BU Beats UW-Parkside 87-77

[buschsquirrel2011]

I'll back you up on this shaunguth. Maybe these points were not made so directly, but if you read betw/ the lines, they were there.

I don't think there's much doubt that Coach Les did everything in his power as a coach to win and do what's best for Bradley. The way he approached situations was done the way Jimmy operates - things just didn't go his way toward the end. Both Jim and Geno leave everything on the floor when it comes to coaching - at least that's how I see it. They both should be commended for the passion they exude toward basketball and toward the student-athletes, and for putting 110% toward the program.

Now...let's just drop the coaching comparison and enjoy the ride that we're currently on, and quit stomping your foot on the floor (just lightening the mood a bit)

Agreed 100%. Jim Molinari tried hard, had some success, faltered at the end, and then was fired. Jim Les tried hard, had some success, faltered at the end, and then was fired.

Now Geno Ford is the coach. he too, I am certain, will try very hard. I think we can all agree on that. I don't even see why anyone has to even reference "former regimes", "the last head coach", etc. Who cares? It's completely and totally irrelevant to what is going on at Bradley now.

Shaun..I didn't mean to attack you. Just a pet peeve of mine when people/posters say "some people", "those people", "the other message board", etc. when airing grievances. If you have a problem with what someone says--say it to that person, go directly to the source. Maybe it's just the way I like to do things.

[tornado]

cpac - I just saw it different - we had the horses that pulled away any time we wanted to use them but ...
the coach used the EXHIBITION game to play others and see how things went - thus not only did we get a win
but we learned more than had we just played our starters the whole way.
I never felt we were seriously threatened

[Braves4Life]

cpac - I just saw it different - we had the horses that pulled away any time we wanted to use them but ...
the coach used the EXHIBITION game to play others and see how things went - thus not only did we get a win
but we learned more than had we just played our starters the whole way.
I never felt we were seriously threatened

Agreed. BU pulled away when they chose to.

[shaunguth]

It was the first exhibition of the year so I wouldn't worry at all about any of this. That being said though, UW-Parkside was brutal last year and they were picked last in their conference (regardless of 2 divisions, that's not good).

You could also replace "UW-Parkside" with "Bradley". This was a game between two last place teams a year ago and two teams that are picked to do the same this year. One of those teams won the game with a new coaching staff and many new pieces on the floor.

[shaunguth]

I thought the most interesting part of Geno's post game comments was his mention of stepping on or putting away our opponents at the end. Then he talked about us being up 7 in the first half, and if we eliminate those 3 turnovers, we go "up by 12 at half and win by 20"
I think Geno has a "killer instinct" plan to win some games with blow-outs

I noticed that too.....and LOVED hearing it!

[shaunguth]

Agreed. BU pulled away when they chose to.

Also, I'm not sure if they "scouted" us or not, but Geno stated after the game that our coaching staff was only worried about our team going into the game and Geno couldn't even name a player on the Parkside team.....AFTER the game!

[LittleBrave]

If you have a problem with what someone says--say it to that person, go directly to the source. Maybe it's just the way I like to do things.

Just keep in mind this is a message board for sports. Just like e-mails, things get misinterpreted, sarcasm in not taken, and people are just expressing their varying thoughts/opinions toward others they may not really know.

You can tell people directly how you feel, but you'll find out doing this on a message board is too time-consuming and you may not even change their viewpt.
And some people (oops!) just thrive on stirring the pot. (not any current posters )

It's a good life lesson though, bs - to do it the way you said.
Just don't take anything too personally here, which is easy to do.

[tornado]

I have always thought that if you play an exhibition game and clobber some poor team 111-52 then not only was it a worthless endeavor as your guys weren't even challenged, but also likely your deep subs and walk ons got more benefit than your key guys & starters.
In that respect a tight game that we learned from is the very best that an exhibition could have gained us...

[Beninator]

I don't know Tornado, I think many would agree with me that Bradley was very much threatened in this game.

Bradley lead by only a single point AT HALF

Game was tied with 10 minutes left IN THE GAME

With just under 4 minutes to play IN THE GAME (3:43) Bradley led by only 5 points.

Bradley's biggest lead of the game was only 12 points.

It was the first exhibition of the year so I wouldn't worry at all about any of this. That being said though, UW-Parkside was brutal last year and they were picked last in their conference (regardless of 2 divisions, that's not good).

+1

Good god I am agreeing with an ISU fan.. banging head against desk...banging head against desk....banging head against desk...

Now going to run a couple of miles to forget this game and maybe this post!

[buschsquirrel2011]

To be fair it was also an exhibition for UW Parkside. The Rangers were also trying different things, different combinations, etc. They have a season to prepare for as well.

Bottom line, it was an exhibition..that paid UWP some money

[cpacmel]

cpac - I just saw it different - we had the horses that pulled away any time we wanted to use them but ...
the coach used the EXHIBITION game to play others and see how things went - thus not only did we get a win
but we learned more than had we just played our starters the whole way.
I never felt we were seriously threatened

Granted I didn't see the game....but we are talking about a DII team that won something like 9 games last season vs. a Missouri Valley Conference team.

The fact is, thru 30 minutes of game time, you guys were TIED. And just inside of 4 minutes, it was a 2 possession game (4 point lead).

Your horses played quite a few too:

TB played 33 of 40 minutes.

Prosser played 32 of 40 minutes.

That's quite a few minutes, wouldn't you agree?

Especially when you consider Parkside didn't have a starter play more than 27 minutes...

No need to panic, regardless.

[buschsquirrel2011]

TB played 33 of 40 minutes.

Prosser played 32 of 40 minutes.

That's quite a few minutes, wouldn't you agree?

Not if you saw how the backups played. Nate Wells averaged a foul every 3/4 of a minute last night

[Da Coach]

Nate Wells averaged a foul every 3/4 of a minute last night

It seems like the bashers are coming out of the woodwork- maybe instead of a thread asking for positives from last night, we need a dedicated bashing thread.

[Braves4Life]

It seems like the bashers are coming out of the woodwork- maybe instead of a thread asking for positives from last night, we need a dedicated bashing thread.

Just wait until we lose.......

[tornado]

not going to belabor the point - but the best combo of players was NOT always on the floor no matter who played how many minutes..and two of them were not starters and often in the early going were on the floor with other subs that hurt their production....
once we had DS at PG, and WL, TB, JP, & JE all on the floor at the same time - we immediately zoomed to run of 6 or 8 pts...


seems this is exactly what the story by DR is saying....that BU struggled to get the lead until a few of the right subs helped...
"But Stewart then nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing to launch a 6-point run .."
"Donivine was really timely,” Ford said. “He played really, really well ..."
"Ford also commended junior forward Jake Eastman..“Jake was fantastic for us all night,”
he said. “Really solid on both ends.”
Walt Lemon also had 13 points and made three steals, but committed four turnovers in his debut at point guard."

It was each time we had this combo in and I clearly saw we were strong and could put this game away -- but the subs back and forth might have obscured that to one who only looks at minutes played and final score.