4 braves suspended- update (2/18)- Ja'Shon Henry reinstated

[LittleBrave]

Are you serious???
Oh my gosh - I thought we were behind this and ready to stick it to ISU-red tomorrow!!!
Very sad.

[LittleBrave]

I had hoped I was done posting on this subject, but it is clear now something very serious is wrong with this program, and the fans and donors are being treated like dopes. This was said to be a suspension for "this weekend's series against Missouri State".
Now we are told the suspensions are still in place and apparently could be indefinite.
There is some serious damage being done to this program and to Bradley's "brand".
We have become a laughingstock among the other teams in the conference, and have gone from being picked 3rd in the conference, to headed toward last place. And yet I am sure fans will be getting their yearly letter in a couple months asking for more donations.
I have already heard from several long-time fans and big-money donors who tell me they are fed up with this situation, and fed up with being treated like fools, and they are done with their blind loyalties to Bradley. This latest development is likely to drive more fans to that point. And who could blame them. Is that what Bradley wants?

It is absurd DC.
I think about where we were 2 months ago at 9-4 and looking like contenders. Whether it's Coach Wardle's fault or the players, this is unacceptable to be in this situation as a bottom feeder in the conference and ALL 5 or our upperclassmen OFF the court, leaving a depleted bunch of guys with very little experience playing together to have little chance at success.

[LittleBrave]

This sounds to me (without divulging even a smidge of info to fans) like a serious riff between the coach and the top players.
It makes us lose confidence in Coach Wardle - not just a little, but a LOT.

You are not going to get too many guys with such great work ethic, attitude, and leadership than the ones that have been suspended. Ja'Shon Henry is my favorite Brave in the past 2 decades, and more for his character/mentality than his play. It doesn't add up right now.

Right now, I'm feeling bad for the players and without anything else to go on, blame Coach Wardle for this mess.
If something is going on with the way Coach is treating the student-athletes, I pray that one of the guys is bold and speaks up.

I seriously hope I eat my words in a few days from now.

[Chris]

This sounds to me (without divulging even a smidge of info to fans) like a serious riff between the coach and the top players.
It makes us lose confidence in Coach Wardle - not just a little, but a LOT.

They really need to say what this is because speculation like that is not a good look for Bradley or Coach Wardle given what allegedly occurred during his time at Green Bay, which Bradley was aware of when he was hired: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...bross/2123569/

What could they have possibly done to keep it this mysterious? If they committed some serious crime, I would expect we'd know about it by now. I cannot think of what else would result in such a harsh, potentially season-killing punishment. If this was just some COVID protocol stuff, that's not worth a multi-game suspension. If this was really some motivational tool to try to get everyone back on track for the tournament, it has certainly gone off the rails if it dooms us to a Thursday game.

At the end of the day, there are only three possibilities for keeping it covered up: they did it to protect the players, to protect the program, or to protect the coach. I doubt it's to protect the program, since we've had no problem kicking players out of school before.

[egib52]

Well this isn't good:

Wyatt Wheeler

@WyattWheeler_NL
The four Bradley men's basketball players who were suspended appeared in a Springfield Police report obtained by the News-Leader. Report classifies it as a "sex offense" that was not rape. No one arrested or charged. Investigation is active.

https://t.co/lconv92wrt?amp=1

[bigjimmy]

We can’t jump to any conclusions. It would explain why nothing was said because police are involved.

[egib52]

We can’t jump to any conclusions. It would explain why nothing was said because police are involved.

I agree, it does explain why there hasn't been more information released by the University.

[Chris]

Is that the team hotel or not? Either way, I'm confused. If it's not, how are they AWOL at 2:00AM the night before a game. If it is, how did this happen in the first place?

[LittleBrave]

Well this isn't good:

Wyatt Wheeler

@WyattWheeler_NL
The four Bradley men's basketball players who were suspended appeared in a Springfield Police report obtained by the News-Leader. Report classifies it as a "sex offense" that was not rape. No one arrested or charged. Investigation is active.

https://t.co/lconv92wrt?amp=1

I'm not sure how I feel now. Most of me feels good that Wardle did the right thing, but I never would have suspected those 4 guys to be involved in something like that at this point in the season, and being leaders of a team that won b2b MVC championships - the NIGHT BEFORE a big 2-game series that we needed to get at least 1 win.

If this turns out worst case, I really don't know how I can whole-heartedly support BU with these 4 guys on the court together the rest of the year.
I'd almost rather have the guys who played their hearts out in Missouri to finish the season with best case scenario to win 1 game on Thursday.
Then time to move on.

Geez!

[LittleBrave]

Is that the team hotel or not? Either way, I'm confused. If it's not, how are they AWOL at 2:00AM the night before a game. If it is, how did this happen in the first place?

At least we have something to go on now - whether it's 100% valid or not. Not something you'd be worried about in this time of Covid either. Let's hope this gets resolved quickly.

[Dub]

I'll reserve judgment until we have the details.
This could literally range anywhere from zero to horrible.
I'm not going to speculate any further, and there's no point to.

[Bradley3342]

I'll reserve judgment until we have the details.
This could literally range anywhere from zero to horrible.
I'm not going to speculate any further, and there's no point to.

Well said Dub..

[Bruce]

Has the University released the reason for the suspension of these players???:

[KillerB]

Very disappointing news. It does explain why no information was released and why the players may not play tomorrow.
I have to wonder how this happens when you are supposed to be in a bubble.
I thought someone from the university was supposed to be on watch at all times.. including the middle of the night.

[KillerB]

Coach Wardle's statement:
On Wednesday afternoon, Bradley head coach Brian Wardle gave the following statement during a press conference:

“We are aware that four of our men’s basketball players were named in a Springfield, Missouri police report. An investigation is underway to determine if a crime or violation of student code of conduct occurred. The players in question are suspended from basketball related activities, pending the investigation and we are continuing to gather information. Our program has always set high standards, and violations of any type are not tolerated. We have and will continue to hold ourselves and our players to those standards.”