There will be no postseason for the Bradley Braves men’s basketball team this year.
Coach Jim Les announced his decision in a news release late Tuesday afternoon.
“While we have had good experiences in the CBI and CIT the last two years, our focus right now needs to be on preparing the team for next season,” Les said in the release.
The Braves finish the 2009-10 season with a 16-15 record after being beaten by champion Northern Iowa in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley tournament on Saturday. It’s their lowest victory total since going 13-15 in 2004-05.
For the third year in a row, the Missouri Valley Conference will be a one-bid league in the NCAA basketball tournament.
That’s unacceptable.
Commissioner Doug Elgin knows it, and he’s ready to pose a blunt question to his 10 member schools:
THURSDAY'S GAMES
1: (8) Drake 63, (9) Southern Illinois 61
2: (7) Missouri St. 52, (10) Evansville 46
FRIDAY'S GAMES
3: (1) Northern Iowa 55, (8) 40
4: (5) Bradley 81, (4) Creighton 62
5: (2) Wichita St. 73, (7) Missouri State 63
6: (3) Illinois St. 69, (6) Indiana St. 65
SATURDAY'S GAMES
7: (1) Northern Iowa 57, (5) Bradley 40
8: (2) Wichita State 65, (3) Illinois State 51
SUNDAY'S GAMES
Title: (1) Northern Iowa (27-4) vs. (2) Wichita State (25-8), 1:05 p.m.