Final score: Bradley 63 Southeastern Louisiana 60

[Da Coach]

Today's game could easily have been a loss. So at least we can enjoy the come-from-behind win, instead of sulking about another frustrating loss.
There are some real concerns with this team. Among them: why is the shooting and shot selection so poor recently? And why does the player rotation seem to keep changing when we have a much more experienced roster this season? And for a team that has been one of the better 3-point defensive teams the last couple years, why are even poor shooting teams lighting us up from three?

I am looking forward to the start of the MVC games. I think we still have a good chance to get back on track.

Another area of concern. The attendance today was 5,004. Bradley is averaging 5,019 per game through 7 home games so far. Last season, average attendance was 5,699 per game (15 home games). Bradley needs to average 6,295 per game over their final 8 home games to equal last year's average attendance of 5,699. That is almost 1,300 more per game than what Bradley has been averaging so far this season, and that is not likely. So we are probably looking at a decline in attendance.

Below are the yearly average attendance figures for the past 40+ years. Bradley is still #1 in the MVC, but unless the attendance picks up substantially, we could see the lowest average attendance in 40+ years. And although I cannot find the attendance numbers for earlier years, I believe it has not been this low since Bradley moved from the Armory (which could only seat a little over 4,000) into the Fieldhouse in 1949 (original capacity 8,300, later reduced to 7,800).

Year/rank/Gms..total.....avg....change
2019..........7..35,133..5,019
2018 .......15..85,489..5,699 up 212 (all games at Carver)
2017 #96 15 82,318 5,487 down 466 (all games at Carver)
2016 #91 15 89,299 5,953 up 227 (all games at Carver)
2015 #94 16 91,614 5,726 down 882 (Carver average 5827)
2014 #74 17 112,335 6,608 up 51 (Carver average 6,984)
2013 #79 18 118,024 6,557 down 1,083
2012 #68 16 122,245 7,640 down 807
2011 #56 16 135,148 8,447 down 892
2010 #52 15 140,079 9,339 up 229
2009 #55 18 163,981 9,110 down 490
2008 #52 19 183,392 9,600 down 128
2007 #53 17 165,376 9,728 up 508
2006 #54 14 129,086 9,220 down 117
2005 #51 15 140,065 9,337 up 159
2004 #52 15 137,667 9,178 down 173
2003 #47 14 130,907 9,351 up 279
2002 #47 13 117,935 9,072 down 50
2001 #51 15 136,683 9,112 down 1,066
2000 #41 14 142,495 10,178 up 646
1999 #44 15 142,980 9,532 down 237
1998 #41 13 127,001 9,769 up 144
1997 #41 14 134,755 9,625 down 47
1996 #44 13 125,733 9,672 up 151
1995 #47 14 133,288 9,521 up 707
1994 #46 16 140,700 8,794 up 1,523
1993 #67 13 94,523 7,271 up 278
1992 #78 13 90,904 6,993 down 391
1991 #70 13 95,995 7,384 down 357
1990 #65 13 100,632 7,741 down 1,177
1989 #51 13 115,939 8,918 down 1,098
1988 #36 16 160,263 10,016 up 1,307
1987 #41 14 121,922 8,709 down 199
1986 #37 14 124,712 8,908 up 1,366
1985 #60 15 113,124 7,542 up 350
1984 #62 15 107,881 7,192 down 1,821
1983 #38 16 144,209 9,013 up 1,730
1982 #56 17 123,810 7,283 down 33
1981 #55 14 102,430 7,316 up 63
1980 #59 16 116,050 7,253 up 503
1979 #64 14 94,500 6,750 down 113
1978 #56 16 109,800 6,863

[Go_Braves]

The really nice thing about ESPN+ games - if you miss the game (like me) you can replay it. I did a quick replay and came away with some hope. Realize that Southeastern Louisiana is picked second in the Southland Conference preseason poll. Both Childs and Barr played better with 15 points each and 14 rebounds between them. Boya keeps gaining game experience. I need to get use to Bradley and coach Wardle's speed of the game - game control - ie. slow. 60 points is the lowest number of points Southeastern Louisiana has scored this season. Not because of great defense but because of the pace of the game set by Bradley. So here's to the win - a 11 day break until the Braves face Northern Iowa for both teams Mo Valley opener. Here's a little insight and changing the topic a bit. Indiana State - they are scary. I watched them beat Colorado in Hawaii and Indiana State starts their Valley season "at" Loyola Chicago.... That too will be a interesting first game.. Merry Christmas Braves and Braves Fans ...

[bigjimmy]

1st off a win is a win no matter how you slice it. Was it ugly? Yup. Should we have lost? Probably but we found a way to keep in it as we held them to just 5 points in the last 6 minutes of the game, shutting them out during the last 2 1/2 minutes. I can't remember when the last time we shot 50% from the field at Carver Arena. But thankfully we made them when it counted which was a good thing as we were just 14 of 26 from the FT line in the 2nd half. And this was after we were 12-13 in the first half. At least we only had 9 turnovers and committed just 18 fouls which was a great improvement from the 30 turnover, 31 foul performance in the last game. Hopefully the guys enjoy their Christmas and get ready to gear up for the Valley season. Need to tighten some things up on defense, get some confidence going on offense and we can compete against anyone in the Valley. Can they? Will they? With as consistently inconsistent that we've been so far your guess is as good as mine.

[Vent]

[QUOTE=Da Coach;n480827]Today's game could easily have been a loss. So at least we can enjoy the come-from-behind win, instead of sulking about another frustrating loss.
There are some real concerns with this team. Among them: why is the shooting and shot selection so poor recently? And why does the player rotation seem to keep changing when we have a much more experienced roster this season? And for a team that has been one of the better 3-point defensive teams the last couple years, why are even poor shooting teams lighting us up from three?

I am looking forward to the start of the MVC games. I think we still have a good chance to get back on track.

Another area of concern. The attendance today was 5,004. Bradley is averaging 5,019 per game through 7 home games so far. Last season, average attendance was 5,699 per game (15 home games). Bradley needs to average 6,295 per game over their final 8 home games to equal last year's average attendance of 5,699. That is almost 1,300 more per game than what Bradley has been averaging so far this season, and that is not likely. So we are probably looking at a decline in attendance.

Below are the yearly average attendance figures for the past 40+ years. Bradley is still #1 in the MVC, but unless the attendance picks up substantially, we could see the lowest average attendance in 40+ years. And although I cannot find the attendance numbers for earlier years, I believe it has not been this low since Bradley moved from the Armory (which could only seat a little over 4,000) into the Fieldhouse in 1949 (original capacity 8,300, later reduced to 7,800).

Year/rank/Gms..total.....avg....change
2019..........7..35,133..5,019
2018 .......15..85,489..5,699 up 212 (all games at Carver)
2017 #96 15 82,318 5,487 down 466 (all games at Carver)
2016 #91 15 89,299 5,953 up 227 (all games at Carver)
2015 #94 16 91,614 5,726 down 882 (Carver average 5827)
2014 #74 17 112,335 6,608 up 51 (Carver average 6,984)
2013 #79 18 118,024 6,557 down 1,083
2012 #68 16 122,245 7,640 down 807
2011 #56 16 135,148 8,447 down 892
2010 #52 15 140,079 9,339 up 229
2009 #55 18 163,981 9,110 down 490
2008 #52 19 183,392 9,600 down 128
2007 #53 17 165,376 9,728 up 508
2006 #54 14 129,086 9,220 down 117
2005 #51 15 140,065 9,337 up 159
2004 #52 15 137,667 9,178 down 173
2003 #47 14 130,907 9,351 up 279
2002 #47 13 117,935 9,072 down 50
2001 #51 15 136,683 9,112 down 1,066
2000 #41 14 142,495 10,178 up 646
1999 #44 15 142,980 9,532 down 237
1998 #41 13 127,001 9,769 up 144
1997 #41 14 134,755 9,625 down 47
1996 #44 13 125,733 9,672 up 151
1995 #47 14 133,288 9,521 up 707
1994 #46 16 140,700 8,794 up 1,523
1993 #67 13 94,523 7,271 up 278
1992 #78 13 90,904 6,993 down 391
1991 #70 13 95,995 7,384 down 357
1990 #65 13 100,632 7,741 down 1,177
1989 #51 13 115,939 8,918 down 1,098
1988 #36 16 160,263 10,016 up 1,307
1987 #41 14 121,922 8,709 down 199
1986 #37 14 124,712 8,908 up 1,366
1985 #60 15 113,124 7,542 up 350
1984 #62 15 107,881 7,192 down 1,821
1983 #38 16 144,209 9,013 up 1,730
1982 #56 17 123,810 7,283 down 33
1981 #55 14 102,430 7,316 up 63
1980 #59 16 116,050 7,253 up 503
1979 #64 14 94,500 6,750 down 113
1978 #56 16 109,800 6,863[/QU


You are not going to see attendance improve until the program starts winning convincingly against a weak schedule. That includes the MVC, that is currently ranked around 12 in strength of conferences. I gave up my season tickets a year ago. I don't regret it at all. I, as many others that I know, am not going to pay to watch games against poor programs any more and then pay a maintenance fee on top of that. It doesn't make sense to. I'm much better off, just buying individual game tickets for the ones I want to attend. Those games this year at this point, will be against SIU and ISU. The product has got to get better. It's really simple. We can keep blaming the previous administration, but those days are long gone.

[Vent]

Who knows? I just listened to the post game show, and nobody ever even brought it up. Is it some kind of highly classified secret?
Why isn't there anyone in the media who will ask the question? There was no explanation on radio or newspaper after the Georgia Southern game either.

It is also hard to explain why this team suddenly can't make baskets. Today, they shot 34%, were outrebounded 39-32, and we were only 26-39 on FTs, including a couple missed front end of 1 and 1's.

Dave Snell is an excellent play by play announcer and loves Bradley basketball as we all do. Unfortunately, when you have an announcer that is an employee of Bradley and receives their income from Bradley, it is unrealistic to expect to get tough questions in a post game interview.

[Da Coach]

There were nearly 5 seconds left after Darrell Brown's final go-ahead shot. Fortunately, SE Louisiana did not have any more time outs. If they did, they probably would have gotten off a better shot.

Video of final shot-