Bu 75 wsu 73!

[SFP]

I also forgot to mention SS. He finally shot the bal from inside the key and he hit it! He use to take that shot all the time last year and for some reason it went missing. He has a nice touch from there and I wonder why he stopped taking it. Also it was mentioned on the radio the SS ha been hurting all year and at the end of the season it is likely he'll be scoped out once again.

[Da Coach]

So did I! I wish the MVC reffs overall called games like they did last night. It looked like more of a Big X/Big East game and they allowed the game to flow. WSU though did commit some DUMB obvious fouls last night. I also loved the no call in which DSE drove in and hit a basket with a bit of contact underneath. Most MVC reffs would have blown their whistle.

BTW...Who were those guys because I never really noticed them and to me that is the biggest compliment I can give a ref.

They were all veteran officials, and ones respected by all the MVC coaches-
Tom O'Neill, David Hall, and Steve Skiles

[BradleyJD]

I would agree B. No question that it wore us down a bit, and a credit to Marshall for sticking with it. He knows that we aren't overly deep. I actually thought Les did a real good job of balancing the minutes last night. If you look at the box score, we got twice as many minutes from our bench as WSU. Part of that was probably because of TB and WE's foul troubles, but nonetheless I thought the distribution was good.

I did too, and I credit Les for moving back to more experienced players when the lead was slipping away.

[shaunguth]

I just assumed you did not like anything about tonight!

Why would you say such a thing? I don't believe I'm the one that came here after the game saying this win is a loss. I really have no idea why you'd think I did not like anything about that game.

[BuBraves55]

It was a combination of lazy defense on the 3, and getting absolutely abused on the glass. If I had to pinpoint one area, it would be getting killed on the glass. Had we matched them rebounding wise, we could have weathered the barrage of 3's rather easily. We were matching them almost shot for shot (we shot well both halves), but they were getting twice as many chances when they missed. We were not. I believe with about a minute left in the game we only had 5 rebounds for the entire half, they had 20. I think that's all you need to know.

True, but WSU is at least a respectable team so the fact that we did what we did in the 1st half is encouraging. However, if we don't stop using up the whole shot clock after the about 12 minute mark and playing 'not to lose', it'll be a one and done for sure in St Lou. If people are tired and that's the reason......subs?? If we're just insist on playing not to lose every game despite there being a nice pattern of losses every time we do that, then that's just poor coaching. 1st half we're always aggressive and have a good flow, 2nd half looks like we're playing the #1 team in the country and surprised to be still in it, so we figure the first half must've been a fluke and just use clock. Very confusing imo.

[MacabreMob]

I just want to let everyone know....

Bradley is the ONLY team that blows a lead.

It has NOT been done by anyone else in Div 1 this season.

[dogsrus]

Rebounds....plain and simple. As someone pointed out...shot for shot we matched em. But when they get 2...3 chances it will bite you in the arse.

[LittleBrave]

I had a feeling that limiting 2nd-chance points were the key to winning the game. Though we didn't limit them, we still won - probably because we jumped out to such a big lead.

I think that if we trailed big at halftime, we'd come out stronger and with more passion in the 2nd half, and the results of our games would be about the same! Our mentality has been...let's not blow it...let's not blow it...and then we blow it!

[BradleyJD]

I just want to let everyone know....

Bradley is the ONLY team that blows a lead.

It has NOT been done by anyone else in Div 1 this season.

I doubt that BU is the only one.

But they might be the leader in blowing double digit leads at home.

[Buesch N Chips]

True, but WSU is at least a respectable team so the fact that we did what we did in the 1st half is encouraging. However, if we don't stop using up the whole shot clock after the about 12 minute mark and playing 'not to lose', it'll be a one and done for sure in St Lou. If people are tired and that's the reason......subs?? If we're just insist on playing not to lose every game despite there being a nice pattern of losses every time we do that, then that's just poor coaching. 1st half we're always aggressive and have a good flow, 2nd half looks like we're playing the #1 team in the country and surprised to be still in it, so we figure the first half must've been a fluke and just use clock. Very confusing imo.

If my choices are play slower with better players, or play faster with lower quality players, I'll go with playing slower and take my chances.

[Beninator]

True, but WSU is at least a respectable team so the fact that we did what we did in the 1st half is encouraging. However, if we don't stop using up the whole shot clock after the about 12 minute mark and playing 'not to lose', it'll be a one and done for sure in St Lou. If people are tired and that's the reason......subs?? If we're just insist on playing not to lose every game despite there being a nice pattern of losses every time we do that, then that's just poor coaching. 1st half we're always aggressive and have a good flow, 2nd half looks like we're playing the #1 team in the country and surprised to be still in it, so we figure the first half must've been a fluke and just use clock. Very confusing imo.

Just a couple of opinions here...

RE: subs-- To me it's obvious that the staff does not believe that this team is very deep. To an extent I agree... (not defending the staff here) So basically we have to go with what we have..

Re Offense: This has probably been mentioned before, but I thought that we did our best on offense when we settled down and passed the ball around looking for the best open shot available. There were a lot of holes in the WSU defense in which we did a good job at exploiting.

[MacabreMob]

I doubt that BU is the only one.

But they might be the leader in blowing double digit leads at home.

You doubt it? So you have no idea if anyone else blows a big lead (home or on the road).

[Dallas Brave]

Rebounds....plain and simple. As someone pointed out...shot for shot we matched em. But when they get 2...3 chances it will bite you in the arse.

I have changed my avatar to be my suggestion for the new team logo ... theater masks. Sometimes its a comedy, sometimes a tragedy.

Seriously though. Congratulations to all of the Braves for hanging in and beating a tough team ... especially on Senior night. A great win even if it did strain the heart a bit.

The first half was a masterpiece of ball movement and shooting. I think the Braves had 9 assists to 11 buckets in the first half ... a really astounding percentage. Great team basketball!!!!

Rebounding was challenging to watch. Wichita State gathered 14 offensive rebounds off of 28 missed shots. They had as good of chance of getting a rebound as we did when they missed a shot ... not good. Need height or better fundamentals. Bradley collected 5 offensive rebounds off of 22 missed shots ... not good. Need height or better fundamentals.

Still got the CU game to go, but Bradley has just as good of a chance as any team to win the conference tourament in St. Louis. All we need to do is shoot 55% plus from the field every game because we will not get second chances. But this team can do that. Go Braves. Pack the first half mask and leave the second half mask at home.

[BradleyJD]

You doubt it? So you have no idea if anyone else blows a big lead (home or on the road).

You said BU was the only one....I said I doubted that BU was the only one.

I was refuting your post.

[MacabreMob]

You said BU was the only one....I said I doubted that BU was the only one.

I was refuting your post.

And my meant I was being sarcastic. C'mon JD, you've been on message boards long enough to understand that.

But I am curious - you have not seen any other Div 1 teams blow a lead (home or on the road)? You can only doubt that Bradley is the only team to blow a lead (home or on the road)?

All I can say to that is.... Wow.