Basketball Hall of Fame

A new format by the National Invitation Tournament resulted in Bradley playing its most games ever in the NIT at the end of the 1981-82 season on the way to its fourth tournament title, its first since 1964. Despite winning the MVC regular-season championship, Bradley was snubbed by the NCAA after getting upset in the semifinals of the conference tournament and settled for the NIT bid.

Coached by Dick Versace and led by a Big Three of Mitchell Anderson, David Thirdkill and Donald Reese, the Braves climaxed a 21-10 regular season with five more wins in the NIT, which went to a campus format for the first three games.

The Braves whipped American U. 76-65 at home in the first round in Carver Arena* in the first round, won 95-81 at
Syracuse and returned home to down Tulane 77-61 before heading for Madison Square Garden in New York. Oklahoma was eliminated 84-68 in the semifinals before Bradley popped Purdue 67-58 in the title game.

Anderson, who finished with 591 points for the season and 2,341 in his four-year career, was named the Most Valuable Player in the NIT while guard Willie Scott, who teamed with Barney Mines to give BU a potent backcourt duo, joined Anderson on the all-tournament team.

Anderson also was named to the all-Missouri Valley Conference first team while Reese and Thirdkill were voted to the second team.

Pictured:

Seated (from left) Manager Parrish Carter, Associate Coach Tony Barone, Assistant Coach Rudy Keeling, Head Coach Dick Versace, Assistant Coach Jay Eck, Manager Eugene Link, Manager Keith Lorick.

Standing (from left) Manager Paul McCree, Eddie Harris, Eddie Mathews, Anthony Webster, Mitchell Anderson, Donald Reese, David Thirdkill, Pierre Cooper, Kerry Cook, Voise Winters, Barney Mines, Willie Scott.