Final: Central Michigan 70 Bradley 80

[it's boogie time]

Kudos to Keno - his team was within a couple possessions in a game

It was a 10 to 15 point lead the whole second half. CMU never made a run. It wasn't that exciting of a game because Bradley had a comfortable lead. There's plenty of problems with this team, but this was almost a wire to wire win for the Braves (CMU got the first basket and never lead again).

[Da Coach]

For the record, I do no know what the truth is with Auston Barnes and Central Michigan, and why he left. But here was an article from July, 2012 that first reports that Barnes did not show up for a summer conditioning program, and it seems to suggest it was by his own choice. If he was dismissed for academic reasons, why would he have been invited to the "summer workout program"?

http://www.cm-life.com/2012/07/17/only-four-players-from-last-season-return-to-cmu-basketball-team/

The article names 2 other players who were dismissed for academic reasons, but does not include Barnes. And Keno Davis seems to suggest the door is open for Barnes to return, which would not seem likely if he was dismissed for academic reasons.-

Forwards Auston Barnes, Zach Saylor and Colin Voss along with guards John Morris and Jorddan Myrick have not shown up for the six-week summer workout program. The Chippewas have already lost scoring leader Trey Zeigler, and assist leader Austin McBroom, to transfers along with guard Derek Jackson and forward Jevon Harden, who were dismissed last month due to academic issues.
“We don’t have a final roster and we’re not closing any doors right now,” said head coach Keno Davis. “I’m being careful to not close any doors until we understand exactly what’s going on with every player.”
If those five players do not return to CMU, that leaves just four returning players from last season’s roster.

And finally, Auston Barnes was interviewed on one of the earlier post-game shows and talked about adjusting to the academic work at Odessa and Bradley. He commented how easy it was for him comparatively at his junior college because most of the other players were there because they could not cut it academically at a 4-year school, and that was not the case with him. If he was really dismissed because he could not cut it academically at Central Michigan University, how did he have such an easy time at Odessa College, and get admitted to Bradley?
I am not buying CMU's claim he was dismissed for academic reasons.

[lefty]

Thought we had great effort throughout the game. I really like the fact that we have 4 starters who have scored in double figure again. Teams won't be able to key on just one guy if we can keep this up. Taylor had some freshman moments but he also had some moments that show he's going to be someone special by the time he's a senior. Geno was not real happy after the game. Too many lazy tournovers. Will have to take care of the ball better against the better teams. Dominated on the boards but should have against a smaller team, which is something recent teams haven't done. So far the main difference I'm seeing between this team and our recent teams is more physicality and better shooting. The Illinois and Arizona State games will certainly show how far this team has come and how far they have to go but so far, so good.

Good post jimmy....3rd game in 5 days can have an impact...regardless of level of competetion

[tornado]

It was a 10 to 15 point lead the whole second half. CMU never made a run....

I never felt the game was in serious doubt but as head coach - Geno was sure concerned several times....
the lead, which was as high as 17 did repeatedly drop to under 10...
four different times a little run by CMU cut the lead to 9....
or forced us into calling timeouts to avoid further bad turnovers.


(and once they were shooting FT with a chance to cut it to 8 or less)

So I definitely did not see Geno sitting comfortably looking for deep subs to send in...

..several times they made a run and scored 6 quick points off turnovers and on the press... and once,
when Geno tried to give Walt a little breather in the 2nd half, after starting and playing 30 minutes without a rest -
Walt didn't even get his seat warm, when two straight turnovers forced Geno into sending right back to the scorer's table to re-enter the game.
Walt then never came out again and played 'til the final whistle.

[lefty]

Coaches are always concerned regardless if they aren't in doubt of the game....they always want their guys playing the right way

As long as BU wins the games they are suppose to and snag a few they are not I'm happy

[Buesch N Chips]

And if our starting center goes out, and the only other player with any significant D-I experience who's over 6-6 still doesn't even log a single minute - then it sends a strong signal...

Yes. That he must not be good enough.

[bigjimmy]

I would agree with Tornado that for a team which basically led by double digits most of the game Geno was very concerned. You could hear it in his voice on the post game show, which started later than normal. You can tell than Geno thinks this team could be something special and never wants them to let up or get lazy in a game. I think the jury is still out on that one but at least so far it hasn't been the "Walt and I don't know who else show." It's certainly been better than what some people thought it was going to be, though Illinois and Arizona State will test that theory.

[Toyota12]

Yes I am sure Geno was concerned about the lead the whole game! He is trying to keep a team of 7 newcomers playing together and being consistent with their effort for a full game. A lot of guys on this team on trying to find out their role on this team and fight for playing time. This process takes time and you try and develop that against teams you should beat in a short non conference season. I agree with you that we will be tested on sunday at Illinois and then at ASU if we compete with consistent effort and play together we will be tough to beat. I really do not understand why we must try and micro manage this team this early in the season and look for negatives like Tornado!! You talk like you are some type of college basketball authority! Just be the full time BU fan we all know you are not a nitpicking arm chair quarterback who has a tone in your post that this staff and players aren't as good as the last regime! Get back on the BU band wagon in a positive supportive way. CMON MAN! I am not taking a shot at you Tornado it is just an opinion of mine no disrespect I know you are a big BU supporter in many ways it is time to hear some positive tone in your post about the team and the staff.

[LittleBrave]

Played well! We are figuring out how to play against zones, since teams try to take Walt out of the game. He is quick enough to get some hoops by driving through the zone, and we are getting offense from other players.

Here are final stats-
http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=31002

Not sure if you were being sarcastic here DaCoach about us playing well. I saw so much that we need to improve on and was not pleased with how we played as a whole. We outrebounded them by 22, shot so much better, yet only won by 10. We get pounded by the Illini and AZ State if we play like that - so many mental mistakes and turnovers. On top of that, CMU is not a good team.

Onto Friday. I'll take 3-0.

[tornado]

everyone on message boards is an authority - does that surprise anyone?

[Da Coach]

Not sure if you were being sarcastic here DaCoach about us playing well. I saw so much that we need to improve on and was not pleased with how we played as a whole. We outrebounded them by 22, shot so much better, yet only won by 10. We get pounded by the Illini and AZ State if we play like that - so many mental mistakes and turnovers. On top of that, CMU is not a good team.

Onto Friday. I'll take 3-0.

What I meant is that although we struggled with some aspects, we were not stymied by their zone defense. At times, it seemed we had an easier time scoring against their zone than when they went back to man-to-man. That is good, since we'll see a lot of zone this season.

[wily coyote]

Yes I am sure Geno was concerned about the lead the whole game! He is trying to keep a team of 7 newcomers playing together and being consistent with their effort for a full game. A lot of guys on this team on trying to find out their role on this team and fight for playing time. This process takes time and you try and develop that against teams you should beat in a short non conference season. I agree with you that we will be tested on sunday at Illinois and then at ASU if we compete with consistent effort and play together we will be tough to beat. I really do not understand why we must try and micro manage this team this early in the season and look for negatives like Tornado!! You talk like you are some type of college basketball authority! Just be the full time BU fan we all know you are not a nitpicking arm chair quarterback who has a tone in your post that this staff and players aren't as good as the last regime! Get back on the BU band wagon in a positive supportive way. CMON MAN! I am not taking a shot at you Tornado it is just an opinion of mine no disrespect I know you are a big BU supporter in many ways it is time to hear some positive tone in your post about the team and the staff.

I think the biggest majority of posters on this board would agree with your post 100%. Your post called out one individual and rightly so but there are several others who would qualify for your post. I have posted so many times that it is time to let the past go and get behind Geno and these kids. We are getting kids to visit that wouldn't have made a trip down here to visit let alone become a Brave. Times are getting better and better times are coming.

[Buesch N Chips]

True. It's been almost three years and many people are still having the same conversations. When the horse dies, you gotta get off.

Eta: not saying anyone is necessarily right or wrong, but it's just pointless.

[Da Coach]

Wily, I'll answer with the same response I've said before. There are a lot of fans unhappy and disenchanted with the way the program has been allowed to sink deep into mediocrity. People once complained about 4th place finishes, with 20 win seasons, and we are still not back to where we were. I can be as positive and optimistic as the next guy, but fans want to see results. Surely you and the admins notice that thousands of fewer fans are coming and we are reduced to playing one of the worst schedules in the country. Maybe this will be the year we contend for the championship experience we were promised. But don't blame fans who have long proven their loyalty and support when we are not getting what was promised, yet prices have been jacked up tremendously.
We'll all be happy when we finally get there.

[tornado]

.... I really do not understand why we must try and micro manage this team this early in the season and look for negatives ....

you're serious, right??
..like you have never noticed that people have discussed the various aspects of every game since the invention of message boards - and plenty of people point out the negatives - even micro & trivial issues like when the coach stomps his foot, the precise timing of calling time-outs, what the coach does or whether he talks to an assistant or player during a time-out, who starts, who gets sat down, who he recruits, who he doesn't recruit, and god forbid the team plays poorly, especially in an exhibition because the criticism has flowed in every other year I have ever been a Bradley fan.

BUT - suddenly someone calls out other fans 'cause you can't stand to see anything negative pointed out...
We're 25 games under .500 over the past 3 seasons and have seen plenty of bad play and 30 pt. losses - trust me, had this happened under any other coach, there'd have been 500% more "negatives" - in fact, there's another message board that has just that.