Final score: UW-Milwaukee 73 Bradley 67

[Bradleyfan1]

I'd like to optimistic, but this team has major flaws. We do not have any reliable shooters, and we have nobody who is a good ball handler or passer. We play several players out of position, and we have no real depth (sorry Dave and Kirk, it's true).

We recruited players like Devon Hodges, Jalen Crawford, and Shayok Shayok hoping they were D1 players, but they were not.
We recruited KaDarryl Bell to be our point guard of the future, but he is not a good enough point guard to play the position, even when we have nobody else to put there. So we play him at the 2 guard, but he can't get more than a couple minutes a game there.
We recruited Anthony Fields and were told he'd be our point guard of the future, but he is clearly not a good enough ball handler, decision maker, or shooter to be trusted by Geno yet.
We recruited Omari Grier to be our reliable shooter, but now his shooting percentage has fallen to 34.8% overall, and 30% from three. Plus he struggles on defense.
We recruited Auston Barnes to help as an inside player, but then we are told he is more valuable as a primeter shooter. But now he is shooting 18% from three.
We recruited Chris Blake as another inside player, but he barely sees the floor.
We were told Stefan Zecevic was a tremendous shooter and passer, but then we learn he is not, and is more of an energy guy. But he doesn't play either.
And we read that Swopshire was a steal for us, and he would be a stud. We are still waiting on that.
And we have the best wing guard in the conference (Lemon), but we play him 38 minutes a game at point.

I don't want to be so negative because I do beleive we have a lot of talent, but the problems I see with this team are due to misjudging what those talents were and being left without a true point guard, reliable shooters, or reliable bench talent.

looooooooooooong way to go, to have it all figured out.....you saw no improvement from wends to today? I did and we do have the pieces most teams do. I believe in Geno and this group we just need ANYONE to knock down some 3's ANYONE!

[Da Coach]

I saw pretty much the same problems tonight as last Wednesday, as well as in some of the other games we've played. I have to agree a bit that the biggest shortcomings seem to keep reoccurring every game. Plus there is a reason we have trouble at the ends of games- the opponents know who our go-to guy is and they double and triple team Walt.

[bu fan 9]

Where's our deep bench?

[Bradleyfan1]

Where's our deep bench?

Bell needs to shoot the ball! Its like he doesn't realize hes one of the best shooters on the team. Still think hes gonna be fine hes on a soph.

JS who jacked up pivot foots and looked bad and was yanked given no chance to redeem himself! ;( SZ didnt get a chance today!

4 mins for fields .....6 combined for AF,SZ,JS ??? no chance to be productive!

[tornado]

4 mins for fields .....6 combined for AF,SZ,JS ??? no chance to be productive!

Here's a stat from Saturday - of the eight other MVC teams that played - their average bench production was 19.8 points.
Some of those other MVC teams played good opponents like Dayton, Iowa, Iowa State...
Our bench production was five points.

It's too late to redshirt anyone - the easiest part of our schedule is behind us - if they aren't helping us now, it will be tough for our bench guys to get much time in the conference games. I expect multiple scholarships to open this spring.

I like that we got three solid commits this fall, but the available talent in the spring is considerably less.

[Big Mike]

Reynolds: Bradley falls @ Milwaukee ...

http://www.pjstar.com/article/20131207/SPORTS/131209342/10963/SPORTS

Wow......I watched the game but didn't realize we went the final 10 minutes hitting only 1 field goal? That's amazing

[tornado]

yeah - and if you were following the game on that UWM video feed with their awful, lopsidedly biased announcers - you would have never known this either...

-personal foul count was 22-19 with Bradley getting called for MORE fouls than UWM
-UWM shot more FT - not fewer
-the refs that their annoucner screamed derogatory attacks at called just as many fouls on Bradley as on UWN - he was not biased against them
..plus their big guys threw elbows as much as anyone else

[wily coyote]

I'd like to optimistic, but this team has major flaws. We do not have any reliable shooters, and we have nobody who is a good ball handler or passer. We play several players out of position, and we have no real depth (sorry Dave and Kirk, it's true).

We recruited players like Devon Hodges, Jalen Crawford, and Shayok Shayok hoping they were D1 players, but they were not.
We recruited KaDarryl Bell to be our point guard of the future, but he is not a good enough point guard to play the position, even when we have nobody else to put there. So we play him at the 2 guard, but he can't get more than a couple minutes a game there.
We recruited Anthony Fields and were told he'd be our point guard of the future, but he is clearly not a good enough ball handler, decision maker, or shooter to be trusted by Geno yet.
We recruited Omari Grier to be our reliable shooter, but now his shooting percentage has fallen to 34.8% overall, and 30% from three. Plus he struggles on defense.
We recruited Auston Barnes to help as an inside player, but then we are told he is more valuable as a primeter shooter. But now he is shooting 18% from three.
We recruited Chris Blake as another inside player, but he barely sees the floor.
We were told Stefan Zecevic was a tremendous shooter and passer, but then we learn he is not, and is more of an energy guy. But he doesn't play either.
And we read that Swopshire was a steal for us, and he would be a stud. We are still waiting on that.
And we have the best wing guard in the conference (Lemon), but we play him 38 minutes a game at point.

I don't want to be so negative because I do beleive we have a lot of talent, but the problems I see with this team are due to misjudging what those talents were and being left without a true point guard, reliable shooters, or reliable bench talent.

IMO you are not being negative ,your assessment was right on. What I thought we had pre season is not even close to what we're seeing. Not even close. Just don't understand how ISU red, ISU blue and MS can completely retool and be so much better than us. This has been a BIG disappointment so far and I know we have time to turn it around but what I've seen so far ,not sure if it's possible.

[wily coyote]

Bell needs to shoot the ball! Its like he doesn't realize hes one of the best shooters on the team. Still think hes gonna be fine hes on a soph.

JS who jacked up pivot foots and looked bad and was yanked given no chance to redeem himself! ;( SZ didnt get a chance today!

4 mins for fields .....6 combined for AF,SZ,JS ??? no chance to be productive!

If you think Bell is one of our best shooters on the team either you aren't a very good judge of shooters or we really are in serious trouble. He'd have a hard time throwing a ball in the ocean if he was standing on the shore. The problem is he is just one of 13 that can't shoot a lick. BIG problems until we decide we need to recruit shooters instead of athletes.IMO

[lefty]

If you think Bell is one of our best shooters on the team either you aren't a very good judge of shooters or we really are in serious trouble. He'd have a hard time throwing a ball in the ocean if he was standing on the shore. The problem is he is just one of 13 that can't shoot a lick. BIG problems until we decide we need to recruit shooters instead of athletes.IMO

A little harsh maybe wily??¦everyone can have their opinion??¦..

It seems to me Bell does a lot better when he's not trying to play Walt-like..

He does well with the short jumper in the paint and can hit a 3 when given the time, especially if the pass comes inside out??¦.he just doesn't exhibit much patience anywhere IMO.

[Big Mike]

I do know this.....the farther the season gets the less we're getting out of Prosser.....I'm ready to give his minutes to Wells where at least he seems to care....JP does't seem worried about getting his starting roll back IMO! XT a freshman plays the same amount of minutes and out scores you and out rebounds you all on a bad ankle.....doesn't seem like you care anymore!

[wily coyote]

A little harsh maybe wily??¦everyone can have their opinion??¦..

It seems to me Bell does a lot better when he's not trying to play Walt-like..

He does well with the short jumper in the paint and can hit a 3 when given the time, especially if the pass comes inside out??¦.he just doesn't exhibit much patience anywhere IMO.

Lefty, don't think I'm being to harsh at all, just calling em like I see em. I have seen very little to tell me he's gonna help us get out of Thur. nights. I'm not a big fan of giving Nate a lot of minutes but Prosser hasn't given us a thing. It's time for them to switch roles and put Pross at the end of the bench. Than if Nate shows he's not gonna be any help,well........ This team has some serious talent issues and Geno needs to address them any way he can or 5 years is gonna be here b4 he knows it. I like the 3 signees for next year but we've been fooled with some of the talent we've brought in lately.I'm still very much in Geno's corner but we've got to bring in some shooters.

[Da Coach]

...I like the 3 signees for next year but we've been fooled with some of the talent we've brought in lately.I'm still very much in Geno's corner but we've got to bring in some shooters.

I am on record as saying I like the 3 recruits for 2014, too. But the problem I see is that they don't come close to filling the obvious needs of this team- shooting, as well as depth and ball-handling guards. If Tramique Sutherland is as good as he seems, he'll have the starting point guard spot for his taking. He and Macari Brooks will help replace what we lose with Walt, but we lose Tyshon's toughness, rebounding, and inside scoring and that will be hard to replace.

[Canton BU fan]

TS is shooting well and hopefully Shaw can fill Pickett's role. As for a 2 guard who can shoot the ball I don't know. Maybe someone can learn a new position.

[wily coyote]

I am on record as saying I like the 3 recruits for 2014, too. But the problem I see is that they don't come close to filling the obvious needs of this team- shooting, as well as depth and ball-handling guards. If Tramique Sutherland is as good as he seems, he'll have the starting point guard spot for his taking. He and Macari Brooks will help replace what we lose with Walt, but we lose Tyshon's toughness, rebounding, and inside scoring and that will be hard to replace.

DC,I also like the 2 guards we've signed and if WL doesn't figure out this is a team game soon ,not sure how much we'll miss him. Very talented player but not much help when he tries to do it all. Think Shaw will be more than a capable TP replacement. What we need is for several players to find new homes where they can play and bring in some big Alex Peters type shooters. If there in the corn fields so be it. Always worked for CU and UNI