Early Wish List for 2022-23 Season

[LittleBrave]

Just want to know everyone's thoughts about where we need to improve with the CURRENT group of Braves.
Of course, getting a couple additions is big, but we have a LOT to work with already.

Here's mine:

1) Sustain mental toughness on the road - don't blow the big leads
2) Work on inside-out game (Mast is a bull in the paint, but we could get some easy looks from 3 once in a while)
3) Get Zeke more playing time - this kid has so much potential and could be our "Z-factor".
4) Work on outside shooting...BU was 6th in MVC in 3-pt FG %, which is a reflection of the place we finished. Our best team the past 10 was in 2020 (DB Jr and Kennel's SR years) - we were 2nd in 3-pt FG % and were 1 bucket away from finishing in 2nd place.
Guys who need most improvement: Kent (26%), Mast (28%), Ville (36%), and Leons (38%)
5) FREE THROWS!!!

TOP 5:
Mast, Henry, Roberts, Hickman, Leons

Key Bench
Ville, Kent, Zeke

Unknows:
Hannah, Linke, Ekono

[Tommy]

I'd agree that our #1 priority has to be shooting. The games we lost were almost all games where we couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

As far as recruits go, I think with JaShon staying (YAY!), we only have 1 available slot. Maybe Coach can confirm as I'm not sure on the rules, but I think I remember reading something in another thread. Definitely could use a point guard to back fill Mikey's spot on the team, but I think a bigger need is a big man to back up Mast. Be nice to get another 7 footer, but they usually have quite a few options available unless they're just terrible. I think losing Ari is going to be a bigger loss than most people think. He really played some great defense in the 2nd half of the season and his offense wasn't terrible, either.

[Cousins Cuts podcast]

I'd agree that our #1 priority has to be shooting. The games we lost were almost all games where we couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

As far as recruits go, I think with JaShon staying (YAY!), we only have 1 available slot. Maybe Coach can confirm as I'm not sure on the rules, but I think I remember reading something in another thread. Definitely could use a point guard to back fill Mikey's spot on the team, but I think a bigger need is a big man to back up Mast. Be nice to get another 7 footer, but they usually have quite a few options available unless they're just terrible. I think losing Ari is going to be a bigger loss than most people think. He really played some great defense in the 2nd half of the season and his offense wasn't terrible, either.

Well if we lose Ari then we have 2 open spots. If not just one for now. I think there'll be more but we'll see

[️ Fanatic]

Bradley recruiting needs

• Big Man: We need to have a back-up for Reink... Coach Wardle rotates & rests players all season, so we need a deep bench
• Point Guard: Someone to replace Mikey... Howell grew as the team went on, his confidence shined to a point where he could provide points off the bench. we need a strong ball handler to limit the turnovers
• Scorer: We will need a versatile scorer who can drive & shoot from the outside (doesn't every team). Would be great to find "the next Tucker DeVries" type of player
• Freshman talent: Connor Hickman is a tremendous talent with toughness on the team... It will be important to continually have talented youth in the program, Wardle proved he is not afraid to give young talent an opportunity.
• Bench Depth: A deep team where everyone works together to achieve the same goal. Every team encounters injuries (we were able to overcome the loss of "our most experienced player" in Ja'Shon... never know what the future holds & when the "next man up" scenario presents itself... Everyone has to be prepared up & down the bench... Zek Montgomery was a huge surprise that "earned his minutes" through hard work during the practices

Let's hope Bradley can build off a fantastic "transition" season. GO BRAVES!!

[BUfan14]

I've mentioned my three "wish list" players before as a shooter, a ball handling PG, and a big (though this is less of a priority to me with Jashon back).

Ekono is the biggest unknown on the current roster, but having said that I'd love it to shake out something like baring a break out from Max:

1 - Roberts (20)/PG Recruit (20)
2 - Hickman (25)/Roberts (8 )/Wing Recruit (7)
3 - Wing Recruit (15)/Zek (15)/Kent (10)
4 - Henry (25)/Leons (15)
5 - Mast (27)/Leons (13)

You can play Jashon/Leons/Mast together at the end if they are all playing well that night, but I think Jashon needs to play the 4 as often as possible to maximize his skill set.

In terms of recruits the point guard is important to be able to play Roberts off the ball at times, and handle the ball when he gets sloppy. The biggest starting spot open seems to be the 3, so I'd love to get a guy that can shoot and score from three. Kent seemed to go back down hill at the end, but I still think he has potential. A traditional post would be nice, but I think Jashon makes that the lowest of the three needs right now.

[️ Fanatic]

Hey BUfan14 - I like your rotation & agree with focus... I think Leons is more of a 3/wing (he is too passive to play inside)... Probably can replace Kent's spot... yet I think we need a back-up for Mast & like you said primarily leave Henry in the 4

[bradleyfan124]

Hey BUfan14 - I like your rotation & agree with focus... I think Leons is more of a 3/wing (he is too passive to play inside)... Probably can replace Kent's spot... yet I think we need a back-up for Mast & like you said primarily leave Henry in the 4

What a frontline!! Mast, Henry, Leons. I am salivating. I agree add another big man to that rotation unless Hannah can improve over the summer

[Cousins Cuts podcast]

What a frontline!! Mast, Henry, Leons. I am salivating. I agree add another big man to that rotation unless Hannah can improve over the summer

Hannah's defence is fine. It's just he has the worst hands I've ever seen this side of Russell Westbrook. He's a gluten for turnovers. He seems to do fine in very minimal situations but I definitely think we need somebody else to back up mast no matter if he leaves or not

[BUfan14]

Hey BUfan14 - I like your rotation & agree with focus... I think Leons is more of a 3/wing (he is too passive to play inside)... Probably can replace Kent's spot... yet I think we need a back-up for Mast & like you said primarily leave Henry in the 4

It’s an interesting thought. I’ve seen the suggestion that Leons play the 3 more, and he is certainly a good passer and ball handler for his size/position. Several times when taking the ball down the court himself he got stripped (along with a few highlights), so I’m not sure I believe in his ability to play the 3 as a ball handler in crucial spots, and actually wish he would post up more than he does. They seemed to have him hanging around in the corner a lot. The problem is Mast, Leons, Henry all play best from the post and occasionally popping out for the open three or getting one coming off setting a pick. I just don’t know if having all three out there a ton at the same time is the best offensive setup in valley play. Like I said I’m fine with it in small spurts if they’re all on that night, and think Jashon can guard most positions defensively, but think we need to recruit our primary three still.

Having said that, trying to fit those three in to get enough minutes is a good problem to have, and better known depth than we’ve had in a while. I just hope we don’t try to jam a square peg in a round hole, which seemed to be the case a little early in the year to me.

[ihatetea]

BUfan14 you’re right. Part of our initial struggles was having those three on the court together for large minutes. We started to click just before Jashon got hurt because we started playing two at a time. It’s just really hard to get spacing when your sf is taking .4 3pt attempts per game and making 25%. He wasn’t a great ball handler/passer for a perimeter guy. But he’s very good as pf and defensively can go up against almost anyone. I know Leons led the team at 38% from three so he should open space, except if you take his 5-7 against Maine out he drops to 35.5% which is about average. Mast has a two year average of 32% on 3 attempts a game. They’re both guys you want to shoot to keep defenses honest. But it’s hard to group them with a bad shooter. I love all three players but we’re best served keeping 2 of the 3 on the floor at a time, except certain defensive situations. I really hope Kent or Montgomery make significant strides this off-season to secure the starting sf position but guard play and shooting will obviously be our main needs.