If only POB would have stayed...

[ThanksPOB]

If POB would have stayed, we would have eliminated any problems we would have in the post this year, and next. Of course we would NEED Zach and Matt, but we would not have such a huge problem in the post (rebounding, second chance points, etc...)

If he would have stayed this would be a great team right now, and it would be great next year as well...(top 10 great)

And two years of exposure in the top 10 would have set up our next 5 years as far as recruiting goes...

So thanks POB. For the record, I would have taken the money too, but it really screwed BU for this year and next (at least).

[BradleyBrave]

Re: If only POB would have stayed...

If POB would have stayed, we would have eliminated any problems we would have in the post this year, and next. Of course we would NEED Zach and Matt, but we would not have such a huge problem in the post (rebounding, second chance points, etc...)

If he would have stayed this would be a great team right now, and it would be great next year as well...(top 10 great)

And two years of exposure in the top 10 would have set up our next 5 years as far as recruiting goes...

So thanks POB. For the record, I would have taken the money too, but it really screwed BU for this year and next (at least).

Screwed? Hardly. We have a shot at an NCAA berth this year, and will be favorites to win the MVC next year. POB going to the lottery is what landed us Anthony Thompson, and who knows how many more big men we'd otherwise have no chance at. We're already set for the next 5 years of recruiting, and we're just going to continue to build on that.

But it really begs the question - If you'd have done the same thing, what's the point of your post?

[bravesmanager11]

this is absolutely rediculous, this is the team we have, no one complained when we smashed depaul in the opener or when zack put up 20+ points, everyone thought looks like we are fine. Yah this would be a great team with pat but pat had too much of an opportunity which i know you realize, there can't be any blame placed on him, hes the reason last year happened. You should be thanking him for the exposure last year got us. People know the name bradley now. To criticize pat isn't right. The valley is very tough this year but we will get our wins. No one is gonna run away with it. This team will play post season basketball.

[Da Coach]

Nobody would be happier than me if Patrick had decided to stay.
But he did what was best for him, and nobody at Bradley would blame him. Big time programs have people leave for the NBA most years. It would be nice to have that problem.

[it's boogie time]

College basketball is a game of transition. Just looking at BU's non-conference schedule, Rutgers and Michigan State had a player leave early for the draft and Iowa State had good players leave with eligibility left because of a coaching change. It's part of the landscape in college basketball.

[New Guy]

With POB the first offensive option would be to the post. Not a JC, Will, or Ruff trey. Not saying better either way just different. This is waht I like about JL adapt to what you have but that is a another thread. I often wonder what will have more long term recruting impact the sweet 16 or #9 and POB shaking Stern's hand at the draft. Like was said earlier the draft helped land A. Thompson.

[ser_solace]

I was disappointed in the loss on Wednesday. Not because we loss. That was always a real possibility. But that this was a winnable game if we would have played our game consistently. It's sort of like the Tennessee Tech game where we started off very poorly.

I think this team's current talent can do very well, very well without POB. They just need to stop getting frazzled or whatever early on in these road games. I still believe in the system, and I think the players can rebound back from this loss.

[BI_Brave_alum]

Nobody would be happier than me if Patrick had decided to stay.
But he did what was best for him, and nobody at Bradley would blame him. Big time programs have people leave for the NBA most years. It would be nice to have that problem.

Well I partially agree. I think he definitely would have benefited from another year in college to work on all his skills. (as of course the Braves would benefit from a big man)
At the same time though, you can't fault him for securing a contract when a pro team is willing to give him money. Les seems to be working optimally w/ what he has got right now.

[ThanksPOB]

Don't get me wrong guys

I believe that this team has turned a corner, at least for a decade, and will be making post season appearences for years to come. However, to make the claim that this team is going to make a run at another NCAA tourney this year seems a bit too early for me.

They have NO INSIDE presence at all. The likes of Eric Coleman and the SOFT Grant Stout dominated Zach and Matt.

We are going to get out rebounded in every Valley game we play this year. And the last 4 games we have allowed a RIDICULOUSLY high field goal against percentage.

Let's face it, this team doesn't play 40 minutes of basketball(on the road), it doesn't rebound, it has no interior defense, and when JC, Will, and Daniel aren't shooting well, we will lose every time.

I'd also like to add that I think POB would not be in the NBA if it weren't for the one game against PITT. He averaged 13 pts. and 9 rebounds a game last year. Hardly excellent. Eric Coleman is averaging better than that this year. He isn't going to the NBA, is he? (I know, I know, POB was drafted on potential) But what I'm saying is that it is going to be 5 years at least before the NBA starts seeing that potential pan out. He was smart to take the money, he may not get another big contract...

[BUBraves06]

Re: Don't get me wrong guys

I believe that this team has turned a corner, at least for a decade, and will be making post season appearences for years to come. However, to make the claim that this team is going to make a run at another NCAA tourney this year seems a bit too early for me.

They have NO INSIDE presence at all. The likes of Eric Coleman and the SOFT Grant Stout dominated Zach and Matt.

We are going to get out rebounded in every Valley game we play this year. And the last 4 games we have allowed a RIDICULOUSLY high field goal against percentage.

Let's face it, this team doesn't play 40 minutes of basketball(on the road), it doesn't rebound, it has no interior defense, and when JC, Will, and Daniel aren't shooting well, we will lose every time.

I'd also like to add that I think POB would not be in the NBA if it weren't for the one game against PITT. He averaged 13 pts. and 9 rebounds a game last year. Hardly excellent. Eric Coleman is averaging better than that this year. He isn't going to the NBA, is he? (I know, I know, POB was drafted on potential) But what I'm saying is that it is going to be 5 years at least before the NBA starts seeing that potential pan out. He was smart to take the money, he may not get another big contract...

Mr. Optimistic. Most of the things you mentioned are true. We got dominated the other night in the post and that may happen a few more times this season. But for every road game we play we play a home game, where we play much smarter and generally don't lose. Instead of all this negative, how about some positive ... we are one of the best shooting teams in the country and although Wednesday was a step backward in my opinion, Matt Salley has been playing much better of late. Realisticly I don't think this team has what it takes to get back to the tourney but we are without a doubt a postseason-quality team.

As for Pat, so what if he made a career in two games, I say good for him. I think you're not much of a BU fan if you aren't happy at how POB played in the tourney last year. There was no reason for him to stay, his stock was as high as it was going to go, and he made himself millions of dollars. Just because he hasn't played much in the FIRST HALF OF HIS FIRST SEASON doesn't mean he is going to be a bust. It's early and only time will tell how he develops, but as you said he was drafted on potential so somebody from Golden State saw something there and hopefully they do their best to develop that potential and turn Pat into a solid NBA pro.

[ThanksPOB]

Don't challenge my devotion...

Listen, I believe that POB has a chance to be a decent NBA player...but we all know that his draft status never would have been higher than it was, although with two more years of bulking up and college experience he would be a much better player.

And of course I'm happy how he played in the tourney. My brother and I always talk about those games, and I point to that week as one of the best weeks of my life. All the reading about the team, laughing at all my U of I fans who said all last year tht BU couldn't hold a candle to them...It was the greatest week of '06 for me, for sure!

I just hope that Egolf and Thompson don't turn into Big B's understudies. One of those two needs to step in and play immediately.

A lineup of
Daniel Ruffin 5'10" PG
Jeremy Crouch 6'4" 2G
De'Aaron Williams 6'6'' 3G
Matt Salley 6'7" F
Thompson/Egolf 6'10" C

Andrew Warren
Sam Maniscalco
Sam Singh
Ray Brown

All nine of those guys can play next year. If one of those bigs can just play solid interior defense for us and get 8-10 rebounds per game, that team could win the league. We won't need scoring out of a big, but we will need interior D and rebounding.
De'Aaron Williams 3G

[AV23]

Re: Don't get me wrong guys

Well said bubraves06.

I believe that this team has turned a corner, at least for a decade, and will be making post season appearences for years to come. However, to make the claim that this team is going to make a run at another NCAA tourney this year seems a bit too early for me.

They have NO INSIDE presence at all. The likes of Eric Coleman and the SOFT Grant Stout dominated Zach and Matt.

We are going to get out rebounded in every Valley game we play this year. And the last 4 games we have allowed a RIDICULOUSLY high field goal against percentage.

Let's face it, this team doesn't play 40 minutes of basketball(on the road), it doesn't rebound, it has no interior defense, and when JC, Will, and Daniel aren't shooting well, we will lose every time.

I'd also like to add that I think POB would not be in the NBA if it weren't for the one game against PITT. He averaged 13 pts. and 9 rebounds a game last year. Hardly excellent. Eric Coleman is averaging better than that this year. He isn't going to the NBA, is he? (I know, I know, POB was drafted on potential) But what I'm saying is that it is going to be 5 years at least before the NBA starts seeing that potential pan out. He was smart to take the money, he may not get another big contract...

Mr. Optimistic. Most of the things you mentioned are true. We got dominated the other night in the post and that may happen a few more times this season. But for every road game we play we play a home game, where we play much smarter and generally don't lose. Instead of all this negative, how about some positive ... we are one of the best shooting teams in the country and although Wednesday was a step backward in my opinion, Matt Salley has been playing much better of late. Realisticly I don't think this team has what it takes to get back to the tourney but we are without a doubt a postseason-quality team.

As for Pat, so what if he made a career in two games, I say good for him. I think you're not much of a BU fan if you aren't happy at how POB played in the tourney last year. There was no reason for him to stay, his stock was as high as it was going to go, and he made himself millions of dollars. Just because he hasn't played much in the FIRST HALF OF HIS FIRST SEASON doesn't mean he is going to be a bust. It's early and only time will tell how he develops, but as you said he was drafted on potential so somebody from Golden State saw something there and hopefully they do their best to develop that potential and turn Pat into a solid NBA pro.

[dogsrus]

Re: Don't challenge my devotion...

Listen, I believe that POB has a chance to be a decent NBA player...but we all know that his draft status never would have been higher than it was, although with two more years of bulking up and college experience he would be a much better player.

And of course I'm happy how he played in the tourney. My brother and I always talk about those games, and I point to that week as one of the best weeks of my life. All the reading about the team, laughing at all my U of I fans who said all last year tht BU couldn't hold a candle to them...It was the greatest week of '06 for me, for sure!

I just hope that Egolf and Thompson don't turn into Big B's understudies. One of those two needs to step in and play immediately.

A lineup of
Daniel Ruffin 5'10" PG
Jeremy Crouch 6'4" 2G
De'Aaron Williams 6'6'' 3G
Matt Salley 6'7" F
Thompson/Egolf 6'10" C

Andrew Warren
Sam Maniscalco
Sam Singh
Ray Brown

All nine of those guys can play next year. If one of those bigs can just play solid interior defense for us and get 8-10 rebounds per game, that team could win the league. We won't need scoring out of a big, but we will need interior D and rebounding.
De'Aaron Williams 3G

Don't forget Jeremy Fears....I think you'll see him before or along side of Williams. I think we'll still go 4 guards but the other two will be more guard/forward types and ONE big.

[Chico]

Great post ThanksPOB. I'm glad someone else agrees with me. You don't have to have the name of BradleyFan to be a loyal Bradley Fan. You and I are just giving our opinion. Both sides have good points.