BU guards

[tornado]

BU's trio of Darian, Sam M., and Eddren, plus Dodie outplayed SIU's much taller guards.
Sure Mullins got a few points but he nailed only 3 threes early then was totally shut down after that.
Dillard got only what he could get from desperation threes, which is not SIU's game plan, so they took themselves out of their own game plan.
Hare, Roundtree, Clemmons, and Cornelius were non-existent and actually hurt SIU just about every time they touched the ball and turned it over frequently.

[houstontxbrave]

BU's trio of Darian, Sam M., and Eddren, plus Dodie outplayed SIU's much taller guards.
Sure Mullins got a few points but he nailed only 3 threes early then was totally shut down after that.
Dillard got only what he could get from desperation threes, which is not SIU's game plan, so they took themselves out of their own game plan.
Hare, Roundtree, Clemmons, and Cornelius were non-existent and actually hurt SIU just about every time they touched the ball and turned it over frequently.

Dillard is a ton and will be all conference by the time he leaves SIU. Not sure to many of his 3s were desperate but they for the most all went in, as did Mullins when we did not guard him, he has a lot more problems scoring when there is pressure on him.

McCain is a game changer even when he does not shoot alot, when he develops a little 5 - 10 foot running shot instead of trying to get to the rim he will be very difficult to contain.

[tornado]

But giving them those long 3-pointers was clearly part of the game plan and it actually lured them into abandoning any effort to get the ball inside.
It was a stroke of genius, and it worked.

[brocks]

BU's trio of Darian, Sam M., and Eddren, plus Dodie outplayed SIU's much taller guards.
Sure Mullins got a few points but he nailed only 3 threes early then was totally shut down after that.
Dillard got only what he could get from desperation threes, which is not SIU's game plan, so they took themselves out of their own game plan.
Hare, Roundtree, Clemmons, and Cornelius were non-existent and actually hurt SIU just about every time they touched the ball and turned it over frequently.

Bradley's guards are both smaller and more talented. The second characteristic trumps the first any day. I'm a long way from losing my excitement about this young group and their soon-to-be teammates. There will be lots of bumps this season, but good times are ahead.

[tornado]

Maybe in the ACC you gotta have bigger guards, but not necessarily so in the Valley.
Anyway, we have some help coming.......AW, JW, and ???

[houstontxbrave]

But giving them those long 3-pointers was clearly part of the game plan and it actually lured them into abandoning any effort to get the ball inside.
It was a stroke of genius, and it worked.

I agree the BU coaches thought that the 40% from three for SIU was fools gold. Most of that was just what we got today, inside to outside. We clogged up the lane and doubled the post when it went inside, they immediately fell in love with the 3 and anytime that 3 is contested it is much more difficult to make.

We also went to a bigger player I think both Roberts and Dunston spent time on Mullins in the second half.

[Da Coach]

Bradley played a lot of zone defense in the second half. When they played man-to-man, it was mostly Roberts, and to a lesser degree Dodie who guarded Mullins.
I still think Mullins played pretty well, but the rest of his team doesn't seem to do enough to free themselves up and make it easier to score. Most of their freshmen are very athletic, but Dillard is the only one that can create shots, or make them when open.

[pfunk880]

We also went to a bigger player I think both Roberts and Dunston spent time on Mullins in the second half.

I noticed that strategy as well and noticed it really helped.

[dogsrus]

McCain is a game changer even when he does not shoot alot, when he develops a little 5 - 10 foot running shot instead of trying to get to the rim he will be very difficult to contain.[/QUOTE]

BINGO....EM showed a heck of a crossover today but couldn't finish. If he can pull up around 8 ft and drill it he'll have somethin.

[Braves4Life]

I love McCain and think he has a chance to go down as one of Bradley's better point guards. But am I the only one who thinks he seems to dribble the ball a little loosely and too far out from his body? He scares me to death sometime. Fortunately, this hasn't hurt him against a pressure defender -- yet.

[georgethedog]

BU's trio of Darian, Sam M., and Eddren, plus Dodie outplayed SIU's much taller guards.
Sure Mullins got a few points but he nailed only 3 threes early then was totally shut down after that.
Dillard got only what he could get from desperation threes, which is not SIU's game plan, so they took themselves out of their own game plan.
Hare, Roundtree, Clemmons, and Cornelius were non-existent and actually hurt SIU just about every time they touched the ball and turned it over frequently.

Statistically speaking it is bound to happen every once in a while. I want to see it on a more consistent basis. Over an entire season basketball is still a big person's sport. That is why I am looking so forward to next year when we have more big people to play. Our current situation forces Les to play small, but I hope he realizes that it will only get the program so far.

[BradleyBrave]

This game was hardly won by our guards. Not even close. Our sub-6 footers combined for 31 points. They had two combine for 32 points. Their 4 guards had 7 turnovers, ours had 8. Pretty much a wash. Also note that one of the sub-6 footers has been relegated to limited minutes. The midget backcourt chucking 25 3's a game isn't winning anything, and it looks like our staff wisely realized that.

This game was CLEARLY won by our frontcourt. Singh, Collins, Wilson, and Brown won this game, not our guards. Hopefully it's a sign that the staff has finally realized the way to win with this team, and that's working inside-out.

[dogsrus]

This game was hardly won by our guards. Not even close. Our sub-6 footers combined for 31 points. They had two combine for 32 points. Their 4 guards had 7 turnovers, ours had 8. Pretty much a wash. Also note that one of the sub-6 footers has been relegated to limited minutes. The midget backcourt chucking 25 3's a game isn't winning anything, and it looks like our staff wisely realized that.

This game was CLEARLY won by our frontcourt. Singh, Collins, Wilson, and Brown won this game, not our guards. Hopefully it's a sign that the staff has finally realized the way to win with this team, and that's working inside-out.

Agreed...I think out guards played well but no where near total domination. Like you stated, it was won down low with toughness, rebounds and great defense.

Fre throw shooting over 60% never hurts either.

[BradleyBrave]

Agreed...I think out guards played well but no where near total domination. Like you stated, it was won down low with toughness, rebounds and great defense.

Fre throw shooting over 60% never hurts either.

Frontcourt-first has got to be the theme for this team. You can get away with average/marginal guard play if you have strong frontcourt play. We proved that in 2005-2006. If we continue with this attitude and philosophy moving forward, I think we can exceed some expectations in the conference. No one has a dominant frontcourt by any stretch.

[Stryker]

Frontcourt-first has got to be the theme for this team. You can get away with average/marginal guard play if you have strong frontcourt play. We proved that in 2005-2006. If we continue with this attitude and philosophy moving forward, I think we can exceed some expectations in the conference. No one has a dominant frontcourt by any stretch.

I think it's pretty obvious that a good frontcourt goes a VERY long way in the MVC, and in college basketball and even the NBA. From the MVC, look at our success in 05-06, SIU's success with Tatum and similar players, Creighton had Tolliver, etc. Having that good center or post player really is what separates teams in the MVC. A lot of teams have great guards in this conference, but they are only part of the game. This is why I am looking forward to next year and the year after so much with the guys that are coming into the program.

I was really liking where things were going when Egolf stepped up before his injury. However, I do not have faith in DC or SS to bring the dominate performance they brought today. We played a marginal SIU team in a down year with young players that aren't used to playing away from home in this conference. I don't think SIU will place 5th or higher this year in the MVC. I really hope the guys will keep having games like today, but it isn't likely when we play the better teams.

This game did give me reason to believe that we won't be a play-in team this year though!