I predict Bradley to win the Valley any followers?

[Rusty 54]

NAH...WE DON'T need to be anything, ESPECIALLY "realists" when it comes to sports. Save the realism for the importaint things in life that REALLY matter. Sports, to ME anyway, is all about kool aid, eternal optomism, dreaming...believing....hoping.....

It bears repeating

[real fan]

My mistake on Ricardo, still would like another 6-5 or bigger recruit, DSE would be ok but not sure he wants to play at BU bad enough.

[jeffsu]

It bears repeating

Did you say Bears?


Bears... Braves... Cubs... all things that occasionally need the kool-aid!

[SFP]

Im with you Tulsa. The Shox will be very tough to beat next year.

I also agree they will be tough but what they are lacking is consistant outside shooting. If they cannot hit a 3 consistantly they'll look alot like us this year. They play hard nose D but their offense, especailly on the road, just does not scare me. In order to finish in the top 3 in the league you need to steal some on the road.

[dogsrus]

My mistake on Ricardo, still would like another 6-5 or bigger recruit, DSE would be ok but not sure he wants to play at BU bad enough.

Hey we are one of his final 3......I'd say that says something about his desire to play here.

[houstontxbrave]

I need to see who our final recruit is before I make any bold predictions, no doubt we should be competing for valley titles the next 4 seasons, I would like to see our final scholarship go to the 6-6 kid from Kentucky.

I hope the last recruit is a player of size on the interior, I am not big on any smaller sized guards, even if that guard is from Central Illinois. I know others think the guy from Washington is a must but I am pretty sure we can get by without another guard under 6'3.

Regardless, I do not want to make any predictions until we know for certain Warren is healed. I dont think it was that long ago that it was posted on here he had another set back and was back in the boot.

[Bravesfan]

My prediction is that we'll be a much stronger deeper team that will compete for the MVC tourney title come March! This team has too many questions marks to start the season at the 4-5 position for me to pick us to finish 1st in the Valley next year. UNI will be the overwhelming favorite and should be.

I like our players but with WE coming back from MAJOR surgery and the 4 spot either being under sized or a freshmen manning the position I'd like to scale back my optimism to finishing 3rd or 4th.

If JP and WE can play 20+ minutes from the get go and AT can contribute solid minutes then I will reevaluate my prediction.

I predict though if everything we believe will happen the following year we should win the MVC.

I have to agree. There are still some question marks, but barring any significant injuries we should be better next year. I'm not ready to predict a first place finish yet, but third place and an NIT bid should occur at the least. If pieces fall into place, second place and an NCAA at-large bid (depending on how strong the Valley is) is certainly doable too. But until we can beat UNI and Creighton, I'm not ready to predict first place yet.

Btw, a third place finish with the nonconference schedule we are playing should be more than enough for at least one NIT home game, unlike that "other" school down the road who played a cream puff schedule this year and got stuck with an NIT road game in the first round!

[BUFAN]

Does anyone know what our record is for consecutive years without being in the playin game is?

[Da Coach]

Does anyone know what our record is for consecutive years without being in the playin game is?

There has been a postseason tournament in the MVC since 1977.
But there have only been "play-in" games in the MVC tournament since 1997. Prior to that, only the top 8 seeded teams were qualified to play in the tournament and no play-in games were needed. Bradley failed to qualify for the tournament in 1979, and 1992. (They also failed to qualify in 1987 but only because of NCAA penalties, though they finished 2nd in the MVC.)

Since the start of "play-in" games in 1997, Bradley has finished below the 6th seed 4 times-- in 1998 (7th seed), 2002 (8th seed), 2004 (7th seed), and 2005 (8th seed).

This season makes 4 straight years for Jim Les avoiding the play-in game. Jim Molinari played in the play-in game only once in 1998, but he missed the tournament in 1992 (only the top 8 teams qualified before 1997). Dick Versace missed the tournament only once, in 1979. And Stan Albeck made the tournament all 5 seasons he coached.

So since the play-in games have existed (1997), the stretches from 1998-2002 and 2005-2009 are the 2 longest stretches Bradley has avoided them (4 years each).

[Bravesfan]

There has been a postseason tournament in the MVC since 1977.
But there have only been "play-in" games in the MVC tournament since 1997. Prior to that, only the top 8 seeded teams were qualified to play in the tournament and no play-in games were needed. Bradley failed to qualify for the tournament in 1979, and 1992. (They also failed to qualify in 1987 but only because of NCAA penalties, though they finished 2nd in the MVC.)

Since the start of "play-in" games in 1997, Bradley has finished below the 6th seed 4 times-- in 1998 (7th seed), 2002 (8th seed), 2004 (7th seed), and 2005 (8th seed).

This season makes 4 straight years for Jim Les avoiding the play-in game. Jim Molinari played in the play-in game only once in 1998, but he missed the tournament in 1992 (only the top 8 teams qualified before 1997). Dick Versace missed the tournament only once, in 1979. And Stan Albeck made the tournament all 5 seasons he coached.

So since the play-in games have existed (1997), the stretches from 1998-2002 and 2005-2009 are the 2 longest stretches Bradley has avoided them (4 years each).

Well we should be able to break that record easily next year!

[it's boogie time]

Jim Molinari played in the play-in game only once in 1998,

Twice. Also Mo's last year (2002) which you listed.

[Da Coach]

Yes, that's correct.