All Valley Selections

[BradleyBrave]

IMO, Osiris Eldridge = Phil Gilbert without a conscience.

In fact, PG's shooting percentages were better, and the following comparison suggests Gilbert may have been the better player.

Here are the numbers just for their senior seasons, and recall that Phillip Gilbert missed 10 games, and played his senior with a broken foot! He also played on a team with 2 other players who averaged more than 15 ppg (Sommerville and Gillingham).
In addition, Osiris Eldridge's stats this season are greatly inflated by playing such a weak non-conference schedule.

2009-10-Osiris Eldridge...33 minutes per game, 15.9 ppg (lead MVC), 4.0 rpg, 41.5% FG, 35.4% three point, 81% free throws, 2.5 apg, 1.3 steals per game.
Note that his numbers for MVC Conference games-only are much worse- 13.7 ppg (7th in the MVC) and 31.5% three point shooting percentage.

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/ils.htm

2003-04-Phil Gilbert.......32 minutes per game, 16.0 ppg (lead MVC), 3.4 rpg, 41.8% FG, 37.4% three point, 83.5% free throws, 1.6 apg, 0.8 steals per game.

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=19334&SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=129390

Also, in his 4 seasons, Phil Gilbert lead Bradley to just as many MVC League titles, and MVC Tournament titles as Osiris Eldridge lead ISU to, and Gilbert played in just as many NCAA tournaments as Eldridge.
By comparison, Gilbert was every good an MVC player as OE, maybe better.

I agree, those players have very similar games. OE I think is a bit more athletic and explosive, but similar games nonetheless. Man I miss Phil Gilbert. That foot injury really ruined what was turning into one of the great careers at BU.

[littlebishforpres]

My two cents on Osiris--not that anyone cares.

I do think he has been a bit overrated during his time in B/N. It would pretty tough to have four years of him, and Odiakosa and never make an NCAA Tournament or win an MVC title. Those are the ultimate goals.

His substance never quite matched the hype. Yes, he has been a nice player with some decent numbers. But he never truly separated himself on a different level like the Korver's, Parker's, etc. did. He was just a good player in the MVC.

Now, Im not saying that is bad. I just always thought there would be more. I feel he has been very much a "paper tiger" on the basketball court. Outside of that--I have heard stories of people and ISU students who have interacted with him and had nothing but good things to say about him.

I generally stay away from the personal stuff. Most of us don't really know anything about these guys outside of superficial type stuff.

[Da Coach]

My point was to show that despite all the praise and accolades Osiris Eldridge gets, Bradley has had many players in their past, including players like Gilbert, Cellus, POB, and Gillingham, who will never be considered for retiring uniforms, who had numbers that compare with Osiris. I like OE, and wish him the best. I hope he gets to play in the NCAA before his career is over. But he is not a special player. The numbers above show he is a comparable player to Phillip Gilbert, and Gilbert produced his numbers with a broken foot!
Bradley has had numerous players in their past who had better careers than Phil, and who rank above him on the all-time BU scoring list. ISU on the other hand has not had many real greats that were NBA high draft picks, or MVC HOF caliber. In fact they have had just 1- Doug Collins. Maybe that's why the accomplishments of Osiris Eldridge, though modest, are trumpeted so loudly.

[shaunguth]

I just read that ISU was 2 & 3 in the 1st team votes. So my question earlier gets narrowed. If you have 2 of the best 3 players in the league.... how do you finish 3rd in the Valley? NICE coaching job!

I agree. At the very least, they should be in position for an at-large with two of the top three players in the Valley.

I would hate to see the number of "Fire JL" posts had this been the case for Bradley.

[BradleyBrave]

I agree. At the very least, they should be in position for an at-large with two of the top three players in the Valley.

I would hate to see the number of "Fire JL" posts had this been the case for Bradley.

Well, let's finish 3rd in the MVC once and we'll see how many there are.

[shaunguth]

Well, let's finish 3rd in the MVC once and we'll see how many there are.

It wouldn't be nearly enough if we have two of the top three players in the conference!

[houstontxbrave]

My point was to show that despite all the praise and accolades Osiris Eldridge gets, Bradley has had many players in their past, including players like Gilbert, Cellus, POB, and Gillingham, who will never be considered for retiring uniforms, who had numbers that compare with Osiris. I like OE, and wish him the best. I hope he gets to play in the NCAA before his career is over. But he is not a special player. The numbers above show he is a comparable player to Phillip Gilbert, and Gilbert produced his numbers with a broken foot!
Bradley has had numerous players in their past who had better careers than Phil, and who rank above him on the all-time BU scoring list. ISU on the other hand has not had many real greats that were NBA high draft picks, or MVC HOF caliber. In fact they have had just 1- Doug Collins. Maybe that's why the accomplishments of Osiris Eldridge, though modest, are trumpeted so loudly.

You are going to seriously try to tell us that if Bradley had a guy who had put up over 1800 points and made over 285 3pt shots in his career, there would not be those who would want to retire his jersey at Bradley?

We have had people on here wanting JC's number retired.

We get posts regarding Warren and getting to 1000 points and for Maniscalco getting to 200 made 3's in a career.

Please if OE had put on a Bradley Uniform the accolades both preseason, during season and post season would be never ending.

I dont believe his accomplishments are worthy of any HOF or retired jersey and I would venture to say most clear minded ISU fans would agree. And I agree his game and likely overall numbers are probably very similar to Gilberts. And for the record the numbers that both Gilbert and OE put up during their careers are both FAR from modest. Sam Singh's career numbers are modest... you score 1800 points in a college career that is outstanding.

[ER3]

I agree. At the very least, they should be in position for an at-large with two of the top three players in the Valley.

I would hate to see the number of "Fire JL" posts had this been the case for Bradley.

Hmmm...we have 3 of the top 6 scorers in Valley play this year.
Illinois State has 0 players in the top 6...
Creighton has 0 players in the top 6...
Wichita has 0 players in the top 6...
UNI has 0 players in the top 6...
With 3 of the 6 best scorers in the league, how in the world could we have finished behind all of those teams? I'm baffled.

[shaunguth]

Hmmm...we have 3 of the top 6 scorers in Valley play this year.
Illinois State has 0 players in the top 6...
Creighton has 0 players in the top 6...
Wichita has 0 players in the top 6...
UNI has 0 players in the top 6...
With 3 of the 6 best scorers in the league, how in the world could we have finished behind all of those teams? I'm baffled.

Hmmm......I thought we were talking about best "players" and not just scorers. My bad.

[Future Walk-On]

Hmmm...we have 3 of the top 6 scorers in Valley play this year.
Illinois State has 0 players in the top 6...
Creighton has 0 players in the top 6...
Wichita has 0 players in the top 6...
UNI has 0 players in the top 6...
With 3 of the 6 best scorers in the league, how in the world could we have finished behind all of those teams? I'm baffled.

Maybe because they play defense and have contributing benches........................................... .................................................. ...........

[Da Coach]

You are going to seriously try to tell us that if Bradley had a guy who had put up over 1800 points and made over 285 3pt shots in his career, there would not be those who would want to retire his jersey at Bradley?

We have had people on here wanting JC's number retired.

We get posts regarding Warren and getting to 1000 points and for Maniscalco getting to 200 made 3's in a career.

Please if OE had put on a Bradley Uniform the accolades both preseason, during season and post season would be never ending.

I dont believe his accomplishments are worthy of any HOF or retired jersey and I would venture to say most clear minded ISU fans would agree. And I agree his game and likely overall numbers are probably very similar to Gilberts. And for the record the numbers that both Gilbert and OE put up during their careers are both FAR from modest. Sam Singh's career numbers are modest... you score 1800 points in a college career that is outstanding.

Please, where has anyone ever suggested retiring Jeremy Crouch's number? I think you are exaggerating just a bit there.

Phil Gilbert scored 1689 points in his BU career, compared to 1807 for Osiris. If not for the 10 games Phil missed his senior year, PG's career total would have been more than OE's, and I haven't even mentioned the other obvious fact that has magnified Eldridge's numbers- the fact that ISU has played the worst non-conference schedule imagineable for the last 3 years.
So again, I would make the point that they are very closely comparable, and Phil Gilbert had better percentages, and played against tougher competetion.
I have never heard anyone suggest Bradley should retire Phil Gilbert's number, or mention his name as one of the all-time great BU or MVC players.
Osiris has been hyped that way since his freshman year.

[Future Walk-On]

Please, where has anyone ever suggested retiring Jeremy Crouch's number? I think you are exaggerating just a bit there.

Phil Gilbert scored 1689 points in his BU career, compared to 1807 for Osiris. If not for the 10 games Phil missed his senior year, PG's career total would have been more than OE's, and I haven't even mentioned the other obvious fact that has magnified Eldridge's numbers- the fact that ISU has played the worst non-conference schedule imagineable for the last 3 years.
So again, I would make the point that they are very closely comparable, and Phil Gilbert had better percentages, and played against tougher competetion.
I have never heard anyone suggest Bradley should retire Phil Gilbert's number, or mention his name as one of the all-time great BU or MVC players.
Osiris has been hyped that way since his freshman year.

How hyped was OE as a recruit....I like to think in a sense of "ESPN rankings" of 40-100....can anyone gauge his rating?

[shaunguth]

How hyped was OE as a recruit....I like to think in a sense of "ESPN rankings" of 40-100....can anyone gauge his rating?

I don't believe the ESPN rankings go back to 2006.

[Fetz86]

I don't believe the ESPN rankings go back to 2006.

Correct, ESPN ratings only go back to 2008

Rivals had him as a 3 star recruit, ranked 137 in his class nationally.

[houstontxbrave]

Please, where has anyone ever suggested retiring Jeremy Crouch's number? I think you are exaggerating just a bit there.

Phil Gilbert scored 1689 points in his BU career, compared to 1807 for Osiris. If not for the 10 games Phil missed his senior year, PG's career total would have been more than OE's, and I haven't even mentioned the other obvious fact that has magnified Eldridge's numbers- the fact that ISU has played the worst non-conference schedule imagineable for the last 3 years.
So again, I would make the point that they are very closely comparable, and Phil Gilbert had better percentages, and played against tougher competetion.
I have never heard anyone suggest Bradley should retire Phil Gilbert's number, or mention his name as one of the all-time great BU or MVC players.
Osiris has been hyped that way since his freshman year.

I do not have the time to do a search but there have been quotes on this board attributed to retiring Crouch's number.

Anyway, Im done with this, OE if he was wearing a Bradley Uniform this entire conversation would completely different. You will never admit it but if OE were in a Bradley uniform your take and attitude towards him, his numbers and his accomplishments would be a complete 180.

1800 points and 285+ 3s made, this site would be blown up with love for OE in a BU uniform and the "Owners" would be leading the charge and would have led the charge for his 4 years.