Wessler: Since when does Bradley go for gimmicks?

Well, black uniforms didn’t work.

What next? Bradley Braves playing basketball naked?

For the second time in 11 days, Illinois State on Tuesday night exposed the Braves inside and second-chance-pointed them to death. To be sure, this one wasn’t as lopsided as the 19-pointer over in Normal, but in the end, there was ISU freshman Jackie Carmichael scoring the winning points on — what’s this? — not even his second, but his third chance under the Redbirds basket with 49 seconds to play.

“Second-chance points hurt us,” Bradley coach Jim Les said after the 62-61 loss.

What’s new?

I’ll tell you: Black uniforms, worn Tuesday by the Braves for the first time in history.

This was appropriate for one reason. Braveworld is in mourning.

Mourning for a team that can’t figure out how to hang on to double-digit leads in the second half at home. Mourning for a program that has lost what once upon a time was a formidable home-court advantage. Mourning the rapidly increasing likelihood of a date with one of the other Missouri Valley stragglers in the play-in round of the conference tournament next month.

Yes, mourning was the only reason black was appropriate.

Just what the hell was going on here anyway?

Bradley’s school colors are red and white. They’re enshrined in the very title of the school song. “Hail, Red and White,” it’s called.

Red for courage, strength and might,

White for purity;

Shining as a beacon light

For the university.

Nowhere but in the minds of the Bradley braintrust will you find the words: Black because it’s kinda cool.

Hate to break it to you, folks. Wearing black unis won’t turn your heroes into second-place Wichita State.

You have to execute and make big plays down the stretch, play defense and rebound for 40 minutes. Then you win games. You especially win home games.

In this game, you protect your home court with your life. Not with black uniforms.

Black uniforms.

Sheesh.

Is that what Bradley has come to?

I know. You can go all over the world of minor-league pro sports and see crazy uniform promotions almost every night. Pinkies. Greenies. Rainbows. They do it to put fannies in the seats.

When did Bradley, which has won more basketball games than all but 24 teams in the history of college basketball, go minor league?

Since when does Bradley have to resort to a gimmick to goose its crowd and inspire its players at home against the Braves’ archrivals?

Since now, one supposes.

The Braves are 7-5 at home this season. They are 4-3 here in MVC games.

Go inside the numbers. The three Valley losses were to Southern Illinois, Creighton and now ISU. Each of those teams has won only two road games in league play. At Bradley. And at Evansville, which until Tuesday hadn’t beaten an MVC team anywhere since last season.

In other words, Bradley is losing at home to teams that every other decent team in the league is beating.

Here’s a thought. Quit thinking of ways to look good and concentrate on being good.

Incinerate the black uniforms.

Black isn’t even a color. It’s the absence of color.

You know. Like absence of victory.

KIRK WESSLER is Journal Star executive sports editor/columnist. He can be reached at kwessler@pjstar.com, or 686-3216.