"Yeah. Here is a look at Brian Wardle, the Bradley University Braves men's basketball head coach. Ferguson had suffered from dementia the last few . His father-in-law, Bill Murphy, owned Murphy's Sign Studio and Jim eventually went to work for him, then later bought the business. 7:48 p.m.: Referee showed up in Bradley huddle during timeout and called a T on coach Brian Wardle when they asked him to leave. We got to get better at some things still this week. The Bradley Basketball "Movement" will continue for at least five more years. Bradley Boys Basketball - Bradley & Memorial Athletics The success showcased by Wardle at Bradley is nothing new for the head coach. The first game Friday (at the MVC tournament) is always the hardest. He's been in the signage business for 45 years. He was head coach at North Dakota from 2006-19, and after the program's transition to NCAA Div.-I, led the team to three Big Sky Conference tournament titles and six postseason appearances in his last eight years. I got a lot of respect for (Drake coach) Darren (DeVries) and his program. (Connor Hickman) and Duke (Deen) and Ville (Tahvanainen) stepping up down the stretch. Full Release (PDF) Yeah, so, another box check. Northern Iowa vs. Bradley - Men's College Basketball Team Statistics Leons piled up 50 steals and 49 blocks to become just the fourth player in MVC history to record a 40-40 effort in those categories. He has a recruiting network from so many years of experience in the game, and we needed those connections with (Drew Adams') departure. ST. LOUIS, Mo. That's partly from what he learned in the Devine driveway and in the parks around Westmont and Clarendon Hills. PEORIA Former Bradley athletic director and Thornridge basketball coach Ron Ferguson died July 8 at a Peoria senior care facility at age 89. They hadlittle asphalt stone court with two wooded backboards like a mini full court off their garage. So is my staff, and I got a great staff. He'd sort them out and put them back in the racks. (Troy), Drew Friberg, Belmont Gr. You take the COVID year out, we've got a lot of success in February, March. Bradley Braves Men's Basketball Coaches. So last night I probably slept six straight hours. Bradley played basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks under legendary Coach Nolan Richardson, and was a four-time letterman from 1996 to 1999. He has won nearly 69 percent of his games during his nine years as a Division I head coach, recording seven 20-win seasons. You don't know how these games are gonna go. The official Men's Basketball Coach List for the Bradley University Braves Skip To Main Content . "I grew up in Las Vegas, a musical family, my parents all my siblings," Jimsaid. "You don't know how it's gonna go, and there's gonna be momentum swings and ups and downs. This is the first conference tournament championship for Bradley since 1988, and the first trip to the NCAA Tournament for Bradley since 2006. He played on an elite AAU team, the Illinois Warriors, and went on to Marquette, where he averaged 18.8 points and finished third in scoring all-time for the school. The BCAM Hall of Fame inducted the first members in 1985. Wardle led the Braves to a 23-8 overall record and a 16-4 mark in . Brian was close to grandpa. 0. We're all driven to bring a championship to Peoria, and we were able to get that regular-season (one) here now. I had to pick up my ball and just keep up, keep up. As for recruiting overseas, Drew's connections and relationships are my connections and relationships too. @CoachAmie5. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 'What more can you ask for?' Peoria High's veteran coach is just That 15-0 stretch there that you went on really put the game into your grip. Joe Stowell is an American former college basketball coach and broadcaster. Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. Kate Popovec Named Bradley Women's Basketball Head Coach 309-677-2668. Dick Versace, one of the most successful men's basketball coaches at Bradley University, died Friday at the age of 81. Beal, Wizards spoil Snyder's Hawks debut with 119-116 win No excuses': How Bradley basketball moves forward after a tough week. A team that's competitive, but also having fun, is a scary team this time of year, Bradley coach Brian Wardle said entering the 2023 MVC tournament. Alabama men's basketball coach Nate Oats released a statement Tuesday night clarifying what he said at a news conference earlier about Brandon Miller's connection to the fatal shooting case . The Braves and Ramblers split their two regular-season matchups, with Bradley dropping a 78-71 overtime decision on Jan. 8 in Chicago and claiming a 68-61 victory on Feb. 9 at Carver Arena. I'm practice swinging, taking too long to hit my ball, and my grandfather was a very blunt guy, very direct guy. A lot of people don't know this, but three games ago, before we went over to Southern Illinois, I put '16-4' up in the locker room, and I put the 'MVC Champs 2023' up on the practice gym wall. I mean, our league's really good. "I don't know how they'll do with a basketball when they reach 66.". Postseason invitational champion "The competition, the fouling and physicality, was at an all-time high at the park, and that's where I learned you have to play every possession hard or you might be sitting on the sidelines," Wardle said. But a loss would just burn in me forever. List of Bradley Braves men's basketball head coaches We got mentally tough for the season. I'll always say that, so we got our hands full.". G 6-5 Cedar Falls, Iowa (Cedar Falls High), *Ja'Shon Henry, Bradley Gr. "We've been connected a long time, and he let me know there might be an opportunity for me at Bradley," Jones said. Brown left the team partway through the 191920 season; Allen coached the last six games of the season. It's a huge, huge factor, and I couldn't be prouder of our guys. The forecast says it'll be During the first media timeout of this Sunday's Red Out game, over 750 T-Shirts will rain down inside Carver Arena in the - in Bradley history! Georgetown boys basketball head coach Eric Sparkman resigns after 3 "He was a big swimmer. What's your take on that? Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. It can't be all (3-pointers). Tweets by Amie Bradley. If you want to get me going, just say that. Kenny Strawbridge, UE Sr. G 6-6 Rockford, Ill. (Rockford Lutheran)/Alabama St. Garrett Sturtz, Drake Gr. The appointment to coach was a promotion for Crouch, who was an assistant coach under Walraven for eight years after he spent two years as the boys basketball coach at Illini Bluffs. He is the seventh Bradley coach to win the honor. He was 88. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. When he needed those 6-inch by 6-inch vinyl adhesive removable signs for the BU floor, he turned to his father. "It was in me from a very young age, a competitive thing I got from my parents," Wardle said." Coffee. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik), Bradley head coach Brian Wardle watches his players in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Memphis Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht), Bradley head coach Brian Wardle is seen on the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Drake in the semifinal round of the Missouri Valley Conference men's tournament Saturday, March 7, 2020, in St. Louis. I don't think it was my calling. It's really hard to score and I love competing in it, because it's a challenge every day. Men's Basketball - Bradley University Athletics "He picked up the guitar a little bit. So. Take us with you from breakfast or whatever through the day. Moline jumped in . The Braves added their second regular-season tournament crown under his watch (and just the sixth in school history) with the 2021 Sun Bowl Invitational title. The last decade, it's hard to get fans to arenas in all sports. Location: Peoria, Illinois Seasons: 119 (1902-03 to 2022-23) Record: 1743-1251 .582 W-L% Conferences: MVC and Ind. Bradley basketball pulled in a Missouri Valley awards haul. Here's what Moline recorded a big victory over Bradley-Bourbonnais 71-39 on Feb. 24 in Illinois boys high school basketball. I love proving people wrong. He'd show up with an old, big camera, watch us play park games.". "Being there, helping out and watching them, I think that's maybe why I am the way I am. (Manual High)/DePaul, Cameron Henry, IndSt. I mean, it's much different but I don't know. Alec Brown was the 50th overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns after the 7-foot-1 center was named the 2014 Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and finished fifth in school history with 1,678 career points. He was selected by the Boston Celtics in the first round (23rd pick overall) of the 1981 NBA draft.Born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, Bradley was a 6'5" shooting guard from the University of Wyoming.He played in three National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons, from 1981 to 1984, with the Celtics . Top-seeded Bradley meets No. Amie Smith Bradley - Women's Basketball Coach - SMU Athletics [1], Bradley's current head coach is Brian Wardle. "I was kind of uncoordinated, couldn't really dribble the ball real well. G 6-0 Calumet City, Ill. (Bishop Noll)/Siena, Ben Sheppard, Belmont Sr. G 6-6 Atlanta, Ga. (Greater Atlanta Christian), Bowen Born, UNI So. G 6-6 Louisville, Ky. (St. Louis Christian Academy), *denotes team "captain" as designated by the league's beat writers and media panel. Transition defense was huge to make up for our turnovers, because 15-15 with the points off turnovers when you have 16 (turnovers) we haven't had that many in a long time. Bradley lost the game "In the summer, my dad would get me up in the morning and say, 'I need your help today. After attending Bradley University and playing on the basketball team from 1947-50, he returned as an assistant coach in 1956 and became Bradley's ninth head coach in 1965. Title. Men's Basketball at Session I - First Round 7 vs 10, 6 vs 11 March 2, 2023 6:00 PM. It pushed me to figure things out, keep up with everyone or be in the lead. He helped the team to two Big Ten Tournament titles and six postseason appearances. We're gonna celebrate tonight and tomorrow we'll get back to work.". The youngest head coach in Division I when he took over with the Phoenix, Wardles Green Bay teams averaged 19 wins per season while facing stiff competition. Watch this highlight video of the Whitnall (Greenfield, WI) basketball team in its game Whitnall vs South Milwaukee Game Highlights - Jan. 31, 2023 on Jan 31, 2023. 02 Mar, 2023. Bradley is the No. I've always said there are two types of coaches, those who are humbled and those who are about to be.". Lafayette County 49. "There was Westmont Park, Prospect Park, others. Adams was a terrific assistant coach, too, and was well-regarded for his contribution to Bradley's recruiting, in particular contacts overseas. 1 seed and outright regular-season champion for the first time since 1996. Bradley won 57-54. "I know it means a lot to the city, to the university, and to the community," Bradley coach Brian Wardle said . Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve. Because it is a numbers game.". Still, Jones says he won't carry any grudge into those rivalry games in 2022-23. Is that the biggest thing you guys have going for you down there? Academy for one season before returning to Ensworth as a fitness instructor and assistant coach in volleyball and basketball . championships, the final two when he became the first Black head coach in a major American sports league, died on Sunday. We've won Arch Madnesses back to back, we've checked those boxes. Bradley is the No. Goal's to get back to that NCAA Tournament and hopefully put ourselves in a position to win some games it's one day at a time, one game at a time. It's just a really good league. @BradleyBraves. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com, Bradley coach Brian Wardle yells at the referee on Sunday, March 10, 2019, during the championship game of the Missouri Valley Tournament that was won by Bradley over Northern Iowa 57-54. Bradley has continued to thrive under Wardles leadership since the championship runs. "I don't care what anyone says: That's the identity of our program. I couldn't figure out how a man could swim that long.". When (Henry) hit that dunk and Malevy hit that corner 3, I mean felt good that that crowd was energizing us and energizing us defensively, too. All the way up the sidelines and then two rows behind the baselines.". His death was . The Braves have had 14 coaches in their 118-season history. I'm very grateful, humbled. Prior to taking over the Braves program in 2015, Wardle compiled a 95-65 overall record at Green Bay, a five-year run that culminated with consecutive 24-win seasons and three-straight postseason appearances. The Bradley Braves men's basketball team represents Bradley University, located in Peoria, Illinois, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. 52-49 (W) Bradley vs. Lafayette County. 8 seed Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament in St. Louis. Is your case there if you need it? Better than you dreamed of? . [1] As a senior, he averaged 18.8 points per game. And what is his scouting report on Bradley? What to watch for Bradley at the MVC tournament, How to watch Bradleyat the MVCtournament TV, tickets, game time, How Bradley Hall of Famer Lindsay Stalzer ended up back playing volleyball in America, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. There's about 60 of those stickers. After the 2009-2010 season, Wardle was named head coach at UW-Green Bay. The Valley All-Bench Team included Henry, Sardaar Calhoun (Drake), Ja'Kobi Gillespie (Belmont), Chance Moore (Missouri State) and Landon Wolf (Northern Iowa). You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. And here you are today. STA00221PO23 . Fact by fact, story by story. It's well-coached, preparation's tremendous, everyone guards you. Conference tournament champion. All our kids and grandkids are athletic, but my wife and I were into music. Rienk Mast was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference first team, while Leons earned second-team honors and also earned a spot on the Valley's All-Defensive Team. Adams previously has held both positions at Georgetown High School. (Photo by Matt Riley, UVA Athletics) September 15, 2019. Whitnall High School (Greenfield, WI) Varsity Basketball The Braves won the regular-season Missouri Valley Conference championship for the first time in 27 years with a 73-61 win over Drake before a sellout crowd of 10,458. His wife, Lecia, was born in Wisconsin but grew up in Sarasota, Fla. "We backed a member of the New Vaudeville Band with its song, Winchester Cathedral (a 1966 song by the British band that went to No. Bradley is the No. G/F 6-6 Eldridge, Iowa (North Scott High), Darnell Brodie, Drake Sr. F 6-10 Newark, N.J. (Newark East Side)/Seton Hall, Zek Montgomery, Bradley So. A 2006 graduate of Division III Lawrence University in Wisconsin, Bradley played for Hillsdale College head coach John Tharp during the coach's tenure with the Vikings prior to coming to Hillsdale in 2007-08. He sketched out this little sign when he was really young: "Born to compete." Bravescoach Brian Wardle wanted them, and knew just who to get them from: His father, Jim Wardle. We couldn't let them get 3s. Bradley's Coach Wardle named MVC Coach of the Year F 6-6 Saskatoon (Athol Murray College of Notre Dame), *Tytan Anderson, UNI So.