Bradley Receives Only APR Recognition

Editor: The following is part of press releases from NCAA.org and BradleyBraves.com.

Bradley’s basketball team is the only Missouri Valley Conference team to be recognized for academic excellence. The Braves are one of more than 1,200 teams from 312 Division I schools — including this year’s national champions in men’s and women’s basketball —have been recognized for academic excellence after scoring in the top 10 percent of their sports in the most recent Academic Progress Rates.

The APR is an annual scorecard of academic achievement calculated for all Division I sports teams.

Teams earning Public Recognition Awards increased to 1,284, up by 79 from the previous academic year, largely as a result of an increase in perfect scores. Of the teams recognized, 457 competed in men’s or mixed sports, and 827 competed in women’s sports. APRs for programs in the top 10 percent ranged from 985 to a perfect 1,000, and the number of teams posting perfect scores increased to 1,188, marking an increase of 98 teams from last year.

“I applaud every program earning a Public Recognition Award this year for their commitment to going above and beyond to prepare students for life after college through academic achievement,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said. “To have nine national champions so far this year — including men’s and women’s basketball — be among those recognized illustrates that student-athletes succeed athletically and academically.”

A school-record seven Bradley University programs were recognized by the NCAA for outstanding academic achievement, earning Academic Progress Rate (APR) Public Recognition Awards. The Braves men’s basketball, men’s golf, men’s soccer, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s tennis and women’s track programs each collected the honor from the NCAA.

Bradley’s seven recognized programs are not only a school record but the most in the Missouri Valley Conference, with Loyola ranking second with six honorees.

For the second-straight year, Bradley is the only men’s basketball program in the Missouri Valley Conference and the state of Illinois to receive the honor. The team earned the accolade for the second time in the 13-year history of the APR program.

(Editor: Valparaiso did receive this recognition last season, which was their final year in the Horizon League)