Dave Reynolds....Will Bradley keep playing?

[Bradleyguy10]

Ouch.....I didn't even think of that. That's slightly depressing.

[Bravesfan]

Sounds like the civic center has only the first 2 dates available for home games, I think BU wants to get invited first and see how much money is involved before making a decision, still wonder if they would even draw 4500 fans because of all the people that have commented they would not attend one of these .com tournaments.
The thing that bothers me the most about BU not getting better is Richmond, Oakland and Old Dominion will most likely be in the big dance, teams that we played last season and were fairly equal to that have gotten better.

But you can also say that Portland and Virginia have not gotten better over the past year or two because of these tournaments. Portland started out like gangbusters this year, but somewhat tanked in conference play. And Virginia has gotten worse over the past two years if anything.

Not using this as an excuse, but just saying.

[Tulsa Brave]

But you can also say that Portland and Virginia have not gotten better over the past year or two because of these tournaments. Portland started out like gangbusters this year, but somewhat tanked in conference play. And Virginia has gotten worse over the past two years if anything.

Not using this as an excuse, but just saying.

I'll take tanking if it involves a 10-4 conference record, with 3 of the losses to Gonzaga and St. Mary's.

[BradleyBrave]

But you can also say that Portland and Virginia have not gotten better over the past year or two because of these tournaments. Portland started out like gangbusters this year, but somewhat tanked in conference play. And Virginia has gotten worse over the past two years if anything.

Not using this as an excuse, but just saying.

Virginia also fired their coach when they didn't get any better.

[Da Coach]

Virginia also fired their coach when they didn't get any better.

It might have been that embarrassing home loss to Bradley that sealed Dave Leito's fate.

[Bravesfan]

I'll take tanking if it involves a 10-4 conference record, with 3 of the losses to Gonzaga and St. Mary's.

You know what? I did not know they were 10-4 in their conference. Maybe I should check the standings the next time before I post!

But they did underachieve after their great run in their preseason tourney in which they beat UCLA and Minnesota......you know what? Cancel that. Those weren't the greatest teams they played either!

Yeah, 21-10 should get them an NIT bid, but it will be close. They could at the very least be a favorite to win the CBI, but I think they will get to the NIT.

[ER3]

down the stretch we started a freshman, a soph, and two juniors...plus a 2nd year juco player (senior)
that is a far younger team that anyone else in the top 6 of the MVC...

I heard several people talk about the youth of Wichita...but their five starters were...
-- Senior, 4th year Junior, Junior, Junior, Sophomore (Hannah, Durley, Hatch, Ellis, Murry)..not a single freshman among their top 7 scorers...while we had TWO freshman among our top 7 guys...

The 5 guys that played the most minutes on this team throughout the season were:

Sophomore
3rd-year Sophomore
Junior
4th-year Junior
Senior

This 'inexperienced' excuse is a total joke...that is not a "young, inexperienced team".

[tornado]

Portland is a decent team in a middle range conference with a lot of fluff at the bottom end (half the conference had 18-24 losses and RPI >>200)
..but they aren't were never a Top 25 team no matter how many of those who vote in the polls stupidly thought so..
Obviously those wins over Oregon and UCLA that had the national gurus drooling, have since been exposed and worthless!

[Bradleyguy10]

The 5 guys that played the most minutes on this team throughout the season were:

Sophomore
3rd-year Sophomore
Junior
4th-year Junior
Senior

This 'inexperienced' excuse is a total joke...that is not a "young, inexperienced team".

Thank you...I've said this so many times. Inexperience is just another excuse for the lack of results from season to season.

[BradleyBrave]

The 5 guys that played the most minutes on this team throughout the season were:

Sophomore
3rd-year Sophomore
Junior
4th-year Junior
Senior

This 'inexperienced' excuse is a total joke...that is not a "young, inexperienced team".

I would have to agree. Kirk Wessler sure thought we'd be in the MVC and NCAA mix, and cited experience as a reason prior to the season starting.

http://www.bradleyhoops.com/homepage/x255180771/Essential-ingredients-to-be-in-MVC-mix

He also didn't let this fact fall by the wayside either -

One reason for optimism on that front is experience. After breaking in 11 first-year Division I players over the past two years, the newest edition of the Braves goes nine deep in scholarship vets, including eight who have won a starting position at some point in their careers.

http://www.bradleyhoops.com/homepage/x826025308/Physicality-role-playing-keys-for-BU

And let's not let Jim Les off the hook either. This is what he said at Media Day this year -

Les went first. He gave a glowing review of the Braves, remarking on his club’s depth and experience.

“I really like our team,” he said. “We’ve got tremendous depth at each position and tremendous competitiveness shining through in our practices.”

http://www.bradleyhoops.com/homepage/x1914248393/Another-Pick-Six-hit

And going into the Lewis game it was cited again, to no one’s dispute.

Bradley played Lewis prior to last season, winning 74-61. But it was a closer game than that much of the way, as the Braves led by just four points with 5:16 left.

Six of the 10 Braves who played that night were new to the program. The experience difference this year is stark: nine of the 13 scholarship players have started at least one college game.

http://www.bradleyhoops.com/homepage/x235900466/Bradley-gets-final-warmup

And lastly, in the season preview prior to the BYU game, our own Sammy Maniscalco even cites 'experience'

The Braves also return a more experienced group coming off back-to-back second-place finishes in two fledgling postseason tournaments — the CBI and the CIT, respectively — not to mention a 4-1 run during its Brazil trip in August.

“Certainly those tournaments were fun and gave us a lot of experience,” said BU guard Sam Maniscalco. “But our goal is not the CBI or the CIT. It’s the NCAA tournament. I have never experienced the NCAA tournament. March Madness is what college basketball is all about.”

Maniscalco is one of 10 returning lettermen, and one of four — along with guards Chris Roberts, Eddren McCain and Dodie Dunson — who started more than half of the team’s games last year. Andrew Warren, the Braves’ top returning scorer from two seasons ago is also back healthy as are promising frontcourtmen Will Egolf and Taylor Brown.


I didn't hear too many people disputing the 'experience' notion back in November. Now we've got our own coach saying we were 'young and inexperienced'. I say BS.

[tornado]

ahem...some "won a starting position" only because of times when we were short manned, plagued with injuries (even season long ones), or had kids on suspension for trivial stuff like twittering..

we were still the MOST inexperienced team among all the top 6-8 teams in the Valley!!

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?p=171954#post171954

[Da Coach]

Going into this season we had a more experienced lineup with Dodie Dunson. I think that explains why there were different statements early versus later in the season.
When DD went down, we had to cancel plans to redshirt Jake and/or Dyricus, and both became important parts of the rotation. That changed a team with a lot of experience in the starting lineup into one with more inexperience.

[Bradleyguy10]

Yeah it brought in more inexperience...but ONE PLAYER? One player changes an entire team from an experienced one to an inexperienced one....I don't buy it and I suspect most don't either.

[BradleyBrave]

ahem...some "won a starting position" only because of times when we were short manned, plagued with injuries (even season long ones), or had kids on suspension for trivial stuff like twittering..

we were still the MOST inexperienced team among all the top 6-8 teams in the Valley!!
http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread...954#post171954

I think you're the only one that really believes that.

[Bradleyguy10]

Bradley Brave why must you use the quote feature...now I can see what he wrote...