The ISC Smoker

[Da Coach]

I was fortunate to get a ticket to the sold-out ISC Smoker tonight. The Independent Sports Club has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last 16 years to help fund youth sports programs in Central Illinois, and again they were fortunate to get Bradley Coach Geno Ford and Illinois Coach Bruce Weber to attend. Questioners included Dave Reynolds and John Supinie of the Peoria Journal Star. It seemed the biggest applause of the night came when it was announced that Kirk Wessler would not be there tonight as he was covering the Cardinals baseball game against the Brewers. Those applauding were just kidding, I think. ()

In any event, it was a great night, and some good food, and both coaches talked a lot about their teams. The several hundred in the audience were fairly evenly split between Bradley fans and Illinois fans, with a slight edge to the Illini fans this year.

If anyone would like to know more about what was said by Coach Ford about this year's team, or what Coach Weber had to say about Sammy and his Illini team, send me a PM (Private Message), and I'll send you a detailed report. I am always reminded that this event is "off the record" so out of courtesy, I won't post the things that were said here.

[Beninator]

Seriously???? This was public event in which comments were made in the open. I did not attend, but really.....

[Da Coach]

I have been chastised by other posters in the past for publically reporting statements made by the coaches at this event, as their statements are supposedly off the record. Plus, my report is too long to post here..

[OrangeandBlack74]

Supinie's report on the Smoker...

http://blogs.sj-r.com/illinitalk/index.php/2011/10/14/fun-and-games-in-peoria/

As always, it was a great opportunity to "open" the season with both coaches in attendance. Geno is funny and articulate, and BU fans will enjoy his time on the Hilltop. Biggest news to me was that they are grooming WL to be a point guard!

[Beninator]

A friend who went to this event just texted me some tidbits..fwiw

Walt is being groomed as a pg-- WL's job to lose

We are only 7 deep.

Crawford has the best vertical on the team

DS needs to adapt to pg at the college level

TB needs to work on "d"

Hardly state secrets.... and no real surprises....

[Da Coach]

I have a much more detailed report, including some information I learned in addition to what was said at the Smoker.
All members are welcome to this free report. It is way too long to post here, and includes some interesting tidbits about Bradley and the Illini team that have not been reported anywhere.

Just PM me.

[tornado]

I also just got off the phone from talking to someone who was at the Smoker - and amazingly - he said he learned virtually nothing that he didn't already know by reading the message board the past few weeks about Bradley!!
So I guess we're doing a great job here!!


BTW -- I just read your report, Da Coach, thanks! a lot better than the coverage in the media...

[tornado]

".. the team??™s only experienced point guard option is playing in Champaign"
....GENO FORD

http://blogs.pjstar.com/pressrow/2011/10/14/a-non-smoker-to-remember/

[LittleBrave]

A friend who went to this event just texted me some tidbits..fwiw

Walt is being groomed as a pg-- WL's job to lose

We are only 7 deep.

Crawford has the best vertical on the team

DS needs to adapt to pg at the college level

TB needs to work on "d"

Hardly state secrets.... and no real surprises....

I was optimistic a couple months ago that we would play 10 each game. Maybe the reference to 7 deep is that we pretty much have a good idea of our starters and the first 2 coming off the bench.
I suspect and hope that DS, MK, and AT will get 5-10 min. per game.
I'm VERY concerned about our post players - we have a couple really nice ones in TB & JP (probably our best tandem since POB & Sommerville), but we seem to really lack depth -

[Old Coach]

FWIW, Geno didn't say anything last night that he didn't say at the Morton Rotary Club.

[Chico]

FWIW, Geno didn't say anything last night that he didn't say at the Morton Rotary Club.

But I would wager that any Rotary Club member that wanted to go could go. Not so with this smoker.

[spoon]

".. the team’s only experienced point guard option is playing in Champaign"
....GENO FORD
http://blogs.pjstar.com/pressrow/201...r-to-remember/

"But Lemon has dominated preseason workouts (“He’s the fastest player I’ve ever coached,” Ford said) and the team’s only experienced point guard option is playing in Champaign."

I think you misread. Geno isn't quoted saying that, it's just part of Dave's article.

[jrish12]

"But Lemon has dominated preseason workouts (???He??™s the fastest player I??™ve ever coached,??? Ford said) and the team??™s only experienced point guard option is playing in Champaign."

I think you misread. Geno isn't quoted saying that, it's just part of Dave's article.

Agree with this.

[AZ BU Fan]

Everything I have read so far here about BU and Coach Ford has been so positive! Exciting!

Like a relay race, GF picked up the baton from the lead runner and is now off and running taking the program to the next level!

Hopefully GF's recruiting efforts will pan out and he can reload the cupboard with players who can consistently win in the MVC!

May have to breakdown and actually pay for BU-TV this season if I can't find Channelsurfing.ru or Channelsurfing.cn

[Old Coach]

But I would wager that any Rotary Club member that wanted to go could go. Not so with this smoker.

Correct. I was simply addressing the "off the record" concerns.