While supporters of the U of I may be heartbroken by their team's loss to Washington last week, Peoria still has a competitor in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, Bradley University.Founded in 1897 by Lydia Moss Bradley, in memory of her husband and six children, the school grew from an academy-college into a four-year university by 1946. It's now a top business school and home to over 6,000 students. Distinguished alumni include Jack Brickhouse, Chet Walker, Kirby Puckett, and our '58 classmates, Stan Thomas and Ron Wilson, plus Ron's wife, Rita.
Representing the Missouri Valley Conference, the Bradley Braves have made 8 appearances in the NCAA tournament: 1950, 1954, 1955, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1996, and 2006. In 1950 and 1954, they played in the Final Four. This year they beat Kansas and Pittsburgh to reach their first Sweet Sixteen round in 51 years. On Thursday, March 23, Bradley plays Memphis. I'll be watching to cheer them on, and I hope you will, too.
1 comment:
Don't know about anyone else, but my teams are out and I just can't help pulling for George Mason. To set Coach Calhoun's Huskies on their ears like that . . . well, it's sure been interesting so far.
Barbara Edmiston Mitchell
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