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Final score- Bradley 65 UIC 56

Da Coach

Da Coach

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Bradley is now 1-1, and the next game is Saturday, Nov. 16, 7 pm at Carver Arena against UIC.
This game is on ESPN3, which is free!-
https://www.espn.com/watch/schedule/...&type=upcoming

Live stats- https://bradleybraves.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Chat Room- http://us21.chatzy.com/bradleyfans#0

Radio- www.1470wmbd.com
Tickets- https://www1.ticketmaster.com/bradle...005707D3394A45

UIC is also 1-1 so far, though they play one more game this week before visiting Bradley. UIC will play at home against Ball State on Wednesday night.
They have played 2 games so far--
In their first game, UIC barely beat NAIA-level Olivet Nazarene at home 75-72. UIC had an 18 point lead in the 2nd half, only to go cold and ONU came all the way back and tied the game in the final minute. But UIC's Godwin Boahen hit a shot with 2 seconds left to win 75-72.
UIC's second game was Saturday, Nov. 9, at Memphis. They were absolutely annihilated 92-46, and it could have been worse. Memphis played subs much of the 2nd half.

UIC was picked 3rd in the Horizon League preseason poll, and received one first place vote. They were 16-16 last season, and 10-8 in the Horizon League. They were set to return their entire starting lineup and several top reserves and were expected to be a pretty good team this season.
Here are their Pregame Notes from the Memphis game with a lot of info about UIC, though no explanation for the absence of 4 of their top 5 starters-
https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sit...02_Memphis.pdf

They are coached by Steve McClain in his 5th season. Fans are growing impatient. His record is 59-78 through 4+ seasons.
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...mcclain-1.html

Past UIC records-
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...inois-chicago/

UIC was set to return all 5 of their starters from last year- Godwin Boahen, Tarkus Ferguson, Marcus Ottey, Jordan Blount, and Rob Howard, who are all seniors this year.
But so far, senior Godwin Boahen is the only returning starter who has played in their 2 regular season games, and is their leading scorer through 2 games with an average of 15.5 ppg (see stats below).
Despite being located in the city of Chicago, they get no media coverage at all. So it is nearly impossible to find any information about the team and why 4 of their top players have not played a game yet.
UIC also played a preseason exhibition Nov. 3 against Division II Wisconsin-Parkside. They barely won that game 63-59, but their top 2 scorers were senior Tarkus Ferguson, who was expected to be their best player and was picked as a 1st team All-Horizon League pick in the preseason poll, and senior Marcus Ottey, who was picked as a 2nd team All-Horizon. But those 2 have not played in either of their regular season games. The rumor on the UIC message board is that Tarkus Ferguson was suspended for 3 games, but there has been no official announcement and nobody seems to know why. If so, that means he will also miss their game Wednesday against Ball State, then return for the Bradley game. Nobody seems to know why senior Marcus Ottey hasn't played, but there hasn't been any reports of an injury issue, and there is suspicion he may have also been suspended. If so, he could possibly return for the Bradley game. But it is anybody's guess. :roll:
Senior forward Jordan Blount, who started last season at the center position, is out rehabbing from an ACL tear. He will not play against Bradley. UIC is hopeful he could return by the start of the Horizon League schedule. And the other starter from last season, senior forward Rob Howard, is reported by fans on their message board to be out for the season, with a shoulder injury, but again, with the total absence of any media coverage, there are no details. Even UIC's own Game Notes show those 4 seniors out of the starting lineup for the Memphis game, but the lengthy game notes do not mention any reason.

UIC Stats through 2 games-
https://uicflames.com/documents/2019/11/5/1_Overall.pdf

Stats from last season (2018-19)-
https://uicflames.com/documents/2018/11/6/UIC_1819.pdf

2019-20 Roster-
https://uicflames.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

UIC schedule/results-
https://uicflames.com/sports/mens-ba...hedule/2019-20

Bradley stats through 2 games-
https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sit...dley_stats.pdf
 
Bradleyfan1 said:
Whats the latest on Henry?
Click to expand...

As far as I know, the last comment from Head Coach Brian Wardle about Ja'Shon's right hand injury was this statement after the Saturday's (Nov. 9) game:
"All is getting better, but he was having a hard time catching and dribbling the ball in shoot around. It was a game-time decision."

Coach Wardle also indicated prior to the game that he was "day-to-day".

So it sounds like this is an injury that apparently didn't just happen, was already getting better as of game day, and that the decision to have him sit out was made that day (Saturday, Nov. 9) after the shoot-around earlier in the day.

There has not been a single new media article or report about anything regarding Bradley since Saturday :roll:. My understanding is that the injury was not too serious (not believed to be a fracture or torn ligament), and I believe he is still day-to-day. If so, it probably depends on how he practices the rest of this week, and that a decision will be made by Saturday.
Other than those thoughts based on info already known, I have nothing new as of now.
 
UIC is playing Ball State tonight in Chicago. The game just started.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId=401172569

Tarkus Ferguson and Marcus Ottey who were their top 2 scorers from last year and were both preseason Horizon League All-Conference, and who were rumored to be on a 3-game suspension, do not appear to be playing again tonight. If they were suspended for 3 games, this is their 3rd game. They might play against Bradley on Saturday. However, with no media coverage and a staff at UIC that keeps everything top secret, and a fan base that seems indifferent, who knows.
 
Watching UIC vs. Ball State. First half observations... Starting five are PG Boahen, SG Ahale, F Ejim, F Wiley, and F Diggins with Washington and Taylor off the bench. Boahen is their super quick little PG. Nice handle but he has missed all of his shots and plays out of control (multiple turnovers). The team overall is pretty athletic and likes to play up tempo. Really sloppy game so far. Ball State looks like the better team. I like our chances if this is their lineup. If they get a couple studs back, then who knows. Our coaches should assume Ferguson and Ottey will be in the lineup on Saturday.
 
There are unofficial reports that the 2 suspended starters for UIC, Tarkus Ferguson and Marcus Ottey, who are also their top 2 scorers from last season, will be allowed to play Saturday against Bradley.
Also, 6'10" redshirt sophomore forward juco transfer Braelyn Bridges, who played in UIC's first 2 games, but missed their last game Wednesday against Ball State, will play against Bradley.
UIC's other 2 inured returning starters, 6'8" senior center Jordan Blount (ACL injury) and 6'8" senior forward Rob Howard (shoulder injury), are out long-term as noted above in the top post, and will not play against Bradley.

Here are the UIC Pregame notes. There is no mention of the suspended or injured players-
https://uicflames.com/documents/2019...04_Bradley.pdf

UIC will be a much better team that they have been in their first 3 games if Ferguson and Ottey are playing.
Here are the UIC team stats after 3 games-
https://uicflames.com/documents/2019/11/5/1_Overall.pdf
 
Bradley Pregame article-
https://bradleybraves.com/news/2019/...-saturday.aspx

Game promotions for the UIC game-
• The first Braves Club Pre-Game Party of the season is at 5 p.m. before Saturday's game in Rooms 220-222 at the Civic Center
• Saturday is Washington Night. Any fan with a Washington address can present their driver's license at the box office on game day for two white level tickets for 50% off.
 
Ari Boya and Ja'Shon Henry are in uniform as expected.
For UIC, Tarkus Ferguson is playing, but Marcus Ottey is reported to be out with an injury.
 
I think we saw who the best 5 on the court at one time are: Childs, Brown, Kingsby, Gabriel, Henry. Those 5 were high energy and turned the game into a dunkfest.
Bar had a nice game with 13 rebounds (I think). He still can't finish down low, which is frustrating, and I hope he doesn't continue to stay in the starting lineup. I would never have him in the game the same time as Elijah. Eli is so much better when Bar isn't on the court with him.
In closing, it was nice to pay back UIC for that debacle of an officiating game in Chicago last year. I'm firmly convinced the Horizon league has the worst officials in college basketball (or is it the ACC? It's close either way.).
 
After a poor first half, Bradley made some changes and looked a lot better the 2nd half. The shots started falling, and they were more efficient getting points in the paint. Bradley also played terrific defense in the 2nd half, holding UIC to 32% shooting, and forcing a bunch of turnovers. Ja'Shon Henry was a beast in the 2nd half, and ended tied with Elijah Childs with a game-high 14 points.
Childs with his second straight double-double, 14 points & 12 rebounds
Koch Bar also had 12 rebounds
Darrell Brown didn't shoot so well (3-13=11 points), but he played 34 minutes, had 6 assists, and no turnovers, and he had 4 steals
Danya KIngsby was solid- 9 points, 4 rebounds, and played nice defense- reminded me a bit of the kind of games DLO gave us the last couple years
Nate Kennell had 8 points, and made the only two 3-pointers for BU
And Ja'Shon was my Player of the Game off the bench

Official Stats-
https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sit..._65_UIC_56.pdf

Attendance was down a little from last Saturday- 5,411

Ari Boya was dressed and looked like he really wanted to get in the game, but did not play.
 
Tommy- I agree. Bar helps out a lot against certain lineups and provides effort, defense, and rebounding. He has also been a good free throw shooter and this year has developed a nice jumper. Good Stuff! However with a fast paced and guard oriented team, his hands and finishing are a liability on offense if he plays extended minutes. And you seem to be correct again that Childs just doesn’t seem to be effective on O when Bar is in playing 5 spot. Clearly part of that is Eli’s fault, but reality is reality. I think you’ve got to go back to starting Eli at the 5 and subbing Bar in. Good win tonight on a day when it didn’t look good.
 
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