Coach Mo

[doug shank's crossover]

WIU vs. BU

Well, I'm a glutton for punishment, so here's my annual BU should play WIU in the pre-season, post. Again, the benefits of such a 2 for 1 series out-weigh the negative: WIU is becoming increasingly competitive and will likely have a respectable RPI in the next year or two; WIU is a local team that has a fairly large alumni base in Peoria / Pekin / EP area and the game will draw 8k easily;
the logistics of the game would be low$$ as it constitutes a bus ride only...and most importantly it would be a nice good will gesture toward a former coach who is still highly thought of.

And no...there aren't recruiting risks playing WIU as there are very few kids that are on both school's radar.

Division !! school or WIU...you pick.

[ph]

Well, I'm a glutton for punishment, so here's my annual BU should play WIU in the pre-season, post. Again, the benefits of such a 2 for 1 series out-weigh the negative: WIU is becoming increasingly competitive and will likely have a respectable RPI in the next year or two; WIU is a local team that has a fairly large alumni base in Peoria / Pekin / EP area and the game will draw 8k easily;
the logistics of the game would be low$$ as it constitutes a bus ride only...and most importantly it would be a nice good will gesture toward a former coach who is still highly thought of.

And no...there aren't recruiting risks playing WIU as there are very few kids that are on both school's radar.

Division !! school or WIU...you pick.

Can you play a D1 school in pre-season (other than a closed scrimmiage like DePaul this year?)

And I do think Coach Mo's talent is being "wasted" in a lower school like WIU, but I can see how the job may be a better personal fit at this time, especially "been there, done that" in regards to demanding programs and donors...

[houstontxbrave]

Well, I'm a glutton for punishment, so here's my annual BU should play WIU in the pre-season, post. Again, the benefits of such a 2 for 1 series out-weigh the negative: WIU is becoming increasingly competitive and will likely have a respectable RPI in the next year or two; WIU is a local team that has a fairly large alumni base in Peoria / Pekin / EP area and the game will draw 8k easily;
the logistics of the game would be low$$ as it constitutes a bus ride only...and most importantly it would be a nice good will gesture toward a former coach who is still highly thought of.

And no...there aren't recruiting risks playing WIU as there are very few kids that are on both school's radar.

Division !! school or WIU...you pick.

Doug, recall BU played and home and home with WIU during Mo's tenure and the game in Macomb was FAR from a sell out. Regardless of their fan base the gym they play in was mostly BU.

Sorry but if we play WIU its on our terms and in our building only. No reason ever to go to Macomb. I have the same mind set with WIU as an Illinois fan has with Bradley, never go on the road to their building and play them, no reason for it and no upside for your program.

I am not sure how they could ever produce an RPI that will give us any boost. Unless they play a nothing but BCS non conference their conference is never going to provide any decent RPI's.

We need to schedule more like schools and an occasional BCS.

[2bradleyfans]

Doug, recall BU played and home and home with WIU during Mo's tenure and the game in Macomb was FAR from a sell out. Regardless of their fan base the gym they play in was mostly BU.

Sorry but if we play WIU its on our terms and in our building only. No reason ever to go to Macomb. I have the same mind set with WIU as an Illinois fan has with Bradley, never go on the road to their building and play them, no reason for it and no upside for your program.

I am not sure how they could ever produce an RPI that will give us any boost. Unless they play a nothing but BCS non conference their conference is never going to provide any decent RPI's.

We need to schedule more like schools and an occasional BCS.

With this mindset how is Bradley to continue getting schools the like of Michigan State to come to Carver?

FYI....Summit League Members Oakland (67) and IUPUI (102) currently have better RPI's than Bradley. Oral Roberts RPI (124) is better than some of our Valley bretheren too.

Come to think of it Western's (266) RPI is better than Evansville and certainly ALOT better than Idaho State (285) or Presbyterian (319).

So we can't let a Molinari WIU team into Carver, but we will go on the road to a NIU (255) team with less D-1 wins than Western?

I am in no way trying to say the Summit is a a "good" league. I consider the MVC to be a lower end Major to High "Mid-major"(depending on the season). The Summit however, is definatley a "Low Major".

Bradley plays between 3 to 5 games every season against low majors, is there some reason WIU can't be included?

[SFP]

With this mindset how is Bradley to continue getting schools the like of Michigan State to come to Carver?

FYI....Summit League Members Oakland (67) and IUPUI (102) currently have better RPI's than Bradley. Oral Roberts RPI (124) is better than some of our Valley bretheren too.

Come to think of it Western's (266) RPI is better than Evansville and certainly ALOT better than Idaho State (285) or Presbyterian (319).

So we can't let a Molinari WIU team into Carver, but we will go on the road to a NIU (255) team with less D-1 wins than Western?

I am in no way trying to say the Summit is a a "good" league. I consider the MVC to be a lower end Major to High "Mid-major"(depending on the season). The Summit however, is definatley a "Low Major".

Bradley plays between 3 to 5 games every season against low majors, is there some reason WIU can't be included?

There was a ton of grumbling regarding heading to NIU on this board! I also never remember anyone saying WIU could not come to Carver it was that we should not go there and to that I agree. We also have zero control over playing Evansville! Presbyterian was part of the LV tournament and like Idaho State we played them at home.

[Murph]

Has Mo got that program turned around yet?

[jrish12]

Has Mo got that program turned around yet?

Well, they have a win on the road this year which is more than Bradley can say so far and played a top 25 team to a 5 point game that they were leading a majority of the game.

7-10 overall, 5-2 at home, 1-7 road, 1-1 neutral in the Cancun Challenge.

Western and the Braves do have something in common this season, both teams lost to Eastern

[mrcoachdude]

Has Mo got that program turned around yet?

he is getting there..I have to get over there for a game....

[SaintLouBrave22]

Yikes!

I read this and didn't look at the dates at first...


Amazing how a year has passed and very little has changed...



Should this not sway some in direction of change?

[Disturbed]

Western has had injury problems worse than Bradley.

[srw]

I'm not but if I remember correctly the Valley was really horrible many of the years Slo Mo was competing for league titles.

Can somebody research that, I'm way to lazy to do it myself.

Murph thats not true....

Early on it was bad, but BU was bad too.

By the time BU won 1996, he and Stallings had led the resurgance to around the same level it is now.

( I agree it was not the 7 or 8 range that it was during the sweet 16 year)

[srw]

I was one of Mo's staunchest defenders.

I also said it was time for him to go.


FOLKS when the program is stale you have to freshen it up..

That has to be done now too..

its not personal....its part of the game

[tornado]

Western has had injury problems worse than Bradley.

I know, and they are doing poorly and nobody there denies their multiple injuries are the main reason...

[squirrelgotdead]

Murph thats not true....

Early on it was bad, but BU was bad too.

By the time BU won 1996, he and Stallings had led the resurgance to around the same level it is now.

( I agree it was not the 7 or 8 range that it was during the sweet 16 year)

Excellent point, srw...

Between 1998 and 2002 the MVC had 6 NCAA Tournament wins and 2 teams reach the Sweet 16.

[wily coyote]

I know, and they are doing poorly and nobody there denies their multiple injuries are the main reason...

T no on here denies that injuries have not hurt us. That is a fact but, most on here believe the product we are putting on the floor each night is not very good and if we had depth and quality we would not be struggling like this. We have been passed by everyone in this league except our friends down the road.