Final: USF 61 Bradley 57

[lefty]

Now on the inbounds plays, why is Barnes in bounding the ball? He is without a doubt the softest passer on the team and tonight was not the 1st time his inbound pass was stolen!

Even my wife commented that Walt was kind of lazy going after that pass. I can't stand that play but you have to lob it over??¦..the guy getting the pass has to go get it though and I thought Walt took it for granted

[Brave444]

I agree with Swop making a three every now and then and also Wells playing better with more game experience. The staff let these guys play through mistakes and they get comfortable out there. What I don't like is how Bell and Lemon can repeatedly turn the ball over and loose us games. What was the deal with Omari? He has been one of our better players and only played 10 minutes. No Anthony Fields tonight for the 1st which I can't believe. No way our 2 PG's can miss countless layups, a dunk and turn the ball over when we need a play made and we get no look at him. Team performed well but as we can see with opportunity more kids on this team can contribute. Wake up Geno give these kids a chance. Doing the same thing over and over is INSANE.

[bradleyfan124]

I dont blame Bell because he missed one layup. I am blaming Lemon and Geno. Walt for constantly driving to the basket and throwing up wild shots and missing. I count that as a turnover. And Geno for letting him. There was no flow to the offense, no movement, motion

[lefty]

I dont blame Bell because he missed one layup. I am blaming Lemon and Geno. Walt for constantly driving to the basket and throwing up wild shots and missing. I count that as a turnover. And Geno for letting him. There was no flow to the offense, no movement, motion

normally I wouldn't either but it was totally uncontested??¦..we aren't good enough(or play good enough) to overcome those??¦??¦.


and I agree on the second point??¦.not much of an offensive flow the 2nd half at all??¦.especailly the last 7 minutes??¦.

[Dub]

Walt's offense and shot selection appear to be exactly in line with what he's being asked to do. Why our coaching strategy changed from what was working, back to what has not been working in the game's conclusion is baffling, but I keep hearing Geno talk about giving our leaders more chances to make game winning plays. I was pleasently surprised with the overall response and preparation for 34 min. If that could be sustained we will win some valley games.

[Big Mike]

PJS: South Florida rallies for a 61-57 victory...

http://www.pjstar.com/article/20131228/SPORTS/131229349/11130/SPORTS

[Da Coach]

PJS: South Florida rallies for a 61-57 victory...
http://www.pjstar.com/article/201312...9/11130/SPORTS

Some pretty harsh grading from Dave. C's and D's

[Da Coach]

Even my wife commented that Walt was kind of lazy going after that pass. I can't stand that play but you have to lob it over??¦..the guy getting the pass has to go get it though and I thought Walt took it for granted

It looked like Walt was a 3rd or 4th option on that inbounds play. But nobody else seemed to move, so the pass was lobbed long to Walt. But by then, USF knew that was coming and Walt was double-teamed. Someone on the floor needs to tell Walt about the second guy coming from his blind side, but it didn't seem they did. Just overall poor communication and teamwork at a really crucial point in the game, and I agree that has to fall on the coaches as much as the players.

[Da Coach]

Kirk Wessler has a new column on the Braves, his first in a long time-

http://www.pjstar.com/article/20131229/SPORTS/131229320/10963/SPORTS?rssfeed=true

Kirk says, "Nobody is exempt from accountability", but then he blames everything on the players, and then spends the next 4 paragraphs ragging on Walt alone (who, in case KW missed it, was the leading scorer, had a season-high 7 assists, 4 steals, and played great defense). He also praises the coach for juggling the lineup a little, and makes no mention of even the slightest culpability in the coaching.
So I guess when he says "Nobody is exempt", he means the problem is the players, and mainly Walt's fault, ignoring the fact that without Walt, Bradley would have been blown out by halftime. Do the coaches ever bear any responsibility? It's amazing how Kirk's viewpoint on this has changed 180?° compared with the last coach, who he blamed for everything.
Sorry, but IMO this staff has had 3 years to recruit and build this team and bears some responsibility if we don't have team leaders or the right players to perform in situations. How much longer will the PJ Star continue to give them a complete pass and keep blaming the players?

[tornado]

.... He also praises the coach for juggling the lineup a little...

really? - where we lost the game is digging ourselves a double digit hole right out of the gate by keeping our best player and best scorer of late, Tyshon Pickett on the bench.
Of course the fans won't ever know all the facts on this but this was a coaching decision that Geno says publicly was due to the players getting back late from Christmas break due to flight difficulties. But does everyone believe that's all it was? Why is a player benched for something he had no control over?
Even KW says had they not had delayed flights - "Ford likely would have benched someone else"
anyway -- the only segment they really outplayed us was those first 6-8 minutes then right at the end.

i thought the best stretch of basketball we have played all year was in the latter part of the 1st half when we had Walt, Tyshon, Bell, Barnes, and XT in the game.

I have been one who has called for a lineup change even starting walk ons if that's what it takes - but don't shoot yourself in the foot.
Wells and Swopshire didn't play badly but their combined 8 pts + 4 rebs in the end just doesn't get it done considering "starter minutes"

And we have to develop an inbounds play that works reliably - this has hurt us way too many times already this season.

And when we are zoning them - how do they get the ball so easily right into the low post for layups, short shots, & even DUNKS??
Isn't a zone supposed to make that almost impossible, yet they kinda did it with ease..

And I wouldn't blame Walt the way some are because he's doing what he has to do - without Walt we're not even within 20 points in this game.
If KW wants to rail on "leadership" then please explain why after the team is loaded with 3 years worth of Geno's recruits - we have no leader -- someone has to be accountable.
And leadership can only carry you so far if you're still going to have basically only two scorers on the floor and put up a paltry 57 points total.


One last question - what is meant by Geno when he says...
"The emotional level of our team was great, especially considering what we've fought through the last few weeks."

What is it we have "fought through"?
Attendance of 6221 - but lots of empty lower bowl seats between baselines.

[bravetime33]

Kirk Wessler has a new column on the Braves, his first in a long time-

http://www.pjstar.com/article/20131229/SPORTS/131229320/10963/SPORTS?rssfeed=true

Kirk says, "Nobody is exempt from accountability", but then he blames everything on the players, and then spends the next 4 paragraphs ragging on Walt alone (who, in case KW missed it, was the leading scorer, had a season-high 7 assists, 4 steals, and played great defense). He also praises the coach for juggling the lineup a little, and makes no mention of even the slightest culpability in the coaching.
So I guess when he says "Nobody is exempt", he means the problem is the players, and mainly Walt's fault, ignoring the fact that without Walt, Bradley would have been blown out by halftime. Do the coaches ever bear any responsibility? It's amazing how Kirk's viewpoint on this has changed 180?° compared with the last coach, who he blamed for everything.
Sorry, but IMO this staff has had 3 years to recruit and build this team and bears some responsibility if we don't have team leaders or the right players to perform in situations. How much longer will the PJ Star continue to give them a complete pass and keep blaming the players?

Probably has something to do with comparing 9 years of a mediocre won loss record and below average win loss record in conference play vs a 2 1/2 year timeframe of similar numbers also fans were becoming more and more frustrated and unhappy with the lack of leverage in recruiting and and program expansion after the sweet sixteen run. Proof would be to look how Wichita has taken advantage of their success in post season the last couple of years ( and I am not talking about post season buy in games CBI and CIT etc. which we fulfilled after the run)

[lefty]

Kirk Wessler has a new column on the Braves, his first in a long time-

http://www.pjstar.com/article/20131229/SPORTS/131229320/10963/SPORTS?rssfeed=true

Kirk says, "Nobody is exempt from accountability", but then he blames everything on the players, and then spends the next 4 paragraphs ragging on Walt alone (who, in case KW missed it, was the leading scorer, had a season-high 7 assists, 4 steals, and played great defense). He also praises the coach for juggling the lineup a little, and makes no mention of even the slightest culpability in the coaching.
So I guess when he says "Nobody is exempt", he means the problem is the players, and mainly Walt's fault, ignoring the fact that without Walt, Bradley would have been blown out by halftime. Do the coaches ever bear any responsibility? It's amazing how Kirk's viewpoint on this has changed 180?° compared with the last coach, who he blamed for everything.
Sorry, but IMO this staff has had 3 years to recruit and build this team and bears some responsibility if we don't have team leaders or the right players to perform in situations. How much longer will the PJ Star continue to give them a complete pass and keep blaming the players?

Walt's decision making is what bothers me the most for a senior??¦.I thought he played a real good first half but struggled offensively in the second half??¦

Ultimately it's on Geno??¦..we need some go to plays when we really need a basket??¦??¦not just Walt one on five

[tornado]

Probably has something to do with comparing 9 years of a mediocre won loss record and below average win loss record in conference play vs a 2 1/2 year timeframe of similar numbers also fans were becoming more and more frustrated and unhappy with the lack of leverage in recruiting and and program expansion after the sweet sixteen run. Proof would be to look how Wichita has taken advantage of their success in post season the last couple of years ( and I am not talking about post season buy in games CBI and CIT etc. which we fulfilled after the run)

it's not "similar" -- it's way worse and the thousands of empty seats that used to be SEASON TICKET HOLDERS agree with me.
I am not buying your attempt to blame Geno's "lack of leverage in recruiting" on something that happened here 5 years before he arrived!
most BU fans would love to have that "mediocre" team that at least could beat someone, didn't lose by 20 or 30 to no-name teams, and often won 20 games

3-years in now - and you're just now realizing this has been disastrous & looking for someone else to blame?


BTW - read that column this morning by Kirk Wessler - there's an awful lot of praise there for Will Egolf, DSE, Jake & the others left behind in the cupboard..maybe it wasn't so bare after all....In fact TWO more of them started last night..

[Da Coach]

Probably has something to do with comparing 9 years of a mediocre won loss record and below average win loss record in conference play vs a 2 1/2 year timeframe of similar numbers also fans were becoming more and more frustrated and unhappy with the lack of leverage in recruiting and and program expansion after the sweet sixteen run. Proof would be to look how Wichita has taken advantage of their success in post season the last couple of years ( and I am not talking about post season buy in games CBI and CIT etc. which we fulfilled after the run)

I rarely agree with you, but this is amazing- what has this got to do with Jim Les and his record? Jim Les was criticized and ripped from the first day he was named coach. At what point does the coaching staff begin to bear some responsibility? Even when he had 2 All-MVC starters go down before the season had barely started, leading to his first losing season in 6 years, you and others blamed Jim Les for not recruiting enough depth. Now, according to the PJ Star, the problem is we have a lack of leaders on the court- who's fault is that?

We have one of the weakest non-conference schedules in the country for the 2nd year in a row, we keep losing to inferior teams, and getting blown out by some, we have columnists complaining that we have no leadership, we have thousands of fans bailing out (and more will bail out next year), and we have one of the most predictable and easiest teams in the country to defend.

Despite what KW and others say, this is as much on the coaching and AD as on the players. Just the fact that we have played Walt out of position at point guard for 2 1/2 years, then try to dump on him when he makes mistakes is more of an indictment of coaching decisions, than of the players. Where is the point guard of the future that some here claimed we'd have by year 3?

This entire athletic program has developed a culture of losing, and has completely turned off the great Bradley fan enthusiasm. Maybe you feel the embarrassing 2-19 record the baseball team posted in the MVC in the coach's 5th season is all Dewey's fault somehow?

We have become everybody else's cupcake. I hope Kirk and those who wanted this are happy. It's hard to argue that this team is any better than Geno's first team, and next year we lose our 2 best players and things could get a lot worse.
This fallout surpasses even the worst case scenario I predicted.

By the way, a reminder- when Jim Les left, we were still drawing an average of almost 9,000+ fans. And in all 9 years he was here, we had fewer 20+ point blowouts than we have had in the 2+ seasons since the coaching change. And we played a far more difficult and appealing schedule.

Even Kirk Wessler now has come around to recognize how valuable Will Egolf, Dyricus Simms-Edwards, and Jake Eastman were. And next year, when we are scoring in the 50's with regularity, we will be wishing we still had Walt Lemon.
But somehow we will continue to see a small number of people trying to blame Jim Les.

[Da Coach]

Walt's decision making is what bothers me the most for a senior….I thought he played a real good first half but struggled offensively in the second half…

Ultimately it's on Geno…..we need some go to plays when we really need a basket……not just Walt one on five

Yes, exactly what I am saying. Everyone I talked to after the game was saying the same thing. You never see this team execute pre-planned plays that give them a chance to score. Heck, we can't even get the ball inbounds without a struggle or a turnover. This team has the talent to be 8-5 or 9-4, instead of 5-8.