My take aways from this season.

[BuAlum03]

Bradley is a decent basketball team. Not bad. Not great. Decent. I don't see anyway how this team won't be picked for 4th next year. This past season BU beat most of the teams they were better than and lost to the ones they weren't as good as (ODU included).

There are some things the team does well---pressure on the perimeter, get to the foul line, control tempo. And some things it doesnt do well---shoot, handle the ball, rebound.

Add those things up and you have an above average team. Personally, I would like to be better than 4th/5th in our league and "above average". I hope I'm not considered a "basher" or a "hater" for feeling that way.

Having Warren will help but it will be a different world for him. A) he is coming off an injury and B) he will be seeing the other teams #1 defender as opposed to #3 in years past. Don't underestimate how big a deal this is.

Andrew is a nice player, but not a major impact MVC player. I hope I'm wrong. I've made my feelings known about Will Egolf. I like the kid. I hope he produces. I'm just not gonna declare he was our "best offensive big man" and this major contributor we were without. Some feel that way. I don't. No biggie.

The team has a lot of good/decent players. Nothing wrong with that. The players with the most "upside" Eddren McCain and Taylor Brown--really need to improve. I am of the belief that the older players are what they are at this point.

Let's hope this team takes a step forward next year. Staying average or going backwards kinda stinks.

I agree with every single thing you said here, except for Andrew Warren not being a major impact MVC player. I absolutely agree that it will be different for him to face team's #1 defenders, and have defenses key on him, but I believe he has the diversified game and athleticism to overcome that. Good post!

[Redwhite09]

[QUOTE]The team has a lot of good/decent players. Nothing wrong with that. The players with the most "upside" Eddren McCain and Taylor Brown--really need to improve. I am of the belief that the older players are what they are at this point.

Let's hope this team takes a step forward next year. Staying average or going backwards kinda stinks.[QUOTE]


I think making a statement like Eddren McCain and Taylor Brown--really need to improve is kind of what every university would expect from their freshmen...I don't see any university that wouldn't expect their freshmen to improve. That expectation is not unique to Bradley, as I would expect every university to have that same expectations of their freshmen....so I don't really get the point of mentioning that...as that is already a given.

I don't think that most Bradley fans expect to take a step backwards next year....so don't quite understand the comment about "Staying average or going backwards kinda stinks." Where did that come from?

Also, it is my belief that Andrew Warren will be totally AWESOME!

[BUFAN]

I agree with every single thing you said here, except for Andrew Warren not being a major impact MVC player. I absolutely agree that it will be different for him to face team's #1 defenders, and have defenses key on him, but I believe he has the diversified game and athleticism to overcome that. Good post!

I'm gonna have go with lee on this one. Andrew was a nice spotup shooter when the other team was guarding JC but I'm not certain he will do so well with someone guarding him and putting a hand in his face. He cannot create on his own and he is not a great defender. The only resolution I know of is to get another shooter like JC and make AW our no. 2 option, but then who would sit???

[Dubl R 1]

I read this thread... Then just heard the "Mexican hat dance" playing my head.. Jeesh.

That was pretty funny.

[it's boogie time]

I don't think that most Bradley fans expect to take a step backwards next year....so don't quite understand the comment about "Staying average or going backwards kinda stinks." Where did that come from?

I'm not the one you asked, but my guess would have to come from NCAA in '06 to NIT in '07 to CBI in '08 to CIT in '09.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Andrew Warren can do next season. I think he can be first team all valley. He does a lot of things besides score. It'll be interesting to see how he does as the #1 target for defenses.

[yourbradleybraves!]

[quote=leebiddlecome;128070]I am of the belief that the older players are what they are at this point.[QUOTE]

Completely disagree with this post, and I think it is ridiculous to paint such a broad stroke over our players! And so would Zach Andrews, Boogie, Jeff Rabey, Will Franklin, Emmenecker from Drake, and hundreds of other players that "turn it on" their senior year.

[Braves4Life]

I'm not the one you asked, but my guess would have to come from NCAA in '06 to NIT in '07 to CBI in '08 to CIT in '09.

I think A LOT of schools and Alumni would love to have that track record of success and excitement -- especially with all of our injuries and graduations.

[leebiddlecome]

I think A LOT of schools and Alumni would love to have that track record of success and excitement -- especially with all of our injuries and graduations.

Six years ago it is NCAA, NIT, nothing, nothing. Does the addition of two tournaments make the seasons more successful than comparable ones 5-10 years ago?

[leebiddlecome]

[QUOTE=yourbradleybraves!;128138][quote=leebiddlecome;128070]I am of the belief that the older players are what they are at this point.

Completely disagree with this post, and I think it is ridiculous to paint such a broad stroke over our players! And so would Zach Andrews, Boogie, Jeff Rabey, Will Franklin, Emmenecker from Drake, and hundreds of other players that "turn it on" their senior year.

Playing time helped alot of those guys produce greater numbers. Jeff Rabey--he is an exception. He got a lot better from JR to SR year. Same for Jerome Robinson.

Generally, there is a lot less growth between a players JR and SR years then earlier in their careers. Its a pretty tried and true model.

[Braves4Life]

I am of the belief that the older players are what they are at this point.

Generally speaking this may be true. However, after last night's ODU game I now have a different impression of Chris Roberts regarding this statement. I think if he puts in the necessary work over the summer that he may have a "break-out" senior season. I was not a believer before but have now changed my opinion.

And I am hopeful that Warren comes back with a major chip on his shoulder and becomes "That Man". We really need a 20+ ppg scorer to lead us back to "The Promised Land"..... It's been too long.

[Beninator]

I've made my feelings known about Will Egolf. I like the kid. I hope he produces. I'm just not gonna declare he was our "best offensive big man" and this major contributor we were without. Some feel that way. I don't. No biggie.

I strongly believe that Will Egolf was our best offensive big man. Will's presence on the floor opened up what we had for an offense.

Get well Will!

[leebiddlecome]

Generally speaking this may be true. However, after last night's ODU game I now have a different impression of Chris Roberts regarding this statement. I think if he puts in the necessary work over the summer that he may have a "break-out" senior season. I was not a believer before but have now changed my opinion.

And I am hopeful that Warren comes back with a major chip on his shoulder and becomes "That Man". We really need a 20+ ppg scorer to lead us back to "The Promised Land"..... It's been too long.

I understand your point--but if Warren is going to be "The Man" and a 20 ppg scorer, and Eddren McCain is our PG, and Sam Maniscalco plays as often as he does when exactly is Chris Roberts going to get the minutes to be a "breakout" player?

There are only so many minutes to go around.

[Braves4Life]

....when exactly is Chris Roberts going to get the minutes to be a "breakout" player?

There are only so many minutes to go around.

That is a GREAT question. It is going to be VERY difficult for Les to pick a top lineup next year (good problem to have). He has several good players and, possibly, no great players. I just hope he can find winning combinations to put on the floor at the same time.

I really think a "star" needs to emerge next year for us to be a very good team. How many great BU teams DID NOT have a 20+ ppg star player?!

[ifarania]

Woah, glad the moderators are around.. Some of us saw the chaos that results when they go to bed... Anyone familiar with the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes???

I do actually have something to say:

This team has a great deal of potential next year, but it's all pretty contingent. I don't think it's fair to make a blanket statement like "they will win the valley" or "they will be in the NCAAs" ... I do know that if they fail to make the NITs, I don't see how JL can stick around any longer.

I have taken a few things... some positive, some critical.

1. I am a huge SM fan. He has the killer instinct, he's a bull dog on both ends of the court, and he's a natural leader. He is the best thing about Bradley basketball going forward.

2. Andrew Warren's shooting and Will Egolf's versatility give this team a lot of potential and a lot of upside. With CR's sheer athleticism, this group has a TON of talent and SHOULD be the 2nd best team in the league next year, at minimum.

3. I think this depends on the coaching strategy and the development of an additional big man. If AT gets big, gets mad, and earns playing time or JP is an impact guy, AND Les and co decide to give a couple bigs simultaneous playing time (maybe 50-65% of the minutes), this team could beat Creighton for the league title. Give me WE and TB, WE and SS, TB and JP, etc. etc. etc.

4. Edge has great floor vision and great penetration skills, but someone needs to teach him how to contest open shots on the defensive end if he wants to be a starting point guard in the Valley. If someone could put SM's heart and tenacity into Edge's raw speed, we'd have an NBA point guard.

5. EM and SM shouldn't play together for extended stretches.. It works well in spurts and to change the tempo, but it shouldn't be the status quo.

6. The weave/Phoenix Suns offense can be a part of the offensive scheme, but I would like to see some more traditional sets integrated into our system. There were FAR too many instances of the team standing around, weaving around for 32 seconds and then horking a nonsensical, low percentage shot.

7. SS's leadership with the young bigs will be critical, and I love his hustle and his heart. His summer workouts should include the following in addition to normal practice: An hour of shooting shots from 5 feet or less, 20 minutes of rebounding practice.. An alternate to rebounding practice: take him outside and have him shag fly balls down at the baseball stadium (e.g., work on his hands).

8. Despite my criticism, I think Les has shown improvement as a coach, but I think he has hit a plateau. He needs to really reflect on what has worked and what hasn't.. And he needs to adjust. The Phoenix Suns offense was a stroke of genius as a reaction to shortcomings on the roster, so I know he can do it... Has he dealt with a statistical wiz? Go over to the econ department (I know a professor or two hold season tickets) and start going through the raw data... Find what works, what doesn't, and build from the numbers! It has reshaped baseball, and it has started finding its way into basketball. Get it done.

I do think he's a very solid recruiter, to be fair.

9. Thank you to Theron and Lavin... And good luck to them in all their future endeavors.

[thefish7]

I understand your point--but if Warren is going to be "The Man" and a 20 ppg scorer, and Eddren McCain is our PG, and Sam Maniscalco plays as often as he does when exactly is Chris Roberts going to get the minutes to be a "breakout" player?

There are only so many minutes to go around.

Well, you've got 120 minutes at the three guard positions. If only those four guys got minutes they'd each play 30. Add Dodie into that mix and you have about 25 minutes each... Which as far as I'm concerned is about how much guys should be playing on average.