Wessler's Column

[BradleyJD]

He had an interesting part in today' column.

Basically he said it was easier to see BU in the play-in game than in the top three of the league.

He went on to to talk about the ability of BU to get way up on teams and the feeling that we SHOULD be beating Valley teams with ease.

He said they hopefully have learned from this rough stretch.


All good and true points, IMO. These things are what make the last 4 home games so hard to deal with.

[Braveman]

Along with all the second guessing and armchair coaches!

Why isn't so and so playing, how come we didn't know about x... yada yada yada

A win is good- and a starting point- I don't think it cures all Bradley's ills...

Build on it and we will hopefully see improvement moving forward...

[BradleyJD]

Build on it and we will hopefully see improvement moving forward...

That's the key. We need to go on the road and win now.

[Murph]

That's the key. We need to go on the road and win now.

Correct and the next 2 games are gonna be tough, MSU losing at home and NIU beating SIU on the road last night.

[SaintLouBrave22]

Along with all the second guessing and armchair coaches!

Why isn't so and so playing, how come we didn't know about x... yada yada yada

A win is good- and a starting point- I don't think it cures all Bradley's ills...

Build on it and we will hopefully see improvement moving forward...

Yes, but we should EASILY be 3-1 and sitting well right now, yet like KW says, closer to Thu night in STL than the top 3 simply because we can't hold a lead to save ourselves!

Some say, well we're lucky to be 2-2, BUT I look at it as though we WERE up by 15 against SIU and 16 against InSU and BLEW BOTH GAMES...simple as that!


Learn how to keep leads after the half and learn how to close out teams...


At this point, we need to be up by 30+ to hold one...


Stop subbing and calling TO's that break our own momentum!

[thefish7]

The next three games could be season defining. Two tough road games and a home win against MSU to prove the 2nd half home demon is truly slain.

[Braveman]

Some say, well we're lucky to be 2-2, BUT I look at it as though we WERE up by 15 against SIU and 16 against InSU and BLEW BOTH GAMES...simple as that!

Umm, Didn't we beat InSu?

I thought that is what I saw last night...

[tornado]

...it was easier to see BU in the play-in game than in the top three of the league.....

and sometimes I find the PJS easier to see starting up the fireplace than getting read...

[longtimelistener]

and sometimes I find the PJS easier to see starting up the fireplace than getting read...

Truth hurts?

[SaintLouBrave22]

and sometimes I find the PJS easier to see starting up the fireplace than getting read...

I think someone needs to wake up and smell the roses...



What has been said that wasn't accurate?


A) Won a road game, but at 0-4 Drake

B) Lost at home after having 15 pt lead to SIU at half and 7 pt lead w/ 90 seconds left

C) Lost a 16 pt halftime lead to Indiana State who was playing w/o Jake Kelly and then Lathan after the half and needed to make a FT just to force OT.


Understanding that we're 2-2, we're not dead yet, but minus the 2nd half collapse among poor player and coaching decisions, we should be 3-1 and near the top.

[Braves4Life]

C) Lost a 16 pt halftime lead to Indiana State who was playing w/o Jake Kelly and then Lathan after the half and needed to make a FT just to force OT.


Understanding that we're 2-2, we're not dead yet, but minus the 2nd half collapse among poor player and coaching decisions, we should be 3-1 and near the top.

We won! We're 2-2, not 3-1. So what?! There's NOT much difference. They didn't have Kelly or Lathan, we didn't have Dunson and played with a Rusty DSE and still slightly injured SM (I'm sure you saw him grimmace in pain on an occassion or two). I'd also argue that Dunson is a more proven commodity and leader than an unproven (maybe over hyped) Kelly. So drop the "whoa is me" on Ind. St. and their missing players.

This team IS lucky to be 2-2 and could/should be 3-1. We're still in this thing. We're still showing promise and flashes of greatness. And we may just be beginning to gel as a team. As OoB says -- Come on man!

[Bradleyguy10]

and sometimes I find the PJS easier to see starting up the fireplace than getting read...

smack

[SaintLouBrave22]

We won! We're 2-2, not 3-1. So what?! There's NOT much difference. They didn't have Kelly or Lathan, we didn't have Dunson and played with a Rusty DSE and still slightly injured SM (I'm sure you saw him grimmace in pain on an occassion or two). I'd also argue that Dunson is a more proven commodity and leader than an unproven (maybe over hyped) Kelly. So drop the "whoa is me" on Ind. St. and their missing players.

This team IS lucky to be 2-2 and could/should be 3-1. We're still in this thing. We're still showing promise and flashes of greatness. And we may just be beginning to gel as a team. As OoB says -- Come on man!

2-2 and going to Springfield, MO to play another 2-2 IS much different than 3-1 and sitting in 2nd place w/ ISU and Wichita St.

[shaunguth]

C) Lost a 16 pt halftime lead to Indiana State who was playing w/o Jake Kelly and then Lathan after the half and needed to make a FT just to force OT.

I personally don't think that was to our advantage since he hasn't done much of anything for them this season.

[Bravesfan]

I think someone needs to wake up and smell the roses...



What has been said that wasn't accurate?


A) Won a road game, but at 0-4 Drake

B) Lost at home after having 15 pt lead to SIU at half and 7 pt lead w/ 90 seconds left

C) Lost a 16 pt halftime lead to Indiana State who was playing w/o Jake Kelly and then Lathan after the half and needed to make a FT just to force OT.


Understanding that we're 2-2, we're not dead yet, but minus the 2nd half collapse among poor player and coaching decisions, we should be 3-1 and near the top.

SaintLouBrave22, why do insist on going out of your way to shred the team after every game?! At least the other "armchair critics" on this board "pick their spots" so to speak when they criticize the team. You just out and out trash the team with facts that everyone has heard a hundred times! WE GOT IT! We know they lost four big leads at home. We know they won a road game against a bad Drake team. We get it! I don't know how rehashing all of this stuff is going to make things better!

In case you didn't know, Bradley won last night! Enjoy it! Yes, we got be problems that still need to be addressed, I understand that. But sometimes these types of wins help a team learn what it takes to close out a game. They did it last night. And so our road win was against Drake. SO WHAT?! It's still a win, one of many wins we would need to have a good season.

Now I don't expect Bradley to win these upcoming two road games, but not many teams will win at these two places anyway. But if they can steal one, great! I hope they do win at MSU as they are the weaker of the two teams they are playing on this road trip. If they don't they still have plenty of winnable games before the end of the season. Whether you put the blame on the coaches, players or both, what's done is done and the least we can do is to support our team through one game at a time in hopes they improve throughout the rest of the season. Restating that we blew leads is not going to help this team. I mean tell me something I don't already know!