Final: Missouri State 64 Bradley 56

[LittleBrave]

But another season in the play-in game, and another bad ending (losing 5 of the final 6 MVC games, and 8 out of the last 11) is not going to do anything to bring back all the fans we have lost.

Sounds like you had unrealistic expectations at the beginning of the season that this team would avoid the Thursday game. (???)

Not sure how anybody after last season's crumble could see us doing that.

Even when a thread was started about how many more games fans see us winning, the majority believed not too many after the Missouri St. game, and we still pulled out 3 more (which is not great, but was on target with expectations)

[Da Coach]

But we already won several of the games I and others weren't so sure about. It was these recent losses to teams like Drake and MSU that we should have beaten that is disheartening. As I said, losing 5 of our last 6 MVC games is a real downer.

[Bravesfan]

But we already won several of the games I and others weren't so sure about. It was these recent losses to teams like Drake and MSU that we should have beaten that is disheartening. As I said, losing 5 of our last 6 MVC games is a real downer.

It is disheartening that we lost 5 of our last 6 MVC games. But again, Coach Mo finished 7-11 and in 8th or 9th place his second season, followed by a 14-4 season the next year. So whether we improved a lot or a little bit does not matter as much as what happens in year 3 and beyond. Les may have had better recruits coming in after his second season (though the jury is still out on Geno's, but time will tell), but it took until year 4 for them to gel. In the meantime he had three .500 seasons, give or take, along with 3 progressively worse Valley seasons until that 4th year (8-10, 7-11, and 6-12). So a lot of times the previous year has no barring on what will happen next. The fact that we still improved by 9 wins (so far) is encouraging, despite the late season swoon which may be more related to the heavy minutes our starters played. And yes, I am concerned that our new recruits did not develop as expected, but they will have another offseason to practice.

We will finish no worse than 16-17 this year, and hopefully we can get another win or two before the season is done. Yes, Coach Mo ended his second season winning 5 of his last 7 games, but again, it's what this team will look like with most of Geno's recruits here next year that will tell us potentially how good this team will be.

[sportsnut2]

I wasn't personally attacking posters, I was attacking the fact that posters bring up anything negative they can find about this coach and team and I'm tired of it.

[Da Coach]

Losing brings out negativity. Especially losing games some feel we should win.

[sportsnut2]

Fair enough. But you have to admit a rebuilding process takes more than two years and to be honest I don't know how anyone could not be excited with 16 wins based on where we were 3-4 years ago

[Da Coach]

I am happy that we won 16, and maybe it is a little better than some expected. It is actually quite close to what I predicted. But recall that there were many who were unhappy with 20+ win seasons and 4th place finishes. None of the fans I know are happy with 8th and 9th place finishes, regardless of rebuilding.

[sportsnut2]

Yes, but those 20 win seasons were not true 20 win seasons. Wins in tournaments that aren't the NCAA or NIT should not be counted. Other tournaments were created for very average and mediocre teams to play a few more games. If those tournaments do count for wins, perhaps this team could even get to 20 wins. A win vs Drake plus 3 home games???? its possible. Sure, nobody should be happy with consistent 4th place finishes, especially with a team good enough to make an NCAA run. And yes, nobody is probably happy where we finished this year but I am happy with where Geno has us going. I am patient and realize hes not a miracle worker. WE WILL NOT BE IN THIS SITUATION IN 2-3 MORE YEARS.

[Da Coach]

Yes, but those 20 win seasons were not true 20 win seasons. Wins in tournaments that aren't the NCAA or NIT should not be counted. Other tournaments were created for very average and mediocre teams to play a few more games. If those tournaments do count for wins, perhaps this team could even get to 20 wins. A win vs Drake plus 3 home games???? its possible. Sure, nobody should be happy with consistent 4th place finishes, especially with a team good enough to make an NCAA run. And yes, nobody is probably happy where we finished this year but I am happy with where Geno has us going. I am patient and realize hes not a miracle worker. WE WILL NOT BE IN THIS SITUATION IN 2-3 MORE YEARS.

The teams we beat in those tournaments were not cupcakes like many of the games this yea. They were good teams, good enough to make it to those tournaments. I could make the case that those wins were a lot more impressive than beating teams with 300+ RPIs and who don't even reach double digit wins. So I think they should count.

I hope you are right, because it we aren't seeing winning seasons and challenging for NCAA bids in 2-3 years, I feel this program will have been set back more than it may ever be able to overcome. Many of those who dropped out as season ticket holders may never be coming back.

And for those who say I am negative, I picked Bradley to be 8-4 in the pre-conference part of the schedule-

http://www.bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21624

And I picked us to win 6 or 7 MVC games (we finished with 7 MVC wins)-

http://www.bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?p=270238#post270238

So I think I have been realistic, and accurate in assessing where we are. But we had a chance to be better. I am not pleased with the decline in what we saw in the last month of the season with losing 5 of our last 6 in the MVC.

[Bravesfan]

Yes, but those 20 win seasons were not true 20 win seasons. Wins in tournaments that aren't the NCAA or NIT should not be counted. Other tournaments were created for very average and mediocre teams to play a few more games. If those tournaments do count for wins, perhaps this team could even get to 20 wins. A win vs Drake plus 3 home games???? its possible. Sure, nobody should be happy with consistent 4th place finishes, especially with a team good enough to make an NCAA run. And yes, nobody is probably happy where we finished this year but I am happy with where Geno has us going. I am patient and realize hes not a miracle worker. WE WILL NOT BE IN THIS SITUATION IN 2-3 MORE YEARS.

Right. And if we are in this situation in 2 or 3 years, then the whole tone of the conversation changes. But right now I'm a "glass half full" type of person. I may be proven wrong, but hopefully I'm not and we will be celebrating a Valley championship and/or an NCAA Tournament bid in 2 or 3 years.

[BU212121]

No team can continue to play a player 30 + minutes and see almost 0 production out of that spot. Unfortunatley BU has had situations like this all year. Its not fun to watch.

Is the team improved? Marginably, we won 5 more conference games and that was nice, the non con wins do nothing for me as the schedule was weak (but it needed to be).

This team needs to win Thursday to have a chance to play in any tournament thats for sure.

[tornado]

It is disheartening that we lost 5 of our last 6 MVC games. But again, Coach Mo finished 7-11 and in 8th or 9th place his second season, followed by a 14-4 season the next year. ....

..agreed - I hope that kind of turnaround happens....but Molinari had a maturing group of future All Conference kids like Anthony Parker, Billy Wright (5 assists, 2 TO), Deon Jackson (14ppg), Marcus Pollard, Dwayne Funches, Aaron Zobrist, Chad Kleine...
It was a season where 8 of his top NINE players & scorers were returning & HALF the returning production was from his exceptionally strong freshman class. We Will need to replace a bunch more next year.

.... posters bring up anything negative they can find about this coach and team and I'm tired of it.

I don't see negative attacks in this entire thread - just disappointment about losing....in fact I don't see much of anything aimed at coaches or any individuals

[lefty]

Fair enough. But you have to admit a rebuilding process takes more than two years and to be honest I don't know how anyone could not be excited with 16 wins based on where we were 3-4 years ago

Nobody has to admit anything.....I think that's obvious

[Da Coach]

Fair enough. But you have to admit a rebuilding process takes more than two years and to be honest I don't know how anyone could not be excited with 16 wins based on where we were 3-4 years ago

Maybe my memory is a little better than some people's-
3 years ago we had a winning record (16-15), and a 5th place MVC finish.
4 years ago we had 21 wins, and a 4th place finish in the MVC, despite playing the entire year without our top returning scorer, Andrew Warren.
And both years we had substantially more difficult schedules and much better RPI's.

[lefty]

Maybe my memory is a little better than some people's-
3 years ago we had a winning record (16-15), and a 5th place MVC finish.
4 years ago we had 21 wins, and a 4th place finish in the MVC, despite playing the entire year without our top returning scorer, Andrew Warren.
And both years we had substantially more difficult schedules and much better RPI's.

The direction was different