Official Red-White Scrimmage Updates/Thoughts/Analysis Thread

[Old Coach]

This sounds like the pre-season negativity.
If we only win 10 games this year, what a disappointment barring a key injury.
A new system in which I think our players will be better suited, renewed confidence, and a starting 5 that I think is more skilled than last year's starting 5 with JP & WL who are going to improve, DSE will be more consistent, & TB is back. Our bench can't get much thinner than last year.

Not saying we will contend, or even finish in the top half of the Valley, but I expect to win at least 8 games in Valley play.

My expectation for this team is to stay out of the Thursday play-in game, and I think Geno is equipped to make that happen.

I'm not negative at all. I've had the opportunity to get to know Coach Ford, and I'm very excited about what I believe he'll do at Bradley. I just don't think much of it will happen this season.

[Buesch N Chips]

As with any other year of BU hoops, my expectations are for the team to bust their rear end, work hard, and improve. I don't put much stock in the "new coach" reasoning for the team not being very good, but losing WE really hurts them.

[Buesch N Chips]

fallout

This post right here will provide people over yonder with 5 pages of entertainment.

[spoon]

spoon - were you at the event or have you seen them play at all yet this year....or last?

if we project our starting five and 6th & 7th men to be DSE, TB, JP, Walt, Jake, Milos, & Shayok...then we have a total of:
146 games played and 59 starts last year...
and 270 games played with 88 starts over their careers

Those numbers compare favorably with Creighton & Wichita State who are league favorites....

I regrettably was not at the event, as I have moved out of the area recently, but I lived there last year and was able to get to Carver 5-6 times. Unfortunately there are no away games this year either that are close to where I live, so hopefully I can make it home and catch a few at some point during the season.

But let's take what you said, and our starting 5, +2 off the bench are Simms-Edwards, Brown, Prosser, Lemon, Eastman, Knezevic, and Shayok. Here are their combined statistics over their careers.

274 Games Played
88 Starts
5104 Minutes Played
1530 Points
872 Rebounds
301 Assists

And since you brought up Wichita State and Creighton for comparison's sake, let's take a look at their combined statistics from the projected starters and 2 off the bench.

Wichita State - Murry, Kyles, Ragland, Stutz, Hall, Smith, and Williams.

449 Games Played
171 Starts
8549 Minutes
2968 Pounts
1215 Rebounds
581 Assists

Creighton - Young, Jones, Manigat, Echinique, McDermott, Wragge, Chatman

362 Games Played
209 Starts
7979 Minutes
3163 Points
1266 Rebounds
730 Assists

I'm not sure how our number compare favorably to any of these number at all. I'm not trying to be negative towards Bradley. All I am saying is that with our combined youth, inexperience, and lack of depth compared to most other teams in the league, I think we're in for another rough year. My definition of success this year would be 8th place, with noticeable growth and maturity among the younger players and the further development of a core to build around. However, I am looking forward to the excitement of a new coach and a fast paced offense, and hopefully these Braves can prove me wrong and finish higher!

[lake Camelot]

This post right here will provide people over yonder with 5 pages of entertainment.

I know it did me. Unless it was a little joke. That is how I originally took it.

If we are just talking about SM then yes we lost leadership ,but not a huge loss since it was his last year anyway.

[BU RICK]

I think that's a big question mark? DSE? There is no clear cut leader at all IMO...

How am I funny? I can't speak for DC, as his comment may have been a hinted about the coaching change, but mine had nothing to do with it. If last season had gone according to plan, we'd still be without a leader this year since AW and SM both would have graduated (though I don't think AW became a leader until it was too late). So please, for the love of all things holy, stop putting meaning into my words that's just simply not there. I thought it was safe to come back, but I guess I was wrong.

We haven't played our first game yet, how do you know who's going to be a leader or not, maybe they're all leaders...why even bring it up at this point?

[amckillip]

We haven't played our first game yet, how do you know who's going to be a leader or not, maybe they're all leaders...why even bring it up at this point?

Why debate anything then? Why debate who is going to be good or bad until we play the game? Heck why even have this message board?!

What the heck is your argument?

[BU RICK]

We haven't played our first game yet, how do you know who's going to be a leader or not, maybe they're all leaders...why even bring it up at this point?

Why debate anything then? Why debate who is going to be good or bad until we play the game? Heck why even have this message board?!

What the heck is your argument?

You didn't answer my question, I answered yours.

So I'll ask it again...

"We haven't played our first game yet, how do you know who's going to be a leader or not, maybe they're all leaders...why even bring it up at this point?"

Answer that question, please.

[Future Walk-On]

You didn't answer my question, I answered yours.

So I'll ask it again...

"We haven't played our first game yet, how do you know who's going to be a leader or not, maybe they're all leaders...why even bring it up at this point?"

Answer that question, please.

"Who will lead a team?" is a popular question going into every year.....

I would like to think we will have someone who doesn't get suspended, is vocal on the court, keeps others out of trouble, teaches others skills...and that isn't going to happen with every player.

[MajorFaversham]

Not to worry...

Leaders will emerge... not to worry.

[shaunguth]

Leaders will emerge... not to worry.

I agree. In fact, I was really surprised at how vocal NW was at the Red/White game, both on the floor and on the bench.

[amckillip]

You didn't answer my question, I answered yours.

So I'll ask it again...

"We haven't played our first game yet, how do you know who's going to be a leader or not, maybe they're all leaders...why even bring it up at this point?"

Answer that question, please.

Because that's the point of debating!!! I did answer your question. You may not have comprehended it, but I answered it.

We haven't played a game yet, why debate what the starting lineup will be? Answer that question.

[spoon]

You didn't answer my question, I answered yours.

So I'll ask it again...

"We haven't played our first game yet, how do you know who's going to be a leader or not, maybe they're all leaders...why even bring it up at this point?"

Answer that question, please.

It's for the same reason that there are preseason polls, preseason all-americans, starting line-up predictions, vegas odds, and stat projections. It's because everyone is entitled to guess and prognosticate on whatever they choose.

[BU RICK]

Because that's the point of debating!!! I did answer your question. You may not have comprehended it, but I answered it.

We haven't played a game yet, why debate what the starting lineup will be? Answer that question.

I have no desire to debate anything with you because you always have to be right. I understand that, I've known people like that but I don't have to hang out with them. When someone disagrees with me I don't immediately reply wanting to argue about it, I just think about it, maybe I was wrong or not and move on. And even if I do reply I don't keep re-replying like you seem to enjoy doing.

To answer your question, I haven't debated a starting lineup and I entered no guess in the recent Pick-em - Starting Lineup for 1st game. But even if I did enter a guess I wouldn't want to debate what others picked.

My question was about your statement "there is no clear cut leader at all IMO...". My thoughts were why you would want to make that kind of statement before the season has even started. And you haven't answered that.

[amckillip]

I have no desire to debate anything with you because you always have to be right. I understand that, I've known people like that but I don't have to hang out with them. When someone disagrees with me I don't immediately reply wanting to argue about it, I just think about it, maybe I was wrong or not and move on. And even if I do reply I don't keep re-replying like you seem to enjoy doing.

To answer your question, I haven't debated a starting lineup and I entered no guess in the recent Pick-em - Starting Lineup for 1st game. But even if I did enter a guess I wouldn't want to debate what others picked.

My question was about your statement "there is no clear cut leader at all IMO...". My thoughts were why you would want to make that kind of statement before the season has even started. And you haven't answered that.

Haha, ok. I never even hinted I was right, just gave my opinion, you suggested I was somehow ripping on Geno, which I wasn't, and don't know how to give up. Please show me where I've said or shown I have to be right. I do enjoy re-replying, hence the idea of the message board. If you don't like that, it's kinda tough for you, because well, that's the whole idea. As many on here have backed me up as saying... I can quote said posts if need be. (BTW, this was your third 're-reply')

As far as why I don't think we have a leader? (Though this is the first time you have asked that question, rather you have asked why I would even bring it up, thought someone else did entirely.) Because of our two seniors, one does not see the court, and the other is consitently breaking team rules. We do not have a PG, who often is the de-facto leader, and I haven't seen anything out of any of the returning guys that suggests they are going to be leaders. I love DSE's game, but he's quiet, JP is young and unsure, Walt is prone to streaks where he is emotional and loses his head in the game. I could continue, but my point stands, I've yet to see who the clear cut leader of the team is. For every season I can remember, that has been more or less known from the onset. (SM, DRuff, WF, Sommerville, Bennet, etc.)