Arch Madness Championship - UNI (6) vs Bradley (5)

[unipanther99]

UNI has had some very good luck in the MVC tournament in the past, and we've had some very deserving teams. I would have been proud to support UNI in the NCAA's this year, but it's a stretch to call this team deserving. If luck has to fall to another team, I'm fine with it being Bradley, who hasn't been to the NCAA's since '06.

[BCPanther]

Congrats to Bradley. Looking forward to seeing them do some damage in the bracket.

I think the rule was enforced correctly. If you look at that play in it's totality, common sense doesn't seem to say that play is worth 4 free throws and the ball out of bounds. But common sense doesn't seem to be a part of the college rule book these days, and replay is a big part of that. In limited form, it did help fix a few really bad issues with clock situations, but it's expanded too far.

The loss is not on the officials. UNI played how they played much of the year. Hot and cold. Cold caught up with them at the wrong time on Sunday.

Man I would be losing my SH1T if it was Illinois State who lose the MVC finale in that fashion. You're way too relaxed about it for me.

It was the right call by rule. I mean we can yell and scream and whatever but, by rule, the minute you go the monitor you lose discretion. It's black and white that McDonnell hit him in the face after a dead ball whistle. By rule, the fact that he got bumped into him doesn't matter. It sucks but the guys on the floor got it right by the book.

The other calming factor for me at least is that we went from total dumpster fire in November/December to the title game. We've also got the best player in program history for the next three years and we've got pretty much every meaningful contributor coming back (the Wyatt Lohaus of Friday and Saturday is not the real Wyatt Lohaus) plus we add two guys that had to sit out in Phyfe and Croft that will be big contributors and a recruiting class that everybody is really excited about. We're set up for a 5 or 6 year run that's much closer to vintage UNI.

With the run we've had for the last decade, its hard to get mad about not 'stealing' a bid in a year where we weren't consistent at all.

[Majik45]

I've been watching too many highlights today, but thought this was interesting. If Lohaus makes the game tying 3 at the end, they would have gone back to review it and it appears the ball was still on his finger tips when the clock hits zero. Could you imagine the heartbreak that could have caused?

Go to 2:09 in this recap video and from what I see, the ball is still on his finger tips and he hasn't finished his follow through when the light goes on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTQ3pvIENWs&t=134s

[BCPanther]

I've been watching too many highlights today, but thought this was interesting. If Lohaus makes the game tying 3 at the end, they would have gone back to review it and it appears the ball was still on his finger tips when the clock hits zero. Could you imagine the heartbreak that could have caused?

Go to 2:09 in this recap video and from what I see, the ball is still on his finger tips and he hasn't finished his follow through when the light goes on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTQ3pvIENWs&t=134s

If there is a heartbreaking way to lose, the UNI Athletic Department has typically found it over the years. The Jesperson heave was the slightest of paybacks for all the shitty things that have happened to us in the last 12ish years.

[BradleyBrave]

UNI fans have always been some of the nicest folks you'll ever meet. That didn't change before or after yesterday's game.

Was always a big UNI backer when they danced in the past, and more often than not the Panthers came through for the league. Hope we can get the same support and return the favor.

[DrakeFanInSt.Louis]

I've always been impressed with Bradley fans when I roadtrip to Peoria for the Drake @ Bradley annual game. Even though Bradley has had a string of down years, there is usually a solid fan base. To clarify my earlier comment, I was just a little surprised that Bradley, with its enviable loyal home fan base, didn't bring more to St. Louis. Since Bradley can consistently put 5,000 butts in chairs during Bradley's down years, I believed Bradley was capable of easily putting 5,000 butts in St. Louis for an MVC championship game, which is less than 2 hours down the road.

If Bradley takes a game in the NCAA tournament, I predict Bradley's average home game attendance next year will be 7,500. Peoria supports that team. Go Braves, bring the MVC an upset in the NCAA's!

I remember watching Bradley lose to Tulsa in the MVC championship game back in 1996. Packed the Enterprise Center (f/k/a Kiel Center) with 8,000 Bradley fans, but dropped the game to a lesser Tulsa squad.