Awful again.....WHY?

[wizard1]

The one consistent feature of this team is that we cannot shoot in the first half of a road game against an even mediocre opponent. This is now happening in every valley road game....WHY? What is causing this? Clearly, something is wrong.
Wizard

[wily coyote]

The one consistent feature of this team is that we cannot shoot in the first half of a road game against an even mediocre opponent. This is now happening in every valley road game....WHY? What is causing this? Clearly, something is wrong.
Wizard

Wizard, Wizard, Wizard it's very clear. WE DON'T HAVE ANY SHOOTERS. It's that simple 1-14 from the 3 explains that loss.
WE played hard, out hustled them for loose balls, crashed the boards but couldn't throw a ball in the ocean standing in a boat. Get use to it. Until we recruit some shooters this is gonna be the norm. They are just so hard to watch.

[Vent]

I do not see things getting any better next year. Unless there are multiple players that leave, I believe we only have one scholarship to give, with the graduation of Donte Thomas. We have nobody on the roster that can replace his toughness, quickness and leaping ability around the basket. The two best players returning are currently a freshman and sophomore. The current junior class are good kids but would not get much playing time on a good team. The other returning players that are currently freshmen and sophomores are good kids but projects, with the exception of maybe Kennell. We have no shooters in the current junior class. The reason we may win 20 games this year is because the non conference schedule was very weak. I agree, Wardle had a major rebuild on his hands. I just don??™t see how this team is any better next year.

[Chibearsfan10125]

Wizard, Wizard, Wizard it's very clear. WE DON'T HAVE ANY SHOOTERS. It's that simple 1-14 from the 3 explains that loss.
WE played hard, out hustled them for loose balls, crashed the boards but couldn't throw a ball in the ocean standing in a boat. Get use to it. Until we recruit some shooters this is gonna be the norm. They are just so hard to watch.

I disagree that we don’t have any shooters. Right now they’re all in a bit of a funk, but LVB, NK, DB, JH and even RS can all shoot really well from outside. We’ve seen this at different stretches of their time here. We’ve had several games this season where we shot over 50% from deep and a handful more where we shot over 40%. And those weren’t games where we only took a few shots. Those were games where we were taking tons of shots from deep. We are a team that lives and dies by the 3 and right now, they’re not falling, but if our guys get hot, we can play with anyone.

[Chico]

IMO, anyone who takes 18 shots and only makes 3, shouldn’t continue to shoot.

[amettrick]

A little perspective would probably be a good idea here guys. While things haven't gone the way anyone would have hoped the last few games, it's hardly a dire situation.

For context, in Year 3 of the Jim Les era, the team started 9-2 and then went 4-13 down the stretch to finish the year 13-15. Even year 4 wasn't going so well at first with the team sitting at 9-7 and 3-5 in conference play before the "every starting spot is up for grabs" moment that changed that season forever.

Point is, the team will probably finish around 19-12 and 9-9 in conference. That's great progress from where it was 2 years ago. There will be some ugly losses and bumps in the road still to come, but I firmly believe the overall picture will continue to trend upwards

[Da Coach]

While I agree with your perspective, and there is no disputing the team has improved each year, I also can see the concerns that some fans are seeing. We lack athleticism, and that will continue to cause difficulties matching up with teams the rest of this year. And with only 2 open scholarships and nobody signed yet, will that problem get any better next year?
And let's not overlook the fact that some of the improvement this year, and perhaps maybe 3 or more wins came from the much weaker non-conference schedule we played compared to the last couple seasons. Bradley's non-conference SOS this season is 280, and will likely end up higher by the end of the season (RPIforecast.com projects it will be 289). Last season (2016-17) it was 166, and the previous season (2015-16) it was 104.

[Braves2006]

Point is, the team will probably finish around 19-12 and 9-9 in conference.

Illinois St., Missouri St, and Loyola will not be easy, even at home. I still believe 1 if not 2 of these teams steal one in Peoria. 9-9 is doable...maybe a bit too optimistic... we shall see.

[LongTimeFan]

I haven't been able to see the team in person. However, it is either has to be the talent or the coaching. Most seem to point to the talent/athleticism vs. the rest of the valley.

[Vent]

With only two scholarships available it is difficult to see how Bradley is better next season than this. To be better those scholarships need to be filled by two impact players. One must be as good if not better than Thomas is now and the other has to be a better shooter and scorer than anyone we currently have. There is no room for recruiting mistakes or projects. There is also very little room to continue to lose season ticket sales and maintenance contribution. It takes money to run a quality basketball program and that can only be changed with results. There are no more knowledgeable basketball fans in the country than Bradley’s. They clearly know the difference between a good record and a good team. As this program heads into year four of a rebuild, it is generally that year that significant advances appear. That hinges on the two available scholarships.

[wily coyote]

With only two scholarships available it is difficult to see how Bradley is better next season than this. To be better those scholarships need to be filled by two impact players. One must be as good if not better than Thomas is now and the other has to be a better shooter and scorer than anyone we currently have. There is no room for recruiting mistakes or projects. There is also very little room to continue to lose season ticket sales and maintenance contribution. It takes money to run a quality basketball program and that can only be changed with results. There are no more knowledgeable basketball fans in the country than Bradley??™s. They clearly know the difference between a good record and a good team. As this program heads into year four of a rebuild, it is generally that year that significant advances appear. That hinges on the two available scholarships.

Pretty much agree with all your post. I have always said the only way to continue to improve is thru recruiting. You must continue to bring in better people than you have/or lose. If not your not going to get better. It's pretty simple. Coaches coach and players play and I just don't see us competing for the title when I see what the rest of the league puts on the floor. I just don't think we're close yet. NEED SHOOTERS,NEED LEADERS,NEED TO BE ALOT MORE PHYSICAL ON THE BOARDS AND IN THE PAINT. Just don't see that on this roster. Hope I'm wrong.

[BUfan39]

Pretty much agree with all your post. I have always said the only way to continue to improve is thru recruiting. You must continue to bring in better people than you have/or lose. If not your not going to get better. It's pretty simple. Coaches coach and players play and I just don't see us competing for the title when I see what the rest of the league puts on the floor. I just don't think we're close yet. NEED SHOOTERS,NEED LEADERS,NEED TO BE ALOT MORE PHYSICAL ON THE BOARDS AND IN THE PAINT. Just don't see that on this roster. Hope I'm wrong.

Any further news on Ari Boya and whether or not he'll be reclassified for 2018?

[lefty]

With only two scholarships available it is difficult to see how Bradley is better next season than this. To be better those scholarships need to be filled by two impact players. One must be as good if not better than Thomas is now and the other has to be a better shooter and scorer than anyone we currently have. There is no room for recruiting mistakes or projects. There is also very little room to continue to lose season ticket sales and maintenance contribution. It takes money to run a quality basketball program and that can only be changed with results. There are no more knowledgeable basketball fans in the country than Bradley??™s. They clearly know the difference between a good record and a good team. As this program heads into year four of a rebuild, it is generally that year that significant advances appear. That hinges on the two available scholarships.

Seems as though there is always some movement with the roster....so maybe one or two of the guys not playing decide to move on...

[tornado]

Any further news on Ari Boya and whether or not he'll be reclassified for 2018?

I am unaware of any recent news - I doubt we will hear anything until at least near the end of the school year
..as for unexpected movement on our roster - it happens every year & there are players on our roster whose playing time is way down from what they have played the past year or two.... altho I would prefer we develop those players than to bring in more than need development.

[Da Coach]

Seems as though there is always some movement with the roster....so maybe one or two of the guys not playing decide to move on...

I agree that is a good likelihood, however, as Vent posted, regardless of how many scholarships are open, we need to upgrade the athleticism and talent with players who can make an immediate impact if we want to be better next year than this year.

A lot of times teams get better just because players show significant progression and improvement from one year to the next.
Which Bradley players have significantly improved from last year?