Bradley=Caretakers

[Da Coach]

Want to read some funny comments? This is from the Creighton fan board. CU just got beat at home by Northern Iowa to go to 2-2. But now they think they'll get back on track by beating Bradley Saturday.

This CU fan calls Bradley "caretakers"- because they are just "a place holder at the top of the league standings" until Creighton takes their rightful place as the Gods of the MVC. Also read the rest of the posts in the thread.

http://thebluejaycafe.com/BB/viewtopic.php?p=129152&sid=9e507db3e4096799e0c71b0d89363774#129152

This fan also posts this about Bradley--
They're committing more turnovers than their opponents. They're getting outrebounded for the season. They don't shoot the 3 especially well. You might think it's defense that's carrying them, and maybe it is, but they've only outscored their opponents by something like 9 points total, for the year, and they're getting outscored by quite a bit in the 2nd half of many of their games. They're hammering some opponents at the free throw line, but no other stat line really stands out for them. Oh, and they play a lot of guys, but for some reason I can't put my finger on, I'm thinking that's not always a surefire path to success.

Facts-
He's right about the turnovers- Bradley averages 15.9 turnovers per game to their opponents 15.2. A slight margin (-0.7 per game) in favor of the opponents.
Rebounds- on the season, Bradley has 511 to the opponents 514- a margin of -0.2, a negligible amount. Bradley has actually outrebounded more opponents than they have been outrebounded by. In conference games, Bradley has a +0.8 rebounding margin.
3-pointers- Overall, Bradley is at 31.5%, not too good.
But, in their MVC games, Bradley is #3 overall in the MVC with a 39.3% percentage on threes.
Scoring margin- for the season is +0.6 per game, but in the MVC games it is +7.0, compared to Creighton's +1.2.
Bradley easily leads the MVC in scoring defense at 57.5 ppg compared to Creighton's 68.0 ppg. Bradley also leads in field goal percentage defense, and three point percentage defense.

[Bradleyguy10]

I hope we keep up the defense in practice and in the games, but figure SOMETHING out about the 3 point shots. Eventually we will be in the situation where the zone is shutting us down and we will have to make a few clutch 3's to keep the defense honest again.

Edit:
This was also said on their board: "Coming off a big win, there is also the potential for a Bradley let down."
My fears EXACTLY.

[BUBalum05]

CU has also played a lousy schedule to date evident by their SOS of 237 with losses to some middle of the road teams.

CU's losses & RPI
@AR Little Rock...154
@Nebraska...123
@ISU...39
UNI...131

Compared to BU's SOS at 38 with loses to some top tier programs.

BU's losses & RPI
@Florida...43
UMKC...204
@Mich St...5
Butler...3
@UWM...78

Those numbers there show me that CU is a team that does not show up on the road.

[dogsrus]

Want to read some funny comments? This is from the Creighton fan board. CU just got beat at home by Northern Iowa to go to 2-2. But now they think they'll get back on track by beating Bradley Saturday.

This CU fan calls Bradley "caretakers"- because they are just "a place holder at the top of the league standings" until Creighton takes their rightful place as the Gods of the MVC. Also read the rest of the posts in the thread.

http://thebluejaycafe.com/BB/viewtopic.php?p=129152&sid=9e507db3e4096799e0c71b0d89363774#129152

This fan also posts this about Bradley--
They're committing more turnovers than their opponents. They're getting outrebounded for the season. They don't shoot the 3 especially well. You might think it's defense that's carrying them, and maybe it is, but they've only outscored their opponents by something like 9 points total, for the year, and they're getting outscored by quite a bit in the 2nd half of many of their games. They're hammering some opponents at the free throw line, but no other stat line really stands out for them. Oh, and they play a lot of guys, but for some reason I can't put my finger on, I'm thinking that's not always a surefire path to success.

Facts-
He's right about the turnovers- Bradley averages 15.9 turnovers per game to their opponents 15.2. A slight margin (-0.7 per game) in favor of the opponents.
Rebounds- on the season, Bradley has 511 to the opponents 514- a margin of -0.2, a negligible amount. Bradley has actually outrebounded more opponents than they have been outrebounded by. In conference games, Bradley has a +0.8 rebounding margin.
3-pointers- Overall, Bradley is at 31.5%, not too good.
But, in their MVC games, Bradley is #3 overall in the MVC with a 39.3% percentage on threes.
Scoring margin- for the season is +0.6 per game, but in the MVC games it is +7.0, compared to Creighton's +1.2.
Bradley easily leads the MVC in scoring defense at 57.5 ppg compared to Creighton's 68.0 ppg. Bradley also leads in field goal percentage defense, and three point percentage defense.

Whatever....we're in first. Smoke and mirrors....if they say so.

The BIGGEST laugh and the most glaring fact that makes you realize this guy has no clue...what has CU and Danan been known for all these years. Playing 10 guys no matter what. DA has always got deep guys involved to keep em interested and sharp so if REALLY needed they were ready.

So when he says thats not the surefire way to success he needs to look in his OWN back yard.

[Big Mike]

For the record....with the Braves on a 5 game win streak...they also lead the Valley(70 after last night) in blocked shots! David Collins is also in 1st place with 24!

[Bradleyguy10]

I also think this guy puts too much emphasis on the point difference. We have only outscored our opponents by 9 points on the year is what he says. Well first of all we've played teams like Florida, MSU, and Butler. Which were all double digit loses and would of course skew how the points difference. Also in MVC play a win is a win is a win by 1 point or 50. If you are making the other team play your style or shutting down their offense so that you can win...who cares how much it is by. (SIUE is a different story)

However the guy has a point....we do tend to end up in the middle of the Valley. Let's hope that changes this year!

[Big Mike]

This is why the Braves are in 1st place......this is all based on Valley play only...it seems thats all that really matters when trying to win the conference!

on O' BU scores 64.5/game

on D' Bu gives up 57.5/game....1st in the Valley

so in my book thats +7/game

BU avg 5.5 blocks/game......1st in Valley

BU avg steals 8.8/game.......2nd in Valley

Sorry but this team is getting more seasoned and playing better game by game....The W's are starting to add up as player's learn their roles and become a team right in front of our eyes....some say stats don't lie.....but neither does the teams record....4-0 baby!

[SFP]

I don't know but if we just lost to UNI at homw and were 2-2, I would believe our fanbase would not be putting down a team that is 4-0 and just beat a team that gave them a beating. Maybe that's just the way our fan base is wired cool-aid and all. I'm sure you will not hear the word caretaker from Dana though.

I suspect there are some real team chemistry problems at CU and no matter how good your personel is if that is off it is real hard to win. Sometimes it's just one player that is the glue that keeps a team on the right path to success and if they depart all hell can break out. One thing we are developing right now is some team chemistry that will go a long way for this program.

[Da Coach]

I do not see much chance of a letdown for Bradley. Maybe if it was a tough road game I'd be concerned about that, but it doesn't happen at home often. And with Creighton being one of the MVC's elite over the last several year, Bradley always seems to play one of their better games against them at Carver.

Remember last year- 2/16/08 at Carver-

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=19332&SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=1390935

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=19332&SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=1390934

Bradley demolished Creighton 87-59 in a game that meant a lot toward conference seedings and postseason possibilities.

[pfunk880]

Whatever....we're in first. Smoke and mirrors....if they say so.

The BIGGEST laugh and the most glaring fact that makes you realize this guy has no clue...what has CU and Danan been known for all these years. Playing 10 guys no matter what. DA has always got deep guys involved to keep em interested and sharp so if REALLY needed they were ready.

So when he says thats not the surefire way to success he needs to look in his OWN back yard.

Yeah, I got a kick out of that too.

[squirrel]

There are 14 one-loss DI teams. Bradley (ISU) and Creighton (Dayton) are each responsible for their not still being 5 unbeaten teams left.

[BUFAN]

Plain and simple, the valley is way down this year and CU is not as good as hyped. Everyone I have ever talked with has great respect for Dana and I think he a fine coach. We took our knocks in the nonconference season and now we are reaping the benifits...

[BradleyBrave]

We will keep caretaking for them all year if they'd like.

[BUconnorD]

"Kings of the Missouri Valley"?????

man...this guy sounds obnoxious

we'll see who's on top saturday...looking forward to a great game

[lefty]

I don't know but if we just lost to UNI at homw and were 2-2, I would believe our fanbase would not be putting down a team that is 4-0 and just beat a team that gave them a beating. Maybe that's just the way our fan base is wired cool-aid and all. I'm sure you will not hear the word caretaker from Dana though.

I suspect there are some real team chemistry problems at CU and no matter how good your personel is if that is off it is real hard to win. Sometimes it's just one player that is the glue that keeps a team on the right path to success and if they depart all hell can break out. One thing we are developing right now is some team chemistry that will go a long way for this program.

I certainly agree with the first part.....but have no idea on the second part