Indiana State 80-BU 66

[SaintLouBrave22]

The culmination of 9 years and a Sweet 16 Bradley fans. All we needed were facilities! Excitement is at an all-time high!

At least Jim is the 'Best Dressed'...but we have more important things to worry about than what people are wearing!

Wait....what?



You mean you're not "buying in"?

[Fetz86]

Disappointing

[SaintLouBrave22]

Neither can I.

And after watching tonight, I don't think I've seen a BU team more offensively challenged. SM and TB would help, but it's counter productive to keep thinking about what we would be like with them.

My question is, are we really this thin talent wise, or is it just an issue of poor preparation, mental toughness, poor coaching, ect?

One thing I am sure of- 80 points to IN St...........unacceptable.

Well it's been proven that we had and have no one to step in and do even remotely close to what Taylor did...

Also, look up and down the roster and notice 2 guys that can spot up and hit a 3 with regularity...sadly, 1 is the walkon from Geneseo...

Then look at a team that can consistently recruit drive and dish players, but guess what, no one inside or outside to dish to because Drew is covered up and Will is on the bench always in foul trouble.

This team may get lucky a few times here and there but we aren't gonna win many road games if any and it's not looking too great for us at home either.

It proves to me that if we don't come ready to play from the opening tip, we're waist deep in it, simply because we cannot score well enough to climb out of early holes...

Or as our Berra-esque coach put it, we simply can not outscore the opposition...

[hudsosj]

I think we can blame this loss on Kirk Wessler. He does not like the black uniforms and somehow he has put a curse on the team when they wear them.

[houstontxbrave]

We outplayed them in the second half. I was glad to see our guys not give up and battle until the end. Hopefully, they learned a lesson that you'd better come ready to play from the opening tipoff. Otherwise, you'll get buried early like they did tonight.

I guess if outplaying a team in a half is allowing them to score 41 points then yep Bradley outplayed'em.

They are not learning any lessons about playing hard for 40 minutes, well I should say I dont see that having happened because not playing a full 40 minutes is a trend in this program and its been a trend for a long time.

Aaron freaking Carter 19 points, coming in averaging just over 4.5 a game? Then again he had 19 against us last year. Freaking incredible. Turning a below average player into All Conference. Only the revamped BU defense could pull that one off.

[Da Coach]

Article from Terre Haute Tribune-

http://tribstar.com/sports/x413850491/Carter-carries-short-handed-Indiana-State

Jake Kelly's injury was a swollen left foot he injured earlier in the week.

[it's boogie time]

My question is, are we really this thin talent wise,

Yes. We have one shooter and one post player.

[srw]

1st Valley game on the road with a young team! What did you guys expect? I went shopping/exchanging gifts with my GF while listening to Snell on my Droid. I thought I'd take care of 2 painful things at the same time. I expect our guys to play much better at home.

Um this team has two 5th year senior guards and a power forward in his 4th year.

Under talented, yes. Young....

How can a team be young every year?

[LittleBrave]

We shouldn't be giving up 80 points to anything, let alone to Indiana St.

You're right - however, without the foul-fest in the last 5 min., we probably hold Indy St. under 70, which isn't bad considering we gave them 40 in the 1st half. They scored 10 in the last minute of the game.

Frustrating to see us out of the game before the 1st half. Flat-out embarrassing. Much better play in the 2nd half - let's hope that carries over to Sat. - that's all I can say.

[OrangeandBlack74]

Was this game on TV? I went to the Lariat for my free steak dinner last night (from the last home game against Detroit) and every TV in the bar was tuned to the Illinois-Baylor football game. At least that game was worth watching.

[ph]

The game was on free over-the-air digital TV (47.2) and its a digital Comcast station. I suppose its possible that a Dish or DirecTv only setup may not have it,
or an uniformed person operating the TV's missing a game on a station that is typically shows like Nightline..

[LittleBrave]

o.k. - not going to dwell on this game too much - we have a chance to erase it from our memories quickly with a game in 2 days - not expecting a win, but expecting us to play better.

Negatives: (I'll be brief)
* Seniors - combined 7-28 from the floor. They need to shoot at least 40% combined for us to have a chance to win. And if they HAD, we may have won the game.
* Too many turnovers in the 1st half especially - poor attention to detail
* Allowed 3-point shooters to get in rhythm - same thing happened last year...we forgot.
* WE - foul trouble. Again.
* Tough night for our freshmen, but this loss should hang on the veterans.

Postives:
* WE played stronger in the post on offense - nice job getting to the rim - too bad he played under 20 min.
* Sophomores played solid. Best game this year by DSE - JE did everything you could ask of him. I think we all want him to shoot more.
* IMO, this team fought hard for 30 minutes of the game. (last 10 minutes of 1st half, didn't play with much intensity)

[lake Camelot]

When I was a kid Bradley Basketball was the most important thing to me. I lived for it. Last night I watched the Illinois football game. I never checked the BU score. I think I may represent a group of fans that are big Bradley fans losing interest. I know there are fans that will stick though anything and support the team. I would like to say I was that way, but combined with being uninterested,dissapointed and the fact my priorities changed, I am no longer living for the Bradley games.

I will still go to games and root for the team, but the priority is much lower. I hope the players turn it around and can improve this season. I didn't think we would be good that first year we played a small lineup and I loved that season.

I just hope we are able to regain the interest of the fans. I know if we win it will start to fill up in the Civic Center again. I just am not seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

[wily coyote]

When I was a kid Bradley Basketball was the most important thing to me. I lived for it. Last night I watched the Illinois football game. I never checked the BU score. I think I may represent a group of fans that are big Bradley fans losing interest. I know there are fans that will stick though anything and support the team. I would like to say I was that way, but combined with being uninterested,dissapointed and the fact my priorities changed, I am no longer living for the Bradley games.

I will still go to games and root for the team, but the priority is much lower. I hope the players turn it around and can improve this season. I didn't think we would be good that first year we played a small lineup and I loved that season.

I just hope we are able to regain the interest of the fans. I know if we win it will start to fill up in the Civic Center again. I just am not seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

Look a little harder. There is a light but it is a Train. I was also like you. Couldn't wait for Bradley basketball. Not any more. This group and JLs excuses have sucked the life out of me. Florida next winter looks much better than putting myself through this next winter unles.......

[LittleBrave]

I totally get the frustration from everyone from last night's game.
This was Indiana St. after all. We made them look like a league contender!

Let's face it - we're going to have an up-and-down season. Now that I look back, the BEST we were going to do this season is 11-7 in the Valley, even if we had won last night. Whether we go 8-10 or 11-7 isn't going to matter much towards post-season.

We're going to look like a different team (in a good way) some nights and we'll look like we did last night on some nights, for reasons we've all brought up: Lack of perimeter shooters, playing small, no true point guard, etc.

I just don't see a string of consistent games with all those factors against us. Yes - We're all sick of mediocre records and not contending for the MVC. I will try to come to terms with that reality, especially this year where we're down 2 guys. I would be in a much better mood had we played better last night. Let's shock the Shox on Saturday - the Braves may be the Braves we saw vs. Detroit - let's hope we bounce back.

I WAS encouraged by the 2nd half - I know it's not much to go on, but I'm going with it. If nothing else, I am hopeful to see JE, WL, and JP develop as the season goes on, DSE to play like DSE can, and AW to continue his fine senior season.