Long Time Journalists Remember
(St. Louis, MO) – Saturday brings to us the 139th edition of the ‘War on 74’. The basketball game between Illinois State and Bradley is more than just a college basketball game. These two Missouri Valley Conference schools are separated by less than a 40-mile trip on Interstate 74.
While the teams have played games for decades when Illinois State joined the MVC in 1980, the rivalry reached a new level of intensity. Retired sports writers Dave Reynolds (Peoria Journal Star) and Jim Benson (Bloomington-Normal Pantagraph) have fond memories of this storied rivalry.
Reynolds tells us the flames of the ‘War on 74’ were stoked by the clashing personalities of Bradley coach Dick Versace and Bob Donewald. Benson says sold out arenas was the norm in some of the most legendary times of this regional rivalry.
Head to Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts to hear our conversation with Dave Reynolds and Jim Benson.
Thanks for listening and Do Good
Editor: Cover photo of Anthony Parker, courtesy of BradleyBraves.com.
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Just before the tip of the @MatrixMidwest @ValleyHoops Game of the Week you can hear @RacersHoops coach @CoachProhm talk about keys to the game against @SIU_Basketball. #FatherHarry
iCyMi: @SIU_Basketball hosts @RacersHoops in the @GrayMediaGTN @ValleyHoops Game of the Week. 6 pm. Coach Scott Nagy tells how delegation has helped his team improve and produced a confident Saluki squad. #FatherHarry
Rivalry game in @ValleyHoops tonight between @RacersHoops & @SIU_Basketball. Coach @CoachProhm talks about the game and his team, sitting right in the middle of the league race. #FatherHarry
ICYMI: @SIU_Basketball coach Scott Nagy tells us how delegation has led to confidence for this resurgent @ValleyHoops team. Salukis entertain @RacersHoops at 6 pm on @GrayMediaGTN & @MatrixMidwest.
