What we Need...

[wizard1]

IMO, what we need is some tough, hard nosed coaching that teaches basic skills and demands that our top 7 or 8 guys play very hard and do not make the same basic mistake time after time. BW seems to be quite laid back and accepts these mistakes and resulting poor play. We are making the same basic mistakes now that we did early in the season, especially on the road.
Wiz

[Da Coach]

IMO, what we need is some tough, hard nosed coaching that teaches basic skills and demands that our top 7 or 8 guys play very hard and do not make the same basic mistake time after time. BW seems to be quite laid back and accepts these mistakes and resulting poor play. We are making the same basic mistakes now that we did early in the season, especially on the road.
Wiz

I almost always agree with you wiz, but not here. I have attended and seen practices in person, and our coaching staff is everything you are asking for. The inconsistencies come from other factors, IMO. Maybe it is athleticism, which everyone knows we lack. It could be causing fatigue late in games. The coaches are trying to limit guys from playing too many minutes, but that sometimes dilutes the talent on the floor. Maybe it is just not a high enough quality of player. I think that will continue to improve with each recruiting class. But anyone who has watched a practice can assure you, Coach Wardle is definitely not "laid back" in practice, games, or anything else in his life.

[Dub]

I absolutely agree with DC??™s assessment here. To Wizards description, we absolutely have what we need. BW is somewhat tame in postgame interviews on the radio, but he is extremely intense, no-nonsense, and has very high standards in practice for discipline, effort, and fundamentals.

[FortyTwo]

Agree, BW is a seriously demanding coach. I wonder if that isn't part of the issue, you can see the guys tense up in the second half at the first sign of trouble, knowing BW will yank them out and give them an earful. I like the hard-nosed approach most of the time but looks like the guys could use a little more encouragement when times get tough or at least an assurance that he trusts them to play through a tough stretch without getting yanked.

Also agree, the talent level is rising but we still don't have a go-to guy or knock down shooter that seem to power the teams at the top of the conference.

[lefty]

The inconsistencies come from other factors, IMO. Maybe it is athleticism, which everyone knows we lack. It could be causing fatigue late in games. The coaches are trying to limit guys from playing too many minutes, but that sometimes dilutes the talent on the floor. Maybe it is just not a high enough quality of player. .

I agree with you DC. Our perimeter guys in particular are pretty one dimensional. Jayden keeps the offense moving but not much else,DLO defends and rebounds well but inconsistent offensively, If Nate is not shooting well it's hard to have him out there any length of time, Lundy...is Lundy...


We don't really have a player who can consistently carry a team or go to guy if you will. We certainly lack athleticism, quickness,consistent shooting on the perimeter. Pretty sure the coaches will continue to address these issues

[Da Coach]

...
We don't really have a player who can consistently carry a team or go to guy if you will. We certainly lack athleticism, quickness,consistent shooting on the perimeter. Pretty sure the coaches will continue to address these issues

Bingo.
Speaking of consistent scorers, and players who could carry the team...
Bradley used to always have multiple players who averaged double digits scoring, were clutch players, and who shot high percentages. That has not been the case in recent years. Here is some interesting data (click on the highlighted dates then scroll down the linked page to see the stats from those seasons)...

Starting in 2001-
For 3 straight seasons, 2001-02, 2002-03, and 2003-04, we had 3 different players average in double-digits, and 2 of those 3 seasons, all three double-digit scorers averaged over 15 points per game!

Then for the following 4 straight seasons, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007-08, we had 4 different double-digit scorers each year, including multiple double-digit guys who averaged over 15 ppg. And Bradley had national leaders in 3-point shooting! Not surprisingly, those were probably the 4 most successful seasons at Bradley in the last 20 years.

Then for the next 6 straight seasons, 2008-09, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, and 2013-14 we had either 3 or 4 different double-digit scorers each season on every one of those teams. And the leading scorers every year averaged between 14 and 19 ppg, many who were outstading shooters and clutch players (recall game-winners from Will Franklin, Andrew Warren, and others, plus Chris Roberts' 75-footer!).

But then once the better offensive players recruited by Jim Les were gone, we went into the current 7-year stretch with offensively challenged teams.
Here are the scorers who averaged 10 ppg or more in the last 4 years-

2014-15-
Warren Jones 11.9 ppg (team's top scorer)- shot only 29.6% from three
Tramique Sutherland 11.3 ppg (2nd leading scorer)- shot only 31.1% from three

2015-16-
No double digit scorers; the team shot just 28% from three which ranked 348th out of 351 schools

2016-17-
Darrell Brown 12.6 ppg

2017-18-
Darrell Brown 13.4 ppg
Donte Thomas 11.2 ppg

So Bradley always had at least 3 and often 4 double-digit scorers every season for 14 straight years from 2001-2014, and lot of those high scoring guys averaged even 15-20 ppg. In addition we had a number of guys who were exceptional three point shooters, and clutch players.
But, we have seen a combined total of just 5 double-digit scorers in the last 4 seasons combined! And none of them have exceeded 12.6 ppg, none have been exceptional three point shooters, and arguably none have been the type of clutch player who could carry a team or consistently win games for Bradley like Bradley fans had been used to prior to the last 7 years.

[Vent]

IMO, what we need is some tough, hard nosed coaching that teaches basic skills and demands that our top 7 or 8 guys play very hard and do not make the same basic mistake time after time. BW seems to be quite laid back and accepts these mistakes and resulting poor play. We are making the same basic mistakes now that we did early in the season, especially on the road.
Wiz

If you have to teach skills and playing hard at this level, you have recruited the wrong players.

[tornado]

Right after the game on Saturday - Brian Wardle said the staff was going to spend the next week recruiting...
This week's events include the National Prep Championships that Ari Boya & lots of other top unsigned players are playing in, several top high school Sectional games, and then next weeks the NJCAA (juco) District Championships & Nationals begin - LINK

[pfcmsh]

Coach Wardle Is Intense

I agree with Da Coach. I think Coach Wardle is very intense with his players.

1. There was that one over blown incident about a UWGB player before Coach Wardle arrived at Bradley. That occurred because Coach Wardle is intense not because he is laid back.

2. Almost the entire lot of Coach Ford recruits bailed when Coach Wardle was hired. My guess is that Coach Ford was very casual with his players. When they got the scoop and initially got a feel for Coach Wardle and what he expected, almost all of the Coach Ford recruits bailed.

3. I have seen Coach Wardle throw up his hands when he is frustrated during a game. That would not happen with an unintense coach.

4. My guess is that the reason that Luuk Van Bree is not playing is that he might not play hard enough, which is a requirement to succeed in the MVC. Luuk has the basketball skills, smarts and size, so what could be any other good reason for him to have went from a starter to the bench? I like Luuk and his skill, but I cant tell how hard he plays.

5. Look at the change in players physiques from the day they arrive to after being here under Coach Wardle's demands for weight training. That doesn't happen with a lackadaisical Coach.

6. I think our players, under Coach Wardle have every tool and all information with which to succeed.

Our problem is athleticism. We have good players, who are great young men and we want great players who are great young men. Our players all have strengths and some are great in certain areas, but few of them can do it all. I can remember players that could rebound, go to the basket and score, hit a 3s, defend like crazy and have an emotional impact on the team. When those kids were on the floor, the whole team responded and the feelings were, we are going to win this thing even if we are down 10 with 2 minutes to go!

We will get those kind of players. Coach Wardle has taken us from 5 wins with a totally new group of young men to 20 wins and a 5th place finish. The more we win the more recognition we will get. The more recognition we get, the easier it will be to bring in players that are outstanding in every aspect of the game.

We are well on our way to do that. Coach Wardle asked for our patience when he addressed us during a June '15 luncheon at Carver. We have come a long way since then and we have a ways to go. We will get there under Coach Wardle and we will do it above board, legally and with a program that will prepare the athletes well for the life after Bradley. Donte is a great example.

[kds]

I agree with Da Coach. I think Coach Wardle is very intense with his players.

1. There was that one over blown incident about a UWGB player before Coach Wardle arrived at Bradley. That occurred because Coach Wardle is intense not because he is laid back.

2. Almost the entire lot of Coach Ford recruits bailed when Coach Wardle was hired. My guess is that Coach Ford was very casual with his players. When they got the scoop and initially got a feel for Coach Wardle and what he expected, almost all of the Coach Ford recruits bailed.

3. I have seen Coach Wardle throw up his hands when he is frustrated during a game. That would not happen with an unintense coach.

4. My guess is that the reason that Luuk Van Bree is not playing is that he might not play hard enough, which is a requirement to succeed in the MVC. Luuk has the basketball skills, smarts and size, so what could be any other good reason for him to have went from a starter to the bench. I like Luuk and his skill, but I cant tell how hard he plays.

5. Look at the change in players physiques from the day they arrive to after being here under Coach Wardle's demands for weight training. That doesnt happen with a lackadaisical Coach.

6. I think our players, under Coach Wardle have every tool and all information with which to succeed.

Our problem is athleticism. We have good players, who are great young men and we want great players who are great young men. Our players all have strengths and some are great in certain areas, but few of them can do it all. I can remember players that could rebound, go to the basket and score, hit a 3s, defend like crazy and have an emotional impact on the team. When those kids were on the floor, the whole team responded and the feelings were, we are going to win this thing even if we are down 10 with 2 minutes to go!

We will get those kind of players. Coach Wardle has taken us from 5 wins with a totally new group of young men to 20 wins and a 5th place finish. The more we win the more recognition we will get. The more recognition we get, the easier it will be to bring in players that are outstanding in every aspect of the game.

We are well on our way to do that. Coach Wardle asked for our patience when he addressed us during a June '15 luncheon at Carver. We have come a long way since then and we have a ways to go. We will get there under Coach Wardle and we will do it above board, legally and with a program that will prepare the athletes well for the life after Bradley. Donte is a great example.

+1000

[pfcmsh]

Thank You

Thank You, kds!

[Da Coach]

+1001

[tornado]

we can use a reliable lights-out 3-pt shooter! ...just look at what Reed Timmer did for Drake or Keyshawn Evans (when healthy) does for ISU, Custer for Loyola, Lohaus for UNI - or even what Nate Kennell did for us in games where he was hot...

[pfcmsh]

Thank You

Thank you Da Coach!!

[pfcmsh]

41.5 % or 42%

we can use a reliable lights-out 3-pt shooter! ...just look at what Reed Timmer did for Drake or Keyshawn Evans (when healthy) does for ISU, Custer for Loyola, Lohaus for UNI - or even what Nate Kennell did for us in games where he was hot...

We sure could!! Remember Will Franklin at 42% 3 point shooting and Trevor Trimpe at 41.5%.