Unfortunately, this game and the game against WSU are during break (though classes start the day after the WSU game). Students aren't going to come to campus during break.

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Cigarboy sucks!

Jeremy Morgan, who's from Whitney Young via community college, started 9 games at center but wasn't in the starting lineup in the three games before UIC, which coincided with the return from injury by Tramique Sutherland.

The addition of Sutherland to the starting lineup seems to be cutting into time for Omari Grier. Grier started off the season scoring 33 of Bradley's 75 points in their loss to UT Arlington, but hasn't been nearly as potent since. In their 13 games so far, 11 of them had a guard as their high scorer despite all their talent in the frontcourt. Barnes was their leading scorer against TCU and Kansas State.

Bradley's non-D1 game was an 80-37 win over tiny and nearby Eureka College (Ronald Reagan's alma mater). Eureka has only about 800 students, and in their game against Bradley, 15 players got into the game, which is 1.9% of their entire student body. Just imagine if we could get 1.9% of our students to ATTEND the Bradley game... that would be about 280 students...

Also of note: When Jeff White is on the floor, Bradley will have more players from Chicago, and Loyola will have more players from Peoria.

In addition to Chicago native Jermaine Morgan, Bradley will also be without their leading scorer: JUCO guard Warren Jones, who got an offer from us last winter.

As for the opposing fans, it'd be nice to get a really good rivalry with Bradley. BU has always had a lot of success recruiting Chicago (look at their roster) and they obviously have a strong alumni base in the area. Many people credit the hostility of the Miami/Florida St. football rivalry due to the fact that many players on both teams played high school, middle school, even Pop Warner football with and against each other. If we start keeping some kids at home (Milton and Donte Ingram are good starts), this could be a really great atmosphere. It's a shame that the game is during winter break when no students are here.

Loyola needs to win this game not only to get off to a good start in the conference, but also because we need to make sure we win the games we're supposed to win against the bottom of the conference. This is one of the weaker teams in the conference. To avoid the inconsistencies that we've had in conference play in recent past (thanks for bringing the bad memories back up JCT), we have to come ready to play for every game, not just showing up for the Final Four juggernauts (WSU and Butler before them) only to come back of fall in a trap game and lay an egg against a less sexy name opponent. That's what winning programs do, and the road to becoming a successful mid-major starts on Wednesday through Bradley.

My prediction: LU 65 BU 49 - close game, free throws towards the end of the game skew the final score but we have too much depth and BU's injuries expose theirs.

Isn't fun to write--"We have too much depth" ?? I have the game closer but we win in any case. Porter MUST pound home the fact that this IS a Valley team as are we. As you say--No let up--This team is geared to do that--and THAT is the difference between them and our teams of the past eight years or more.

Root them home--I shall be in DC visiting the rest of my family-- No tickets for the Blackhawk/ Capital affair--TOO MUCH MONEY !!!!

This is as about a "must win" as a conference opener can be for a few reasons:

1. 'Home' game
2. Budding rivalry
3. Bottom tier opponent
4. Next 3 games are against the presumed top 3 in the MVC

Really hope the guys come out executing as well as they have been recently. Let's start conference play out the right way and continue on the path to our long awaited postseason berth.

Warren Jones, who has been Bradley's best player this year, is unlikely to return from injury this game. However, Bradley got reinforcements in 5'11" PG Tramique Sutherland, who has been Bradley's second best player. Loyola also needs to keep an eye on 6'8" wing Auston Barnes, who can make it rain from deep (46.5% 3P). Sutherland (37.5% 3P) and off-guard Ka'Darryl Bell (40.7% 3P) are also viable threat from deep. The rest of the team is pretty garbage from beyond the arc. Bradley has size weight the goons down low, but none of them are exceptional rebounders. Highly touted freshman Josh Cunningham will likely have the honor of shadowing Christian Thomas, which should prove to be the games best matchup.

BRADLEY
PG Tramique Sutherland 5'11" 175 Jr. - 33.3 mpg, 18.1 PER
SG Ka'Darryl Bell 6'1" 190 Jr. - 30.5 mpg, 8.5 PER
SF Auston Barnes 6'8" 215 Sr. - 31.4 mpg, 15.7 PER
PF Josh Cunningham 6'7" 216 Fr. - 26.1 mpg, 13 PER
C Xzavier Taylor 6'9" 241 So. - 10.3 mpg, 9.7 PER
6th Omari Grier 6'4" 180 Jr. - 27.5 mpg, 15.3 PER
7th Mike Shaw 6'8" 230 Jr. - 17.8 mpg, 10.8 PER
8th Donte Thomas 6'7" 217 Fr. - 10.5 mpg, -0.1 PER
9th Anthony Fields 6'0" 160 Jr. - 6.2 mpg, 3.2 PER
10th Nate Wells 7'1" 260 Jr. - 5.7 mpg, 23.2 PER

INJ Warren Jones 6'3" 190 Jr. - 30.5 mpg, 21.3 PER
INJ Jermaine Morgan 6'8" 235 Jr. 15.3 mpg, 8.0 PER

Slow enough at the office to duck out and catch the game today. Hopefully we get a decent NYE crowd!

Looking OK on offense, but confused on defense in the early going.

Four of five on threes so far, but Bradley is six of eight inside the arc. Need to establish something inside.

This is a weak Bradley team. Ford won't be there next year