Mid (sort of ) Season Report Card

[BradleyBrave]

I was just pointing out that, if you were picking up my grades for the remaining starting 5 & boosting TB & AW's grades, they average out to a strong B? Yet you give the entire team a C?

Now you could say that coaching is a factor, but is it a full grade factor? I mean the game planning has given them 11, 12, 13 & 16 (going purely by memory) point 1st half leads which resulted in losses. I'd argue that's as much, if not more player execution, although I understand many feel it's bench management, time out calling or halftime coaching adjustments.

I didn't really want to give players individual grades, but was merely commenting that I agreed to a degree with DC's thoughts on AW and TB. You can analyze this thing to death, but the fact of the matter is we're 10-9 and have lost 3 home games to teams we shouldn't lose home games to. If that doesn't say 'average' through 19 games then I don't know what does. We've got 10 games and a conference tournament to raise it.

[BUBalum05]

Like all great professors (at least the ones I liked and liked me back), I'm going to give the team a weighted grade and give the team less credit on the first 15 games since they dug themselves a bit of a hole which sometimes happens with a poor exam early in the semester. I'm going to put more emphasis on the more recent games and the rest of the season...let's say the first 16 games of the season is a D+, and give them an B+ on the past 4. I'll give them a C+ midterm in hopes it motivates them to work up to B+/A- to finish 2nd in the MVC.

[tornado]

if watching Sammy and gang can't impress a Bradley fan better than a B or a C, then I'd say find another team to follow, maybe the Illini or ISU...

[romar]

I didn't really want to give players individual grades, but was merely commenting that I agreed to a degree with DC's thoughts on AW and TB. You can analyze this thing to death, but the fact of the matter is we're 10-9 and have lost 3 home games to teams we shouldn't lose home games to. If that doesn't say 'average' through 19 games then I don't know what does. We've got 10 games and a conference tournament to raise it.

Agreed - I think they've turned a corner in the way they are playing, now let's hope they can step up to that different level I believe all of us thought they were capable of...

[romar]

if watching Sammy and gang can't impress a Bradley fan better than a B or a C, then I'd say find another team to follow, maybe the Illini or ISU...

T - how long have I been posting here? Do you really wish call another person's "fandom" or "passion" into question and alienate yet another poster?

Please read the context of what I'm saying and see my black & white comments - Just because I'm not polarized on one end of the spectrum or the other doesn't make me any less passionate for the Braves. I can tell you that I didn't always like my report cards but it generally was a motivator, all A's made me want more & anything less made me strive to improve. I'm not saying that any of these guys aren't trying and again, making no personal commentary on them as human beings or students, just my POV of what they are putting on the floor. After 40+ years as a BU fan, I think I'll stay, although I appreciate your offer.......

[tornado]

it is not aimed at you or anyone in particular.......don't take everything so personal

you posted your thoughts and said you would be interested in others'
I think our guys deserve higher marks....I am not bothered by your marks, so please tolerate mine...

[BradleyBrave]

Agreed - I think they've turned a corner in the way they are playing, now let's hope they can step up to that different level I believe all of us thought they were capable of...

I am really close to feeling like they've turned a corner too. If we can somehow establish some sort of home court presence from here on out (i.e. win out at home), I think our feelings will be substantiated.

[Braveman]

Romar- Welcome to the wrath of Bradleyfans!

How dare you question the mighty and powerful OZ! lol

I agree with most of your post. A C grade for the team is fair IMO- after all, you graded on entire season to this point- not last 3 games after all.

And AW is soft- despite his stats- I think people expect more "leadership" from him. He disappears for stretches of games at times... I give him benefit of doubt as he hadn't played in some time- but all in all- I think your opinions were pretty well stated...

[Braveman]

if watching Sammy and gang can't impress a Bradley fan better than a B or a C, then I'd say find another team to follow, maybe the Illini or ISU...

Honestly- How can you say this?

A 10-9 team is a C team at best... And Romar and others didn't say anything about not enjoying this team.. Sheesh...

[Braveman]

Holy cow- Andrew Warren gets a C!?
All he has done is- He is Bradley's leading scorer, and he's been leading the MVC in scoring for almost the entire first half of the conference season, and now is #2, just 0.3 ppg behind Harry Marshall. He is actually outscoring the preseason POY Osiris Eldridge in MVC games!

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/CONFONLY.HTM

He is shooting 41.7% from three point range, far better than anyone else on the team, except Chris Roberts who is 0.3% ahead of him.
In MVC games he's shooting 47.5%- third best in the MVC.
His scoring has won several games for Bradley, including the win against Illinois.

His free throw percentage is 85.9%- best on the team, and his FT% in MVC games has been unbelieveable. He is 38-40 in the 9 MVC games, for 95%.

And Andrew is rebounding at a rate of 5.6 rpg in MVC games- better than any true guard in the MVC. His 4.2 defensive rebounds per game ranks 8th in the entire MVC

He leads BU in minutes played, and has played extremely good defense. That's not just my opinion, it's the opinion of the coaches.

Andrew will be a 1st or 2nd team All-MVC.
What more does he have to do?
If AW gets a C, what does Osiris Eldridge merit, a D or F, because AW leads him in every important category?

I would give Andrew an A. He's done everything expected of him.

And Taylor Brown a C+???!
Again, please check the stats before you grade TB a C+. He is Bradley's 2nd leading scorer and top rebounder. He is playing great defense. He is in the top 10 in most MVC categories, and every coach in the MVC would like to have him.
I'd give Taylor an A.

Romar can't give his opinion it appears if it differs with yours?

And TB doesn't play great defense... I would be willing to wager most fans wouldn't give him a top 3 spot on this team for defense!

Romar gave his opinion and asked for others on grading the team- not his post!

[Da Coach]

Romar is entitled to his opinion- am I not entitled to mine? It is an opinion forum.
I posted Andrew Warren's stats to show what a great season he is having.
I commented that a C-which suggests average performance- seems low to me for a player excelling in so many statistical areas.
If posting stats is interpreted as an attack on someone's opinion, then IMO you are a little overly sensitive.

BTW- just about every time I or anyone posts a positive opinion here, we are attacked and asked to justify low expectations, or support of mediocrity.

[BU RICK]

Overall team season to date grade IMO has to be a C- , because of the home games we've lost losing good leads This is going to be an interesting thread, we've got two big 'key' games coming up this week so that C- could turn into a D or a B- , I don't think it can ever be an A this season, unless of course... , considering we should never lose home games the way we have.

I'd give SM and WE a B+ for the last 3 games.

[bigdaddystuck]

An interesting thread....here are my 2 cents

SM - B+ - trending toward an A- or better with last couple of games. His leadership over the last 3-4 games had been missing for this team. He has really been the go to guy the last couple of weeks.

WE - B has shown improvement from earlier play this year. I could see him sliding up to a B+ or A- by the end of the year, IF this effort keeps up.

TB - C+ - Agree with this score, missed games for off the court stuff, costing the team. Seems lacking in the mental part of the game, but the physical side is there for sure.

AW - hmmm....statistically he has some good numbers, but it seems to me that those numbers have gone down the last week or so. Also, I don't see real leadership from him...at least not on par with SM. Offensively, for the season I'd give him an A-, defensively, he is a decent defender...I'll go with a B. Leadership wise I'd go with a D.....so total, I'd give him a C+. Could see this go up to a solid B or B+ by years end.

CR - B-Unlike others, I don't see CR as a huge offensive threat. I see him as the defensive specialist...kind of like J.J. was a few years ago. I think he has done a pretty good job defensively, usually guarding one of the opponents best guards. He is also asked to go low and pick up some bigger guys as well.

EM- C+ For what he is asked to do on this team, I think he has had a decent season. He brings an extra ball handler and good defender into the game. He also is not asked to score alot.

DSE - B+ - Being a freshman, being injured early and coming back and playing very well. Once again he does well with the minutes he is given. I think he is getting about the right amount of minutes. Overall, impressed with what he brings to the table, just hope he can develop a more consistent jump shot.

JE - B - I know DSE gets more of the mins. and hype, but I love the energy that JE brings. He is a put my head down, stick my nose in, and fight kind of guy. He is willing to go and bang down low...and wins more of the battles than he loses. Rebounds very well...and hustles!! Not worried about his offense, once again, not something he is really being asked to do right now!

TEAM- 10-9 overall...5-4 in conference. Home court is really not an advantage right now, I think we actually play better away from home! Overall the potential is there....but I can't give them a high score for that. I'd say a solid C trending up to a C+ right now. The last 3-4 games we have jelled as a team and had good results. But month and a half before that we looked like 2-3 guys playing together and than 1 or 2 just trying to get there own.

[tornado]

curious, what MVC players, if any, would get an "A"?
or which five would make 1st team All MVC?

[Bradleyguy10]

Honestly- How can you say this?

A 10-9 team is a C team at best... And Romar and others didn't say anything about not enjoying this team.. Sheesh...

Logic doesn't hold any weight on this board sometimes. You will be bashed if you say anything negative and even mildly realistic.

Thus far, the season has been a C. Our record and our play has been below average at times and until recently it has been about average and above average. Therefore, it all averages out to average. A team 1 game above .500 has played average thus far therefore a C is average. Can they raise that grade? Of course, and I hope (and think) that they will. We have vastly underachieved.