Dave Reynolds Article for Monday's PJ Star

[Da Coach]

Any player can be made to look bad if we only pick out his worst games and point to those statistics. That was what was being done and what I objected to with AW.

Here is an overview of Andrew's season, so far, which is the only fair way to assess him (instead of picking out his worst game or games, and picking apart his performance in those)-
Andrew is still Bradley's leading scorer at 14.6 points per game. That is a significant increase over his sophomore numbers when he averaged 13.2 ppg, and is very good considering he missed an entire year+ with injury, and there are several other scorers on the team to compete with for shots.
AW averages 15.2 ppg in MVC games, and with Harry Marshall (16.3 ppg) likely to miss the rest of the season, and only 2 other players (Colt Ryan 15.7 ppg and Josh Young 15.4 ppg) barely ahead of him, there is a chance AW could end up the MVC leading scorer in conference games.

Andrew is averaging 4.8 rebounds per game (5.3 in conference games). That's the best among MVC guards, and well above his rebounding averages his previous 2 seasons. If Andrew played for SIU or Wichita State, he'd be the leading rebounder on their team!

Andrew's 86.7% free throw percentage is the best of his career, and one of the top in the MVC. He actually leads the MVC in conference games with an amazing 94.2% FT average.

AW's overall 3-point percentage is 40.5% (best on the team), and in MVC games, it is 43.5%, 3rd best in the MVC.

AW also has played better defense this season, and he averages 34.5 minutes per game, most on the Bradley team, and 4th most in the MVC.
In fact, he has played 29 minutes or more in all 23 games this season, and has never been in serious foul trouble, or fouled out.

And despite the criticism he has gotten here, he has been very consistent. Andrew has failed to score in double figures only 4 times all season (19 out of 23 games, and 2 of those games were very early in the season) and only twice has he not been in double figures in MVC games. By the way, Bradley won both MVC games when he had low scoring games. Andrew has never had a scoreless game this season, nor a game where he did not make a single basket (ala Osiris Eldridge). He has also made at least 1 three-pointer in all but 2 games all season. He has had 3 or more rebounds in 19 of the 23 games, and he's failed to go to the free throw line in only 2 games all season. And he's done all this while usually being guarded by the opponents' best defender, or by a defense specifically geared toward thwarting him.

IMO opinion, he is having a 1st team All-MVC season, and is still in the running for MVC POY!

[houstontxbrave]

Any player can be made to look bad if we only pick out his worst games and point to those statistics. That was what was being done and what I objected to with AW.

Here is an overview of Andrew's season, so far, which is the only fair way to assess him (instead of picking out his worst game or games, and picking apart his performance in those)-
Andrew is still Bradley's leading scorer at 14.6 points per game. That is a significant increase over his sophomore numbers when he averaged 13.2 ppg, and is very good considering he missed an entire year+ with injury, and there are several other scorers on the team to compete with for shots.
AW averages 15.2 ppg in MVC games, and with Harry Marshall (16.3 ppg) likely to miss the rest of the season, and only 2 other players (Colt Ryan 15.7 ppg and Josh Young 15.4 ppg) barely ahead of him, there is a chance AW could end up the MVC leading scorer in conference games.

Andrew is averaging 4.8 rebounds per game (5.3 in conference games). That's the best among MVC guards, and well above his rebounding averages his previous 2 seasons. If Andrew played for SIU or Wichita State, he'd be the leading rebounder on their team!

Andrew's 86.7% free throw percentage is the best of his career, and one of the top in the MVC. He actually leads the MVC in conference games with an amazing 94.2% FT average.

AW's overall 3-point percentage is 40.5% (best on the team), and in MVC games, it is 43.5%, 3rd best in the MVC.

AW also has played better defense this season, and he averages 34.5 minutes per game, most on the Bradley team, and 4th most in the MVC.
In fact, he has played 29 minutes or more in all 23 games this season, and has never been in serious foul trouble, or fouled out.

And despite the criticism he has gotten here, he has been very consistent. Andrew has failed to score in double figures only 4 times all season (19 out of 23 games, and 2 of those games were very early in the season) and only twice has he not been in double figures in MVC games. By the way, Bradley won both MVC games when he had low scoring games. Andrew has never had a scoreless game this season, nor a game where he did not make a single basket (ala Osiris Eldridge). He has also made at least 1 three-pointer in all but 2 games all season. He has had 3 or more rebounds in 19 of the 23 games, and he's failed to go to the free throw line in only 2 games all season. And he's done all this while usually being guarded by the opponents' best defender, or by a defense specifically geared toward thwarting him.

IMO opinion, he's having a 1st team All-MVC season, and is still in the running for MVC POY!

We have completely differing opinions of the play of Andrew Warren. He though is NOT having a 1st team All-MVC season, no Bradley player will be given first team and if any player did it would be Maniscalco not Warren.

Oh and just because someone plays a lot of minutes does not make them a good defender. And just because you get to double figures, doesnt mean you get there with quality. Amazing how if you put up lots of shots you will get you points.

But I regress, I guess averaging points is much more important then missing huge amounts of shots and taking shots that are not quality and or forced.

I do agree on his ft shooting and would LOVE to see him get there a lot more often, rather then putting up jump shots. But as long as he is scoring in double figures and making atleast a 3 point attempt a game... all is wonderful.

We definitely look at Basketball much differently. There are players who fill up a stat sheet, there are others who contribute in all categories to make their team better.

I want Andrew Warren to prove me and other wrong... he has 5 conference games and 4 of those against equal or better teams then us. Great players or more specifically 1st team MVC players will rise to the challenge and lead his team. It is time.

[BU Bill]

Thanks for the stats, Coach! To select only his worst 2 games of the season, and try to make a case that Andrew is not playing up to expectations is ridiculous. Show me a college player anywhere in the country that doesn't have a few off games. Andrew has been great this year and I hope he keeps it up.

[Da Coach]

He though is NOT having a 1st team All-MVC season

Then who is having a 1st team All MVC season?

You must believe that Osiris Eldridge isn't either, because Andrew's MVC numbers are better than Eldridge's in virtually every category. AW is outscoring, & outrebounding Eldridge, and his shooting %'s from the floor and FT line are way better.

And just because you get to double figures, doesnt mean you get there with quality. Amazing how if you put up lots of shots you will get you points.

Did you look at the actual stats? Andrew's percentage on threes is better than anyone in the MVC except Jordan Printy and Adam Templeton.
And AW is only averaging 11.4 shots per game- not very many for a guy averaging about 15 ppg.

[lefty]

Then who is having a 1st team All MVC season?

You must believe that Osiris Eldridge isn't either, because Andrew's MVC numbers are better than Eldridge's in virtually every category. AW is outscoring, & outrebounding Eldridge, and his shooting %'s from the floor and FT line are way better.




Did you look at the actual stats? Andrew's percentage on threes is better than anyone in the MVC except Jordan Printy and Adam Templeton.
And AW is only averaging 11.4 shots per game- not very many for a guy averaging about 15 ppg.

Not sure if you are talking about me DC in regards to AW....but it sure seemed to me AW had been struggling the 5-7 games or so before Evansville...Some costly turnovers in late stages of a couple of home games and maybe questionable shot selection too.....and I know they are questionable when they don't go in....just seemed like some poor decision making and his shooting percentage in those games wasnt all that good...
Hopefully the Evansville game puts him back on track....I find it hard to believe we can do well the rest ofthe way out without him,SM, or TB

[houstontxbrave]

Then who is having a 1st team All MVC season?

You must believe that Osiris Eldridge isn't either, because Andrew's MVC numbers are better than Eldridge's in virtually every category. AW is outscoring, & outrebounding Eldridge, and his shooting %'s from the floor and FT line are way better.

The following will all get more consideration to be first team MVC before Andrew Warren:

Toure Murry
Clevin Hannah
Kyle Weems
Dinma Odiakosa
Adam Koch
Jordon Eglseder
Kwadzo Ahelegbe
Osiris Eldridge
Sam Maniscalco

Did you look at the actual stats? Andrew's percentage on threes is better than anyone in the MVC except Jordan Printy and Adam Templeton.
And AW is only averaging 11.4 shots per game- not very many for a guy averaging about 15 ppg.

Maybe you are right he is not shooting as much as I had thought. His shooting overall in his last 9 games has been bad but I guess his overall year long shooting has been respectable at 40%.

Regardless I expect more from Warren and I do think it is fair to pick out games v CU and ISU and also pick out his last 9 games to talk about how poor his OVERALL shooting has been.

I can admit when I was wrong, and I was wrong about the number of shots, but I am not wrong about how poor his from the floor shooting has been in his last 9 conference games and take out 2 games versus one of the worst teams in college basketball the overall shooting has been very poor.

Regardless as I keep saying I want him to prove me wrong by playing like a first team all MVC player. All I want is a consistant effort nightly.

[Majik45]

Warren has been shooting free throws unbelievably this season. Just wish Maniscalco would find his touch from the line again, as he really has dropped off from where he was at last year.

[AZ BU Fan]

Since I don't see 9000+ Central Ill posters on this Forum yet, there may be a body of public opinion that isn't as forgiving as the postets on BradelyFans.com. One person's view of things can differ from others. Plus, HINDSIGHT is ALWAYS 20-20.

DR is the JS BU BEAT WRITER...The good cop. Of course his glasses will be Red Colored and his columns will be Kool Aid induced. He lives with the team/coaching staff. The BU/JL crowd that sees every cup as always full like him, and that's to be expected and ok.

KW is a JS SPORTS COLUMNIST and has more latitude in his reporting/opinions. If he thinks BU's chances are poor based on their performance, he'll state it. There are actually folks out in the PJS circulation area who agree with him. At the time he wrote the story I agreed with his opinion. BU was totally underwhelming, and I don't give style points for potential. Fortunately, BU has righted the ship since KW's column. That's great. Perhaps motivated by KW's column to finally play up to their potential!

Had BU continued to stink up the joint after KW's column, would the fervent Forum BU/JL supporters written posts that annointed KW a mystic, or savant, in his prediction? Doubtful.

Focus in on BU and not the media. They are just doing their job.

[SFP]

OK if KW ever wrote something a little complimentary to JL I'd take what you have to say as correct. KW is far from objective IMO. DR can be objective and at times not so complimentary but comes at it from an angle of a person who cares. All I ask is from any journalist is to state the facts and if you have to state your opinion at least let the folks know where you are coming from.

[AZ BU Fan]

KW is a sports columnist, not a sports reporter. DR is more of a reporter.

Would it make everyone feel better if KW columns were on the PJS editorial page? Columnists don't need to be objective, just look at the talking heads on cable TV, both Fox on the right, and, the rest of the stations on the left. Ditto all the columnists on the PJS Editorial Page. Each side presents their own story based on their opinions & bias and the facts that support them.

They are columnists expressing their opinions, not reporters laying out facts. No need to be objective. They call em as they see em, and not always as we would like to see em. Its up to the PJS mgmt to decide if the paper is better off with KW's opinions on BU and JL vs someone elses! Its nothing new. KW's predecessor certainly didn't give Mo much slack.

For all I know, JL may have alienated KW somewhere along the line..Takes two to tango. Just sayin...

[SFP]

OK I have a large disdain for those talking heads on TV from the far left and right and never watch them. I guess what you are saying and others have said that KW falls in that same type of category. It's sort of like watching Rush talk about Obama. No matter if you do not like Obama, Rush still sounds like an ***** 1/2 the time.

[Buesch N Chips]

For all I know, JL may have alienated KW somewhere along the line..Takes two to tango. Just sayin...

I think it happened very early on, then came to a head during the Daniel Ruffin injury controversy.

[jeffsu]

...but I guess his overall year long shooting has been respectable at 40%.

...to talk about how poor his OVERALL shooting has been.

What? Conflicting message. Do you consider his overall 40% good or not?! Sure some of the "easier" games can bolster your stats, but EVERYONE has that. Are some of his worse games during tough games? Sure thing. He also has some great games against tough opponents.

[BradleyBrave]

What? Conflicting message. Do you consider his overall 40% good or not?! Sure some of the "easier" games can bolster your stats, but EVERYONE has that. Are some of his worse games during tough games? Sure thing. He also has some great games against tough opponents.

40% is good from 3, not overall IMO.