Rumors

[tornado]

Here are a couple things I heard discussed at the Savvis.
Not that I guarantee they are perfectly accurate, but take it or leave it.

Saihou Jassey is looking good, and really, really doesn't want to redshirt, and was hoping to be able to play some this season.
He works hard, has a decent outside shot, and is very quick to finish around the basket. If he were 10-15 lbs. more muscular, he'd have been given some playing time.
But he will likely end the season with zero playing minutes and be able to get four more years. Not by his decision, but by coaching decision.

Zack Andrews is ready to play but 3-4 reasons have limited his playing time in the tourney.
Coach Les is just using his decision to find the best matchups. Zach is not as experienced and the seniors. Zach will get his time, and will impress when he does, because he is ready. And during the practices this past week in preparation for the games this weekend, Jim viewed everyone's performances and made decisions that he thought best.

Recruiting- we should hear something soon, maybe a juco.
But if we don't get someone for this fal, then one of the open schollies for just on year might just go to a local kid who has a 5th year of eligibility.

Are the kids having any fun?
You bet, and in case you don't catch the funky player intros, check it out and see if it looks like they are having fun.
But when the tip goes up, they are dead serious about going out as champs.

Has BU gained the respect of the rest of the Valley.
If the hundreds of unsolicited comments everywhere we go are any reflection, anyone wearing red in this town is told how they really DO respect Bradley, how important it is to get BU back on top again, and how they envy Bradley's proximity to the recruiting epicenter of the world, Peoria and Chicago!

Is POB going to be back next year.
Book it!
The one person who has the most influence says it's so.
(but the offers of going first round are lying right around the corner and have been known to change people's minds)

One last rumor.
As soon as all the games are over (hopefully that will last several more weeks) Jim and staff will hit the recruiting trail with 2 more scholarships to give right now for this fall, and at least 3 more for 2007-2008, you will be hearing some news soon.

[Big Mike]

............keep up the good work scoop......I mean Big Wind!

Some of the best news I read in a while was in today's PJS.........Boogie wsaid his sister ..Jasmin has verballed to the Braves........I think her atheletic abilities are just whaaat the womens team are lacking! Congrats to the Wrights for raising some fine kids!

[tornado]

Let me second that as well.
I was down at floor level 1-1 1/2 hours before the game yesterday, and caught a lot talk between the BU players, coaches, members of the press, fans, and others.
Boogie is just the most courteous, polite, and quiet kid you can imagine.
He could draw a crowd all by himself with his incredible moves in the workouts that occur early enough that hte refs weren't out there, and everyone could dunk.

When they were doing some one-on-one work, Boogie and Zach really went at it, and were working so hard the coaching staff stepped in to stop them so nobody would get hurt. But it was all in great fun as well, since Boogie & Zach are great friends and former teammates of our fine poster-Coach Corn.
I loved watching them and I'm going back again at 11AM to get in as early as possible again.

[thefish7]

Don't mean to start a rumor or anything... But did JC see any minutes during the tourney? I don't think I remember him playing at all.... that being hte case, do you think he's going to transfer? If he does does the scholarship appear this year or next?

[bradley fan]

He did not play. I would not have made much of that, except that Les did put walk-on Brian Lavin in the game at the end today. Not JC.

[thefish7]

I was thinking the same thing about Lavin. Either he's hurt, or maybe he is going to leave.

[crpacey20]

i was thinking it was because he was 5-6", and a walk on.

[tornado]

I sat right next to Marcellus Sommerville's family yesterday, and before the game, Lance Stemler and Mike Rembert came up and talked for quite some time.
They are still friends with the coaches and players and were clearly there to cheer BU on and they were having a good time.
From what I heard, I think it is still possible that Lance may be back in Peoria, but he is receiving interest from St. Louis U., Kent State, Northern Illinois, Marquette, Nebraska and South Florida.

By the way, Lance picked up even more honors over the weekend.
In addition to being named Feb. 8-15 National Junior College Player of the Week, and District 24 Player of the Year,
he was just named Conference Player of the Year by the Great Rivers Athletic Conference.

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/sports/14006858.htm

[thefish7]

From what I heard, I think it is still possible that Lance may be back in Peoria, but he is receiving interest from St. Louis U., Kent State, Northern Illinois, Marquette, Nebraska and South Florida.

Wow. I'd figured we lost out on Lance when he left the school.

[Grassman]

Some pretty strong "Rumors" out of Pekin, have Jeremy Crouch headed for The Titans of Illinois Wesleyan!
If that happens, it would be a nice scholarship to get Danny Adams back for another year.
He plays hard, has improved defensively, can shoot, and knows the system.

[BradleyBrave]

Some pretty strong "Rumors" out of Pekin, have Jeremy Crouch headed for The Titans of Illinois Wesleyan!
If that happens, it would be a nice scholarship to get Danny Adams back for another year.
He plays hard, has improved defensively, can shoot, and knows the system.

Those were pretty strong about a month or so ago, and then died down. I'm saddened to hear that, as I think JC could and would be a valuable contributor for the next 2 years.

[Dallas Brave]

Some pretty strong "Rumors" out of Pekin, have Jeremy Crouch headed for The Titans of Illinois Wesleyan!
If that happens, it would be a nice scholarship to get Danny Adams back for another year.
He plays hard, has improved defensively, can shoot, and knows the system.

Those were pretty strong about a month or so ago, and then died down. I'm saddened to hear that, as I think JC could and would be a valuable contributor for the next 2 years.

I hope he stays. I think he will be an important contributer his jr and sr years.

[crpacey20]

I've heard the rumors indirectly.......and im sure there are going to be people who totally disagree with me on this one....

but does anyone else think that this new age bradley team is maybe just a grade above JC talent wise?

BIGGER STRONGER FASTER?

Is he really any of these?

(And don't attack me if I'm wrong, but IIRC, JC's minutes went down this year from last.....whos to say that wont happen again?)

[thefish7]

For me it's that he lost all of his confidence. He was a decent 3-shooter last year, and pretty much bad. The problem with JC (as I saw it, and I'm anything but a decent evaluator of basketball talent) was that he was always a step behind or out of position on defense. When his shooting left him he kind of had nothing to offer. If he can start shooting again he could be good for Bradley, but if he's cold, it seems to me he doesn't offer much-- I hope I'm wrong about that.

[BUBraves06]

Some pretty strong "Rumors" out of Pekin, have Jeremy Crouch headed for The Titans of Illinois Wesleyan!
If that happens, it would be a nice scholarship to get Danny Adams back for another year.
He plays hard, has improved defensively, can shoot, and knows the system.

I heard the same thing.