Final score: Murray State 67 Bradley 58

[Bradley8792]

Credit to Murray States coach for being able to get a new team prepared to compete against a seasoned team.

[braves16]

Just once I want us to be the bully on the block. Not dirty, not dumb fouls, but just know that when you play BU you are in for a war for 40 minutes and we won't be messed with.

[Stryker]

Just once I want us to be the bully on the block. Not dirty, not dumb fouls, but just know that when you play BU you are in for a war for 40 minutes and we won't be messed with.

This team doesn't have that mentality or mindset, and the coach doesn't either apparently, because the team seems rarely ready to play road games. There has to be a "killer" instinct to be a good team and pick up road wins, something I've never seen from a Wardle team outside of maybe LL or DB.

[LittleBrave]

Yes, this shart is getting real old... like a quarter of a century old. I'm not sure Bradley basketball will ever regain the respect, excitement and consistency it acheived in the '80s and early '90s. It's just sad, and I really feel sorry for the old-timers that might not live to see Bradley basketball become relevant again.

It's all about learning to win and play tough on the road. We have yet to do that - maybe in 1 or 2 seasons since 1995-96.
We have all the makings of a team built for the Valley Championship this season. No better starting 5 and a good bench, great defense (except for tonight), experience. (our 3-point shooting is hit or miss - but we all were concerned about that before the season).

I think we only lose 1 league game at home this season - this was a game we needed to have - fortunately we have time to right the ship and gain some momentum by beating the lower tier teams at their place. But championship teams win road games vs the mediocre teams like Murray St., who I don't consider even a Top half Valley team. But I gotta credit their effort tonight.

I don't know what else to say other than we can't score on the road, and it's been this way for YEARS.

[LittleBrave]

Just once I want us to be the bully on the block. Not dirty, not dumb fouls, but just know that when you play BU you are in for a war for 40 minutes and we won't be messed with.

We came out strong, shot the ball well and made smart shots. Murray's mental toughness and willingness gave them momentum to go ahead and we played like crap after that. Reminds me of some road games last year.

[LittleBrave]

This team doesn't have that mentality or mindset, and the coach doesn't either apparently, because the team seems rarely ready to play road games. There has to be a "killer" instinct to be a good team and pick up road wins, something I've never seen from a Wardle team outside of maybe LL or DB.

I am not sold on NOT being ready to play on the road. We usually play strong the first 6-8 minutes and then we fade. I think it's a habit that Bradley basketball has carried on for decades of - like you said - not having a killer instinct on the road. And for whatever reason, we shoot like a high school team on the road.
I thought we played hard tonight, but no harder than Murray St. - and they executed better and they showed that they wanted this win more than us by the rebounding numbers and by their enthusiasm.

[Tommy]

We absolutely should have had that game. Make no mistake, though as Murray State is 20-1 in their last 21 games at home, so I assume they have a staff that knows how to recruit and coach. Still was a game we all knew we should have had and our team just didn't show up. Rienk's early foul trouble definitely was a defining factor in the loss, but we need to be able to adjust when those type of things happen.

Still have a strong faith in BW and in the end, making the NCAA tournament is the immediate goal and he's done that twice for us in the short time he's been here. Still think we're the odds on favorite to win the Valley, though SIU is starting to raise concerns.

[Big Mike]

Until proven otherwise I think Indiana State is the Top Valley team....they just win, something we have not proven we can do. When Mast gets in foul trouble and Dean has an off night we are done....FACT

[Nashville Cat]

Until proven otherwise I think Indiana State is the Top Valley team....they just win, something we have not proven we can do. When Mast gets in foul trouble and Dean has an off night we are done....FACT

Fact. Watch SIU, though.

[Tommy]

Until proven otherwise I think Indiana State is the Top Valley team....they just win, something we have not proven we can do. When Mast gets in foul trouble and Dean has an off night we are done....FACT

All good points. Don't forget ISU Blue's 3 game losing streak that ended with a home loss to Northern Illinois that resulted in their fans calling for Schertz's job, though. Point being, they haven't looked unbeatable, though they are definitely getting it done in the conference and that is what matters, so your point stands.

[BUfan14]

One more thing......and I love Henry to death but after 5 years you should know by now lowering your shoulder is gonna be a charge, yet he gets 2 of these a game
...last night they were crucial....

Absolutely. At least he is trying to get fouled I guess? We do a terrible job drawing fouls as a team. Jashon is one of the few guys that doesn’t actively avoid contact at least.

Worse to me, as I’ve said it many times, he will have three guys on him sometimes, but when he gets the ball (no matter how he gets it - drive, rebound, passed to him) anywhere close to the basket he is going up almost every time. Pass it out once in a while for a wide open look. He’s gotten stuffed what seems like 2-3 times a game lately going up in a crowd. Ya he puts it in on occasion, but I wouldn’t say it’s high percentage.

[BUfan14]

Still have a strong faith in BW and in the end, making the NCAA tournament is the immediate goal and he's done that twice for us in the short time he's been here. Still think we're the odds on favorite to win the Valley, though SIU is starting to raise concerns.

I think I do too, but eight years is not a short time to me. I like that he has generally built a high character roster and he has majorly improved the talent from the last coach. However, I think his major weakness is his stubbornness, which is not uncommon in coaches. But sub patterns, who gets playing time, and game plan adjustments all could stand to be more fluid in my opinion. Like yesterday, Zek shouldn’t have come out early in the second half as the only one scoring. Mast shouldn’t have sat out the rest of the first half, he is a leader and he needed to be trusted not to pick up foul three there. Davis should be playing when we are struggling to shoot or pass, and the other outside players are struggling to contribute anything like Hickman, Ville, Deen were yesterday. Don’t just bench struggling players of course, but try something different to get things going. Also, his commitment to Linke being anywhere on the depth chart is beyond comprehension to me.

I think he’s a good coach, as evidenced by his timeout plays most often. But he won’t be as good as he could be if he doesn’t learn to adjust more.

[Tommy]

Something to consider: the team may have been deflated after adding a new kid from Serbia who is being paid what is most likely a lot more than any of them are getting. It's possible this caused some resentment and is likely a side effect of the new rules allowing pay to play.

Seems like it may be having a negative effect on the Illini team and probably others as well though this is just speculation, but certainly a reasonable one.

[Da Coach]

We need to hear from one of the guys on the inside of the Home of the Brave collective about that.
I cannot believe he would have gotten a larger NIL payout than the current scholarship players.

[egib52]

Something to consider: the team may have been deflated after adding a new kid from Serbia who is being paid what is most likely a lot more than any of them are getting. It's possible this caused some resentment and is likely a side effect of the new rules allowing pay to play.

Seems like it may be having a negative effect on the Illini team and probably others as well though this is just speculation, but certainly a reasonable one.

Where is this information coming from? Definitely doesn't seem like the type of player to get a bunch of NIL.