Bradley ranked as 11th out of 263 midmajors over past 6 years

[Da Coach]

The website Midmajority.com has a preseason project going where they rank the success of all the 263 teams that are not part of the 6 power conferences (Big East, ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac 10).

They did their ranking based on a complicated formula that took numerous factors into account, which relate to the success and quality of each team. And they chose only the last 6 years, since that is how long the midmajority.com website has been online and tracking the midmajors.

Here is their website which explains in detail which factors were considered and how they were rated-
www.midmajority.com/tmm100

Of all 263 midmajor teams, Bradley comes in 11th overall. They are above every MVC team except UNI, which is yet to appear in the ranking (one team is revealed each day, and they are up to #11 today).

http://twitter.com/midmajority/status/28024146420

This is the most comprehensive, detailed, and objective ranking of midmajor schools' success I have seen. So for Bradley to be ranked so highly does point to a degree of consistent success that the program has had in recent years. It might be a little deflating for those fans who like to repeat the mantra of mediocrity every time they post about Bradley.
11th out of 263 teams, and ranked higher than Creighton, Wichita State, Missouri State, ISU, and SIU is not mediocre.

[Air Petey]

DC - Thanks for this link.

GO BRAVES!!

[amckillip]

Oh god, let the floodgates open - These guys are clearly spinning stuff; They defend everything the University brass does.

[saluki762]

I do not disagree with their rankings. That said, when the power conferences are not included, high rankings are the equivilent of winning a medal at the special olympics.

[tornado]

No -- more like winning the NCAA Title but not winning the NBA title -- you can't compare schools that have a $2 mil budget with those who have an $80 mil budget...

But, you mean Bradley -- even during this recent period of "mediocre" finishes that high??
and still ranks among the elite?? Among the Top 10-12 non-BCS programs in the universe??
Bradley ranks higher than/superior to Creighton, Wichita State, SIU, Illinois State, Missouri State, the beloved Bruce Pearl-led UW-M, and even ahead of Dayton??
Didn't the guy who is doing this rating also already tip his hand and clearly demonstrate that he does no favors for BU -- is it possible that BU might even rank higher than this is the guy was a bit more favorable??

[Buesch N Chips]

the equivilent of winning a medal at the special olympics.

Ridiculous. Offensive. Embarrassing.

[saluki762]

Ridiculous. Offensive. Embarrassing.

OK, bad analogy but if the MVC wants to play with the big boys, we need to pride ourselves on where we rank against them, not excluding them.

[TheAsianSensation]

I think it's something to be quite proud of, honestly. There's some solid programs we're ahead of. Of course, given their point system, anyone could argue any number of flaws with it, but to be honest, the point system they use for this list is pretty reasonable.

My only "negative" thought is this: If we're good enough to be #11 in a list like this (which is quite a good thing), shouldn't we have a top 3 conference finish in one of those 6 years? It's obvious we're one of the best programs; why doesn't it translate in the MVC? And I'm not asking for year-in-year-out either. Just a couple contentions for league titles in the past 6 years. It's obvious the data in this list supports that we should have it.

[TheAsianSensation]

Didn't the guy who is doing this rating also already tip his hand and clearly demonstrate that he does no favors for BU -- is it possible that BU might even rank higher than this is the guy was a bit more favorable??

The formula he used to create the list is 100% mathematical and statistical, so there's zero bias.

[tornado]

it is a pretty objective formula but people are not objective - which is where most of the anti-BU stuff comes from

[saluki762]

I think it's something to be quite proud of, honestly. There's some solid programs we're ahead of. Of course, given their point system, anyone could argue any number of flaws with it, but to be honest, the point system they use for this list is pretty reasonable.

My only "negative" thought is this: If we're good enough to be #11 in a list like this (which is quite a good thing), shouldn't we have a top 3 conference finish in one of those 6 years? It's obvious we're one of the best programs; why doesn't it translate in the MVC? And I'm not asking for year-in-year-out either. Just a couple contentions for league titles in the past 6 years. It's obvious the data in this list supports that we should have it.

It is the MLB Braves/Marlins argument. Would you rather have sustained success and only 1 world series title or 2 WS titles and a bunch of awful seasons. 3 years ago I would have told you I would rather be a Braves fan. After seeing SIU fall so hard the last couple of years, I am not sure that I wouldn't prefer SIU's recent success looking more like Bradleys.

[TheAsianSensation]

It is the MLB Braves/Marlins argument. Would you rather have sustained success and only 1 world series title or 2 WS titles and a bunch of awful seasons. 3 years ago I would have told you I would rather be a Braves fan. After seeing SIU fall so hard the last couple of years, I am not sure that I wouldn't prefer SIU's recent success looking more like Bradleys.

I think that's a fair analogy. One thing Bradley has been good at is avoiding the truly bad season - the floor is very high now. That IS something to be glad about as a BU fan.

I think the argument amongst BU fans is if our equivalent of the World Series in this analogy is a conference title (or top 3) or a Sweet 16. Obviously one of the goals have been reached. And I think if you replaced the Sweet 16 with a loss to Kansas and a 1st and 2nd in the conference in the last 3 years, everyone would be infinitely happier.

[Future Walk-On]

How much of his formula glorifies the 20+ win seasons we had.....

This ranking doesn't make me feel any better. Do we get 12,000 extra points for a S16?

EDIT: I read the ranking system......it is obvious that we would do well....we have everthing on the list but a conference title......so looking at everything but the conference title........we are pretty good.

[it's boogie time]

Bradley got 100 points. The bulk of the points come from beating teams above the red line.
Bradley had 16 "red line" victories since the 2004-05 season for 64 points:
Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State 2, Cincy, Virginia, Tulsa, DePaul 3, Rutgers, Providence, Southern Miss 2, Kansas, Pitt.

The four 20 win seasons are 12 points
The two NCAA victories are 10 points
The one NCAA apperance is 5 points
The one NIT Victory is 3 points
The one NIT apperance is 2 points
The 2 CBI/CIT apperances in 2 points
The NBA draft pick is 2 points

[tornado]

..One thing Bradley has been good at is avoiding the truly bad season ....

so only one thing?? No mention of a Sweet Sixteen finish, a Top 25 finish in some polls, four consecutive 21+win seasons, Top 3 in the MVC in total wins over the past 5 years, tops overall in SOS and caliber of opponents, most NBA & lottery draft picks, and more post-season wins than all of the rest of the Valley combined!
It's clearly a half-full, half-empty argument -- if people only want to see what Bradley hasn't done or what BU has fallen short on, and always point only the flaws and negatives, and dwell on bitterness and wish we'd have done better when choosing a coach in 2002, then fine, but you'd better not treat your boss, your wife, your kids, or anyone else that way...and "bitterness consumes the vessel that holds it"..