Final score: Loyola 81 Bradley 65

[wizard1]

1 Step Forward-3 Steps Backward

I'm beginning to wonder if BW really has what it takes to turn this program around. Our recruiting has been "Ho-Hum", Our bigs can't play very well, our offense is not consistant, we can't seem to find the kind of big-talented-nasty players that we need, BWs PR is not really great, and he can't seem to inspire our players for tough games or road games against MVC teams. How long do we have to wait before things start getting better? I hope I'm wrong in all of this but things don't look too good at this point.
Wizard

[Braves2006]

I still do believe that BW can get the job done. I also believe that Childs and Stipo look like they could be some pretty good players/recruits. That being said....there are a few red flags in my book... one being when BW said in the postgame today that he and the other coaches ???implored the players to communicate with each other, but they wouldn??™t listen....there was silence...???.

[Vent]

I'm beginning to wonder if BW really has what it takes to turn this program around. Our recruiting has been "Ho-Hum", Our bigs can't play very well, our offense is not consistant, we can't seem to find the kind of big-talented-nasty players that we need, BWs PR is not really great, and he can't seem to inspire our players for tough games or road games against MVC teams. How long do we have to wait before things start getting better? I hope I'm wrong in all of this but things don't look too good at this point.
Wizard

I have to agree with you. Although Wardle's first class of recruits was limited with his late hire, he is now in the process of recruiting his fourth class of student athletes. In my opinion there are only two players in all of those classes, one a sophomore and one a freshman, that would get any playing time on a Les, Molinari or Versace team. The time for excuses is over. Unless the caliber of talent is improved, this program will continue to be mired in mediocre teams at best, weak non-conference schedules, dwindling season tickets and 4,800-5,200 actual people at home games. I don't question the character of his players, their dedication or the coach's dedication. I do question his ability to recruit better players than we currently have going into his fourth recruiting class. Whether it's his fault or the curriculum at the school, I don't know, but it isn't very good. The program is more stable than it was when Wardle arrived, but it still isn't very good.

[tornado]

speaking of...
it was nice to see & meet up with Dick Versace & Carl Maniscalco at the Loyola game...
and our AD also greeted them and sat with them - a far cry from how those great past Bradley Braves have been treated by former admin...

[Jim]

Hopefully he will invite some of the previous coaches and players to the home games.

[tornado]

Here's a photo of the over 400 people from Bradley who were there

Dick Versace is just beyond Callum Barker & next to Carl Maniscalco

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bradleyalumni/39712057211/in/album-72157664713251608/

the box score cited 2814 as the attendance, but I'd say given the empty seats there were probably about 2000 there - so the Bradley fans comprised 20-25%

[Da Coach]

Those were mainly the ones who attended the Bradley alumni sponsored pregame event. There were many other Bradley fans scattered throughout the crowd.