 ppg), 6'9" redshirt senior forward from Creighton Modestas Kancleris (7.3 ppg), and 6'4" senior guard Ethan Pickett (4.7 ppg).

Bradley stats- https://bradleybraves.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats
MVC stats- https://mvc-sports.com/documents/2024/11/5//2024_25_MVC_MBB_All_Game_Stats.pdf
Bradley pregame article- https://bradleybraves.com/news/2025...th-a-bounce-back-opportunity-against-uic.aspx
 
Da Coach said:
...6'5" 5th year transfer guard from Texas State Tyem Freeman (10.1 ppg) ...
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actually, Tyem Freeman is a 6th year player. He was a 4-Star recruit out of high school in the Springfield, MO area and was
newly hired Missouri State head coach Dana Ford's very first recruit, committing to Missouri State on Dana Ford's 2nd day on the job
back on in March of 2018.
Brian Wardle really liked Freeman and offered him a scholarship way back in September 2017 almost 7 1/2 years ago.
 
yodBrian Wardle really liked Freeman and offered him a scholarship way back in September 2017[/URL said:
[/B][/B] almost 7 1/2 years ago.
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That’s just nuts that anyone can be associated with college sports that long.
 
and I think his stepson Garrett Sturtz also played 25 years, setting the stage for their grandson Bennett Stirtz to have another decade of eligibility
 
Tommy said:
Darnell Brodie played 27 years in the NCAA.
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Yes he did! I remember when he entered the Valley way back when, he was only up to Rob Dye's shoulders and then a few yrs later, up to Marcello Robinson's eyebrows! I think he got slightly bigger over the years. ;)
 
Bradley8792 said:
That’s just nuts that anyone can be associated with college sports that long.
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The whole Covid year is making things screwy. I know he is no longer a Brave but Rienk Mast is going to be in the NCAA for almost 7 years. His first season was 2019-2020 when he took a redshirt year. Looks like he is sitting out this season with a knee injury but should be back for one more year in 2025-2026.
 
Back on topic. UIC is looking like it's for real. 6 guys who average more than 9 points a game. They lead the Valley in rebounding and are second in assists and they play consistently hard. Playing consistently hard is something I hope Brian has addressed with the team the last few days. It's been pretty apparent this season that teams in the Valley are being allowed to play more physically so when you're more of a perimeter team like we are it's certainly a disadvantage when you don't match that physicality. Brian has his system and it's worked pretty good for the most part so that's not going to change. So what do we need to do? Our execution and our spacing on offense needs to be better. Have to be smarter and stronger with the ball and use teams aggressiveness against them. No more timid passes. We just need to get back to playing with confidence. We'll see if we can get back to being that team on Saturday.
 
Bradley opens as the favorite to win. The way they have played recently, I find it difficult to believe. Hope they come out with a win of course. Will not be easy. Have to miss this game. Granddaughters birthday but will keep up with the score on my phone. Let's start to rebound better and not give up so many offensive rebounds. Wardle said a while ago that the team is no where playing their best. You can say that again. Hope they turn the corner and start playing up to potential starting today. "GO BRAVES":lol:
 
Last year, there were more Bradley supporters at the UIC game than UIC fans. This year, it might be different. With a new coach and a team that is having some success (10-5, 3-2), they might draw more fans.
Anyone going? I am headed up there shortly. Let's go Braves!
 
Da Coach said:
Last year, there were more Bradley supporters at the UIC game than UIC fans. This year, it might be different. With a new coach and a team that is having some success (10-5, 3-2), they might draw more fans.
Anyone going? I am headed up there shortly. Let's go Braves!
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Couldn’t make this one, but I’ll be there in spirit, Coach!
 
I understand UIC is much improved but we cannot let a team like this beat us if we expect to win a championship. Hopefully the staff and the team have figured out how to make this offense work a lot better because changes needed to be made in the last few days.
 
Something is major wrong with this Braves club.....lethargic on offense and defense, missing FTs and getting outhustled on both ends of the court!:oops: :oops: :oops:
Wardle is lost just throwing player after player subbing just looking for some form of life.:-o
No confidence in any Braves players ....no purpose...maybe we have been exposed?:idea:
 
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