Valley Media Day: BU Picked 5th

[dogsrus]

You can pretend for your own purposes that it is all because Bradley is just bad, but that is simply not true.

I don't get it..."pretend for our own purposes"...just exactly does that mean?


Its our simple opinion that IF the product was better we'd have better crowds...nothing more nothing less.

We lost 5 or 6 home games last year after leading in most if not all of them. You could just see and feel the crowds getting smaller and/or less enthused with each ensuing home game wondering...uh oh...here we go again.

[Buesch N Chips]

1996-97
H: 12-2 A: 4-8 N: 1-3
Captains: Kerry Burrell, Anthony Parker, Aaron Zobrist
N 30 Chicago State W 90-68 8,484
D 7 Kansas State (25) L 61-73 9,360
D 10 Butler (OT) W 67-55 8,820
D 23 Western Illinois W 66-52 9,496
D 31 *So. Illinois (OT) L 63-64 10,073
J 11 *Evansville (E) W 64-50 9,501
J 13 *Indiana State (25) W 66-56 8,915
J 25 *Missouri State (25) W 70-48 10,827
J 27 *Wichita State W 74-57 9,556
F 8 *Creighton (25) W 61-58 10,924
F 13 *Drake W 73-53 9,752
F 18 *Northern Iowa W 77-61 9,743
F 22 *Illinois State (M) W 69-64 11,207
M 12 Drexel (25) W 66-53 8,277

How does this compare with last year?

[BradleyBrave]

1996-97
H: 12-2 A: 4-8 N: 1-3
Captains: Kerry Burrell, Anthony Parker, Aaron Zobrist
N 30 Chicago State W 90-68 8,484
D 7 Kansas State (25) L 61-73 9,360
D 10 Butler (OT) W 67-55 8,820
D 23 Western Illinois W 66-52 9,496
D 31 *So. Illinois (OT) L 63-64 10,073
J 11 *Evansville (E) W 64-50 9,501
J 13 *Indiana State (25) W 66-56 8,915
J 25 *Missouri State (25) W 70-48 10,827
J 27 *Wichita State W 74-57 9,556
F 8 *Creighton (25) W 61-58 10,924
F 13 *Drake W 73-53 9,752
F 18 *Northern Iowa W 77-61 9,743
F 22 *Illinois State (M) W 69-64 11,207
M 12 Drexel (25) W 66-53 8,277

How does this compare with last year?

I know the 12-2 home record looks a lot better!

[amckillip]

Ahh the good old "eye test" eh amckillip?

And you would NEVER look at things with even a slight Bradley Bias, right?

HAHAHAHAHAH. Are you actually suggesting ILSU gets more fans on average than BU???? Seriously?????? Talk about a bias!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bradleyguy10]

Actually mckillip you said that IlSU's BEST games don't come close to BU's average games...

just pointing that out and it might be why cpacmel is challenging it...

[shaunguth]

1996-97
H: 12-2 A: 4-8 N: 1-3
Captains: Kerry Burrell, Anthony Parker, Aaron Zobrist
N 30 Chicago State W 90-68 8,484
D 7 Kansas State (25) L 61-73 9,360
D 10 Butler (OT) W 67-55 8,820
D 23 Western Illinois W 66-52 9,496
D 31 *So. Illinois (OT) L 63-64 10,073
J 11 *Evansville (E) W 64-50 9,501
J 13 *Indiana State (25) W 66-56 8,915
J 25 *Missouri State (25) W 70-48 10,827
J 27 *Wichita State W 74-57 9,556
F 8 *Creighton (25) W 61-58 10,924
F 13 *Drake W 73-53 9,752
F 18 *Northern Iowa W 77-61 9,743
F 22 *Illinois State (M) W 69-64 11,207
M 12 Drexel (25) W 66-53 8,277

How does this compare with last year?

Conference games only, since those are constants each year.....

1996-97: 10,055

2009-10: 9,610 (-4.4%)

[real fan]

Sorry, but it is not that simple. I have listed the many reasons why about 80-90% of all schools have seen declining attendance. You can pretend for your own purposes that it is all because Bradley is just bad, but that is simply not true. If it were, then eventually the season ticket sales would drop, and the paid attendance and donations would drop, too. But those things haven't happened. Bradley is actually doing better than the great majority of schools.
Some schools have just accepted that their attendance may never be what it was a decade or two ago, and others have moved into smaller arenas. I do agree that if Bradley wins more, their attendance will go up a little, but other than ISU or a marquee opponent, it will be difficult to see sellouts like we used to see.

Sellouts happen because of two things,
1 home team very good
2 visiting team a marquee name that also is very good making for what appears to be a great game.
Not BU"S fault that they cannot get Mich.St, Louisville or other major teams to come to Peoria but everyone of those type of games would sell-out, the Peoria area is a great one in that they like to witness good basketball , hopefully BU has a 11-1 record when Wichita comes to town as it would mean that we have our 1st sell-out and get to 12-1 2-0 in the Valley.

[Bravesfan]

You obviously missed the lesson in logic.....JL's teams ALWAYS finish in the middle. I have no idea what the "experts" are thinking when it comes to isu, since Jank's teams ALWAYS finish ahead of us.

I understand your logic here, but again, I'm curious to what the "experts" are thinking, not based on where JL has finished in recent years. However, if the "experts" base Les's finishes on their prediction, then they should say so. But I don't believe that's why most have Bradley finishing in the middle of the pack again.

Btw, if Bradley finishes fourth or even fifth, but strong enough for an NIT bid this year, would that change people's opinions about the team.....oh never mind! I doubt that would!

[shaunguth]

Btw, if Bradley finishes fourth or even fifth, but strong enough for an NIT bid this year, would that change people's opinions about the team.....oh never mind! I doubt that would!

Unless three or more players miss a significant amount of time, then 4th or 5th would be a huge disappointment.....even with an NIT bid.

[AZ BU Fan]

Hey -- I can be happy that we get 7 pages+ just on the topic of where BU was picked..
a few MVC teams don't even have more than one or two fans who even seem to care!

Plus 1,000,000! Well said T....

BU on line fans are passionate! #1 in the MVC and have to be in the top 10 nationally!

Being newly retired, this site gives me great pleasure reading others' posts and expressing opinions creatively with people I have never met, but, somehow seem to know after a while! It is the first thing I look at when I boot up the ol computer each morning before heading out to play golf, hike, bike, play softball and act like an old retired guy!

[real fan]

I understand your logic here, but again, I'm curious to what the "experts" are thinking, not based on where JL has finished in recent years. However, if the "experts" base Les's finishes on their prediction, then they should say so. But I don't believe that's why most have Bradley finishing in the middle of the pack again.

Btw, if Bradley finishes fourth or even fifth, but strong enough for an NIT bid this year, would that change people's opinions about the team.....oh never mind! I doubt that would!

What do you mean about changing opinions of the team ?
My opinion is that this team is much better then last years team based on interior players and quite possibly mental toughness, will know more after I see a real game with a whole squad against Quincy.
I saw the Illini vs. Missouri football game and concluded that they were better prepared and a lot more disciplined which I know is do to their new asst. coaches, I thought after watching the red-white scrimmage that we appeared to be more physical inside which I did not see before, I hope it continues the whole season as we need tough inside players.

[dogsrus]

Unless three or more players miss a significant amount of time, then 4th or 5th would be a huge disappointment.....even with an NIT bid.

Agree...4/5 would be dissapointing to almost everyone, esecially the team and coaches IMO.

This team can finish top 3 and depending on the bigs could challenge for 1-2.

[Buesch N Chips]

Agree...4/5 would be dissapointing to almost everyone, esecially the team and coaches IMO.

This team can finish top 3 and depending on the bigs could challenge for 1-2.

See dogs, every once in awhile you post something I agree with. Good post. I sense a refreshing air of diplomacy in your tone that last day or so. I like it.

[Bravesfan]

I agree, though I think this has always been true of the Bradley crowd.

I agree too, though I remember during the days of the Molinarmy just how loud the crowd could be! Those were some great times, and even back a few years ago when I came down for the DePaul game there were some stretches where the crowd was definitely into the game especially coming off of their Sweet 16 run. I'm sure a great run towards a conference championship this year can bring back the energy. Heck, even during the final round of the CBI and CIT the crowds were loud. But you are right that Bradley crowds have always been a bit more passive than other schools.

[dogsrus]

See dogs, every once in awhile you post something I agree with. Good post. I sense a refreshing air of diplomacy in your tone that last day or so. I like it.