Final: Missouri State 71 Bradley 69

[bigjimmy]

Beyond frustrated with the end result. So many things to address. This team can be maddingly inconsistent. We played 22 minutes of crappy basketball and 18 minutes of extraordinary basketball and somehow we were in position to win. Not sure if he was ill but something was off with Terry. He only took 4 shots and had 5 turnovers in the first half but did have 8 rebounds and 5 assists, most of those in the 2nd half. Malevy Leons is special. 16 points and 8 rebounds and a couple of NBA moves and finishes really show the kind of talent he has. Leons better at least be on the 1st team All Newcomer team. Jason Kent led BU with 18 and had 7 rebounds and played a career high 33 minutes and was one of the reasons we came back. Unfortunately he was 4-8 from the FT line though he did make 2 with :24 to put us up 69-68. As far as the game I thought the refs absolutely SUCKED. I don't know how many times they allowed MIssouri State to extend their arm while driving to the hoop. Credit to the Bears for getting away with it for most of the game. We finally got the lead at 65-63 with 3:02 left and after a block by Rienk and a steal by Jason the ball got to Ville for the most wide open 3 he's ever had but it was like he was too open and he didn't shoot it in rhythm. They tied it up with 1:53 left and Kent got fouled. He missed both FT's but Leons got the rebound , Mast missed a 3 but Terry got the rebound and fed it to Kent who made the layup with 1:11 left to go up 67-65. The next possession led to a 3 for the Bears to put them up 66-67 with :48 left but they never should have been allowed to shoot it because the refs missed 3 blantant turnovers, (a carry and 2 seperate travels). We all know what happened after that. The good thing is that it's still early in the season so we have time to put it all together. Onward!

[Big Mike]

Glad to see Kent gaining more confidence, getting another score on the floor is huge. LEONS needs more touches IMO.....good things happen when he has the ball plus he is solid at the FT line.

[Lights down]

I’m curious, how often does Bradley practice on the Civic Center floor? Additionally I haven’t seen so much slipping on the floors as I did in the first half last night.

[Da Coach]

I’m curious, how often does Bradley practice on the Civic Center floor? Additionally I haven’t seen so much slipping on the floors as I did in the first half last night.

The great majority of practices are in the men's practice facility at the Renaissance Coliseum, but they try to arrange occasional practices at the Civic Center. I don't know exactly how often. Under a previous coach, they tried to practice downtown once before each game, but I think now they do it less often.

[Classof77]

That one drive Leons made down the lane to the basket was spectacular. The downside to being at a game is you generally only get to see a play once. Be nice to watch that a couple more times.

[braves16]

How many people were at the game? It didn't look good on tv.

[BUfan17]

I’m curious, how often does Bradley practice on the Civic Center floor? Additionally I haven’t seen so much slipping on the floors as I did in the first half last night.

I noticed this too. IMO we need to stop have kids wiping up the floors. I get it is fun to give kids something to do and get them involved, but that is a really important job.

We already are missing Henry because of a concussion, I would hate to have someone else get hurt solely because the floor wasn't wiped up properly.

I'll do it for free, and I'll make sure that floor is spotless.

[BUfan17]

How many people were at the game? It didn't look good on tv.

Not many, I would say maybe 1500-2000. It probably didn't help that the game was at 8pm on a weeknight, about 10 degrees out, and covid cases higher than ever.

Lots of reasons for people to stay home.

[Tommy]

Oh, I really don't like to watch the other team celebrate on our floor. Heartbreaking loss after such a stellar comeback.

Assessment:
Terry Roberts: I wonder if something is going on in his personal life because he looked disengaged for most of the game, though his 2nd half was much better. Finished the game with 5 TO's and pretty sure they were all unforced in the 1st half.
Jayson Kent: solidifies himself as either a starter or our 6th man after this game imo.
Malevey Leons: Most consistent player on the team. Consummate pro and wish he'd be more selfish.
Ville: Glad to see him finally hitting on multiple 3's, and we went right back to him after his first one and he didn't let us down. Streaky shooter and we have to take advantage of it when he starts making them.

That first half was just abysmal, but it was nice to see us come back. Losing on a buzzer beater after a rebound that was totally hacked away from us is disheartening, but it's hard to blame the refs in this game as it was one of the few where we got the calls 17-10. The refs really let us play (which I prefer, and I think favors the Braves in most cases), and I think that was the difference in the 2nd half. We came out more physical and I assume it was after BW figured out that the refs weren't calling much.

Good takeaway is that we showed a lot of heart in coming back.

In closing, getting JaShon back will definitely boost our confidence and performance as we certainly miss his toughness right now.

Don't lose heart Brave's fans. We're just playing for our seed in the MVC tournament right now.

[Dub]

Leons had two hands on that rebound and came down with it before being fouled by Prim, knocking the ball loose for the final shot. Refs decided to swallow the whistle, and that's sports I guess. That close to completing a historic and spectacular comeback.

Bradley needs to get JaShon back, transition into "who-gives-a-flip beast mode" and go take it back to these guys in Springfield. That's the only play.

[molar50]

Not many, I would say maybe 1500-2000. It probably didn't help that the game was at 8pm on a weeknight, about 10 degrees out, and covid cases higher than ever.

Lots of reasons for people to stay home.

I would like to know some opinions on whether the games should be played now at the campus at the Renaissance Center. There are less than 3,000 people attending the games and there are lots of empty seats in the lower bowl. Many are empty seats of season's ticket holders. I believe until there is a demand for tickets, it would be in Bradley's interests to leave the Civic Center. They could get all the revenue of ticket sales, concessions, parking. It would be a louder crowd and better experience for the crowd. t just do not see a need for Bradley to play games at the Civic Center and until there is a strong demand for tickets, it would be better to play on campus. I realize that there are parking and traffic issues, but we can't even get 4,000 fans to attend, move out of the Civic Center.

[bigjimmy]

4,200 is the capacity so I think you could do the non conference games, which has drawn less, there and the conference games, which has drawn more, at the Civic Center.

[Tommy]

I would like to know some opinions on whether the games should be played now at the campus at the Renaissance Center. There are less than 3,000 people attending the games and there are lots of empty seats in the lower bowl. Many are empty seats of season's ticket holders. I believe until there is a demand for tickets, it would be in Bradley's interests to leave the Civic Center. They could get all the revenue of ticket sales, concessions, parking. It would be a louder crowd and better experience for the crowd. t just do not see a need for Bradley to play games at the Civic Center and until there is a strong demand for tickets, it would be better to play on campus. I realize that there are parking and traffic issues, but we can't even get 4,000 fans to attend, move out of the Civic Center.

That's a good question. If you had asked me 2 years ago, I would have said 'no thanks', but now, it doesn't seem like a terrible idea. And as far as the parking goes, the parking garage right next to the Renaissance Center is pretty convenient, though it can take a while to get out if you're stuck at the top. Might help us offensively to play on the court we practice on most frequently. Downside that doesn't affect me, but does affect many - no booze.

[LittleBrave]

Don't lose heart Brave's fans. We're just playing for our seed in the MVC tournament right now.

Which is sad just 3 games into the conf. and already not having much hope to contend for the title.
One of these yrs I'd just like to see us in contention at the midway point in the conf. season.

I know we've had our high moments lately, but still very frustrating year after year to just play to stay out of Thursday play-in games.

[Tommy]

Which is sad just 3 games into the conf. and already not having much hope to contend for the title.
One of these yrs I'd just like to see us in contention at the midway point in the conf. season.

I know we've had our high moments lately, but still very frustrating year after year to just play to stay out of Thursday play-in games.

Very true, LB. I'd like to win the conference at some point, too. Heck, I'd like to see us win 30 games and maybe someday we will. I give a little bit of a pass to the crew this year because that COVID season really screwed us up and the debacle in Missouri that caused a mini-exodus didn't help. Considering the rebuilding that needed to be done, I think we've looked pretty good. Very interested to see how well we're playing at the end of the year. If history holds true, BW will have them ready for the tourney.