Postgame: BU 67 Drake 59

[chitown fanatic]

I just wat somebody to explain to me what Singh gives us that AT doesn't. and don't tell me experience, because the stats this season are glaring. AT can't possibly do worse than the stats of Sam Singh. It's too bad because sam seems like a great guy but unless sticks gets some minutes,we are wasting a scholie. Play him 10-15 a game and let's see what he gives us. As for Edge, I hope the message has been delivered. Either play the way Eastman plays, or sit the pine.

[shaunguth]

The players that got the minutes are the ones that should be getting the minutes...

I have no problems in that area...

SM does not need to be playing 38 minutes/game! I still don't understand why so many people seem to want DSE to redshirt this season.

[SaintLouBrave22]

SM does not need to be playing 38 minutes/game! I still don't understand why so many people seem to want DSE to redshirt this season.

No you're right, he doesn't...but what does Edge give you when he plays?


I don't want DSE to redshirt, BUT if it takes him the majority of the rest of the season to recover, then there's no purpose of him getting back to play 2-3 games and then the conf. tournament.

[shaunguth]

No you're right, he doesn't...but what does Edge give you when he plays?

He gave us 9 points in 22 minutes against Iowa State. He also has 26 assists and just 11 turnovers. I'm not sure how that warrants SM essentially becoming the only point guard on the team.

[Dallas Brave]

I just wat somebody to explain to me what Singh gives us that AT doesn't. and don't tell me experience, because the stats this season are glaring. AT can't possibly do worse than the stats of Sam Singh. It's too bad because sam seems like a great guy but unless sticks gets some minutes,we are wasting a scholie. Play him 10-15 a game and let's see what he gives us. As for Edge, I hope the message has been delivered. Either play the way Eastman plays, or sit the pine.

I'm all for SS and WE getting their minutes if the minutes are being doled out based on performance in practice. But ... if AT is so underwhelming that he can't win some minutes against the likes of SS and WE, then he should seriously consider transfering to DII.

[houstontxbrave]

I am learning each season more and more that they are a marathon, especailly with Bradley Basketball. The consistancy throughout a season is absolutely non existant with this program. This year is exactly that.

We lose Brown for 2 games, we lose DD for the season, DSE is lost for likely the whole season. But for me this season took a big time turn when Merfeld was asked to leave. Something happened to this team at around that point in the season. Be it chemistry or something that went through the team but effort went out the window not long after NIU.

Anyway, my point is Les has had to deal with a lot off the court in his time as the Bradley coach and for the most part this program as the season moves along grows and comes together after all the disfunction.

Last night we were not very good over all but the last 10 minutes or so we played the best portion of defense this years team has played all season. Drake is terrible but they could not do anything offensively versus our man to man.

If that type of defense continues, I think our offense will expand with what appears a more focused effort on getting the ball into Brown and Warrens hands.

SIU will be a very telling game. But it is 2 months of telling games. Defense is effort and we gave a lot of it in the final 10 minutes. Continue that type of effort and it can be a good season, I just am not convinced YET this team buys into effort nightly. Time will tell.

[AZ BU Fan]

Give credit where credit is due....BU won a Valley opening game on the road, coming from behind, always a good sign. 18 of 21 free throws on a night when BU FG shooting was spotty was another good sign...The team drew fouls to get points.

Having four of BU's five starters playing 34+ minutes in the game, however, to rally to beat a team predicted to finish 8th in the Valley, was not awe inspiring.

BU Bench = 27 total minutes, 1 for 6 from the floor, and 4 rebounds, most of the production from a freshman two games out of his redshirt, is pretty scarry.

BU needs their bench players to grow up, to step up, and to produce. Can't stand around and hope TB and AW carry the team.

[BradleyBrave]

Give credit where credit is due....BU won a Valley opening game on the road, coming from behind, always a good sign. 18 of 21 free throws on a night when BU FG shooting was spotty was another good sign...The team drew fouls to get points.

Having four of BU's five starters playing 34+ minutes in the game, however, to rally to beat a team predicted to finish 8th in the Valley, was not awe inspiring.

BU Bench = 27 total minutes, 1 for 6 from the floor, and 4 rebounds, most of the production from a freshman two games out of his redshirt, is pretty scarry.

BU needs their bench players to grow up, to step up, and to produce. Can't stand around and hope TB and AW carry the team.

I agree, the bench production was not good. I am not too concerned about big minutes for our main guys last night; we've only played 4 times over the last month. However, we won't be able to keep that up for the duration of the league season. I was kind of surprised at Milos' minutes though. JL cited him as one of the two guys who actually gave effort at Iowa St.

[SFP]

I was also surprised by the lack of minutes from MK. I was hoping we would see him and TB on the floor at the same time,instead we went small again. Well if we were going to go small, this was the game.

[tornado]

...BU Bench = 27 total minutes, 1 for 6 from the floor, and 4 rebounds, most of the production from a freshman two games out of his redshirt, is pretty scarry. ..

(plus numerous other posts critiquing the minutes given to SS, AT, EM, SM, etc...)

but this is an example how Coach Les simply cannot win!!

When he was using more players on the bench....people right here on this board ripped him for NOT leaving TB in when hot, for yanking AW right after a couple nice makes, and for not giving Milos 25 minutes when he drains a couple 3's...
People were saying "stop making so many substitutions and leave the guys in there when they're hitting"!!!


Then last night, the main guys...Sam M, Warren, TB, Will were all having nice games offensively and from the FT line, and Chris Roberts was doing a great defensive job...
So Coach Les decides to leave those guys in and let them play - almost as if he's trying to do precisely what would make the folks on BradleyFans HAPPY --
but nooooooooo...now come the criticisms that we didn't get enough from the bench and that he went way too many minutes with the starters!!


Does anyone else see what I see?? The guy simply can't win for losing!
Someone will certainly rip Coach Les no matter what he does....so he might as well ignore any and all criticism and get on with it!

[SaintLouBrave22]

(plus numerous other posts critiquing the minutes given to SS, AT, EM, SM, etc...)

but this is an example how Coach Les simply cannot win!!

When he was using more players on the bench....people right here on this board ripped him for NOT leaving TB in when hot, for yanking AW right after a couple nice makes, and for not giving Milos 25 minutes when he drains a couple 3's...
People were saying "stop making so many substitutions and leave the guys in there when they're hitting"!!!


Then last night, the main guys...Sam M, Warren, TB, Will were all having nice games offensively and from the FT line, and Chris Roberts was doing a great defensive job...
So Coach Les decides to leave those guys in and let them play - almost as if he's trying to do precisely what would make the folks on BradleyFans HAPPY --
but nooooooooo...now come the criticisms that we didn't get enough from the bench and that he went way too many minutes with the starters!!


Does anyone else see what I see?? The guy simply can't win for losing!
Someone will certainly rip Coach Les no matter what he does....so he might as well ignore any and all criticism and get on with it!

Sadly, I am in agreement with you here on all but one point....


My only issue with Les last night was his usage of Sam Singh.

If he was trying to get Will a breather and get Sam a few minutes here and there, he needed to pick and choose better times to do it.

My example was him subbing Sam in after the 8 min timeout when he could have very easily subbed him in when Drake took a timeout with a little over 10 min to play and then use the 8 min timeout as the extra breather and then sub Will back after that officials timeout.


Other than that, I was fine with the minutes as those who were on the floor deserved to be there.

I as well would like to see Milos get some more time, but not at the expense of Taylor Brown.

[shaunguth]

(plus numerous other posts critiquing the minutes given to SS, AT, EM, SM, etc...)

but this is an example how Coach Les simply cannot win!!

When he was using more players on the bench....people right here on this board ripped him for NOT leaving TB in when hot, for yanking AW right after a couple nice makes, and for not giving Milos 25 minutes when he drains a couple 3's...
People were saying "stop making so many substitutions and leave the guys in there when they're hitting"!!!


Then last night, the main guys...Sam M, Warren, TB, Will were all having nice games offensively and from the FT line, and Chris Roberts was doing a great defensive job...
So Coach Les decides to leave those guys in and let them play - almost as if he's trying to do precisely what would make the folks on BradleyFans HAPPY --
but nooooooooo...now come the criticisms that we didn't get enough from the bench and that he went way too many minutes with the starters!!


Does anyone else see what I see?? The guy simply can't win for losing!
Someone will certainly rip Coach Les no matter what he does....so he might as well ignore any and all criticism and get on with it!

Yes, but there is a middle-ground between 21 minutes and 37 minutes; 24 and 38; 25 and 36.

[houstontxbrave]

Personally I think in college basketball you really only need 8 players, 7 is fine. By conference season you should have a solid set rotation down.

With time outs every 4 minutes there really is no need to play 10 guys unless someone gets injured or is in foul trouble.

I really dont care if AT Milos or whoever plays I want our best team on the floor for 40 minutes.

In 06 we only played 8 guys, with Adams getting garbage minutes, and JC never seeing the floor.

I also like that the shorter the rotation the less inclined Les is to make changes to the line up, MO's best coaching job was the year he went to the MVC championship with really only 7 players.

I though would like to know why Les finds it important to call a time out, in the middle of play with possession after a stop. I know he drew up a score, (he is a master at drawing up scores off of inbounds) but cant that play be called during play without the burning of a TO????

[wily coyote]

I just wat somebody to explain to me what Singh gives us that AT doesn't. and don't tell me experience, because the stats this season are glaring. AT can't possibly do worse than the stats of Sam Singh. It's too bad because sam seems like a great guy but unless sticks gets some minutes,we are wasting a scholie. Play him 10-15 a game and let's see what he gives us. As for Edge, I hope the message has been delivered. Either play the way Eastman plays, or sit the pine.

Chitown I agree completely. I saw Nick Evans (SIU) play in high school and sticks was much better then him. That doesn't seem to be the case now. WE just don't seem to develope kids as fast for reasons I don't understand. When Nick passes someone up than maybe it is a wasted scolie. I hope not I have not given up on Sticks yet.

[SFP]

Sadly, I am in agreement with you here on all but one point....


My only issue with Les last night was his usage of Sam Singh.

If he was trying to get Will a breather and get Sam a few minutes here and there, he needed to pick and choose better times to do it.

My example was him subbing Sam in after the 8 min timeout when he could have very easily subbed him in when Drake took a timeout with a little over 10 min to play and then use the 8 min timeout as the extra breather and then sub Will back after that officials timeout.


Other than that, I was fine with the minutes as those who were on the floor deserved to be there.

I as well would like to see Milos get some more time, but not at the expense of Taylor Brown.

I'm in complete agreement. I would have liked to see MK out there a few of the minutes that went to one of our guards not named AW.