BU vs ISU

[Da Coach]

Im an ISU fan till death but ill be honest Bradley's talent level is way down. I wanted to win by twenty but ill be honest close games are more fun. You guys will prolly beat us at home because we suck on the road. You guys lack big guys that want to bang. Simms-Edwards is prolly your guys only thing to look forward to he is solid. Maniscalco is good but he is not athletic enough to ever be a game changer. If i was a bradley fan I would be worrying about zero recruits coming in and I think your gonna have some boys bolt.

Thanks for your opinion of Bradley, but if we are going to play this game- my impression is a bit different. Bradley's talent is good enough to have been tied in the standings with ISU before yesterday's game (despite underperforming most of the year), and everyone except Chris Roberts and Sam Singh will be back next year, plus a couple recruits.
On the other hand- ISU is a senior dominated team. Every ISU fan expected this team to dominate the MVC, but it's just not happened. Osiris Eldridge seems to have taken a step backward, and often disappears in big games. The Redbirds get very little from the underclassmen - in yesterday's game the 3 seniors scored 51 of the 66 points. The underclass players were 6-25, and none scored more than 4 points, and next year's returning starters like Alex Rubin (0-7), and Jackie Carmichael (2-6) won't come close to replacing the production of those 3 seniors. The point guard of the future, Terry Johnson, has fallen so far down the playing rotation that he only got into the game with about 1 minute left when benches cleared. The "next great shooter", Justin Clark was scoreless again for the 18th time (he's only scored in 4 games all year), and he's shooting 17% overall, and 15% from three, which is his specialty. I like a couple other reserves like Tony Lewis and Kellen Thornton, and freshman Carmichael, but are they ready to replace Dinma on the inside? And among the redshirts- John Ekey, Bobby Hill, and Trey Blue, or the incoming recruits Kenyon Smith, and Jordan Threloff, does anyone really think they will make any difference next year? I have seen Threloff play, and though he has D1 potential, I predict he'll redshirt next year. Is it any surprise that despite being out of scholarships, supposedly Coach Jankovich is still recruiting or looking for an impact transfer?

[rsmit84]

I think the most disappointing thing about the game was the seemingly wide gap in talent/strength. Not saying we wont win by 20 at home but someone said it earlier it looked like men playing against boys at times out there. Just makes one wonder why we cant seem to get a couple of these strong, physical big men. Before anyone jumps all over me, I will agree that college basketball is a guards game. However, one would be hard pressed to find a successful team without some kind of physical presence inside. I pray that we can change that before next season.

[Da Coach]

I think we'd all like to see that. But if it was easy to do, every MVC team would have this kind of player. Yet, there are very few in the MVC, and even over the past decade, you can count this type of player that has had success in the MVC on one hand.
Though yesterday's game was one-sided, it might have been as much of an anomaly as it was a demonstration of a difference in personnel.
Dinma Odiakosa had a career game yesterday, but in the previous 4 seasons, he's played 5 previous games against Bradley (he's started all 5 games) he only averaged 9 points, and 4.6 rebounds.

[tornado]

Im an ISU fan till death but ill be honest Bradley's talent level is way down. I wanted to win by twenty but ill be honest close games are more fun. You guys will prolly beat us at home because we suck on the road. You guys lack big guys that want to bang. Simms-Edwards is prolly your guys only thing to look forward to he is solid. Maniscalco is good but he is not athletic enough to ever be a game changer. If i was a bradley fan I would be worrying about zero recruits coming in and I think your gonna have some boys bolt.

thanks for your thoughts...but I talked before yesterday's game with a few ISU fans, and some of them are not so happy either...

Let's face it, this is the year that ISU fans have dreamed for...
--You have arguably the top player in the league, a guy who is said to be a possible NBA draft pick, and also you have one of the top PG's and post players in the league...you really aren't weak at any position..
--You have three senior starters (and two of the other some-time starters are juniors), and even a bit of experience and bulk coming off the bench.
--You are coming off almost 25 wins per season the past two years and have a VERY easy schedule.., and by all expectations should have had an easy run to 25 wins again this season..but are still sitting at just 15 wins and it would take quite a run to hit 25 now...

So the fans WERE expecting great things this season, since next year you lose your best 3 players, everyone who is averaging over 7 ppg, 60% of scoring and almost half the rebounding..

yet- you had to win a home game yesterday just to stay above .500 in the Valley and haven't a prayer of an at-large bid..

I really don't have all the answers, but I can see Bradley's lazy play is responsible for our record, one game behind ISU, but how do you explain ISU being so far under the fans' expectations?

[rsmit84]

I think we'd all like to see that. But if it was easy to do, every MVC team would have this kind of player. Yet, there are very few in the MVC, and even over the past decade, you can count this type of player that has had success in the MVC on one hand.
Though yesterday's game was one-sided, it might have been as much of an anomaly as it was a demonstration of a difference in personnel.
Dinma Odiakosa had a career game yesterday, but in the previous 4 seasons, he's played 5 previous games against Bradley (he's started all 5 games) he only averaged 9 points, and 4.6 rebounds.

Not looking for anything close to what he did yesterday. Just looking for any kind of physical presence at all. Zach Andrews and Matt Salley didnt exactly fill up a point sheet but they provided what we needed them to. Thats all I'm asking.

[Bradleyguy10]

It's funny that you mention you think some boys will bolt. I couldn't help but look down at that bench and think the same thing. JP looked p.o.'ed and MK just looked indifferent...and everyone knows indifference is worse than hate. He just looked like he didn't want to be there and I just got a feeling that with his ego and the way he isn't getting playing time he can't help but think he should be somewhere else. I would not be surprised one bit if MK and AT were gone. I hope not TB but some people were eluding to that as well earlier.

But hey I guess I'm not a fan since I gave this team a grade of a C. They are definitely an "A" team and since I don't think so "I should just go be a fan of ISU". Classy.

[Dallas Brave]

Bradley's current players are OK ... they are just incomplete. Our recruits are solid. We are rmissing a strong, inside presence ... and have been for years. Give us a player like Jordan Eglseder and I think we win the MVC. I like WE, but he is a 4, not a 5. Why AT does not play more is a mystery. he isn't exactly a strong inside presence, but if he can't earn game minutes vs WE and SS, then he needs to drop down to DII.

The whole team played soft yesterday ... very soft. Myabe JP is the missing link.

[GoBirds]

Trust me I know ISU has holes. I was mostly refering to the way we dominated down low. I could be wrong but when Egolf checked out of the game with about 6 min to go it appeared he came off the court and was getting into it with Les. Than Buesher went down and was yelling at him in which Egolf looked very uninterested. Buesher then turned to Les and it looked like he was making a point that he did not want to see Egolf go back in. Has Egolf had any issue in the past or was I just seeing things.

[dogsrus]

I.
Dinma Odiakosa had a career game yesterday, but in the previous 4 seasons, he's played 5 previous games against Bradley (he's started all 5 games) he only averaged 9 points, and 4.6 rebounds.

Why does it seem that a player always has his/a "career game" against us.........

[Da Coach]

Trust me I know ISU has holes. I was mostly refering to the way we dominated down low. I could be wrong but when Egolf checked out of the game with about 6 min to go it appeared he came off the court and was getting into it with Les. Than Buesher went down and was yelling at him in which Egolf looked very uninterested. Buesher then turned to Les and it looked like he was making a point that he did not want to see Egolf go back in. Has Egolf had any issue in the past or was I just seeing things.

There are no issues with Will. He was just complaining about the ticky-tack nature of most of the fouls called on him when there was a lot of physical stuff going on.

[Bravesfan]

thanks for your thoughts...but I talked before yesterday's game with a few ISU fans, and some of them are not so happy either...

Let's face it, this is the year that ISU fans have dreamed for...
--You have arguably the top player in the league, a guy who is said to be a possible NBA draft pick, and also you have one of the top PG's and post players in the league...you really aren't weak at any position..
--You have three senior starters (and two of the other some-time starters are juniors), and even a bit of experience and bulk coming off the bench.
--You are coming off almost 25 wins per season the past two years and have a VERY easy schedule.., and by all expectations should have had an easy run to 25 wins again this season..but are still sitting at just 15 wins and it would take quite a run to hit 25 now...

So the fans WERE expecting great things this season, since next year you lose your best 3 players, everyone who is averaging over 7 ppg, 60% of scoring and almost half the rebounding..

yet- you had to win a home game yesterday just to stay above .500 in the Valley and haven't a prayer of an at-large bid..

I really don't have all the answers, but I can see Bradley's lazy play is responsible for our record, one game behind ISU, but how do you explain ISU being so far under the fans' expectations?

This is exactly the reason why we should be able to beat these guys in Peoria. And even if we don't win the game, it will still be very close. But I think ISU's terrible road record will give us a big edge.

I know Creighton has a bad road record, but in their case their bad play was caused by one malcontent who is now finally being dealt with. Look for Creighton to be very dangerous as usual down in St. Louis.

I don't see this though with ISU. I think what you see with them is what you get, and again that is why we should be able to handle them here. We just need the crowd to really be into the game like they were against Creighton.

[That Guy]

Call it a hunch, but I honestly believe TB is gone after this season...

[Braves4Life]

Why does it seem that a player always has his/a "career game" against us.........

I thought the exact same thing dogs when i read it was his career game.

I know Creighton has a bad road record, but in their case their bad play was caused by one malcontent who is now finally being dealt with.

Call it a hunch, but I honestly believe TB is gone after this season...

I agree That Guy and hope our problem with chemistry and attitude can be solved just like Creighton may have solved theirs Bravesfan.

[cpacmel]

Every ISU fan expected this team to dominate the MVC, but it's just not happened.

Who did you Poll Da Coach?

http://www.redbirdfan.com/msgforum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12839

Osiris Eldridge seems to have taken a step backward, and often disappears in big games. The Redbirds get very little from the underclassmen - in yesterday's game the 3 seniors scored 51 of the 66 points. The underclass players were 6-25, and none scored more than 4 points, and next year's returning starters like Alex Rubin (0-7), and Jackie Carmichael (2-6) won't come close to replacing the production of those 3 seniors. The point guard of the future, Terry Johnson, has fallen so far down the playing rotation that he only got into the game with about 1 minute left when benches cleared. The "next great shooter", Justin Clark was scoreless again for the 18th time (he's only scored in 4 games all year), and he's shooting 17% overall, and 15% from three, which is his specialty. I like a couple other reserves like Tony Lewis and Kellen Thornton, and freshman Carmichael, but are they ready to replace Dinma on the inside? And among the redshirts- John Ekey, Bobby Hill, and Trey Blue, or the incoming recruits Kenyon Smith, and Jordan Threloff, does anyone really think they will make any difference next year? I have seen Threloff play, and though he has D1 potential, I predict he'll redshirt next year. Is it any surprise that despite being out of scholarships, supposedly Coach Jankovich is still recruiting or looking for an impact transfer?

Yeap. We are in trouble........again.

[chitown fanatic]

I think those who said we are "soft" hit the nail on the head. In fact, Singh may be the softest big in BU history, sans reggie hall. Has he ever gone up strong for a layup? I haven't seen it this season...not once.