PEORIA — Bradley University men’s basketball returned to national consciousness in 2019 with an inspired run to the NCAA tournament after its first Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship in a generation.
And for that, they are the Journal Star’s sports story of the year.
It was a year that saw a perfect storm of rebirth and redemption in the spring when BU went on an emotional ride to its first NCAA appearance since 2006. Then in a subplot no one wanted, the university found itself in a free speech and press access controversy with a longtime Journal Star beat writer.