Illini disrespect for BU

[Big Mike]

THEN imo.......WE MUST ALREADY BE THERE!

[peoriakid]

Dogsrus, I completey agree with your Eastern Illinois / Bradley analogy. I think you make a good point, regardless of the possible differences in gap proportions??

Now, if a highly recruited player did drop BU from his list, but still included Eastern, I would be surprised, I would be unhappy, but I dont think I would attack Eastern. And from what I have seen on the Illini boards, the Illini fans seem pissed off with the situation, but I havent really seen any Bradley hatin' going on.

Ryan

[dogsrus]

Dogsrus, I completey agree with your Eastern Illinois / Bradley analogy. I think you make a good point, regardless of the possible differences in gap proportions??

Now, if a highly recruited player did drop BU from his list, but still included Eastern, I would be surprised, I would be unhappy, but I dont think I would attack Eastern. And from what I have seen on the Illini boards, the Illini fans seem pissed off with the situation, but I havent really seen any Bradley hatin' going on.

Ryan

I basically agree with you Ryan. I think Illini fans are upset about losing out (most likely) on Shumpert and others. I can't blame em.

I saw some of the stuff they said about us and again maybe its just me and Big Mike so far but I just really don't care HOW they feel about us. Most Illini fans are good people just like us. A few goofballs don't make up the entire Illini fanbase. I just happen to know to many good Illini fans to let a few form my opinion.

Besides I know how I feel about BU and thats all that matters. Maybe its my advanced age I dunno. What some hyped up college kid sitting on some computer in Champaign feels about BU really means nothing to me.

Thanks for your response....

[BUBraves06]

When you no longer care what they think you will know that you've arrived.

EXACTLY! And, like Mike said, I think we're already there.

[MacabreMob]

I understand comparing Illini-Bradley with Bradley-EIU.

But I think Brocks point needs to be revisited here before actually saying it is an equal comparison. He said 'Bradley made the Sweet16 just 16 months ago and played pretty close to UIUC on a neutral court' just this past season.

When has EIU been to the Sweet 16 and played Bradley close in a neutral floor game? They have been a 15 seed twice in their long rich history of college hoops and got beaten badly both times. And the last time Bradley played EIU was in 1972.

So I understand how Bradley fans might think of themselves as gapped to EIU. And I KNOW UIUC fans think of themselves as gapped to Bradley. But UIUC fans perception is further from the truth than BU fans may be.

So what might be more relative is to compare Bradley fans perception to non-BCS teams that got to the Sweet 16 in the (let's say) 5 years.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a 12 seed
UAB as a 9 seed
Kent as a 10 seed (and got to Elite 8 )

I doubt ANY Bradley fan thinks BU is gapped ahead of those schools.

Or how about any school Bradley lost to or played close with in the past (lets say) 5 seasons.

2007
W vs Winona St*
W vs SIU-Edwardsville*
L @ Tn Tech
I recall respect for all those programs and I added Winona and SIU-E as evidence of how BU fans respect even Non-DI teams.

2006
W vs Chi St
Recall a first half deficit and close half time score - they had lightning fast guards... but did we disrespect them?

2005
W vs SEMO
Mutual respect

2004
W vs La-Monroe in OT
L vs Lubbock Christian
Not too sure about La-Monroe, but I recall some disgust over losing to Lubbock but not a disrespect toward them, more inner disrespect... but then followed that game with a win over Miami-Fl

2003
L @ IUPUI
W vs Alcorn St
W vs Chi St
The loss at IUPUI might have been an inner-disrespect but they went on to win the auto birth from their conference and I recall feeling proud of them; the pounding of Chi St and Alcorn St never seemed like we disrespected them, we just let 'em have it.

2002
L vs Tex-Arlington
L vs Weber St
L vs Sam Houston
Not sure what everyone thought, I wasn't around on Message Boards then, but I personally felt more embarrassed that we couldn't win those games... but never disrespect toward those programs. We had a team that didn't perform very well back then.

So in conclusion, I think the Bradley-EIU vs the UIUC-Bradley comparison doesn't quite fit.

[amckillip]

Illini nation can think however they want of themselves but they are currently nothing but an average program within the Big Ten.

If it were not for their win over us last season they would have not made the NCAA tourney. They did nothing within their conference but beat inferior teams and played mostly poor non conference opponents.

Illinois did not capitalize on their final four appearance and are now living off the conception that the Big Ten is a superior conference, they are top heavy and extremely average to poor when you get past Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Indiana

Just to recap... what was our record against the top 3 teams in the MVC last year? 1-6? The same argument you're using to attack the Illini could be made against us. And I love the MVC, we're a great conference, but if you're insinuating the Big Ten is not a better conference than the MVC, your nuts.

I swear, looking at the posts on this board you'd think I was an Illini apologist, but I'm really just using logic and being realistic.

[MacabreMob]

How would we feel if Maniscalco dropped us but kept Eastern on his list....

I think what you need to compare is the surprise Bradley fans had over the JUCO that chose Deleware St over Bradley (what was his name, Roy Bright?).

So how badly did we rip on Deleware St. I think some may have said positive things about how he wanted to go to Deleware St for TONS of playing time, shining as the #1 guy and (hopefully) getting an easier shot at the NCAA by carrying the team on his back in the MEAC. Which btw, they won the MEAC at 16-2 (4 games better than 2nd place Fl A&M) but then lost 58-56 to Fl A&M in MEAC Trny Championship.

[MacabreMob]

Illini nation can think however they want of themselves but they are currently nothing but an average program within the Big Ten.

If it were not for their win over us last season they would have not made the NCAA tourney. They did nothing within their conference but beat inferior teams and played mostly poor non conference opponents.

Illinois did not capitalize on their final four appearance and are now living off the conception that the Big Ten is a superior conference, they are top heavy and extremely average to poor when you get past Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Indiana

Just to recap... what was our record against the top 3 teams in the MVC last year? 1-6? The same argument you're using to attack the Illini could be made against us. And I love the MVC, we're a great conference, but if you're insinuating the Big Ten is not a better conference than the MVC, your nuts.

I swear, looking at the posts on this board you'd think I was an Illini apologist, but I'm really just using logic and being realistic.

The B10 is a better conference. But the gap has closed and they don't like it. Last year, the RPI went as follows:

1 OSU
4 Wisky
7 SIU
20 Creighton
24 Mich St
28 Indy
29 UIUC
36 Mo St
38 Bradley
42 Purdue
54 Mich
84 UNI
96 Iowa
100 Wich St
131 E'Ville
138 ISU
139 Indy St
177 NW'rn
190 Minny
199 Penn St

[dogsrus]

I understand comparing Illini-Bradley with Bradley-EIU.

But I think Brocks point needs to be revisited here before actually saying it is an equal comparison. He said 'Bradley made the Sweet16 just 16 months ago and played pretty close to UIUC on a neutral court' just this past season.

When has EIU been to the Sweet 16 and played Bradley close in a neutral floor game? They have been a 15 seed twice in their long rich history of college hoops and got beaten badly both times. And the last time Bradley played EIU was in 1972.

So I understand how Bradley fans might think of themselves as gapped to EIU. And I KNOW UIUC fans think of themselves as gapped to Bradley. But UIUC fans perception is further from the truth than BU fans may be.

So what might be more relative is to compare Bradley fans perception to non-BCS teams that got to the Sweet 16 in the (let's say) 5 years.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a 12 seed
UAB as a 9 seed
Kent as a 10 seed (and got to Elite 8 )

I doubt ANY Bradley fan thinks BU is gapped ahead of those schools.

Or how about any school Bradley lost to or played close with in the past (lets say) 5 seasons.

2007
W vs Winona St*
W vs SIU-Edwardsville*
L @ Tn Tech
I recall respect for all those programs and I added Winona and SIU-E as evidence of how BU fans respect even Non-DI teams.

2006
W vs Chi St
Recall a first half deficit and close half time score - they had lightning fast guards... but did we disrespect them?

2005
W vs SEMO
Mutual respect

2004
W vs La-Monroe in OT
L vs Lubbock Christian
Not too sure about La-Monroe, but I recall some disgust over losing to Lubbock but not a disrespect toward them, more inner disrespect... but then followed that game with a win over Miami-Fl

2003
L @ IUPUI
W vs Alcorn St
W vs Chi St
The loss at IUPUI might have been an inner-disrespect but they went on to win the auto birth from their conference and I recall feeling proud of them; the pounding of Chi St and Alcorn St never seemed like we disrespected them, we just let 'em have it.

2002
L vs Tex-Arlington
L vs Weber St
L vs Sam Houston
Not sure what everyone thought, I wasn't around on Message Boards then, but I personally felt more embarrassed that we couldn't win those games... but never disrespect toward those programs. We had a team that didn't perform very well back then.

So in conclusion, I think the Bradley-EIU vs the UIUC-Bradley comparison doesn't quite fit.

Its a PERFECT comparison. Illinois fans think they are a "better" progam than BU....BU fans think they are a "better" program than EIU. The AMOUNT of the "gap" really is a non-issue as its entirely subjective. Its the perception of the individual fans that helps them reach their opinion/conclusion. You really can't quanify someones perception as its based on a multitude of factors/reasons.

That belief is what caused SOME Illini fans to be shocked Iman dropped them and still list BU.

Its the same belief some BU fans might feel if a recruit snubbed us for a program like EIU.

If Iman dropped us and kept EIU I would probably say..."I can't believe he dropped us but still has EIU listed". While I wouldn't mean it as a shot at EIU I can see how some would reach that conclusion.

I certainly wouldn't say I can't believe Iman dropped us but still lists "ef-en" EIU like one fan did about BU.

[real fan]

I think we need to worry more about Bradley and quit thinking about what Illinois or other schools say about us; recruits are choosing B.U. because of our recent success and the style of basketball that we play; if a player does not come to play here then it is his loss as you only have to ask the ones that have about how much support they get .

[dogsrus]

I think we need to worry more about Bradley and quit thinking about what Illinois or other schools say about us; recruits are choosing B.U. because of our recent success and the style of basketball that we play; if a player does not come to play here then it is his loss as you only have to ask the ones that have about how much support they get .

No doubt BU is a special place. Once a BRAVE always a BRAVE.

[bert notorius]

Bradley basketball is enjoying a period of renaissance due in most part to Jim Les. It is an easy time for bradleyfans.com to be optimistic. I understand and appreciate the effort being put forth on this site to promote the program in a positive light. Bravo! It has not always been so.

JL shares a dubious fan base beginning with his Illinois counterpart. Illini basketball is 2 years removed from an unbeaten season -1 and a national championship appearance, and, no matter who was on the bus, Bruce was driving. As special as that was, it is rare in any program and difficult to maintain and even more difficult for knucklehead fans to accept.

[MacabreMob]

Its a PERFECT comparison. Illinois fans think they are a "better" progam than BU....BU fans think they are a "better" program than EIU. The AMOUNT of the "gap" really is a non-issue as its entirely subjective. Its the perception of the individual fans that helps them reach their opinion/conclusion. You really can't quanify someones perception as its based on a multitude of factors/reasons.

DRU - I understand what you are saying.

I was trying to illustrate that perception is not reality.... yet maybe a close relationship may exist if based on (more) facts and info.

Illini perception (toward Bradley) has less facts/info supporting their claim in this scenario than the Bradley perception (toward EIU).

[patrick_o'brian]

How would we feel if Maniscalco dropped us but kept Eastern on his list....

What is that supposed to mean? Is that the comparison that you are going with? Where is Larry Eustacy when you need him!

I think its rather plain and simple but I'll spell it out. Illinois thinks of themselves as a "better" program and more "appealing" than BU. I would suggest most BU fans would feel the same about BU compared to a place like Eastern and I probably could have used numerous other examples like Western, Northern, Quinnipac, Maryland Eastern Shore......

SOOOOO...if Maniscalco dropped us for a program WE felt we were more appealing than I'm sure some would feel similar to what some Illinois fans feel.

As for Larry Eustachy...I have NO idea what he has to do with anything.

Hope that clears up any confusion and thanks for the kind response.

Larry Eustachy has significance because he should have knocked some sense into you last year. You should have known what kind of response you were going to get from that comment. It's all fun and games though Dogs. GO CUBS!

[dogsrus]

How would we feel if Maniscalco dropped us but kept Eastern on his list....

What is that supposed to mean? Is that the comparison that you are going with? Where is Larry Eustacy when you need him!

I think its rather plain and simple but I'll spell it out. Illinois thinks of themselves as a "better" program and more "appealing" than BU. I would suggest most BU fans would feel the same about BU compared to a place like Eastern and I probably could have used numerous other examples like Western, Northern, Quinnipac, Maryland Eastern Shore......

SOOOOO...if Maniscalco dropped us for a program WE felt we were more appealing than I'm sure some would feel similar to what some Illinois fans feel.

As for Larry Eustachy...I have NO idea what he has to do with anything.

Hope that clears up any confusion and thanks for the kind response.

Larry Eustachy has significance because he should have knocked some sense into you last year. You should have known what kind of response you were going to get from that comment. It's all fun and games though Dogs. GO CUBS!

If I knew what posters responses were going to be I wouldn't really have a need to respond or post anything at all.

You Eustsachy comment is outta line. I suggest you shelve that one for good.