What would Bradley's record be if TB and SM were healthy?

[Da Coach]

I think this is a fair question to ask.
For those fans who do not like to hear about injury "excuses", please just ignore this poll.
What would Bradley's record be if both Taylor Brown and Sam Maniscalco were healthy and playing at 100% this season?
I believe a strong case could be made that they would be 7-0 right now.
I believe TB's scoring and inside game would have made a big difference in the TCU game, and TB plus a healthy SM would certainly have made a huge difference in the EIU and WCU games.

A case could also be made that no Division I coach in America has been snakebitten as much as Jim Les with injuries to key players. I can find no other coach who has lost as many key players- starters, team-leading scorers and rebounders, team captains and point guards- over the past 5 years.

[BradleyBrave]

Fair question - I think we'd be undefeated. I have little doubt actually that we'd be undefeated.

But considering the poor level of competition we've played thus far, even minus 2 starters, I would expect a team that was going to seriously contend in the MVC to be undefeated also, maybe 1 loss at the most with 4 games in 5 days.

As another poster pointed out, of course no one should expect the same results missing 2 all-conference players. But Bradley should have enough depth to be able to beat EIU and this year's WCU team even down 2 guys. Charron Woods is getting meaningful minutes. God bless the kid, but if that doesn't speak volumes about the serious downturn in talent and recruiting, I don't know what does.

[Da Coach]

Fair question - I think we'd be undefeated..

why not vote in the poll?

[BradleyBrave]

why not vote in the poll?

I just did...the poll wasn't up yet when I responded!

[TheAsianSensation]

No question we close out the true road game and beat EIU for at least 6-1.

TCU could go either way, as it was the 2nd of 2 back-to-backs that week, but I'll give the benefit of the doubt.

[lake Camelot]

I am trying not to post much on here because I am in a very negative state of mind. I don't think it would make a huge difference. In the preseason poll I voted 15-19 wins I think, and I think we are a little worse than that now. Maybe under .500 I think TB would have helped with a big weakness of rebounding. I think we have plenty of guards to fill SM's place with just slight dropoff. I think our whole system is the problem that I don't see changing. We never pass the ball inside and try to score. Since players see that we can only recruit projects as inside players. It keeps building on itself and getting worse.

5-2

[AZ BU Fan]

6-1 cause BU teams always seem to lose games they should win during a season, and, win some they should lose.

Based on what we have seen, a 6-1 start might be fool's gold for BU. Heavy minutes SM, TB, and AW would have to get over a long season could affect their performance throughout the long MVC Season and in the Tourney.

What would make or break a great BU season, even with both SM and TB back, would be contributions/improvement from DD, DSE, WL, WE, JP, and AT..Still looking for those.

[LittleBrave]

No question we close out the true road game and beat EIU for at least 6-1.

TCU could go either way, as it was the 2nd of 2 back-to-backs that week, but I'll give the benefit of the doubt.

We SHOULD be 6-1 at this point despite our main guys getting injured. I think Coach Les is to blame for the past 2 losses. So even with those guys healthy, we still lose to EIU due to poor preparation for the game and lack of focus.

[wily coyote]

We SHOULD be 6-1 at this point despite our main guys getting injured. I think Coach Les is to blame for the past 2 losses. So even with those guys healthy, we still lose to EIU due to poor preparation for the game and lack of focus.

Having both healthy would make a huge difference. 7-0 without a doubt.

[TNel]

7 - 0 with no blowouts.

[mrcoachdude]

7-0 without a doubt...I do not think any game would have been close...if both were completely healthy...

[BradleyBrave]

7-0 without a doubt...I do not think any game would have been close...if both were completely healthy...

Eh, we've never really had the propensity to blow teams out even when good, so I wouldn't say the games wouldn't have been close. But I have no doubts we'd be 7-0 either. Even under the circumstances, 6-1 or 5-2 should have been easily attainable. But you can play the 'coulda, shoulda, woulda' game all day. The fact of the matter is you are what your record says you are, for the past 8 seasons and for this season. Nothing more, nothing less.

[lefty]

7-0 without a doubt...I do not think any game would have been close...if both were completely healthy...

Coachie,coachie,coachie.....really?....not even close?......

It's obviously all hypothetical...but it really doesn't matter. You never know how games would have gone. Maybe TB gets in foul trouble or a guy on the other team has a career night and we lose.

Would be a better team if everyone was healthy?.....it would certainly seem so.......but it doesn't mean we would be 7-0.

[real fan]

No doubt 7-0
still should be 6-1
My reason for 7-0 is T.Brown is our best all around player , A.Warren and Sammy are close 2nds but Brown is harder to defend and was our best rebounder.
I would also point out that A.Warren has been very good on the boards besides leading the team in scoring, I only bring this up because some of the posters do not give him the credit he deserves.

[Naptown24]

Poll

No doubt 7-0
still should be 6-1
My reason for 7-0 is T.Brown is our best all around player , A.Warren and Sammy are close 2nds but Brown is harder to defend and was our best rebounder.
I would also point out that A.Warren has been very good on the boards besides leading the team in scoring, I only bring this up because some of the posters do not give him the credit he deserves.

I would agree 100%..."Real fan" I can tell you are a person who actually knows the game of basketball! AW did lead in rebounds last night didn't he or am I mistaken..."I'm just sayin"