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Lets all just sit back and remember where this team was suppose to finish and just how close they came to getting near sure bid to the big dance. 8th place, how pathetic. Plus nearly the same outcome so far as last years sweet 16 team.
"Braves relish underdog role
'Guard rich' BU using experience on big stage to get a handle on things
Thursday, November 9, 2006
BY DAVE REYNOLDS
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
PEORIA -Aside from the top-to-bottom strength of the Missouri Valley Conference, there are four reasons the Bradley Braves are picked to finish eighth this season. Their names are Patrick, Marcellus, Tony and Lawrence, three of whom are now being paid to play basketball.
But from what we've seen from two impressive exhibition wins over Division II powers in the past eight days, what is left on the Hilltop coupled with two key new pieces - and how they have jelled together - may deliver a better product this season than many close observers believed possible.
While some Bradley fans seem content to savor the NCAA Sweet Sixteen accomplishment of last year's team and give the program a pass until a promising recruiting class arrives next season, that is not what BU coach Jim Les has had in mind for this group from Day One in the preseason.
"This is not a rebuilding year, not a patchwork until we get to next year," he said. "I'm looking for this team to surprise people and be better than expected. I hope people overlook us, take us lightly and focus in on what we've lost."
At the same time, the 2006-07 Braves clearly have shortcomings. If a bad pun can be indulged, being, well, short in both numbers and stature is precisely what may hold this team back.
A perilously low total of seven players logged the majority of the minutes during the exhibitions and five of those are just 6-foot-5 or smaller.
For long stretches, the Braves trotted out four guards and either 6-7 Matt Salley or 6-8 Zach Andrews on the floor.
It has taken quite a juggling act by Les to, at once, keep players fresh and preserve the 10 precious fouls of Andrews and Salley while maintaining the quick and intensive pace at which the Braves want to play.
"It's a lot different from last year both on offense and defense," said point guard Daniel Ruffin. "We have to contain the ball a little better this year defensively because we don't have a 7-footer back there. We all have to chip in on defense. And we don't have a go-to guy on offense so any given night could be anybody's night."
Danny Adams, a 6-4 swingman, and 6-9 center Sam Singh have returned to the team this week in practice and should be available on a limited basis for Saturday's opener against DePaul.
And 6-6 forward Saihou Jassey has continued to show improvement. But this is still a team with a thin frontcourt even with everybody available.
"Our biggest concern is our margin of error," Les said. "Because of our numbers, we're an injury away from taking a step back. That's just reality. It's not something I sit and worry about."
That's because he takes great comfort in the Braves' deep backcourt, the key to the team's pressure defense stymieing opposing offenses and triggering its own.
Les' mantra this fall has been that his team is "guard-rich," the most important ingredient for every winning college program.
"We have a lot of guards who can make plays and we will feature them more," he said. "Last year when we didn't have our initial break opportunity, we wanted Patrick (O'Bryant) and Marcellus (Sommerville) to get touches. Now our guards are going to get those touches and we'll play off them."
It will all begin with Ruffin, the 5-10 Peorian who averaged 22 points and 10 assists in the two exhibitions.
"He's by far the smartest player I've ever played with," said freshman guard Andrew Warren. "It's a privilege to play with him."
Warren made great strides as shooting guard Jeremy Crouch's backup from the first to the second preseason contest and senior guards J.J. Tauai and Will Franklin add savvy and ballhandling skills.
While Ruffin may be indispensable to the backcourt, Andrews is the man up front for the Braves.
One of the Valley's most athletic big guys, he has become much more offensive-minded this season, refining his post moves and jump hook.
Maintaining something close to his preseason averages of 20.5 points and 9.0 rebounds will be crucial to this team's success.
"Zach has to step into a premium role on this team whereas last year he took a back seat to Pat," Les said. "Zach has all the tools and abilities to be a top player in the league. It will all depend on his approach on a daily basis."
While Bradley's losses were substantial from its sweet finish last March, the remaining Braves should draw greatly from that experience.
"These guys feel they've been disrespected because those guys are gone," Les said. "Especially our leaders - Daniel, Will and J.J. - have a tremendous amount of pride. They're setting the tone they know we need to be at and the young guys are adhering to it. This team has tremendous camaraderie.
"I'll take a team that bonds and has good chemistry vs. a more talented team where nobody likes each other or their roles. These guys played in a lot of big games last year on a lot of big stages. That could be the difference for us this year.""
"Braves relish underdog role
'Guard rich' BU using experience on big stage to get a handle on things
Thursday, November 9, 2006
BY DAVE REYNOLDS
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
PEORIA -Aside from the top-to-bottom strength of the Missouri Valley Conference, there are four reasons the Bradley Braves are picked to finish eighth this season. Their names are Patrick, Marcellus, Tony and Lawrence, three of whom are now being paid to play basketball.
But from what we've seen from two impressive exhibition wins over Division II powers in the past eight days, what is left on the Hilltop coupled with two key new pieces - and how they have jelled together - may deliver a better product this season than many close observers believed possible.
While some Bradley fans seem content to savor the NCAA Sweet Sixteen accomplishment of last year's team and give the program a pass until a promising recruiting class arrives next season, that is not what BU coach Jim Les has had in mind for this group from Day One in the preseason.
"This is not a rebuilding year, not a patchwork until we get to next year," he said. "I'm looking for this team to surprise people and be better than expected. I hope people overlook us, take us lightly and focus in on what we've lost."
At the same time, the 2006-07 Braves clearly have shortcomings. If a bad pun can be indulged, being, well, short in both numbers and stature is precisely what may hold this team back.
A perilously low total of seven players logged the majority of the minutes during the exhibitions and five of those are just 6-foot-5 or smaller.
For long stretches, the Braves trotted out four guards and either 6-7 Matt Salley or 6-8 Zach Andrews on the floor.
It has taken quite a juggling act by Les to, at once, keep players fresh and preserve the 10 precious fouls of Andrews and Salley while maintaining the quick and intensive pace at which the Braves want to play.
"It's a lot different from last year both on offense and defense," said point guard Daniel Ruffin. "We have to contain the ball a little better this year defensively because we don't have a 7-footer back there. We all have to chip in on defense. And we don't have a go-to guy on offense so any given night could be anybody's night."
Danny Adams, a 6-4 swingman, and 6-9 center Sam Singh have returned to the team this week in practice and should be available on a limited basis for Saturday's opener against DePaul.
And 6-6 forward Saihou Jassey has continued to show improvement. But this is still a team with a thin frontcourt even with everybody available.
"Our biggest concern is our margin of error," Les said. "Because of our numbers, we're an injury away from taking a step back. That's just reality. It's not something I sit and worry about."
That's because he takes great comfort in the Braves' deep backcourt, the key to the team's pressure defense stymieing opposing offenses and triggering its own.
Les' mantra this fall has been that his team is "guard-rich," the most important ingredient for every winning college program.
"We have a lot of guards who can make plays and we will feature them more," he said. "Last year when we didn't have our initial break opportunity, we wanted Patrick (O'Bryant) and Marcellus (Sommerville) to get touches. Now our guards are going to get those touches and we'll play off them."
It will all begin with Ruffin, the 5-10 Peorian who averaged 22 points and 10 assists in the two exhibitions.
"He's by far the smartest player I've ever played with," said freshman guard Andrew Warren. "It's a privilege to play with him."
Warren made great strides as shooting guard Jeremy Crouch's backup from the first to the second preseason contest and senior guards J.J. Tauai and Will Franklin add savvy and ballhandling skills.
While Ruffin may be indispensable to the backcourt, Andrews is the man up front for the Braves.
One of the Valley's most athletic big guys, he has become much more offensive-minded this season, refining his post moves and jump hook.
Maintaining something close to his preseason averages of 20.5 points and 9.0 rebounds will be crucial to this team's success.
"Zach has to step into a premium role on this team whereas last year he took a back seat to Pat," Les said. "Zach has all the tools and abilities to be a top player in the league. It will all depend on his approach on a daily basis."
While Bradley's losses were substantial from its sweet finish last March, the remaining Braves should draw greatly from that experience.
"These guys feel they've been disrespected because those guys are gone," Les said. "Especially our leaders - Daniel, Will and J.J. - have a tremendous amount of pride. They're setting the tone they know we need to be at and the young guys are adhering to it. This team has tremendous camaraderie.
"I'll take a team that bonds and has good chemistry vs. a more talented team where nobody likes each other or their roles. These guys played in a lot of big games last year on a lot of big stages. That could be the difference for us this year.""