Final score: Bradley 79 Illinois State 75

[Dub]

This team has the goods physically and talent wise. The core deficiency is mental toughness and on court leadership. Wardles teams, time and time again, seem to be heavy on quiet and introverted type guys… the few loudmouths we’ve had haven’t stuck around. It’s weird. Hoping this team can band together as a family and go with a vengeance the 2nd half of the Valley. Would love to see it.

good win tonight.

[LittleBrave]

Well I am torn.
I don’t think it’s doom and gloom, and we’ve been here before BU fans! Almost hopeless and frustrated during Valley season and somehow we end strong.

I really hope this is the worst we look the rest of the season, cause it was Sooooo UGLY.

Bottom line - if we hustled tonight on the glass and made 70% Free Throws, we win by 15-20.
Again, our 3-point shooting was very poor and most of the misses were so off.

I am less confident about our 3-point shoooting and free-throw shooting than at any point of the season. NOT good!

BUT, I do think this team has heart and will to win, and have a strong bond. If they didn’t, Redbirds come away with a win 2nite.

Last year’s game vs Birds was ugly too, but this one tops em - maybe even ugliest win at home I’ve seen in the Wardle era.

Let’s not give up hope Braves’ fans!
We needed a wake-up call. Let’s see how we respond!

[LittleBrave]

I could sense the guys were a bit hung over mentally from the Belmont loss. And looks like they underestimated ISU (I know I did, and was impressed for most of the game.) Some good shooters too!

I hope this drives the team to not let up for 1 minute the rest of the season. Wardle’s teams are known for hustle and out-rebounding, and tonight it was absolutely missing. The last 4 minutes vs Belmont and this game were not the same team we’ve seen at home all season.

Credit Zek and Malevy for their intensity on D. They seemed to have their head in the right place, at least.

We caught a break, and though we may not deserve to have won, the fans deserved it.

[Da Coach]

Here are video highlights from the PJ Star- https://www.pjstar.com/videos/sports...t/11125530002/

Note especially the last shot of the 1st half just after 2:08 of the video, when ISU guard Malachi Poindexter launches a last second three that misses and then flops to the floor. The official calls a foul and gives him 3 free throws (plus 2 technical foul free throws) to make the halftime score 40-36. It appears the Bradley defender, Ja'Shon Henry, never touched him. Chad Kleine goes wild and says "Oh my God, he wasn't even touched!". It was representative of some of the awful calls throughout the game.

[Bradley8792]

I think I agree with the comments about Ville’s contributions. At this stage in his career he either has it and is making a difference every game, or doesn’t. His inconsistency says he doesn’t. I think they need to move on and start giving one of the younger players playing time instead. The younger player may not produce any better this year, but they would at least be gaining valuable experience.

[Bball31]

If you can't shoot free throws effectively, it's difficult to expect those same players to shoot with a hand in their face. Once again we were embarrassed, as we were against Belmont, as to how we defend the back cut to the basket. ISU's quickness around the basket, at both ends of the floor, allowed them to humiliate us in rebounding. A win is a win and I'm glad for it. Once again, it appears we've hit a plateau on the season as teams adjust to our weaknesses and we are unable to adapt.

[Tommy]

Here are video highlights from the PJ Star- https://www.pjstar.com/videos/sports...t/11125530002/

Note especially the last shot of the 1st half just after 2:08 of the video, when ISU guard Malachi Poindexter launches a last second three that misses and then flops to the floor. The official calls a foul and gives him 3 free throws (plus 2 technical foul free throws) to make the halftime score 40-36. It appears the Bradley defender, Ja'Shon Henry, never touched him. Chad Kleine goes wild and says "Oh my God, he wasn't even touched!". It was representative of some of the awful calls throughout the game.

This is a fair point and we do need to keep this game in perspective. BW teams have never performed well when the referees take over the game and I consider blowing the whistle every minute of the game as taking over. There were 46 fouls and I believe 3 technicals (correct me if I'm wrong) in this game and honestly, half of them were head scratchers. Beyond that, the refs stopped the game about 4 times for no apparent reason (to the benefit of ISU in my opinion), which is something I've never seen before. Also, one of the refs seemed to be standing right next to Pedon waiting for him to call timeouts at the end of the game - just some really weird stuff.

I am as unhappy with our performance as anyone, but in fairness to our team, the refs and their constant whistles made it impossible to get into any kind of rhythm. Honestly, I don't go to games to watch the refs and I am of the opinion that if they are blowing the whistle 40+ times in a game, then they were far too involved. Just ludicrous and every time it happens, I get pissed off and it makes me not want to watch basketball.

Lastly, winning a game where we were outrebounded 44-25 has got to be some kind of record and I think this was the most disturbing part for most of us. We were just out-hustled throughout the entire game, and THAT is what is unacceptable. The poor passing and constant turnovers were another issue that made us look like we were lost out there, and I honestly don't think the official score captured all of our turnovers, many of which were completely unforced.

See, I started this post by defending the team and got right back to explaining my disappointment. There's just no way to put a positive spin on that performance regardless of all the reasons we can come up with. Next game better be a serious bounce back for us!

[houstonbrave]

That was just an awful game. We played with zero energy until the very end. We can’t ever get out rebounded like that. Thank heavens that horrible call at the end of the first half did not cost us the game. It gave them 5 free throws when in reality it should have been a flopping call on Poindexter-he threw his legs into Ja’shon-a textbook flop they have been emphasizing. Overall a terribly played game by BU and a horribly officiated game. They better figure something out before they get to Chicago. And God Can’t we please recruit a knock down shooter please.

[houstonbrave]

I should give credit to one player that did show up. Without Malevy we would have been in deep trouble. He played 42 of 45 minutes. 4 of 7 from field including 1 of 2 from 3. 11 rebounds, 3 blocks and 4 steals ( did have 3 turnovers). Overall couldn’t have asked for much more from him.

[egib52]

This team has the goods physically and talent wise. The core deficiency is mental toughness and on court leadership. Wardles teams, time and time again, seem to be heavy on quiet and introverted type guys… the few loudmouths we’ve had haven’t stuck around. It’s weird. Hoping this team can band together as a family and go with a vengeance the 2nd half of the Valley. Would love to see it.

good win tonight.

I agree with this, only I'd say we are missing a cockiness or swagger.

[NashvilleBU]

I think Christian Davis should get some time to improve. He’s a skilled shooter and has good length.

Pop and New big guy should only get in when Dean/Hickman or Mast/Hannah are in foul trouble.

I think I agree with the comments about Ville’s contributions. At this stage in his career he either has it and is making a difference every game, or doesn’t. His inconsistency says he doesn’t. I think they need to move on and start giving one of the younger players playing time instead. The younger player may not produce any better this year, but they would at least be gaining valuable experience.

[BUfan14]

This team has the goods physically and talent wise. The core deficiency is mental toughness and on court leadership. Wardles teams, time and time again, seem to be heavy on quiet and introverted type guys… the few loudmouths we’ve had haven’t stuck around. It’s weird. Hoping this team can band together as a family and go with a vengeance the 2nd half of the Valley. Would love to see it.

good win tonight.

I don't think we do have the goods though, at least for a complete team. We have some pieces. Post wise, we are set. But as far as wings that are big difference makers, we don't really seem to have that. We are deficient at point guard (Deen is pretty good, and we have nothing else), and we have no reliable shooters. We also have no reliable scorers in general, and no reliable drivers. This is all on the perimeter that I'm referring of course. Mast's left handed hook is our only go to move.

Think of like this, if we need a perimeter player to drive and get a bucket, who do we trust to do it? Zek is only one even capable and he is still raw.

If we need a three, who do we trust? Deen is hit or miss, and on the last play if a team covers him with a taller defender that is tough. Again, maybe Zek someday, but he is raw still. He sort of mishandled that shot at the end of regulation yesterday, as he shot off balance and with too much time left, way too far out, but luckily got fouled.

If you don't really have a trustworthy wing/guard at all and have an inconsistent smaller point guard in terms of scoring, can you really go too far in college basketball?

[LittleBrave]

Here are video highlights from the PJ Star- https://www.pjstar.com/videos/sports...t/11125530002/

Note especially the last shot of the 1st half just after 2:08 of the video, when ISU guard Malachi Poindexter launches a last second three that misses and then flops to the floor. The official calls a foul and gives him 3 free throws (plus 2 technical foul free throws) to make the halftime score 40-36. It appears the Bradley defender, Ja'Shon Henry, never touched him. Chad Kleine goes wild and says "Oh my God, he wasn't even touched!". It was representative of some of the awful calls throughout the game.

Agreed there WERE some very bad calls vs the Braves last night, but JaShon appeared to foul Poindexter. Every time I watch it from 2 different angles, he touches (maybe just a little) his shooting hand after the shot was released, especially when watching on replay from the other side.
Poindexter did flop to the ground after, but I would have called a foul on that too, as J-Hen's arm was not going up - but down toward the shooter's hand. I think the Braves' players' reactions made us believe it was a terrible call - maybe they reacted b/c of the flop. Not a smart play by Henry.

[LittleBrave]

Funny how the Braves official website calls last night's game an "Instant Classic"
Not sure any of us wants to watch that dreadful performance again!

[Harley06]

This team lacks a pure 3 point shooter and a guy who will say give me ball. I'm going to get us a bucket.
Can you just imagine if Roberts would have stayed. just my opinion..