2018 MVC - Week 6

[Kyle@MOState]

MO State > Illinois State
Drake > SIU
UNI > Evansville
Indiana State > Valpo
Loyola > Bradley

Loyola > MO State
Illinois State > Evansville
UNI > Indiana State
Bradley > Drake
SIU > Valpo

It takes a lot of talent to pick no games right in the first batch of games... But, that's what I did. I did pick with my heart on the MO State v Illinois State game, but just when you think you finally know what's going on in the rest of the league, these results happen. Crazy...

[BirdsEyeView]

MO State > Illinois State
Drake > SIU
UNI > Evansville
Indiana State > Valpo
Loyola > Bradley

Loyola > MO State
Illinois State > Evansville
UNI > Indiana State
Bradley > Drake
SIU > Valpo

It takes a lot of talent to pick no games right in the first batch of games... But, that's what I did. I did pick with my heart on the MO State v Illinois State game, but just when you think you finally know what's going on in the rest of the league, these results happen. Crazy...

If it makes you feel any better, not too many did much better

[Blers]

Alize's the best player in the league, but the run Custer has been on in terms of pushing this team forward has to at least put him in the convo for PotY.

Tough loss yesterday. They played lazy in the first half, just out of sync defensively, credit to Bradley for playing great defense. Credit to Custer for keeping us in it the first half.

As much as I wanna blame that blatant goaltend miss the refs were pretty abysmal both ways. Was an awesome battle, Custer and Townes stepped up big, as did Brown for Bradley and Childs with those two three's earlier in the game to stop runs. The league is fun!

[TSmithBJJ]

Braves win 69-67

Krutwig under the basket kicks out and the shot clock expires!

Talk about a freshman mistake...

My guess is that in the back of his mind he was still thinking of his last shot he took that was blocked, and he did not want it to happen in that situation. This kid is going to be real good!! That was a fun game to watch.

As an athlete myself (and probably many of you are/were athletes yourselves), that is never a mindset you want to have! You either have the killer instinct and mentality, or you dont. No doubting this kid's potential though!

[Rambler63]

The biggest win in Peoria in over a decade.

Really? What about beating #19 UNI on Feb 13, 2010?

Less than five years ago, a lot of Bradley people thought that adding Loyola to the league was a catastrophic mistake. Just last Spring, a roundtable of eight MVC beat writers had a consensus more or less that adding Loyola was a failed experiment, an unfortunate mistake, or the best of some bad options.

Now it's the biggest win in Peoria in over a decade? Or as Dave Reynolds, PJS Bradley beat writer and firm Loyola skeptic wrote this morning, "one of their biggest regular-season wins in, oh, a decade or two."

I'd like to see just ONE of the newspaper columnists who used a barrel of ink to denigrate Loyola for a couple of years write a ONE SENTENCE mea culpa. It won't make up for how crappy they made Loyola fans feel for several years, but it would be a nice peace-making gesture.

[Majik45]

As much as I wanna blame that blatant goaltend miss the refs were pretty abysmal both ways. Was an awesome battle, Custer and Townes stepped up big, as did Brown for Bradley and Childs with those two three's earlier in the game to stop runs. The league is fun!

That was a bad miss by the refs, but in a way made up for it the next trip calling a block on what seemed to be a pretty obvious charge that fouled Hodgson out for the Braves.

I honestly can't believe that Bradley held on to win last night, as Loyola came back with a flurry to keep the game close. They hit big shot after big shot. It was the type of game that is great to watch where both teams kept making great plays and both teams deserved to win.

How bad would Loyola have felt if that last shot of the game went in, and then the refs would have had to go back and wave it off because it was after the buzzer.

[Majik45]

The biggest win in Peoria in over a decade.

Really? What about beating #19 UNI on Feb 13, 2010?

Less than five years ago, a lot of Bradley people thought that adding Loyola to the league was a catastrophic mistake. Just last Spring, a roundtable of eight MVC beat writers had a consensus more or less that adding Loyola was a failed experiment, an unfortunate mistake, or the best of some bad options.

Now it's the biggest win in Peoria in over a decade? Or as Dave Reynolds, PJS Bradley beat writer and firm Loyola skeptic wrote this morning, "one of their biggest regular-season wins in, oh, a decade or two."

I'd like to see just ONE of the newspaper columnists who used a barrel of ink to denigrate Loyola for a couple of years write a ONE SENTENCE mea culpa. It won't make up for how crappy they made Loyola fans feel for several years, but it would be a nice peace-making gesture.

The reason most people are calling this such a big game for the Braves is because of where it puts them in the conference race, not really a reflection on Loyola as a team. Loyola is the class of the Valley this year, give Moser and the whole team credit. They are VERY good. Bradley has not finished higher than 4th place in the league since 2001 and has not played a meaningful (IE fighting for top spot in the valley) for 17 years. The win last night puts them within a game of first, and will give Bradley fans some meaningful conference games in February for the first time in a LONG time. That is the reason why so many people are making such a big deal of the win last night.

I honestly don't see how Loyola doesn't win the conference this year, as I see at most 2 more losses on your schedule. Pretty sure they will be favorites in every game down the stretch except SIU might be a pick'em.

[Rambler63]

I am glad Bradley has turned a corner. I think their win against Indiana State last weekend was a bigger deal (first road conference win of the season) than going 12-0 at home.

[Blers]

As much as I wanna blame that blatant goaltend miss the refs were pretty abysmal both ways. Was an awesome battle, Custer and Townes stepped up big, as did Brown for Bradley and Childs with those two three's earlier in the game to stop runs. The league is fun!

That was a bad miss by the refs, but in a way made up for it the next trip calling a block on what seemed to be a pretty obvious charge that fouled Hodgson out for the Braves.

I honestly can't believe that Bradley held on to win last night, as Loyola came back with a flurry to keep the game close. They hit big shot after big shot. It was the type of game that is great to watch where both teams kept making great plays and both teams deserved to win.

How bad would Loyola have felt if that last shot of the game went in, and then the refs would have had to go back and wave it off because it was after the buzzer.

Great post. And I totally agree in the charge. I thought the call on Richardson late to give Brown free throws was irritating as well given how physical play had been for most of the game. Bradley hit only one field goal over the last five minutes or so, free throws kept them afloat (which they hit to their credit). Loved the game once LU turned intensity up to match Bradley. The back and forth was like watching a heavy weight title match. Fun to see that stuff midseason.

Also appreciate the kind words about the team, it's cool to get some recognition after getting beat up on for a couple years by fans who didn't think we belonged. Hopefully Bradley and LU can keep putting up these kind of matches for years to come! Best of luck to your Braves the rest of the way

[TSmithBJJ]

The biggest win in Peoria in over a decade.

Really? What about beating #19 UNI on Feb 13, 2010?

Less than five years ago, a lot of Bradley people thought that adding Loyola to the league was a catastrophic mistake. Just last Spring, a roundtable of eight MVC beat writers had a consensus more or less that adding Loyola was a failed experiment, an unfortunate mistake, or the best of some bad options.

Now it's the biggest win in Peoria in over a decade? Or as Dave Reynolds, PJS Bradley beat writer and firm Loyola skeptic wrote this morning, "one of their biggest regular-season wins in, oh, a decade or two."

I'd like to see just ONE of the newspaper columnists who used a barrel of ink to denigrate Loyola for a couple of years write a ONE SENTENCE mea culpa. It won't make up for how crappy they made Loyola fans feel for several years, but it would be a nice peace-making gesture.

The reason most people are calling this such a big game for the Braves is because of where it puts them in the conference race, not really a reflection on Loyola as a team. Loyola is the class of the Valley this year, give Moser and the whole team credit. They are VERY good. Bradley has not finished higher than 4th place in the league since 2001 and has not played a meaningful (IE fighting for top spot in the valley) for 17 years. The win last night puts them within a game of first, and will give Bradley fans some meaningful conference games in February for the first time in a LONG time. That is the reason why so many people are making such a big deal of the win last night.

I honestly don't see how Loyola doesn't win the conference this year, as I see at most 2 more losses on your schedule. Pretty sure they will be favorites in every game down the stretch except SIU might be a pick'em.

Agreed with Loyola being the outright favorite for the regular season champs. Loyola @ SIU in late February could be a huge game for both teams. SIU arena is also a tough arena/atmosphere to win in.