Improvement

[tornado]

Fair questions..

1) Where does BU need to improve down the stretch?

..every article in the paper says we are improving but obviously so are all the other Valley teams. Just google "improved", "improving", "improvement" along with other terms and you'll find that reference used more than frequently, and you'll see KW uses those terms in almost every column...
SO -- it is a fair question -- are we improving and where do we need to improve...?
My answer to this question is the exact same as it was four months ago...point guard play, post play, outside shooting...


2) Are we improving?

..again - a fair question -- I think we're going to see a VERY improved team over the next few weeks.....
I am sure we all recall the 11-game losing streak last year and how many articles hammered on what Bradley needed to improve...
THEN...even tho our press gave them zero credit - last year's squad DID show marked improvement thru the later part of the season and ended up WINNING 6 of their next 9 games and made a little run almost to the MVC Tourney semi...
Even several of the losses were 1-point and OVERTIME losses...we weren't getting hammered and we didn't finish in last place (we rallied to finish in tie for 9th) and we finished with four times as many conference wins as we currently have.
One thing I have heard Braves fans saying is that even tho it's now February - we're still making a lot of the very same mistakes we made at the beginning of the year - so improvement has been slow to say the least.

SO -- I think we are right on the cusp as we were last year -- it hasn't really happened yet but it's about to....GO BRAVES!!!

[Air Petey]

Fair questions..

1) Where does BU need to improve down the stretch?

2) Are we improving?

1) = Play like a team!

2) = NO

[LittleBrave]

1) Are we improving? Very slowly, but yes.
On an individual basis, I don't see anyone improving much. But I think the intensity level has increased (though you couldn't tell it by the SIU score).
DSE is playing a bit better, but not hitting his driving shots like he should.
TB is just being TB all year.
We are rebounding better, hitting more FT's (except Walt), playing better defense since the Evansville game.

2) Where do we need to improve (team-wise)? Take better care of the ball, work the ball around and get it in to JP and TB more so they can take it to the hoop or kick it back out. Be more physical on defense!

Where do we need to improve (individual-wise)? This is perhaps more important to me than the team issues themselves:

JE needs to make his 3's (at least 33%)
WL needs to make better decisions
SS needs to slow down so he can make better decisions. I really see his upside as the season has progressed
JP needs to be consistent every night on both ends of the court

This season, IMO it's the individuals who are not progressing like they should, resulting in our deficiencies as a team. And those individuals above are not fulfilling their roles like they're capable of...not to say they're not trying.

Projection for last 8 games: 4-4 (not including St. Louis)

[Biff]

Are we improving

Everyone is entitled to their own subjective opinions, but how about some real facts- I would like anyone who thinks they are seeing improvement to give a specific statistic that shows the improvement. Bradley's shooting percentages and offensive outputs have dropped steadily through this season, and are now down to 63.8 ppg on offense, and 72.2 ppg on defense. Bradley now leads the MVC with a whopping -8.4 season scoring differential. Here are the MVC stats- they are pretty ugly- Bradley is at or near the bottom in scoring offense, scoring defense, scoring margin, FT %, Field goal %, field goal % defense, 3-point %, 3-point FG made, 3-point % defense, rebounding, rebounding margin, assists, turnovers, and assists/turnover ratio. They are 9th or 10th in nearly every statistical category.

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/CONFLDRS.HTM

In the last 12 games, Bradley has allowed their opponents to shoot as well or better in the second half than in the first half 10 of those 12 games! They have also allowed every one of the last 12 opponents to shoot over 50% in the second half of games! That is unbelieveable. And though maybe some of it can be attributed to fatigue and lack of depth, it would be naive to think it all is. Our offense is getting worse, and our opponents' offenses are getting better and more efficient as the season progresses. Also, our turnovers are increasing, and now Bradley is only 2 turnovers ahead of SIU for the most in the MVC, and almost 100 turnovers behind the leader, Missouri State. Shouldn't we be able to see improvement in even one area?

[Da Coach]

...They have also allowed every one of the last 12 opponents to shoot over 50% in the second half of games! ...

Thanks for the numbers. I had not realized this, but it is a bad trend. We should be adjusting better to what teams are doing against us. I think that is what aggravates most fans I have talked to, that we just do not seem to be able to make adjustments that give us a chance to be in the games at the end.

[BU freak]

Playing Division 1 defense would be a nice start. With our lack of scoring I don't understand why we aren't focusing on getting better defensively. It leads to the bigger question- if we are going to be a run and gun offense whose primary objective is to outscore our opponents can Geno recruit enough offensive-minded players to get there??

[amettrick]

There are two very basic things that, if the Braves made some improvements, would make a world of difference.

1) Defensive intensity. It seems like only 2 of the 5 players on the court want to play defense on any given possession. We need all 5 playing hard on D at all times, and so far it's just not happening. DSE seems to play hard only every other play, WL plays defense with his hands in his pockets (get those arms up!), and defense has never been much of a priority for TB.

2) Take care of the ball. We're not a good shooting team, and at this point that's not going to change. What can change is being smarter with the ball. Bradley ends way too many possessions with silly turnovers without ever getting a shot off. I can live with a empty possession on a missed shot, but not on bad passes, charging fouls, travelling, etc.

[Bravesfan]

1) = Play like a team!

2) = NO

I have to respectively disagree with question #2. We are improving as we are not getting blown out as much, and our defense has improved. Our offense has always been a crapshoot this year, and only when everyone has a great night can we actually win games without having to rely so much on our defense.

I agree with others that the next 8 games will definitely tell us a lot. I'm hoping for a 4-4 finish as well.

[LittleBrave]

There are two very basic things that, if the Braves made some improvements, would make a world of difference.

1) Defensive intensity. It seems like only 2 of the 5 players on the court want to play defense on any given possession. We need all 5 playing hard on D at all times, and so far it's just not happening. DSE seems to play hard only every other play, WL plays defense with his hands in his pockets (get those arms up!), and defense has never been much of a priority for TB.

2) Take care of the ball. We're not a good shooting team, and at this point that's not going to change. What can change is being smarter with the ball. Bradley ends way too many possessions with silly turnovers without ever getting a shot off. I can live with a empty possession on a missed shot, but not on bad passes, charging fouls, travelling, etc.

I agree with your #2, but if you watch closely to the intensity of our team defense 2 of the past 3 games, it was really strong - maybe the best all season. So I am seeing the improvement on defense. Hopefully, they'll back me up and play solid D tonight!

[Stardust6702]

We need improvement in almost every aspect of the game. I really can't point to a certain area and say yeah, we have that part down.

- Defense - Probably the worst man defense I have seen in the valley. The zone is better and I believe our guys are getting better in that area but nothing to write home about.

- Rebounding - An absolute joke. Prosser and AT get muscled out all the time and even when they have a size or position advantage. We're definitely not aggressive enough.

- Shooting (3pt) - This is the worst three point shooting team that I can remember. We have always had at least one member that can knock down a 3 or least that is what they are known for and right know I can think of an absolute lock for the 3. Edwards is carrying this role but he should not be our go to man. I believe Eastman is 0-9 is his last three games and 15 - 65 for the year. Why is he allowed to attempt the 3 anymore?

- Free throws - .....................Enough said

- Turn overs - Ill give a little room here since Lemon is learning this role but still needs to down. I think with a little maturity, next season he will be much more comfortable in this role.

- Transition - Now we commit more turnovers than we cause but with Lemon and Simms' speed we should be getting more points in this area.

- Driving - Not really a category but I think this is the one aspect that we are OK on. I'm most comfortable in the plays that have Lemon, Brown or Simms driving to the hole.


I know its a little negative but I'm calling it how I see it.

[peoriaspitfire]

We need improvement in almost every aspect of the game. I really can't point to a certain area and say yeah, we have that part down.

- Defense - Probably the worst man defense I have seen in the valley. The zone is better and I believe our guys are getting better in that area but nothing to write home about.

- Rebounding - An absolute joke. Prosser and AT get muscled out all the time and even when they have a size or position advantage. We're definitely not aggressive enough.

- Shooting (3pt) - This is the worst three point shooting team that I can remember. We have always had at least one member that can knock down a 3 or least that is what they are known for and right know I can think of an absolute lock for the 3. Edwards is carrying this role but he should not be our go to man. I believe Eastman is 0-9 is his last three games and 15 - 65 for the year. Why is he allowed to attempt the 3 anymore?

- Free throws - .....................Enough said

- Turn overs - Ill give a little room here since Lemon is learning this role but still needs to down. I think with a little maturity, next season he will be much more comfortable in this role.

- Transition - Now we commit more turnovers than we cause but with Lemon and Simms' speed we should be getting more points in this area.

- Driving - Not really a category but I think this is the one aspect that we are OK on. I'm most comfortable in the plays that have Lemon, Brown or Simms driving to the hole.


I know its a little negative but I'm calling it how I see it.

Can't say I don't agree with most of this. I've been looking for some AGGRESIVE TEAM defense all year and outside of a few plays, it's been nonexistent, especially the inside... Please...

[Bravesfan]

I can't disagree with most that has been discussed either. But I will say that against teams like Evansville tonight, teams that aren't bad but not that great either, I not only wish that Bradley would win, I expect them to win. I don't see why we can't beat some teams like Evansville at home. So I hope that winning streak begins tonight.

[AZ BU Fan]

"SO -- it is a fair question -- are we improving and where do we need to improve...? "

A good place to start would be for BU to score more points than the opposition....

[Da Coach]

I think this game has put this queston to rest.
It should also have permanently put to rest any denying that we have taken a massive step backward with the changes that were imposed on the program.
I hope those who wanted these changes are happy.

[LittleBrave]

I don't think I've ever stopped watching a Braves game before it ends.
Tonight it just might be a good idea.
Really felt good about this one for some reason...