The Basketball Tournament- Always a Brave in Illinois Region

[Da Coach]

Always a Brave General Manager Bobby Parker addresses why Luuk van Bree, Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye, and Walt Lemon did not end up on the final roster.

https://twitter.com/BPtheBrave/status/1407898875814453252

We need the US to approve travel into the US for DLO and Luuk. Walt is a longer story, but no ill feelings, just a matter of bad timing.

The 2021 Always a Brave team...

https://thetournament.com/teams/always-a-brave-bradley-alumni/

[Tommy]

I sure hope DLO and Luuk can work things out. I'd love to see our team match up against Lemon with DLO guarding him.

[LittleBrave]

Disappointing for sure that Walt won't be there but this team is plenty talented. Walt didn't play with anybody else on this roster except Barnes and was not a fan of sharing the ball (to be fair, he didn't have many assist options during his tenure here).

Good assessment of Walt. He was pretty much best option to score for us during some dismal seasons under Geno.
I liked Walt's intensity, but not a big fan of his game...not best decision-maker and often wreckless.
DB Jr. the much better all-around baller, though not as athletic as Walt. Both guys were quiet leaders and never took a break on the court.
Not many have matched Walt's athleticism - maybe Chris Roberts and that promising freshman who was dismissed a couple seasons ago.

[Mikovio]

Not many have matched Walt's athleticism - maybe Chris Roberts and that promising freshman who was dismissed a couple seasons ago.

JoJo McGlaston

[houstonbrave]

Maybe he was referring to Stephan Gabriel.

[Tommy]

Maybe he was referring to Stephan Gabriel.

That would be my guess!

[Mikovio]

Ah yea he was up there too. JoJo was farther back than I thought.

Always a Brave just added another 7 footer in Ryan Richards. He won the 2016 TBT on Overseas Elite. Was drafted 49th overall by the Spurs in 2010 but never played in the NBA and has had an 11 year overseas career.

https://twitter.com/OnceABrave/status/1409924386006646790?s=20

[Da Coach]

Here is a bio for Ryan Richards. He also played in the 2018 TBT

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Richards

I like this addition to the Always a Brave team. Ryan Richards is 30 years old and is still playing professionally. He should be in good shape and will help the team.
They needed another big man, since Patrick O'Bryant is now 35 years old, and has been retired from playing professionally for several years. Even a couple years ago when he last played for Always a Brave, his conditioning did not appear to be the best. The only other true inside big man, Max Bielfeldt, is a bit younger (28 years old), but he has not been playing competitively for several years since finishing his college career at Indiana in 2016.

[LittleBrave]

That would be my guess!

Yes!! It was indeed Gabriel...but JoJo could really get up too! I was more sad to hear about JoJo leaving than Stephon. I liked JoJo, but guess I didn't know him well enough.

[PhiAlphaBoy]

Yes!! It was indeed Gabriel...but JoJo could really get up too! I was more sad to hear about JoJo leaving than Stephon. I liked JoJo, but guess I didn't know him well enough.

I think the problem was more with JoJo's mom than JoJo. Gabriel on the other hand...

[Big Mike]

Screenshot_20210708-132456_Chrome.jpg

[Da Coach]

Dinma Odiakosa is 35 years old, but is still a productive player for Lille Metropole Basket Red Giants of the French Pro-B League. He averaged 8.9 ppg and 4.5 rpg this past season, and shot 58.2% from the floor, mostly as a starter for Lille.
He's 6'8", 240 lbs, and graduated from ISU in 2010. He always seemed to save his best games for when ISU played Bradley. In the 2 games between Bradley and ISU his senior year, he had games of 25 points & 12 rebounds, and 12 points & 15 rebounds.
https://basketball.eurobasket.com/pl...d-Giants/57906
ISU Bio- https://goredbirds.com/sports/mens-b...-odiakosa/1345

[Da Coach]

Nice story about Jimmy Gavin-

https://twitter.com/OnceABrave/status/1413277143530975233

Direct link to video-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot1vkMHe_aE

[Dub]

Screenshot_20210708-132456_Chrome.jpg

I’m not down with this one. Takes the luster off a bit to be honest.

[Da Coach]

The Always a Brave team starts training camp Wednesday-

https://twitter.com/OnceABrave/status/1414714216699858944

Always a Brave's first game is Saturday, July 24 at 6:00 pm (CDT) in Carver Arena, against Tubby Time-
Bracket- https://bracket.thetournament.com/