Awful again.....WHY?

[BUSongwriter]

Which Bradley players have significantly improved from last year?

Good question, DC. I think from a team perspective, there is significant improvement -- much better ball movement on offense (though finishing with made shots doesn't happen enough), and though it may be inconsistent I think there is improved team defense.

Individual players? D-LO comes to mind first, but maybe because he has a new role and is doing so well at it. Donte has shown a steady progression and is having a great senior season. They both play so hard and leave it all on the court, you have to admire them.

After that, I'm having trouble. Ask me again after we string four or five wins together.

[Braves2006]

Perhaps next year would be the time to get a high impact JUCO or 2?

[amettrick]

Which Bradley players have significantly improved from last year?

While I agree nobody has improved significantly, most of the guys on the team have shown minor improvements. While these small improvements might not seem like a lot, they add up. There's a reason this team has already matched last year's win total, and it's not just because the schedule was a little easier.

It's also not uncommon for players to make their biggest jumps in terms of skill-level between their sophomore and junior seasons. Jeremy Crouch and Daniel Ruffin both come to mind as guys that got a lot better after their sophomore years.

[Vent]

While I agree nobody has improved significantly, most of the guys on the team have shown minor improvements. While these small improvements might not seem like a lot, they add up. There's a reason this team has already matched last year's win total, and it's not just because the schedule was a little easier.

It's also not uncommon for players to make their biggest jumps in terms of skill-level between their sophomore and junior seasons. Jeremy Crouch and Daniel Ruffin both come to mind as guys that got a lot better after their sophomore years.

The non conference schedule is not a little easier, it is woefully weaker. The conference schemes also weaker with the loss of Wichita. A close conference race should not be misconstrued as a strong conference. As for individual player improvement, almost all players show improvement just from maturity, experience and getting physically stronger. Players that improve enough to become impact players are those that have exceptional quickness (Ruffin) or they are a pure shooter (Crouch).

[wily coyote]

The non conference schedule is not a little easier, it is woefully weaker. The conference schemes also weaker with the loss of Wichita. A close conference race should not be misconstrued as a strong conference. As for individual player improvement, almost all players show improvement just from maturity, experience and getting physically stronger. Players that improve enough to become impact players are those that have exceptional quickness (Ruffin) or they are a pure shooter (Crouch).

anyone who thinks our record is better due to player improvement and not a cupcake schedule hasn't seen much basketball in their life. THERE IS ONLY ONE REASON OUR RECOED IS BETTER AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF OUR SCHEDULE. I'm not saying we haven't shown any improvement but it's minimal at best.

[wizard1]

Awful again...Why

Further to my recent post on this subject. If one or two players are having a shooting problem, this is fairly normal and not unexpected. However, if 5 or 6 players are having this terrible shooting problem all at the same time and under the same conditions (MVC Road Games), clearly, something else is happening to cause this. Remember, our road game shooting problem is not just with 3s. It also occurs on easy low post shots, unmolested layups, etc. IMO, something may be wrong with our game preparation for MVC road games.
Wizard

[lefty]

unmolested layups, etc.
Wizard

I don't know Wiz........maybe another word works better?

[Vent]

It is a result of insufficient talent. This is how mediocre teams play. That is what makes us mediocre.

[Braves2006]

It is a result of insufficient talent. This is how mediocre teams play. That is what makes us mediocre.

As much as I hate to say it....mediocre is at least a step up from abysmal.

[Da Coach]

It is a result of insufficient talent. This is how mediocre teams play. That is what makes us mediocre.

Agree, as I have been saying for a long time.
If anyone thinks Bradley's talent level is OK, please read further:
When was the last time Bradley had any player named to any level of the All MVC teams, 1st team, 2nd team, or Honorable Mention?

Answers:
It was Walter Lemon, who was 2nd team All MVC 2 years in a row in 2012-13 and 2013-14, four and five years ago

The last 1st team All MVC player Bradley had was Andrew Warren in 2010-11, seven years ago.

The last Bradley player named MVC Player of the Year was Anthony Parker in 1995-1996, 22 years ago!

Bradley has had several Defensive Players of the Year-
1998 Adebayo Akinkunle
2001 Jerome Robinson
2006 Patrick O’Bryant
2013 Dyricus Simms-Edwards

And Bradley has had lots of players named MVC All Defense team in the past-
But since 2014, they have not had a single player make the MVC All-Defensive team

And since joining the Missouri Valley Conference in the 1948-49 season until the 2013-14 season, Bradley had one or more All MVC players (except the years they dropped out of the MVC 1952-1956), for 63 of those 66 seasons between 1948-49 and 2013-14, including one or more every season from 1975-76 through 2013-14- 39 straight seasons!

But since 2014, they have not had a single All MVC player! None for the last 3 straight seasons.
And one more significant factor- the MVC was a far tougher league in those past years, and has been weaker since Creighton left in 2013 and Wichita State left in 2017, which should have made it even easier for Bradley to get players on the All MVC teams these past few years!

Below is the extensive list of all the previous All MVC players from Bradley, which includes not only All MVC players, but also multiple NBA lottery picks, Players of the Year, and Defensive POYs.
But again, note that since the 2013-14 season, we have not had a single All MVC player at any level.
There were only 3 seasons without at least one All MVC player from 1949-2014- 1956, 1970, and 1975.
But none in the past 4 seasons!

1949
Gene Melchiorre (1st Team)
Paul Unruh (1st Team)
1950
Gene Melchiorre (1st Team)
Paul Unruh (1st Team)
1951
Elmer Behnke (1st Team)
Gene Melchiorre (1st Team)

Bradley withdrew from the MVC during the 1951-52 season and returned for the 1955-56 season.

1956
None
1957
Barney Cable (1st Team)
1958
Bobby Joe Mason (2nd Team)
Shellie McMilon (2nd Team)
1959
Bobby Joe Mason (1st Team)
Dan Smith (2nd Team)
1960
Chet Walker (1st Team)
Bobby Joe Mason (Hon. Mention)
Mike Owens (Honorable Mention)
Dan Smith (Honorable Mention)
1961
Chet Walker (1st Team)
Mack Herndon (Honorable Mention)
Tim Robinson (Honorable Mention)
Al Saunders (Honorable Mention)
Ed Wodka (Honorable Mention)
1962
Chet Walker (1st Team)
1963
Mack Herndon (1st Team)
1964
Levern Tart (1st Team)
1965
Eddie Jackson (1st Team)
Ernie Thompson (2nd Team)
1966
Joe Allen (2nd Team)
1967
Joe Allen (1st Team)
1968
Joe Allen (1st Team)
Al Smith (2nd Team)
1969
L.C. Bowen (1st Team)
Steve Kuberski (2nd Team)
1970
None
1971
Al Smith (1st Team)
1972
Rich Schultz (2nd Team)
Sam Simmons (2nd Team)
1973
Seymour Reed (2nd Team)
1974
Seymour Reed (1st Team)
Greg Smith (1st Team)
Jim Caruthers (2nd Team)
Tom Les (2nd Team)
1975
None
1976
Jim Caruthers (2nd Team)
Mike Davis (1st Team)
1977
Roger Phegley (1st Team)
1978
Alex Mazeika (2nd Team)
Roger Phegley (1st Team)
1979
Mitchell Anderson (2nd Team)
1980
Mitchell Anderson (1st Team)
1981
Mitchell Anderson (1st Team)
David Thirdkill (2nd Team)
1982
Mitchell Anderson (1st Team)
Donald Reese (2nd Team)
David Thirdkill (2nd Team)
1983
Barney Mines (2nd Team)
Willie Scott (2nd Team)
Voise Winters (2nd Team)
1984
Voise Winters (2nd Team)
1985
Voise Winters (1st Team)
1986
Hersey Hawkins (1st Team)
Jim Les (1st Team and POY)
Mike Williams (2nd Team)
1987
Hersey Hawkins (1st Team and POY)
Anthony Manuel (2nd Team)
Donald Powell (Honorable Mention)
1988
Hersey Hawkins (1st Team and POY)
Anthony Manuel (2nd Team)
1989
Anthony Manuel (1st Team and POY)
Dion Thurman (2nd Team)
1990
Andy Bastock (Honorable Mention)
Luke Jackson (Honorable Mention)
Curtis Stuckey (1st Team)
1991
Xanthus Houston (Hon. Mention)
Curtis Stuckey (1st Team)
1992
James Hamilton (2nd Team)
1993
Deon Jackson (Honorable Mention)
Billy Wright (Honorable Mention)
1994
Deon Jackson (1st Team)
Billy Wright (2nd Team)
1995
Anthony Parker (2nd Team)
1996
Anthony Parker (1st Team and POY)
Deon Jackson (1st Team)
Billy Wright (2nd Team)
1997
Anthony Parker (1st Team)
Aaron Zobrist (2nd Team)
1998
Adebayo Akinkunle (1st Team and DPOY)
Rob Dye (Honorable Mention)
1999
Rob Dye (1st Team)
2000
Rob Dye (1st Team)
Eric Roberson (Honorable Mention)
2001
Jeffrey Rabey (Honorable Mention)
Jerome Robinson (1st Team and DPOY)
2002
Phillip Gilbert (2nd Team)
2003
Phillip Gilbert (1st Team)
James Gillingham (2nd Team)
2004
Phillip Gilbert (Honorable Mention)
James Gillingham (2nd Team)
Marcellus Sommerville (1st Team)
2005
Marcellus Sommerville (1st Team)
2006
Patrick O’Bryant (2nd Team and DPOY)
Marcellus Sommerville (2nd Team)
2007
Will Franklin (2nd Team)
Daniel Ruffin (2nd Team)
2008
Jeremy Crouch (1st Team)
Daniel Ruffin (Honorable Mention)
2009
Theron Wilson (1st Team)
2010
Sam Maniscalco (2nd Team)
Andrew Warren (Hon. Mention)
2011
Andrew Warren (1st Team)
2012
Taylor Brown (Hon. Mention)
2013
Walt Lemon, Jr. (2nd Team)
Dyricus Simms-Edwards (DPOY)
2014
Walt Lemon, Jr. (2nd Team)
2015
none
2016
none
2017
none
2018
Does anyone think there might be one this season?

[tornado]

note--
since Da Coach cited the drought of All-MVC players starting in 2014, I am sure that will instantly give ammo to those who claim the current staff is the problem.


NOPE- it is more an indication of the former staff- since the only players who were All-MVC or Hon Mention or even preseason All-MVC prior to 2014,
were ALL Jim Les players - and NONE - NOT ONE was a Geno recruit.
So the drought actually started in 2011 and unfortunately lapped over into the BW era because of the abysmally empty cabinet left behind by JG/MC/GF

[AZ BU Fan]

[QUOTE=Da Coach;825135698]Agree, as I have been saying for a long time.
If anyone thinks Bradley's talent level is OK, please read further:]

AMEN...

Even JL had trouble recruiting talented players his last years. Wether his fault or the Admin. Cancelled commitments, drop outs, kicked outs, flunk outs, have also hurt BU. Outside of POB, true quality 4's or 5's, big men > 6'8" have never been successfully recruited for a long time at BU.

Hiring lower level coaches who haven't recruited D-I players before is not a recipe for quick success, unless their assistants are OUTSTANDING and RESPECTED D-I recruiters.