You Are There – Arch Madness Reactions

Bradley On Court Reactions to the Title

(St. Louis, MO) – What is it like right after a thrilling tournament championship game victory? Today, we take you to Enterprise Center immediately after Bradley secured the Arch Madness title. You are there!

Moments after Bradley edged Northern Iowa 57-54 for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title, fans storm the court, media members descend and reality sets in. Bradley players realize they are tournament champs and they are going to the ‘Big Dance’.

Luuk van Bree who was a defensive force all weekend long.  Because the Braves had been on a four-year journey, he says the championship was a great reward.

“It’s been a journey,” said van Bree. “There are not short cuts. That’s why it is so satisfying.”

Head coach Brian Wardle saluted the fans.

“We did it for a lot of Braves fans that have waited a long time for us to get back into the tournament, but also to win this tournament in St. Louis. The ‘arrival’ has been our slogan, but today it was about ‘the comeback‘” This was Bradley’s first Arch Madness title.

An emotional Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye says winning this tournament is a dream come true.

“You can’t make this up,” said Lautier-Ogunleye. “The first year, we had ups and downs, we were naïve freshmen thinking we could make a massive impact and we won five games. We said we were going to change the program. That sounded ridiculous, it sounded outrageous and no one really believed it except the guys in the room. We said we wanted to turn the program 360 and change it completely and take it back to the rich tradition it had. Knowing I’m able to do it today with the rest of guys as a senior is a dream come true.”

The Coach Speaks

Wardle believed the team was built on a solid foundation.

“We’ve done it the right way,” said Wardle. “That’s what I’m most proud of. We started at the bottom and now we’re here. (we have) high character guys who carry themselves the right way.”

He says the championship game, summed up their season.

Kind of the story of our year, summed up in one game,” explained Wardle. “The ups and downs, staying together, persevering, players staying together in the huddle. We found a lineup and we stuck with it like we’ve done all season.”

You Are There

Now, we will take you to the floor! You’ll hear exclusively from Elijah Childs, Luqman Lundy, Lautier-Ogunleye and Wardle. You are there.

 

 

Wearing Red Shoes to ‘The Dance’

Wardle wore a pair of red shoes all weekend. Apparently his team is undefeated when he wears those kicks. So the fourth year head coach will be wearing them during the NCAA Tournament.

“I’m not a real superstitious guy but my staff is and they wanted the red shoes,” laughed Wardle. “We’re undefeated with them this year. They will be out there and on that floor when we play our next game.”

And his team will be battle tested. What the Loyola Ramblers’ Final Four run taught Wardle is that the Valley schedule prepares teams for the grind of March Madness.

“We know that our league prepares us for these tournaments on how disciplined we need to play the teams we play,” said Wardle.

Sunday night the Braves will learn who they play and where they play them, but the one thing we know is that Brian Wardle will be wearing those red shoes.

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