Final: Missouri State 74 Bradley 61

[tornado]

if we were giving up 3's because we were packing it in and defending the lane - I could live with it, but...
we are letting their guys drive right down Broadway for layups so we're not defending the perimeter nor the lane!!

But then we team porous defense with anemic offense - how many times are we gonna get to the 10 minute mark with 10 points on the board?

[tornado]

Lemon is playing well early and carrying us

[tornado]

Missouri State 33 - Bradley 28 - it could have been worse - they had a dry spell from 9:30 all the way down to 4;30 where they did not score a point

They are 6-15 (40%) from the arc - we only have one single 3-pt make
That's 60% of their shot attempts are long outside shots and we are not defending them well.
They are last in the MVC in giving up 3-pt shooting at 43.1%

Pickett & Lemon lead jus with 9 & 8 pts respectively

[jasonpeoria911]

Actually it looks like their was some sort of road trip or bus trip for this game but it was cancelled due to the storm. Below was posted on facebook elr today...

"Bradley Braves Athletics shared Bradley Red Sea's status.
14 hours ago

Due to severe weather and hazardous travel conditions, the Red Sea roadtrip to Missouri State Feb. 1 has been cancelled. A make-up trip will be announced next week."

Jason

[tornado]

seeing the value of having 3-pt shooters

[Da Coach]

Final score-
Bradley 61
Missouri St. 74

stats-

http://www.missouristatebears.com/gametracker/launch/gt_mbaskbl.html?SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&event=1296200&school=mosu&sport=mbaskbl&camefrom=&startschool=&

Missouri State shoots 57%

[Chico]

seeing the value of having 3-pt shooters

Over athletes?

[Toyota12]

IQ

HORRIBLE PERFORMANCE! This team is the most inconsistent team we have ever had. There is no basketball IQ out there either. These kids are challenged in every aspect of the game IQ, shooting, passing, just frustrating.

[Da Coach]

Did anyone else listen to Coach Ford on the post-game show?
There isn't much more he can say than what is obvious. He was most upset about our players' inability to "finish at the basket", and pointed out that we shot the three well (7-18 ), but that we were just 2-11 on 2-point shots in the 2nd half with many of those being missed layups. He was also critical that we lacked effort on defense. He said he would like to see some players get as upset when they get scored on as they do when they miss a shot on offense. He was critical of how some players hang their heads and show emotion over missed shots, but never show that disappointed emotion on the defensive end. In the end he sounded like he is sick of losing road games and is determined to turn that around.

Geno's record against MVC opponents away from home now is 1-25 (0-5 this year).

[afan]

coach ford

Did coach ford say what he was going to do to turn things around? I for one see no improvement. I love Bradley basketball but it has become an embarrassment!

[Da Coach]

Did coach ford say what he was going to do to turn things around? I for one see no improvement. I love Bradley basketball but it has become an embarrassment!

He did not tip his hand, but he sounded optimistic we could break the losing streak (13 months since the last MVC win 1/2/13) at Loyola next Thursday.

[Braves2006]

I was at the game and sat next to The tunnel where Braves locker room was. And let me just say this: Walt has a SERIOUS problem. I have never seen a player have that bad of body language coming back to the locker room at the half. I don't care who you are, that is a cancer to this team and he needs to sit.... For a game or 3.

[tornado]

in some areas we did not play badly - as Da Coach pointed out - a couple guys shot well from 3-pt but not enough to win..

but we are who we thought we are.... (to borrow a Dennis Green quote)
we are lacking in so many fundamental areas to win games, that the only teams we are going to beat are those at the bottom end of the conference when they play poorly on the road.

Post play, putbacks, shot fakes (as Barry would say - even his wife gives a shot fake once in a while), setting good screens without fouling, ballhandling, passing, shooting...

There really aren't many factors or areas that we stand out positively in ...despite all the endless bragging that we are better, more athletic, "deeper with quality depth", able to defend, and that we have nearly replaced that "empty cupboard" with "difference makers" & "upgrades" - players who will "consistently compete for championships"...

I wouldn't risk even a dime if I got 1000 to 1 odds on us avoiding Thursday - it's a lost cause...and I can't see where we're even 2 years away from avoiding a Thursday either.
Missouri State is missing or playing injured FOUR of their best & key players - Marcus Marshall, Tyler McCullough, plus Pickens & Thurman barely played.
So even knowing who their scorers were and where they score from - we failed to stop them.
They hit almost 60% from the field and nearly 50% from the arc!!

As for the attitude & body language - well anyone wanna start a conversation about whose responsibility it is to get the players on the same page and contributing?


as for the bad body language - whose job it is to get the players on the same page?

[Toyota12]

attitude

I agree this late in his career he should be a positive influence and a leader not a cancer.

[tornado]

Walt is not the problem - and I think it's severely unfair to even hint that he is - you see how badly we play whenever he's not in the game - we'd be winless without him - he's frustrated but he's not the problem - the problem and all can see is other not doing their jobs.. Walt cannot do their jobs for them.
Every team in the US, if they could have one pick off our roster, would choose Walt - guaranteed. if you don't know by now, then wait 'til next year to see how bad we are without him...
People are only now finding out how bad we are without Will Egolf & DSE...