PEORIA — In the end the numbers just didn’t add up for Bradley.
Despite posting a program record 21 wins, the Braves were on the outside looking in a the Women’s National Invitation Tournament when the 48-team bracket was announced on Monday.
Illinois State, the regular season champion, and Creighton will represent the Missouri Valley Conference.
“I knew we had a chance but I knew also that we were on the bubble,” Bradley coach Paula Buscher said. “Obviously we’re very disappointed. We wanted a chance to get back on the court. None of us had a great feeling after that last game.”
In not being selected, the Braves (21-10) become just the third Valley team to record a 20-win season and not qualify for either the WNIT or the NCAA Tournament. The 1993 Creighton and 2005 Northern Iowa teams did not make either tournament.
Illinois State was one of 16 teams to receive a bye and will host a second round game against either SMU or Louisiana Tech on March 21, 22 or 23.
Creighton will host California-Riverside on Saturday in the first round.
Bradley’s problems came in the last two weeks. Its RPI rating fell from 88 on March 2 to 114 after Sunday’s conclusions of the conference tournaments.
Losing two of its last three games — to Wichita State (214) to close the regular season and Evansville (153) in the quarterfinals of the MVC Tournament — ultimately doomed the Braves.
“You can sit and look at RPI and look at this game here or that game there (might have factored in),” Buscher said. “There are so many opportunities to second guess. Anytime have to sit and wait and see and not control your own destiny it’s unfortunate.”
Despite posting a program record 21 wins, the Braves were on the outside looking in a the Women’s National Invitation Tournament when the 48-team bracket was announced on Monday.
Illinois State, the regular season champion, and Creighton will represent the Missouri Valley Conference.
“I knew we had a chance but I knew also that we were on the bubble,” Bradley coach Paula Buscher said. “Obviously we’re very disappointed. We wanted a chance to get back on the court. None of us had a great feeling after that last game.”
In not being selected, the Braves (21-10) become just the third Valley team to record a 20-win season and not qualify for either the WNIT or the NCAA Tournament. The 1993 Creighton and 2005 Northern Iowa teams did not make either tournament.
Illinois State was one of 16 teams to receive a bye and will host a second round game against either SMU or Louisiana Tech on March 21, 22 or 23.
Creighton will host California-Riverside on Saturday in the first round.
Bradley’s problems came in the last two weeks. Its RPI rating fell from 88 on March 2 to 114 after Sunday’s conclusions of the conference tournaments.
Losing two of its last three games — to Wichita State (214) to close the regular season and Evansville (153) in the quarterfinals of the MVC Tournament — ultimately doomed the Braves.
“You can sit and look at RPI and look at this game here or that game there (might have factored in),” Buscher said. “There are so many opportunities to second guess. Anytime have to sit and wait and see and not control your own destiny it’s unfortunate.”
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