Sweet 16 benefits...

[georgethedog]

A similar thing happened in the early 80's. Dick Versace thought he could parlay the NIT success into recruiting nationally. It was quite unsuccessful. And as a result, he had several bad years when he failed to recruit well with all his national efforts. But when he focuse back to recruiting Chicago and Illinois, he had that sensational 1984 recruiting class of 1984 with Tim Bankston, Hersey Hawkins, Jerry Thomas, Greg Jones, Donald Powell, Jerome Childs, Trevor Trimpe, and Len Bertolini.

Maybe the future of Bradley recruiting will focus back on Chicago and Illinois. There is enough talent here.

You may be right...

[OrangeandBlack74]

A similar thing happened in the early 80's. Dick Versace thought he could parlay the NIT success into recruiting nationally. It was quite unsuccessful. And as a result, he had several bad years when he failed to recruit well with all his national efforts. But when he focuse back to recruiting Chicago and Illinois, he had that sensational 1984 recruiting class of 1984 with Tim Bankston, Hersey Hawkins, Jerry Thomas, Greg Jones, Donald Powell, Jerome Childs, Trevor Trimpe, and Len Bertolini.

Maybe the future of Bradley recruiting will focus back on Chicago and Illinois. There is enough talent here.

I think we've been pretty successful so far nationally. We're brining in a kid from Texas, a kid from Alaska, and a kid from Iowa. I have no doubt that we'll find the players we need, whether they're from Illinois or not.

Agreed. We also had a kid from Wisconsin (Buycks), and still have Daniel West from Michigan committed for 08 - 09.

[thefish7]

I'm in that not-so-worried camp. It's really the first year where I've paid attention to the recruiting beginning to end, but I have a feeling that Buycks or no Buycks this is one of our best classes. It hurt us when Fears didn't manage to stick with the theam, and Buycks not qualifying was a real shame (but not the fault of our recruiting process and he should be counted as part of the Sweet 16 boon).

I didn't really think that the Sweet 16 outcome would make us able to suddenly recruit the top players in the nation-- I thought it would position us to get guys who'll help us get back the tournament and I think this incoming class is full of that kind of player. Time will tell, but I think it's when you make that Sweet 16 let's say, 3 years out of 4... Now you can really start working on some elite recruits.

[it's boogie time]

The tournament success last year helped get the ball rolling on the new facility plan. The new facilities are going to help sell Bradley basketball. I don't think juco players are going to be impressed with scale models and demolition since their vision is understandably short-sighted.

The Valley needs a tv plan to help compete against the big boys in recruiting.

[thefish7]

The Valley needs a tv plan to help compete against the big boys in recruiting.

Yeah, I'd really love to see the MVC getting an extra couple of weekly games on ESPN. Maybe the new Big10 channel will help with that.

[BradleyBrave]

Re: Sweet 16 benefits...

When are they going to come to fruition? I LIKE are crop of recruits but I don't see one that we couldn't have got before the sweet 16 run. Everybody said year two would be the year.

Second place in recruiting gets you nothing. Yes I see us up against some BCS schools but we need to win some battles.

One we SEEMED to have won over Louisville with Buycks now seems like a kid we will never see. Coley to UNCC and Knapp to MS are hardly losing to BCS types.

Is it the facilities.....do we need a bit more WOW for em. To bad Coley couldn't have been here for an actual game.

Again, I'm happy with what we have but we need to hit a few homeruns and not just be happy with base hits.

Weren't CC and Knapp just 'icing on the cake' last week? This isn't like last year, when it was thought we needed Sikes or Bright in order to have any chance at success (which proved to be incorrect). These guys would have been very nice additions, but they weren't going to make or break next season.

[MacabreMob]

I am not freakin out at all.

I can recall days under Molinari when a "deep team" meant we had 6 players that could defend, 1 go to guy and 1 other possible scorer.

I can't wait for next season. With Crouch hurt, Fears gone, Coley and Knapp out of the picture, I still believe this TEAM can win the MVC.

Keep up the great work Coach and good luck to all the players!

[dogsrus]

Re: Sweet 16 benefits...

When are they going to come to fruition? I LIKE are crop of recruits but I don't see one that we couldn't have got before the sweet 16 run. Everybody said year two would be the year.

Second place in recruiting gets you nothing. Yes I see us up against some BCS schools but we need to win some battles.

One we SEEMED to have won over Louisville with Buycks now seems like a kid we will never see. Coley to UNCC and Knapp to MS are hardly losing to BCS types.

Is it the facilities.....do we need a bit more WOW for em. To bad Coley couldn't have been here for an actual game.

Again, I'm happy with what we have but we need to hit a few homeruns and not just be happy with base hits.

Wow...a little fickle aren't we? Back-to-back 22 win seasons, and a GREAT incoming class, and we're whining because we didn't get a spring JUCO? Wow.

I don't think me asking a legit question makes me fickle. I understand where some might see me as being too critical or harsh but I drink as much kool aid as anyone on here but don't you think its, as I stated, a legit question?

I love the direction BU is going under JL.....I am very confident and happy with the entire staff. Maybe it was unfair or untimely in wake of losing Coley but do you think we've landed ONE IMPACT recruit due to our sweet 16 run that we couldn't have got just being BU?

My question was really more about hearing what others thought.....are we spending too much time, resources and energy going after BCS types that could be better spent elsewhere?

[dogsrus]

I'm in that not-so-worried camp. It's really the first year where I've paid attention to the recruiting beginning to end, but I have a feeling that Buycks or no Buycks this is one of our best classes. It hurt us when Fears didn't manage to stick with the theam, and Buycks not qualifying was a real shame (but not the fault of our recruiting process and he should be counted as part of the Sweet 16 boon).

I didn't really think that the Sweet 16 outcome would make us able to suddenly recruit the top players in the nation-- I thought it would position us to get guys who'll help us get back the tournament and I think this incoming class is full of that kind of player. Time will tell, but I think it's when you make that Sweet 16 let's say, 3 years out of 4... Now you can really start working on some elite recruits.

Good points...

[dogsrus]

The tournament success last year helped get the ball rolling on the new facility plan. The new facilities are going to help sell Bradley basketball. I don't think juco players are going to be impressed with scale models and demolition since their vision is understandably short-sighted.

The Valley needs a tv plan to help compete against the big boys in recruiting.

Agreed....

[the daxified one]

how many seniors are you losing? who all have you brought in besides david collins (only know about him because we were recruiting him as well)?

[houstontxbrave]

I am not freakin out at all.

I can recall days under Molinari when a "deep team" meant we had 6 players that could defend, 1 go to guy and 1 other possible scorer.

I can't wait for next season. With Crouch hurt, Fears gone, Coley and Knapp out of the picture, I still believe this TEAM can win the MVC.

Keep up the great work Coach and good luck to all the players!

I agree completely. As long as our program continues to display a "team" oriented type of game night in night out with distribution of the ball and unselfish play we will contend for the Valley championship. No one player is ever larger then the group.

[the daxified one]

I am not freakin out at all.

I can recall days under Molinari when a "deep team" meant we had 6 players that could defend, 1 go to guy and 1 other possible scorer.

I can't wait for next season. With Crouch hurt, Fears gone, Coley and Knapp out of the picture, I still believe this TEAM can win the MVC.

Keep up the great work Coach and good luck to all the players!

I agree completely. As long as our program continues to display a "team" oriented type of game night in night out with distribution of the ball and unselfish play we will contend for the Valley championship. No one player is ever larger then the group.

that is why i hate nba teams sometimes. definitely agree with everything you said in that statement.

[BradleyBrave]

how many seniors are you losing? who all have you brought in besides david collins (only know about him because we were recruiting him as well)?

Losses:

6'0" G Will Franklin (leading scorer)
6'3" G JJ Tauai
6'4" G Danny Adams
6'8" F/C Zach Andrews

6'4" Freshman Saihou Jassey is transferring to a lower level

Newcomers:

6'0" G Sam Maniscalco (Chicago St. Pat's)
6'4" G DeAaron Williams (Wisconsin transfer)
6'9" F/C Will Egolf (Alaska-Juneau HS)
6'11" F/C Michael Thompson (Houston Kline-Forest)
5'11" G Tyrone Cole-Scott (Tyler Junior College)
7'0" C David Collins (MS-West Plains)

[dogsrus]

Re: Sweet 16 benefits...

When are they going to come to fruition? I LIKE are crop of recruits but I don't see one that we couldn't have got before the sweet 16 run. Everybody said year two would be the year.

Second place in recruiting gets you nothing. Yes I see us up against some BCS schools but we need to win some battles.

One we SEEMED to have won over Louisville with Buycks now seems like a kid we will never see. Coley to UNCC and Knapp to MS are hardly losing to BCS types.

Is it the facilities.....do we need a bit more WOW for em. To bad Coley couldn't have been here for an actual game.

Again, I'm happy with what we have but we need to hit a few homeruns and not just be happy with base hits.

Weren't CC and Knapp just 'icing on the cake' last week? This isn't like last year, when it was thought we needed Sikes or Bright in order to have any chance at success (which proved to be incorrect). These guys would have been very nice additions, but they weren't going to make or break next season.

I DID say guys like this would be icing on the cake. I also think we have solid recruits and will contend for the MVC next year. But I also saw us getting our butts handed to us by a very good team in the NIT and that "cake icing" would bring us much closer to teams like that. I just have yet to see that WOW recruit I think we were all hoping for.

Again I have nothing but praise for how well JL and staff does all things considered. I think BU is a tough sell. Look at what our visitor from UNCC said...."I still had no idea where you guys were from".......