Bradley Braves

Bradley Braves
University Bradley University
Conference Missouri Valley Conference
NCAA Division I
Athletic director Chris Reynolds
Location Peoria, Illinois
Varsity teams 15 (7 men's, 8 women's)
Basketball arena Renaissance Coliseum
Mascot Kaboom the Gargoyle
Nickname Braves
Fight song Charge On!
Colors Red and White[1]
         
Website bubraves.com

The Bradley Braves are the intercollegiate athletics teams of Bradley University, located in Peoria, Illinois, United States. The Braves' athletic program is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC)[2] and competes at the NCAA Division I level.[3] The Bradley mascot is Kaboom! the Gargoyle, and the school colors are red and white.

Sports sponsored

Men's sports Women's sports
BaseballBasketball
BasketballCross country
Cross countryGolf
GolfSoftball
SoccerTennis
Track and field†Track and field†
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

Bradley Polytechnic Institute opened its doors in the fall of 1897, and the school fielded a football team in that first fall and a baseball team in the spring of 1898.[4] Men's basketball debuted in 1902–03 with no coach and no home court, but was destined to become Bradley's most successful team; over the years, the Braves have played in 34 post-season tournaments, winning the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) four times and being runnersup in the NCAA and the NIT twice each and in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) once each.[5]

A member of the Missouri Valley Conference, Bradley University sponsors teams in seven men's and eight women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[6] Bradley is one of the only two NCAA Division I schools that sponsor men's but not women's soccer (the other being St. Francis College).

Basketball

Bradley is best known for its college basketball success. Bradley has been to eight NCAA tournaments, including two national championship games, three Elite 8s, and four Sweet 16s. Bradley has an overall NCAA Tournament record of 11-8.

Bradley has been to the NIT 21 times and won it four times. Their postseason NIT record is 25-18. Only one school (St. Johns, 27 times) has been to more NITs, or won it more times (St. John's, 6 times).

Years in NIT - 1938, 1939 (third), 1947, 1949 (fourth), 1950 (second), 1957 (won), 1958, 1959 (second), 1960 (won), 1962, 1964 (won), 1965, 1968, 1982 (won), 1985, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2007

The Braves basketball squad was incidentally co-featured in a 1955 Sports Illustrated article focusing on their cheerleaders. The two-page spread, heavy with photographs taken at a tournament in New Orleans, Louisiana, keyed in on the enthusiasm and school spirit of the coeds. Perhaps as irony, Bradley's basketball team, in action vs. Holy Cross, was shot as background for their avid supporters. Holy Cross defeated the Braves in this game, 89-81.[7]

Football

The Bradley Braves football program was initiated in 1897, concomitant with the school's founding; three games were played by the fledgling squad, resulting a in 0-3-0 record. The Braves continued to field a gridiron team every year, with exception of the interruption of WW2 (1943–45), through the 1970 season. Upon the retirement of Coach Billy Stone, coupled with other considerations, the football program was at that point discontinued.

Facilities

  • Baseball – Dozer Park
  • Basketball (men's) – Carver Arena @ Peoria Civic Center
  • Basketball (women's) – Renaissance Coliseum
  • Cross country – Detweiller Park & Newman Golf Course
  • Golf – WeaverRidge Golf Course
  • Soccer – Shea Stadium
  • Softball – Laura Bradley Park
  • Tennis – The Clubs at River City & David Markin Tennis Courts
  • Track & field (indoor/outdoor) – no home facilities
  • Volleyball – Renaissance Coliseum

[8]

Braves in the pros

Basketball

Baseball

[9]

Football

Soccer

Fan Zone

The Bradley Red Sea is the official Bradley Athletics student cheering section. Red Sea membership is $30 and includes tickets to all men's basketball home games, as well as a Red Sea t-shirt and member cards which allow the user to attend a men's basketball road game. Red Sea partners with the Student Activities Budget Review Committee to hand out giveaways at sporting events throughout the school year. Members can become part of the executive board, which gives them a chance to communicate with the coaches about what they want for their upcoming season. The Red Sea is part of, and in charge of, the Shea Brigade, which was created in the spring semester of 2015. This is a cheering section for anyone who would like to cheer on the Bradley Braves soccer team.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Bradley Athletics Brand Identity – Usage and Style Guide (PDF). Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  2. ↑ "This is the Missouri Valley Conference". Missouri Valley Conference. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Bradley University". NCAA. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Bradley Baseball Records Book" (PDF). Bradley University. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Bradley Basketball Records Book" (PDF). Bradley University. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  6. ↑ "BRADLEYBRAVES.COM". Bradley University. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  7. ↑ Peskin, Hy (byline as photographer only) (January 17, 1955). "Give Me A B For Bradley". Sports Illustrated. 2 (3): 18–19.
  8. ↑ "Bradley Athletics Facilities". Bradley University. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  9. ↑ http://www.baseball-almanac.com
  10. ↑ "Men's Basketball". Bradley Braves.
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