Postgame thread: ODU 66, Bradley 62

[ifarania]

Interesting that some of the same people who didn't much care for our participation in these "second hand" tournaments are now upset that we did not win the CIT championship.

I would have like to see them win this game, but it's not like we lost in the NCAA Tournament or the Valley championship game.

Um, I was up front screaming my brains out the whole time, thank you very much.

[Bravesfan]

This tournament was about next year because in the scheme of things, winning this tournament doesn't matter. The goal of this tournament should not be to win it. The goal of this tournament should be to give the team more experience so that next season it can be better prepared to do exactly what you say: push for the top of the MVC and the NCAA's.

The tournament should be judged in these terms:
1) Does the team have a better chance of contending for the MVC crown next year with the added experience? (I believe so)

Excellent post! Well said.

[VeveJones007]

Errr.... I'm an economist, so don't give me "sample size".... I would think the data shows a positive correlation with a number of negative basketball statistics... And I personally think it is due to some seriously weak coaching. I didn't say anything about recruiting, although I would probably do a little bit differently...

If I had the data in front of me, I would love to crunch a number of things, though I'd also love to be proved wrong. It should be noted that I LOVE Bradley, I have generally given Les the benefit of the doubt, and I do nothing but support the team on the floor.. But... How much have we been out rebounded during Les' tenure? Does anyone have a correlation between being out rebounded and losing games? Any data on playing a certain number of under-sized players simultaneously and losing games? Any data on the +/- of SS and DC? What about if we play a 5 and 4 simultaneously? This is a COACHING philosophy that is institutionalized and doesn't lead to MVC championships. Tonight was a microcosm of a larger phenomenon, sir.

So you had these same issues before today's game? That's all I'm trying to get at.

Maybe this isn't true for a lot of you, but this season was over for me when the team lost to UNI down in St. Louis. This whole tournament (for me) was just like a summer trip overseas to play in a handful of games. The team gets more practice and games to prepare and get ready to improve for next season.

I agree that JL didn't do his best today. But I think that he has improved in every year that he's been here, so I'm not overly concerned about it. I also think that the team will be better in the front-court in the future, so I'm more confident that the team will have bigger lineups down the road.

[ifarania]

So you had these same issues before today's game? That's all I'm trying to get at.

Maybe this isn't true for a lot of you, but this season was over for me when the team lost to UNI down in St. Louis. This whole tournament (for me) was just like a summer trip overseas to play in a handful of games. The team gets more practice and games to prepare and get ready to improve for next season.

I agree that JL didn't do his best today. But I think that he has improved in every year that he's been here, so I'm not overly concerned about it. I also think that the team will be better in the front-court in the future, so I'm more confident that the team will have bigger lineups down the road.

It was over in a "NCAA tournament meaningful season" sort of way, sure.. But I have had these problems with the staff pretty continuously, but tonight was an overflow of the same problems occurring over and over.. I will concede that this tournament is great practice for next year and a nice way to bank a few extra thousand for the athletic department, but I will not say that I was pleased. I go into anything in life in a competitive fashion, and I felt like we were slighted tonight by poor strategy and a lackluster reaction to a failed game plan.

[BU_EMT128]

I felt like we were slighted tonight by poor strategy and a lackluster reaction to a failed game plan.

Bam... hit the nail on the head.

[Beninator]

We need more size.

Felt like we could use some size tonight....Collins and SS at the same time? ODU had so much size on us it was bad....

Why on earth does TB not play a second in the 2nd half when I thought he played decent in the 1st? He did not play great, but who did?

Theron was not healthy tonight.or at least appeared that way...its a shame he could not get it going like I am sure he wanted to....THANK YOU THERON for your hard work......

Ding ding ding... NO MORE SMALL BALL!

I sat next to mrcoachdude tonight and started the second half TB lottery with mcd around 12 minutes to go in the second half. I would have preferred to see one less guard in the game and put TB in place of that guard. Would this have been a difference maker? Probably not... But I think this would have given us a better chance for rebounds and help SS and DC.

[VeveJones007]

I felt like we were slighted tonight by poor strategy and a lackluster reaction to a failed game plan.

If the guys hit their average on three's, that's either 9 or 12 more points. If the guys don't turn the ball over as many times against that zone, then they probably have more points there as well. Also, don't forget that ODU was stuck on 6 fouls for about the last 7 minutes of the 2nd half. If the refs decided to call something, there were more points there.

I agree that JL needed to make some adjustments (I thought DC needed at least half of Singh's minutes in the last 12 minutes of the game), but there were a number of issues today that could have turned the outcome in BU's favor and not all of them were in the coach's control.

[Beninator]

Great season to you guys.... way to come out and support your team.
I think we stayed on the bus for the first 5 minutes... and your fans were very loud.
Hassell really stepped up toward the end of the year when our capt. (Lee) got hurt. Lee still doesn't seem back to normal to me. Hassell actually has been playing the last month with a stress fracture in his leg.
We're very happy. And we would love to schedule you guys... it's a heck of a road trip though.
Lets talk up a MCV/ACC tournament for the future. You guys are young and the future looks bright. It's been nice surfing your board. Good luck with the recruits and hopefully we'll see you soon.

Congrats to ODU. I would also love for us to schedule a series with your school. Classy fans and a classy school.

[ifarania]

If the guys hit their average on three's, that's either 9 or 12 more points. If the guys don't turn the ball over as many times against that zone, then they probably have more points there as well. Also, don't forget that ODU was stuck on 6 fouls for about the last 7 minutes of the 2nd half. If the refs decided to call something, there were more points there.

I agree that JL needed to make some adjustments (I thought DC needed at least half of Singh's minutes in the last 12 minutes of the game), but there were a number of issues today that could have turned the outcome in BU's favor and not all of them were in the coach's control.

Y'ah, we could have gotten a bounce here or there, y'ah we could have gotten a whistle or two... But that doesn't change the fact that this team is coached in an inefficient and ineffectual fashion. We could be beating that team by 15 points if we ran a smart, efficient system.

[shaunguth]

oh and our best lineup in the game was

SamM
Dodie
Norris
Theron
DC or SS I am not remembering which....

We were up by 8 or 9 with this group and then JL subbed in three guys and our lead was gone in a couple minutes....

I believe that may have been when SM and TW were both taken out. That's bothered me all season, so tonight was no different as far as that goes. At the very least, one of those two should be in the game at all times!

[shaunguth]

Ding ding ding... NO MORE SMALL BALL!

I'm guessing it would take a new coach to get that done. I have nothing against JL and think he's done a fine job, but it's obviously just not his style to play BIG. I don't know if a healthy Egolf would have made a difference in that philosophy or not, but maybe we'll find out next season. I won't hold my breath waiting for Bradley to abandon the "small ball" style though.

[Beninator]

I'm guessing it would take a new coach to get that done. I have nothing against JL and think he's done a fine job, but it's obviously just not his style to play BIG. I don't know if a healthy Egolf would have made a difference in that philosophy or not, but maybe we'll find out next season. I won't hold my breath waiting for Bradley to abandon the "small ball" style though.

I have nothing against JL either... Overall I like the coaching job he has done this year. But, we are recruiting and landing bigger players...
Prosser, Milos, Sean Harris...Wilkins... JL has changed his coaching style from time to time so this makes me optimistic for the future.

[IlliBraves]

Good season Braves... now on to getting ready for next years MVC race and the revival of the WAR ON 74!!!

It is posts like this that justify my reasoning for pulling for ISU in the MVC final and NIT first round.

[SFP]

If we hit a few 3s it is a different game period folks. Also, the refs were letting the players play. We did not adjust to the play calling that well. I also wish we would try to trap a bit when we are pressuring full court. Also I believe SS played way to many minutes but in all honesty DC was not rebounding either. What is a coach to do??????

[Bradleyguy10]

This is the first chance I've had to get on the board...and now that I'm here I don't want to say anything stupid.

We overachieved considering the circumstances....congratulations

We've lost now in two consecutive sub-par post season tournaments...

A part of me is very glad to see this season die. Way too unpredictable..almost to the point of predictability. I will not miss the lack of fundamentals this team seemed to possess. Nice effort, but I emotionally was disconnected a while ago. No two ways around it...we were a very very mediocre (at best) team this year.

Get to work over the off season starting Monday because if this team wants to reach anywhere near a lot of people's expectations (NCAA) we will need to be leaps and bounds ahead of where we were tonight or throughout the season.

Good season all things considered, but I'm happy to let this one go. Hopefully forget about it completely.