Bradley Bahamas Preview scrimmage and lunch event today

[Da Coach]

The Bradley Bahamas Preview scrimmage and lunch event is going on right now. We will have a full report on the event later this afternoon from someone who is currently there-

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25965&SPID=1498&DB_LANG=C&CONTENT_ID=%23temp_CONTENT_ID&ATCLID=208581660&DB_OEM_ID=3400

[mexicobufan]

looking forward to hearing about the team. I wish I lived closer and could have been there.

[Da Coach]

An early report texted in- The scrimmage is set up with the international rules (4 quarters), and is going well, but the one concern among fans at this early scrimmage is poor 3-point shooting so far. The teams have combined to go approximately 2-12 from three after 3 quarters with nobody shooting particularly well from outside. Hopefully that will improve with time.

[tornado]

a big part of the poor 3-pt shooting was that we were playing with the 24 sec clock and so several times we had to launch a desperation 3...

late in the 3rd quarter then in the 4th we hit better from 3-pt...
Omari, Barnes, Darion Harris all hit 3's and Walt made a wild desperation 3 at the end of the shot clock - so the final 3pt pct was probably 30-35%..

it was hard to keep "score" since the players traded jerseys between quarters and changed teams plus if Geno, who was acting as ref, felt there was a foul - he simply awarded 2 pts and they played on...

[tornado]

so here's more...
lunch was served - and a fair number of great Bradley fans enjoyed a tremendous afternoon...

One of the other fans at our table was a lawyer who used to be an NBA agent and he knew of a few intriguing details of the recent lawsuits involving BU - but I will not discuss that here

so far in practices we have some players distancing themselves as far as earning playing time.
Geno says 3 starting positions are already clear to him - his implication was WL, TP, and Auston Barnes. He even described how he is going to move Barnes from a "4" to a "3" because he's so athletic, can defend smaller shooters & ballhandlers, and he is pretty good with his own outside shooting.

When asked by a fan who had been "a surprise" he noted Auston then he named two freshman who have done better than Geno had expected freshmen to play....SZ & Xzavier who was "leading everyone in rebounding so far"...and Xzavier showed that in the scrimmage later!

The Red-White switched players at the quarters, used four-8 min quarters, and used the 24 sec clock

[tornado]

Ka'Darryl Bell did not play but Geno said he is currently way ahead on his recovery for this kind of shoulder surgery - so everyone is really optimistic..

New NCAA rules say practice can start 42 days (6 wks) before your 1st scheduled game but you have to take one day a week completely off - cannot practice 7 days/wk

So our 1st game is 11/8- our team can start practice 9/27

I got to chat with all the players - all are great kids, polite, and really sincerely optimistic and thankful for the chance to play for Bradley and BU's fans...

[tornado]

some individual player comments

Walt - bulked up a bit but strong and lightning quick...still struggles a bit on 3-pointers - he can blow by just about anyone

TP is maybe a bit stronger and a little more confident in his shot

JP seemed a bit more able to get a shot off and off the backboard - maybe been watching some McDermott film...rebounding well

Mike Shaw can't practice and can't travel but still likes wandering out and shooting from distance

Auston Barnes has a diverse game both active inside and outside...I think he will be a starter, shoots pretty well - in the scrimmage he scored outside - hit a 3-pointer, and had several tip ins and steals.

[tornado]

Chris Blake a little bulkier than Auston but about the same size...
not an outside player, but definitely works down low to get shots & putbacks
Three of the four quarters - he got the scoring started by grabbing a rebound or loose ball and putting it back

Stefan Zecevic - likes to shoot but actually may be more of a defensive weapon - very active hands, aggressive, his 3-pt shot today did not look good, he got one steal and a breakaway dunk..
he's a big body for a freshman - he looks to be able to give us at least what Jake Eastman gave us...and maybe more if he can hits shots

Nate Wells got a few nice passes for layups, but needs to be more consistent with handles on the ball. He does help on defense with long arms

[tornado]

Jordan Swopshire - hit the only 3 in the 1st half for either side...
looks like a kid with great potential needs to develop his shooting touch
..also has to get stronger and better defensively

Fields - I believe he did not score in the 32 min scrimmage - maybe only took 2 shots one of which was a long desperate 3-pt attempt when the 24 sec clock was at 1 or 2

Grier - seems to hang out around the three point line and want to shoot 3's - if he hits then I can handle any other deficiencies

Xzavier Taylor - tall, legit 6-9, long arms, seems to like getting rebounds and definitely got more than anyone else in this scrimmage
he did have two nice rebound DUNK-PUTBACKS

Darion Harris - might get playing time - good ball handler and did hit his only 3-pointer

Mason Alwan did not play - foot in splint

[tornado]

at the end Geno demonstrated our full court press which we will use on this trip after made FT's

our tall lanky kids can be a problem if we press effectively and shorten that already short 24 sec clock, and cause deflections and steals

[tornado]

overall - I enjoyed this chance to see and talk with the players - hopefully they can have some more of these events and more people can get on board...
kinda obvious that the only people there today were the very top fans who go to every event and can afford the cost - what we need is to draw a few more in....the attendance today was less than many would have liked to see - and I am sure the BU folks would have liked to see more.....they had hoped for 125...but the seating for lunch was around 40

regardless it was a great event - just too bad we can't do something like this at the Civic Center for several hundred or more...maybe a tailgate event?

[peterwade75]

So because I can't take off of work on a Wednesday afternoon that makes me less of a fan? Thanks.

Btw, if Bradley only has 40 "top fans" maybe that is a problem?

Have a nice day everybody!

[Da Coach]

So because I can't take off of work on a Wednesday afternoon that makes me less of a fan? Thanks.

Btw, if Bradley only has 40 "top fans" maybe that is a problem?

Have a nice day everybody!

I think what was meant was "top donors", not top fans.
Don't take it personally. We have a lot of great fans!

[tornado]

I'd think BU has lots of good fans.

[Bobby Parker]

Here is my recap and fwiw, the numbers were around 90. And, yes, there are many great Bradley fans who cannot attend events like these, but impossible to please everyone all the time. As always there will be more opportunities to meet the Braves in a number of different venues and settings.

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=208982364