Creighton 82 - Bradley 71

[jiminy cricket]

Isnt it possible that Creighton is better than Bradley. I mean they were picked to finish in the top 3 of the Valley by every prognasticator in the land, and BU was picked in the bottom 1/3 by most. I dont know what everyone is so surprised at.

Absolutley BU has played better, but I just think sometimes expectations are a little high. I was also a bit disappointed with the crowd.

[Dubl R 1]

I hate to say it but this team plays a better zone defense then a man to man.

I completely agree here, I really feel like zone should be our main defense, however I understand why Les went with man, good shooters and smart basketball players(i.e. funk on both accounts) can find the seam or break in a zone and get wide open shots, I am not saying he didn't find them last night, but I understand JL's logic.

I Think we play a pretty good zone as well. I just don't like going to it when you are down by 16 points at home. We needed to speed them up and force turnovers to get back in the game, not let them run an unpressured offense, and allow them to eat more time off the clock. Also, I think we were as flat as it gets, and by going to a zone, IMO, just allows the intensity of the game to remain relatively low, compared to a press or a man pressure defense.

[real fan]

I think we need to start out in a zone as you cannot go into it when you are that far behind.

[Big Mike]

All I can say is the Braves better be ready to play in Normal......if they overlook the birds.....it could be a long night....this is their superbowl....a win over the Braves would really boost their season....the team was not ready to play last night......ZA and DR killed the team in the 1st half by missing shot after shot....nothing looked good from either player in the 1st half.......not saying anyone played good....just that those 2 stood out as having off-nights IMO! I also think Dana outcoached the Braves staff last night...whatever junk D' they were playing just killed the O'....and the passing lanes and ball movement just stopped! The 24 hour rule is now in effect for me and it's time to take the isu game....REAL SERIOUS or this board will really light - up! The birds will be ready and if we think we can go there and play half hearted D' to start the game we will be down 15 before you know it.....it takes 40 minutes ar home and on the road.....and just pumping 's will not win many more games and with-out some constant effort on D' we could end up in a play -in game real easy....teams below us are heating up and it's time for the Braves to do the same!

[SpfldBUAlum]

It seemed to me like Ruff just killed us in the first half, bad shots and bad D. The officials were just bad, terrible calls both ways and would have made the game almost unwatchable even if the Braves had been up 20! Hopefully the team will come out with some energy to start the game on Sat.

[thefish7]

If you can't tell from my avatar, Ruff is my favorite player... and I think he's the best player on the team at this time. That being said, he was flat against Creighton until he got his 4th foul. Once he got that 4th fould he was a monster, but he was having a very rough game until then.

[Scouter]

he was having a very rough game until then.

Unfortunately, it wasn't more of a "Ruff" game.

[tornado]

Re: bu players less talent than cu and siu

It's unbelieveable that you could draw such a conclusion because of one loss. Throughout the course of a (30) plus games season, a team will no doubt have a couple of games in which they will not be at their absolute best. BU is no different! We had the same type of outting against Michigan State, it happens from time to time, especially when you consider how small we are. I will put Will, Daniel, and Jeremy against any guards in the country, let alone the Valley's guards. This team will respond in a big way down the stretch. I understand how bad you feel about this loss, so do I, but you must believe in these kids ability to get it done, and they will!!!

Carlos-- surely you have seen by now that the old adage "it takes all kinds" is at play here.

Bradley, for a school of its size, has one of the finest and most loyal fan bases of any school you can name.
But there are always a few fans that seem to swing to the extremes with each win and each loss. I see some of the same reaction on the other Valley team message boards as well. One loss, especially a bad loss, and you see suicidal talk.

Wednesday was a loss to a team that was picked to win the Valley and is in first place, doing every bit as well as everyone thought they would.
I saw a lot of positives, such as the fact that Bradley never gave up, fought back and actually played Creighton even over the final 36 minutes of the game, and made numerous in-game adjustments to overcome the hideous foul calls, and foul trouble, and worked their way back to a respectable 3-point shooting pct., after missing 7 or the first 8 3-point shots.

Each time BU has had a bad game this year they have immediately bounced back. The loss at Michigan State was followed by a 39 point blowout of Wright State, the loss at Creighton was followed by a whupping of the Shockers, and the loss at Wichita State was followed by a remarkable road win at Drake and a victory over SIU.

[ceflentroy]

tornado

Thanks Tornado, you are so right, it does take all kinds. As I responded to Da Coach's reply, I have being reading these threads for the past two years, but that comment sent me over the edge, so to speak. Which in term, prompted me to join the club to respond to such wavering. I just believe in being a true fan, not a fair weather fan. Yes, I get extremely upset at the team from time to time, but I will never give up on them until the last chance has been exhausted. Nonetheless, thanks again to you and Da Coach for the encouraging words!!!

[Dubl R 1]

Re: bu players less talent than cu and siu

It's unbelieveable that you could draw such a conclusion because of one loss. Throughout the course of a (30) plus games season, a team will no doubt have a couple of games in which they will not be at their absolute best. BU is no different! We had the same type of outting against Michigan State, it happens from time to time, especially when you consider how small we are. I will put Will, Daniel, and Jeremy against any guards in the country, let alone the Valley's guards. This team will respond in a big way down the stretch. I understand how bad you feel about this loss, so do I, but you must believe in these kids ability to get it done, and they will!!!

Carlos-- surely you have seen by now that the old adage "it takes all kinds" is at play here.

Bradley, for a school of its size, has one of the finest and most loyal fan bases of any school you can name.
But there are always a few fans that seem to swing to the extremes with each win and each loss. I see some of the same reaction on the other Valley team message boards as well. One loss, especially a bad loss, and you see suicidal talk.

Wednesday was a loss to a team that was picked to win the Valley and is in first place, doing every bit as well as everyone thought they would.
I saw a lot of positives, such as the fact that Bradley never gave up, fought back and actually played Creighton even over the final 36 minutes of the game, and made numerous in-game adjustments to overcome the hideous foul calls, and foul trouble, and worked their way back to a respectable 3-point shooting pct., after missing 7 or the first 8 3-point shots.

Each time BU has had a bad game this year they have immediately bounced back. The loss at Michigan State was followed by a 39 point blowout of Wright State, the loss at Creighton was followed by a whupping of the Shockers, and the loss at Wichita State was followed by a remarkable road win at Drake and a victory over SIU.

That is what is so irritating about the loss. The fact that we outplayed them over the last 36 minutes. You cant do that in a tough league like ours. You have to outplay them for 40 minutes, and sometimes overtime. Unfortunately our first 4 minutes of lazy, unfocused play wiped out every effort over the next 36 minutes as far as the outcome of this game was concerned. To me, considering who we were playing, and the opportunity we had to move up in the standings, plus the fact that we were at home, to start the game flat and unfocused is inexcusable. Hopefully the Braves learned their lesson that you have to bring it from the opening tip, and you can't dig a hole too deep to climb out of.

[flipper]

tornado - you are the man finding positives in the loss to cu. i was disappointed that the game was never close.