"Hasn't been done in a long time here. "I believe in this team, and I like this team against anybody. It pushed me to figure things out, keep up with everyone or be in the lead. His death was . Basketball did not come easy to Brian Wardle. "Then about a week ago, Brian Wardle called me. List of Bradley Braves men's basketball head coaches. Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. Bradley scored 12.5 points per game and added 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Ohio Cardinal Conference champion Tygers. Bradley won 57-54. But I don't know. Division regular season champion When I work out, when I'm in the car, all the time. It remains to be seen how long Coach Wardle will stay with BU, as his success in . "I was not very good in basketball for a while, I got cut from teams in fifth grade and sixth grade," Wardle said. You have permission to edit this collection. Wardle believes deeply in his family, the one on the basketball court at Bradley, the one that raised him, and the one he's raising now. "Yeah it is. Bradley beat Valpo 80-66 to take the MVC championship. 0. The official 2022-23 Men's Basketball Roster for the Bradley University Braves . G 6-6 Brookhaven, Ga. (McEachern High)/Arkansas, Landon Wolf, UNI Fr. We'd go up to Wisconsin and he'd get up in the morning and swim the length of Kangaroo Lake, where we stayed, all the way to the other side and back. Wilkins in transition right away. And how Brian Wardlegot his middle name, Murphy. Wardle led the Braves to a 23-8 overall record and a 16-4 mark in the Valley, the latter tied for the most conference wins in program history. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. You got a good healthy balance, can't be one-dimensional offensively. "Yeah, believe me. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Does Bradley deserve to go? And I never played sports, only a little bit in high school. Bradley's Brian Wardle Named 2023 MVC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year. G 6-3 Newton, Iowa (Newton), Tucker DeVries, Drake So. Underwood is the 18th head coach in Illinois history, hired in March 2017 as the Richmond Family Endowed Men's Head Basketball Coach. (Troy), Drew Friberg, Belmont Gr. Phone. Individual success has also become common under Wardles leadership and was most recently highlighted with the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year and the programs first All-Valley First Team selection in 11 seasons. "We've been connected a long time, and he let me know there might be an opportunity for me at Bradley," Jones said. We'll think about these things some time in April. Mike Bargen and Jimmie Foster have anchored Wardle's coaching staff, and both are deserving of the promotions they received Wednesday. "My dad gets things done fast, great quality and price, so we had to use him. Named the schools 14th head coach in March 2015, Wardle was first tasked with turning around a Bradley program that had not posted a winning conference record in the previous six seasons with the Braves finishing last in the Valley the year before his arrival. 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. I mean there are a lot of factors to win this time of year, and depth is always big. In 2015, he left to take the coaching job at Bradley, which posted a 9-24 record the season before his arrival . Guard Duke Deen was named to the MVC All-Newcomer team. Bravescoach Brian Wardle wanted them, and knew just who to get them from: His father, Jim Wardle. : https:// bubrav.es/3IcpjtV And being able to get guys a round of applause and get them out of the game in the last minute was big for me. He sketched out this little sign when he was really young: "Born to compete." (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. 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! Conference regular season champion Bradley lost the game Missouri Valley Conference:Path is set: Bradley men's basketball gets schedule. Wardle was asked to keep wearing a red pair of shoes his wife had bought him. They have children Davin, 8, Emery, 11 and Mya, 14. "I think we can compete with anyone. 20 UNLV in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual champion Louisville. "We were in the NCAA field in 2020, no doubt, we were with that championship. 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. I mean you got to have a little luck on your side always but you guys stay healthy. 2022-23 Men's Basketball Coaching Staff. A native of Willowbrook, Illinois, Wardle was a two-time all-state selection at Hinsdale Central High School, where he ranks as the schools all-time leading scorer and rebounder. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve. In his eight seasons with the Braves, Versace led the team to three regular-season Missouri Valley Conference championships, two Valley titles and NCAA Tournament appearances, and the 1982 National Invitation Tournament crown. He posted a 73-87 record over parts of three seasons with the Pacers. [3] Tenure. Final. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson), Bradley coach Brian Wardle gestures during the first half of a first round men's college basketball game against Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday, March 21, 2019. (Episcopal)/George Mason, Julian Larry, Indiana State So. I'll reflect on this award in April some time.". Just don't say that to Brian Wardle, who says he has a competitive nature much like his mother, Cindy, a feisty proud Irish-Catholicfrom the south side of Chicago, the product of a blue-collar, hard-working family. Provided. The official Men's Basketball Coach List for the Bradley University Braves Skip To Main Content . Most of the discussion on BradleyFans.com is about basketball and specifically, Bradley basketball, so click on the top Forum titled Basketball Fan Talk. He has won nearly 69 percent of his games during his nine years as a Division I head coach, recording seven 20-win seasons. Academy for one season before returning to Ensworth as a fitness instructor and assistant coach in volleyball and basketball . Wardle still remembers his time toiling in the familyshop. Tonight and in the days to come we've got work to do. It was just a big game for everybody.". Kenny Strawbridge, UE Sr. G 6-6 Rockford, Ill. (Rockford Lutheran)/Alabama St. Garrett Sturtz, Drake Gr. 1 seed and outright regular-season champion for the first time since 1996. "They are taking on more responsibility with this new role," Wardle said. He'd sort them out and put them back in the racks. Additionally, the Braves have led the league in academic honorees in each of the last four seasons with their 15 total selections four more than any other team in the conference. "Brian was very, very competitive as a little kid," said Jim Wardle, 66. That hurt. PEORIA Bradley men's basketball has about 60 Bradley shield logo decals scattered on its practice floor, a sign of the COVID-19 era and social distancing.. Braves coach Brian Wardle wanted . Brian Wardle: A look at the Bradley University basketball head coach. ST. LOUIS, Mo. G/F 6-7 Waukee, Iowa (Waukee High), Marcus Domask, S. Illinois Sr. F 6-6 Waupun, Wis. (Waupun High), Ben Krikke, Valparaiso Sr. F 6-9 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Jasper Place), Rienk Mast, Bradley Jr. F 6-9 Groningen, Netherlands (Donar Groningen), Roman Penn, Drake Gr. "I don't know how they'll do with a basketball when they reach 66.". Sycamores ake 4 free throws to cut to 70-64. Former Bradley University basketball coach Dick Versace, who went on to coach in the NBA, died Feb. 25 in Chicago, which he made his home most of his adult life. Conference tournament champion. Kind of reset a little bit in that timeout, and we did that. Wardles recruiting efforts at Green Bay resulted in several players of note. "Hated to lose, still does. Top-seeded Bradley meets No. 0:05. He was right over there in Bloomington, and he fits our culture.". 15 Miami, Wardle's final Green Bay squad followed with a 24-9 record in 2014-15 and earned an at-large selection to the NIT after finishing as runner-up in the Horizon League regular season and postseason tournament. What's your take on that? Bradley is the No. Featuring the nations youngest team in his first season on campus and the youngest in the conference each of his first three years, Wardle quickly improved BUs fortunes increasing by eight wins in 2016-17 and seven victories in 2017-18, while earning the schools first 20-win campaign in nine years to cap the early success. bradleybraves.com. Lafayette County 49. "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. And you got to be able to defend and rebound. We did a good job of taking good shots all game.". In his tenure, Bradley has won back-to-back arch madness tournament championships in 2019 and 2020, as well as leading Bradley to their first regular season championship since the 96-97 season, while being the favorites to win 2023's Arch Mandess tournament. 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. (Manual High)/DePaul, Cameron Henry, IndSt. His wife, Lecia, was born in Wisconsin but grew up in Sarasota, Fla. [1], Bradley's current head coach is Brian Wardle. "He picked up the guitar a little bit. Ja'Shon at the end with that monster dunk had so much emotion What what's your take about that moment? To qualify for the Hall of Fame a coach must have coached Varsity/College Head Basketball for 20 years or more and/or accumulated 300 or more victories. 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 . Tweets by Amie Bradley. (AP Photo/Michael Woods), Bradley coach Brian Wardle talks to his team during a time out against Arkansas during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, in North Little Rock, Ark. We stayed in the middle better, and all those things are gonna be huge going into Arch Madness.". As I got older, I got better every year.". Overall, Bradley has featured 10 all-conference performers during the last five seasons leading the league with three selections during the 2019-20 campaign. @CoachAmie5. I listen to old-school hip-hop, kind of from my basketball roots, and my wife likes country so I listen to that, too. "I was kind of uncoordinated, couldn't really dribble the ball real well. Bradley University 2023 All Rights Reserved 1501 W. Bradley Avenue Peoria, IL 61625. Bradley is the No. Full Release (PDF) "Yeah, you know, I think they went up 41-40. 76-65. Bradley basketball:Why Bradley's projected starting lineup might surprise you, plus MVC's great expectations The Brian Jones resume. He was hired in March 2015 [2] to replace Geno Ford, who was fired after the 2014-15 season. We're gonna celebrate tonight and tomorrow we'll get back to work.". "Standup, high-character guy. Last chance! Shane Steichen confirmed Jim Bob Cooter will be the Colts offensive coordinator, Cam Turner will coach QBs and Reggie Wayne will return to coach WRs. ", More: How Bradley Hall of Famer Lindsay Stalzer ended up back playing volleyball in America. You don't know how these games are gonna go. In his first seven seasons on the BU sideline, Wardle has built Bradley into a perennial Missouri Valley Conference contender, capped by winning back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2020. Conference regular season and conference tournament champion "So they hit the ball. "Brian never really played music," said Jim Wardle, laughing. They married, and she spent two years traveling with him. "I don't get Coach of the Year, Rienk first team All-Conference, Malevy Defensive Player of the Year, Zek Most Improved team, Ja'Shon Sixth Man, all the guys, all the honors, none of that happens if we don't all work together," Wardle said. Bradley University Head Men's Basketball Coach Brian Wardle has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. I got a lot of respect for (Drake coach) Darren (DeVries) and his program. Feb 1, 2023 @ 7:07pm. Russell, who propelled the Celtics to 11 N.B.A. Smart basketball is huge this time of year. And what is his scouting report on Bradley? Women's Basketball Hitting the Road for SIU and Missouri State - Bradley University Athletics. My favorite. [2], He was director of basketball operations at Marquette from 20032005 and an assistant coach at UW-Green Bay from 20052010. He was always in the driveway. Bradley played basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks under legendary Coach Nolan Richardson, and was a four-time letterman from 1996 to 1999. We couldn't let them get 3s. He finished his basketball career as an executive with the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies. Channel: Basketball Fan Talk & Other Sports. While building for success on the floor, Wardle has also made academic success and community involvement pillars of the Bradley program. He was an assistant coach at Green Bay from 2005-10, before being named Phoenix head coach April 15, 2010. That was special, because that's what you want as a coach, you want to build your community and you want to bring a lot of pride and excitement to your city. That's partly from what he learned in the Devine driveway and in the parks around Westmont and Clarendon Hills. In 2015, he left to take the coaching job at Bradley, which posted a 9-24 record the season before his arrival and a 5-27 record after the year in which he arrived. I said we're gonna win these next three games starting with Southern we're gonna win it because we're gonna be connected and we're gonna execute and play with all-out effort and play together. So is my staff, and I got a great staff. Bradley announced Versace's death in a news release Saturday morning, hours before the Braves finished the regular season with a 79-55 win over Valparaiso at Carver Arena. Execution's huge.