Did not want the season to end - left with some incredible memories

[Go_Braves]

As so many of my Bradley Alums and Bradley Fans - we all watched in "awe" as this Bradley team gave Nationally Ranked # 6 Michigan State all that it could handle. The Braves played like a extremely well tuned basketball machine. They played as close to what Coach Wardle and his assistants were aiming for all season "perfection". So many friends were texting me during the game that they were in "awe" of what they were witnessing on the court during the Michigan State game. When the final horn sounded I didn't want the Braves season end. I wanted to witness that perfection again in another game. Thank you Bradley Basketball team in bringing the real magic of Bradley Basketball back into the light. You left an old Alum and Fan and so many many others some incredible memories for the rest of your and our lives.

[Go_Braves]

i always hate the day the season ends. This year more than most. They were fun to watch-especially in St Louis and yesterday. Will really miss the seniors who were with us from the depths of despair. DLO, Luuk, Pete and Antoine (if he leaves). Feel like we were just getting to know Lundy. We will miss them all.

Exactly houstonbrave - I had similar thoughts and shared them earlier in this post.

[LittleBrave]

VERY nice post Go Braves!

Let's hope that the magic carries over to next season, and that our new additions add onto a very strong core in Childs, Brown, Kennel, and Henry.
Those 4 should get post-season awards next season.
We need others to step up their game...we don't have much depth among our returning players.

[Go_Braves]

VERY nice post Go Braves!

Let's hope that the magic carries over to next season, and that our new additions add onto a very strong core in Childs, Brown, Kennel, and Henry.
Those 4 should get post-season awards next season.
We need others to step up their game...we don't have much depth among our returning players.

Let's hope that the magic carries over to next season..... A-men ! LittleBrave

[tornado]

The ValleyHoopsInsider guy thinks Bradley is here to stay

http://www.valleyhoopsinsider.com/why-bradley-is-here-to-stay/

[Tommy]

What an outstanding article. Thank you for sharing, Tornado!

Best part of the article is the end:

Wardle is not as ‘warm and inviting’ as many of the Valley coaches. His straight-forward, all-business approach reminds some Valley watchers of Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall. His head-on responses to marginally intelligent questions are often uneasy and uncomfortable for media rooms.

I find no fault with him on this front. The recent flare-up between Bradley and legendary reporter Dave Reynolds only points out that Wardle is tenacious and highly protective of his team. Ultimately the coach and the University did the right things to repair the damage they created. They made a mistake and rapidly made the necessary changes.

I only make these points to say, that sometimes a coach’s ‘salty’ personality helps a team prevail during difficult times and in hostile basketball environments. Perhaps Wardle’s ‘matter-of-fact’ approach gives his team an edge that some coaches don’t provide.

His recent interview with me couldn’t have been more cordial. (‘Welcome Back Bradley‘)

Talent, toughness, solid foundations and a salty demeanor all point to reasons why Bradley is here to stay."

[tornado]

sadly nobody (but us) will fairly report what happened and the pattern of negative coverage and slighting from the PJS
that had occurred for years - which led up to this entire situation -

[Bradley3342]

Thanks for sharing Tornado. Great article. Can’t wait for next year!

[tornado]

Dave Reynolds & Kirk Wessler and their shills constantly remind us it is not the PJS job to help Bradley's brand...

Hmmm..that sure is an interesting take - because all we have ever said is that from 1980 thru now all they have ever
done is highlight and dwell on the negative - even falsely reporting things to put Bradley in a bad light...

EXCEPT for an odd stretch from 2010 or so thru 2015, when anything and everything about Glasser, Cross and Geno was spun
so positively and anything bad during that era was explained away as Jim les' fault - that it was obvious
that the PJS people WERE pushing Bradley's brand and were their cheerleaders and PR guys.
THEY WERE exactly what they claimed they would NOT BE!
Meanwhile they missed, hid or lied about the tremendous mismanagement of finances that put Bradley $20+ million into the hole,
they lied about the crooked political aspect of Glasser that caused people like Hersey Hawkins, Puterbaugh, Turner, and many others to
yank their multimillion dollar gifts and pledges and quit the Board of Trustees and they ignored that Glasser had almost
singlehandedly send Bradley into the dark ages, huge debt, declining enrollment, horrible athletic performance at every level,
then Cross wanting to drop down to DII & move to the girl's gym.

[Go_Braves]

sadly nobody (but us) will fairly report what happened and the pattern of negative coverage and slighting from the PJS
that had occurred for years - which led up to this entire situation -

I agree tornado - might as well display the PJS in the same area along the grocery checkout lines where the National Enquire is also displayed as well as all the other fake tabloids.

[Stryker]

Dave Reynolds & Kirk Wessler and their shills constantly remind us it is not the PJS job to help Bradley's brand...

Hmmm..that sure is an interesting take - because all we have ever said is that from 1980 thru now all they have ever
done is highlight and dwell on the negative - even falsely reporting things to put Bradley in a bad light...

EXCEPT for an odd stretch from 2010 or so thru 2015, when anything and everything about Glasser, Cross and Geno was spun
so positively and anything bad during that era was explained away as Jim les' fault - that it was obvious
that the PJS people WERE pushing Bradley's brand and were their cheerleaders and PR guys.
THEY WERE exactly what they claimed they would NOT BE!
Meanwhile they missed, hid or lied about the tremendous mismanagement of finances that put Bradley $20+ million into the hole,
they lied about the crooked political aspect of Glasser that caused people like Hersey Hawkins, Puterbaugh, Turner, and many others to
yank their multimillion dollar gifts and pledges and quit the Board of Trustees and they ignored that Glasser had almost
singlehandedly send Bradley into the dark ages, huge debt, declining enrollment, horrible athletic performance at every level,
then Cross wanting to drop down to DII & move to the girl's gym.

I agree completely. The fact some fans and Cross were talking about ditching Carver and going DII eventually is mind boggling now. Just shows you how insane that period was. 4 years later and BU is back in the NCAA tournament, back where most of us knew this program could be.

I think its it’s funny that writer called Reynolds a “legendary” reporter. What? Since when was Dave more than a local sports writer? I didn’t have anything against Dave before the past months activities as most of my disdain was held for Wessler. But the past month has shown that the PJS behaves the same way as CNN and other “fake news” media.

I have to say after the 0-5 conference start this year about completely gave up on the “Arrival”. But the run in St Louis changed everything. This team was probably 5-6 games better than their record which was frustrating, but it paid off in the end. Some great memories made and hope for the future is high.

[Tommy]

Is that true about Cross wanting to bump down to DII? I hadn’t heard that before. Why would anyone want to do that?

[tornado]

I have reason to believe he was considering it - I was told by a source that I trust that Cross had a meeting with administration at Illinois Wesleyan as to how they stayed afloat with such lowered revenue...

but even if you want to disbelieve that - then go read his blog (which he no longer appears to use) - http://www.ultimatesportsinsider.com/
and go read a few of the things he & his department said when we were moving games to the Renaissance Coliseum - and I think'it is apparent his full intent was to downsize tremendously and head to DII or DIII because he truly believed himself and his actions showed it - that he was losing way too much money trying to keep up in Division I and that DII or DII was the only way to go. remember - in that last couple years here - he & his department were losing -- repeat LOSING over $7 million per year and it was getting worse...

https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/sports-forums/basketball-fan-talk/24945-bradley-to-move-games-to-renaissance-coliseum

https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/sports-forums/basketball-fan-talk/483853-ken-kavanaugh-all-class?p=483993#post483993