Final score: Liberty 55 Bradley 44

[BUBraves2006]

Disagreed heavily with a few comments on the last game - thought we played really hard against a team loaded with athletes and depth. This one not so much - just disappointing overall, but I had a hunch we'd lay an egg with half the the rotation out and guys left got beaten up by Auburn just 24 hours ago.

Feels like a lot of people on here right now are really schizophrenic lately ...

Does anyone think we honestly lose to Liberty if we had even two of our main rotation guys in there? What are you expecting from Coach Wardle? We're never going to have 4 star recruits just hanging out on the bench, so if you decimate the roster, it's going to get ugly fast. You simply can't do what you want with the team we have right now, like, keeping Hannah's minutes down to keep him fresh, possibly benching Ville until he gets his confidence back, etc. I also don't understand the Biliew thing, but that'd be my only critique of the coaching staff.

But, I'm not giving up because most of these guys will be back and I do still like this team when we get things back in order.

[BUfan14]

What are you expecting from Coach Wardle? We're never going to have 4 star recruits just hanging out on the bench, so if you decimate the roster, it's going to get ugly fast.

I think there are a few levels between 4 star recruits and our bench guys. Our starters aren’t four star recruits. I don’t think anybody is looking for that, but some players are really struggling to contribute anything several years into their careers. There are no freshman on the team.

My biggest complaint about our roster is always lack of shooters/scoring wings, and at this point I think that’s by design. It’s just not the type of player Brian seems to go after, or at least land. I also believe it is what makes sustained success difficult at this level.

I know it’s a while ago, but we had Crouch, Franklin, Warren, Ruffin, and Adams on the same team at one point. Name the last true sharp shooter (consistently hit 2+ threes a game, hits several big ones in big games type of guys)? Nate is the only one even close I can think of since that those aforementioned guys, and we won with him more than any other year. I’m not saying it’s easy to get, but tons of mid-majors have those guys somehow. I know Ville was supposed to be that, but he has dealt with many injuries and it’s just never worked out as good as it looked like it could freshman year. Putting your eggs all in that basket year after year isn’t wise to me. We only had four true wings on the roster at all this year.

Having said all that, which I think is fair to acknowledge, I love this year’s team when healthy and I loved last year’s recruiting class (three of our four starters are from it). Mast, Leons, Montgomery, Hickman, Deen is a nice starting lineup. This years’ recruiting class I’m not so sure I see great long term potential and no freshman. Davis impressed today and the PGs are good enough, but not great so far. I knows it’s different in todays recruiting world, but still when you’ve built for this year to be a huge turning point one way or another in the direction of the program, it would have been nice to land one major impact scorer that’s above 6 feet tall, especially knowing the risk with Jashon. We didn’t. Right now, with those guys out, that hurts.

Having said that, get healthy, and this is still a Valley contender with that starting five. We have a lot of growing to do, even when healthy, to get there still too.

[patrick_o'brian]

If the whole roster is healthy, we smoke Liberty. If the full roster is healthy and Terry Roberts stays, we win this tournament. Seems like there are big “ifs” every year. I know they are on every team, but our “ifs” are always based upon 2-4 injuries at a time. Remember the ISU Blue game a couple years ago? We were down like 4 guys and they came out and smoked us in the 1st half. Almost came back and won. Hell, that game got Jake Laranaga a scholarship to Wake Forest. Both MSU games 2 years ago. Lots of “ifs” recently. It’s not been fun!

[tecon89]

Agree with most on the thread. When healthy this team is good, top 3 in valley no question. That being said, the Liberty game was a frustrating watch.

1. Without Mast and Henry our big men lack a little strength. Which makes the Billew thing even more confusing, He was getting more playing time with Zek and Henry healthy.

2. I’ve thought this in the past, with Bradley under BW espiacially early in the season when they are figuring things out, but there seemed to be multiple possessions where they were not looking to score IMO just passing to the next guy, running the offense almost like there was no basket.

3. I trust adjustments will be made and hopefully guys come back sooner rather then later. If the same issues scoring continue, a loss to Merrimack isn’t that out of the question and an 0-2 hole to valley play looms right behind.

4. The Merrimack game is big, Not just the win or loss but just to prove Cancun was just an injury riddled, shooting in a ballroom, hiccup and not a bigger issue.

5. End on a positive. Oppurtonties and health are ahead of this team. Hickman, Linke, Davis, Deen all had some nice moments and runs. Go Braves

[bradleyfan124]

Disagreed heavily with a few comments on the last game - thought we played really hard against a team loaded with athletes and depth. This one not so much - just disappointing overall, but I had a hunch we'd lay an egg with half the the rotation out and guys left got beaten up by Auburn just 24 hours ago.

Feels like a lot of people on here right now are really schizophrenic lately ...

Does anyone think we honestly lose to Liberty if we had even two of our main rotation guys in there? What are you expecting from Coach Wardle? We're never going to have 4 star recruits just hanging out on the bench, so if you decimate the roster, it's going to get ugly fast. You simply can't do what you want with the team we have right now, like, keeping Hannah's minutes down to keep him fresh, possibly benching Ville until he gets his confidence back, etc. I also don't understand the Biliew thing, but that'd be my only critique of the coaching staff.

But, I'm not giving up because most of these guys will be back and I do still like this team when we get things back in order.

I agree with everything you said. Positive note..maybe Davis has gotten away from his early season jitters and continues to improve

[Big Mike]

maybe Davis has gotten away from his early season jitters and continues to improve

Really like his build for a freshman, to me seems to have a huge upside. Holding out hope this wilk be a good get for Bradley. Still very confused on the Biliew thing...right now seems to have bad hands and gets too excited when gettibg the ball, all common freshman traits. Has big body and holds his ground good...

[houstonbrave]

I like what I saw from Davis but he is a sophomore.

[Nashville Cat]

I like what I saw from Davis but he is a sophomore.

I'm going to play armchair coach and start Christian Davis against Merrimack. I've seen enough of Ville for the moment.