1st road Valley test tonight

[Big Mike]

In most seasons it was easy to dread the away games during the Valley season.....but for some reason this years sqaud seems more adept to playing on the road than the previous teams! Maybe it just me.......but the way these guys seem so mature and seem to stay in control even when trailing on the scoreboard....thus making me think this team has a very good chance for success! Does that mean they will go undefeated on the road this year.......probably not but they might win more than they lose.......which would give them a shot at the title! Anyway.....is it just me or has anyone else bought into this years sqaud ...who have already proven me wrong ......I predicted a 500 season..... for this is a rebuilding year....right?

I look for an 8 pt win tonight!

[BUBraves2006]

Re: 1st road Valley test tonight

In most seasons it was easy to dread the away games during the Valley season.....but for some reason this years sqaud seems more adept to playing on the road than the previous teams! Maybe it just me.......but the way these guys seem so mature and seem to stay in control even when trailing on the scoreboard....thus making me think this team has a very good chance for success! Does that mean they will go undefeated on the road this year.......probably not but they might win more than they lose.......which would give them a shot at the title! Anyway.....is it just me or has anyone else bought into this years sqaud ...who have already proven me wrong ......I predicted a 500 season..... for this is a rebuilding year....right?

I look for an 8 pt win tonight!

I love the optimism and I agree with most of what you said except for the fact that there's no way we will finish .500 on the road. Yes, for as well as we did at Iowa St. (Neutral, but really away) and in the Chicago tourney, we also lost on the road to a below-average Tenn. Tech team and got massacred by Michigan St.

Everybody throws up a clunker or two on the road as well as it will be difficult to win on Wichita, SIU, Missouri State or Creighton's home floors. Losing 3 of those 4 is likely (but doesn't ruin the season) as well dropping at least two total to either EU, InS, UNI, ISU, Drake. I see 4-5 on the road in the Valley as a realistic goal to shoot for (as well at 8-1 at home). That would put us at 12-6 in conference, probably in the top 4 overall as well as 21-9 overall, virtually assuring a trip to the NCAA's.

I am really having a difficult time gauging the Valley so far. Every team has lost a few questionable ones (except Wichita's losses) as well as knocked off some good teams.

This is Jim Les' chance at an encore coaching performance worthy of Coach of the Year voting (and if he puts us in the top 3 or 4, after being predicted so low, he SHOULD win it, even if he doesn't).

Anyway, GO BU, This is a big one to start off the Valley season and we should be rested and ready for it. This will be a very good measuring stick (I think) to tell how good we can be.

[valleyclimber]

This is a tough way for the Braves to start the Valley season...on the road at UNI. The Panthers had NO marquee non-con wins will NEED to prove themselves during MVC competition and finish in the top 4 if they want to be dancing come NCAA tourney time. Do think the UNI victories over Iowa and Iowa St. will look much better a bit down the line.

IMO life on the road in this year's MVC is going to be down-right TREACHEROUS. There are 10 quality teams and NO gimmes in the Valley. Every team will NEED to defend home court as if their lives depended on it.

Think the Braves are on a mini-roll right now, but I'm going with UNI to defend their court and escape by the skin of their teeth.

Braves 60
Panthers 61

[Fetz86]

I am taping the game tonight because i will be at work.

I will talk to you all again much later after the game.

Go Braves.

[Big Mike]

actually 2006........I picked the Braves to go 500 for the entire season before it started.......now I am a Big Fan of the 4 guard line-up.......makes for some exciting ball IMO......and I think it will create match-up problems for the majority of teams we will face!

[Bravesfan]

Re: 1st road Valley test tonight

In most seasons it was easy to dread the away games during the Valley season.....but for some reason this years sqaud seems more adept to playing on the road than the previous teams! Maybe it just me.......but the way these guys seem so mature and seem to stay in control even when trailing on the scoreboard....thus making me think this team has a very good chance for success! Does that mean they will go undefeated on the road this year.......probably not but they might win more than they lose.......which would give them a shot at the title! Anyway.....is it just me or has anyone else bought into this years sqaud ...who have already proven me wrong ......I predicted a 500 season..... for this is a rebuilding year....right?

I look for an 8 pt win tonight!

I love the optimism and I agree with most of what you said except for the fact that there's no way we will finish .500 on the road. Yes, for as well as we did at Iowa St. (Neutral, but really away) and in the Chicago tourney, we also lost on the road to a below-average Tenn. Tech team and got massacred by Michigan St.

Everybody throws up a clunker or two on the road as well as it will be difficult to win on Wichita, SIU, Missouri State or Creighton's home floors. Losing 3 of those 4 is likely (but doesn't ruin the season) as well dropping at least two total to either EU, InS, UNI, ISU, Drake. I see 4-5 on the road in the Valley as a realistic goal to shoot for (as well at 8-1 at home). That would put us at 12-6 in conference, probably in the top 4 overall as well as 21-9 overall, virtually assuring a trip to the NCAA's.

I am really having a difficult time gauging the Valley so far. Every team has lost a few questionable ones (except Wichita's losses) as well as knocked off some good teams.

This is Jim Les' chance at an encore coaching performance worthy of Coach of the Year voting (and if he puts us in the top 3 or 4, after being predicted so low, he SHOULD win it, even if he doesn't).

Anyway, GO BU, This is a big one to start off the Valley season and we should be rested and ready for it. This will be a very good measuring stick (I think) to tell how good we can be.

Well, we played Tenn Tech earlier in the season, and most of the top tier Big Ten teams will lose at Michigan St. So I can't guage how well Bradley will perform on the road based on those two games.

Agreed that this is a biggie to start with because UNI is beatable (they lost some players off of last year's team as well), they have a new coach and they were predicted to finish in the middle of the pack. Therefore, I think this game is winnable. Therefore, my prediction:

Bradley 74
UNI 68

[BUBraves2006]

actually 2006........I picked the Braves to go 500 for the entire season before it started.......now I am a Big Fan of the 4 guard line-up.......makes for some exciting ball IMO......and I think it will create match-up problems for the majority of teams we will face!

Oh...I agree with all that. Before the season I was hoping for a .500 campaign. Winning breeds optimism and the expectations have been raised a bit now.

I think the guards will present plenty of problems for teams and except those with multiple interior players, we should be okay playing that many guards. For instance, Falker is a very good player for SIU but who else can play down there and be a big presence?

Oh EDIT:: I agree with Bravesfan as well, it's very hard to gauge how we will be on the road. I think, at least from watching a lot of the teams so far, we aren't significantly outmatched by anyone and we have a realistic chance of winning any game (and also a realistic chance of losing more than half of em, too!)