Program Height Realistic Expectations

[BUfan14]

We won the Valley, but it is the weakest the Valley has been. This has caused some debate as to how good we are this year. In the end, as much as we all complained, the NET actually seems pretty accurate. This is a top 80 program this year, but still not top 50. I think the Valley will get better. Drake, UNI, Belmont, SIU all seem like sustainably good programs. Indiana State is on the upswing, ISU I think will get better. Missouri St. and Murray State should always be decent too.

Stryker’s thread got me thinking about what the realistic heights of this program should be compared to our expectations. It’s harder to gauge in today’s college recruiting world. I said I thought we could be Drake. This year as a top 80 is our baseline, occasionally have top 50 years, occasionally bottom out at 100ish, make a few tournaments and win a game or two here and there, get an at large bid on occasion. I think that’s realistic and doable as the next step. If we get most of the guys back, grab a shooter, a point guard, and a big that can all contribute next year could be that next step where we actually compete against the top 50 teams we play.

[bradleyfan124]

We won the Valley, but it is the weakest the Valley has been. This has caused some debate as to how good we are this year. In the end, as much as we all complained, the NET actually seems pretty accurate. This is a top 80 program this year, but still not top 50. I think the Valley will get better. Drake, UNI, Belmont, SIU all seem like sustainably good programs. Indiana State is on the upswing, ISU I think will get better. Missouri St. and Murray State should always be decent too.

Stryker’s thread got me thinking about what the realistic heights of this program should be compared to our expectations. It’s harder to gauge in today’s college recruiting world. I said I thought we could be Drake. This year as a top 80 is our baseline, occasionally have top 50 years, occasionally bottom out at 100ish, make a few tournaments and win a game or two here and there, get an at large bid on occasion. I think that’s realistic and doable as the next step. If we get most of the guys back, grab a shooter, a point guard, and a big that can all contribute next year could be that next step where we actually compete against the top 50 teams we play.

I agree.. We are getting close. Always use good guards that can shoot. I think we already have the big in Ahmet Jonovic. I think with 7 months of more training he will be ready to go next year. Having Leons back helps alot

[BUBraves2006]

My biggest fear is that if we can get to that top 50ish level, Wardle is going to leave for a bigger program because as much as he has said he likes what he is building here, he went to a big school and will start to get annoyed not getting at large bids every year if he has a top 50 team. I hope I'm wrong about that but if/when he leaves, we are back at square one again.

[Stryker]

We won the Valley, but it is the weakest the Valley has been. This has caused some debate as to how good we are this year. In the end, as much as we all complained, the NET actually seems pretty accurate. This is a top 80 program this year, but still not top 50. I think the Valley will get better. Drake, UNI, Belmont, SIU all seem like sustainably good programs. Indiana State is on the upswing, ISU I think will get better. Missouri St. and Murray State should always be decent too.

Stryker’s thread got me thinking about what the realistic heights of this program should be compared to our expectations. It’s harder to gauge in today’s college recruiting world. I said I thought we could be Drake. This year as a top 80 is our baseline, occasionally have top 50 years, occasionally bottom out at 100ish, make a few tournaments and win a game or two here and there, get an at large bid on occasion. I think that’s realistic and doable as the next step. If we get most of the guys back, grab a shooter, a point guard, and a big that can all contribute next year could be that next step where we actually compete against the top 50 teams we play.

I'd be happy if BU continues to move in this direction. Finish top 3 in the MVC year in and year out, get some signature wins and at-large consideration, etc. That's the next step IMO. Its going to be really hard as the landscape is still in turmoil due to the transfer rules and NIL. Getting a regular season championship this year was another great step though along with the two conference tournament wins over the past few seasons. The MVC is going to get stronger than it was this year. With programs like UNI down, ISUred really down, and 1st years for Belmont and Murray State, I think the conference as a whole can only get better. So it will continue to be harder to finish at the top. We need to retain Wardle and he needs to add more talent to the roster and shore up the weaknesses this team has.

I don't see why BU can't be a very competitive program in the MVC given the budget and facilities, exposure, and staffing. If Loyola, Creighton, WSU, and others can do what they did I don't see why BU isn't capable of something similar, no matter how small the probability is. So I do think the ceiling can be pretty darn high.

Wardle had to totally rebuild this program, from the roster to the culture to working with new admin, etc. I am sure it was an extremely hard challenge and he has succeeded. These types of rebuilds take a lot of time. If Wardle isn't at BU for much longer I feel the program is in an entirely different level compared to when he arrived and I think with the right hire the program could continue to succeed at new heights.

[BUBraves2006]

I don't see why BU can't be a very competitive program in the MVC given the budget and facilities, exposure, and staffing. If Loyola, Creighton, WSU, and others can do what they did I don't see why BU isn't capable of something similar, no matter how small the probability is. So I do think the ceiling can be pretty darn high.

I wouldn't want to base this solely on population, but Wichita, Omaha and Chicago are much bigger cities than Peoria. I like the optimism, but I do wonder if they are truly comparable.

Wardle had to totally rebuild this program, from the roster to the culture to working with new admin, etc. I am sure it was an extremely hard challenge and he has succeeded. These types of rebuilds take a lot of time. If Wardle isn't at BU for much longer I feel the program is in an entirely different level compared to when he arrived and I think with the right hire the program could continue to succeed at new heights.

I really hope you're right, but with how players are so tied at the hip to their head coach, I worry basically everyone would leave if he wasn't here and the "Europe" funnel disappears. I think the way you retain continuity is if you had a replacement that is from the existing staff or you've maintained a particular identity and you have someone looking to do the same thing.

Again, I really hope Coach stays and I hope its all of our conjecture and he's totally happy here.

[Stryker]

I wouldn't want to base this solely on population, but Wichita, Omaha and Chicago are much bigger cities than Peoria. I like the optimism, but I do wonder if they are truly comparable.



I really hope you're right, but with how players are so tied at the hip to their head coach, I worry basically everyone would leave if he wasn't here and the "Europe" funnel disappears. I think the way you retain continuity is if you had a replacement that is from the existing staff or you've maintained a particular identity and you have someone looking to do the same thing.

Again, I really hope Coach stays and I hope its all of our conjecture and he's totally happy here.

BU has the facilities and fans, admin in place. I'm not sure why the size of the city exactly would make that much of a difference. Loyola was a program that had accomplished basically nothing in 30 years before Moser did what he did. Their fan base is still smaller than BU and their facilities are nothing to write home about.

My point is, BU overall is in a much healthier position than when Wardle took over. Geno was busy going 7-25 and 9-24, turning the program into nothing basically. With recent NCAA tournament appearances, a regular season championship, 20+ wins in 4/6 years, etc. If a good new coach is on the hilltop it shouldn't be hard to reload the roster much faster than Wardle was able to do because of the damage to the program.

[Bball31]

If other schools are courting Wardle, it is a good sign. If he were to leave, I have confidence that Reynolds would hire the right person. The program is in much better position than when he took over, although revenue is down. The size of the city has nothing to do with the quality of a basketball program. For years, Peoria has been one of the smallest cities, in the MVC. Peoria is a great basketball town and the potential to be one of the better mid-major programs in the country still exists. To think or expect anything else is what causes programs to sink.

[Bball31]

I wouldn't want to base this solely on population, but Wichita, Omaha and Chicago are much bigger cities than Peoria. I like the optimism, but I do wonder if they are truly comparable.



I really hope you're right, but with how players are so tied at the hip to their head coach, I worry basically everyone would leave if he wasn't here and the "Europe" funnel disappears. I think the way you retain continuity is if you had a replacement that is from the existing staff or you've maintained a particular identity and you have someone looking to do the same thing.

Again, I really hope Coach stays and I hope its all of our conjecture and he's totally happy here.

Let’s face it, Wardle isn’t going to retire from Bradley. When the time comes for him to move on, the program will survive without European players. There is an ample supply of quality basketball players here in our country. With the transfer portal now a part on D1 basketball, recruiting has become an even more competitive business on a year round basis. There is now, no time off from recruiting.

[Da Coach]

I try not to spend time worrying about what we cannot control. Just continue being supportive if you like the way the program is headed.
Go BU!

[Stryker]

I try not to spend time worrying about what we cannot control. Just continue being supportive if you like the way the program is headed.
Go BU!

Well said Coach!

[Da Coach]

I will add one more thought... If any fan expects Coach Wardle to turn Bradley into another Gonzaga or even Creighton, that is unrealistic, IMO. A more realistic expectation is to be competitive most years, and hopefully win the conference or the MVC Tournament every few years. Well, he's mostly done that. And he has done it with class and stability in the program, and without recruiting student-athletes with questionable character or academic issues, or by cutting corners or skirting rules. Let's appreciate that, because it isn't an easy thing to do and most mid-majors and even a few majors envy what we have.
Anything beyond that would be terrific and fans would be ecstatic. But in all likelihood, Coach Wardle would not be around long if Bradley exceeded those more realistic expectations. I know that Coach Wardle and his entire staff are very happy at Bradley and in Peoria, and with the support he has from the Bradley administration and fans. He has said so many times. It would take a lot to lure him away, but it could happen some day. Fortunately, the same administrative people are here who made all the right moves in 2015 that saved a sinking ship, and will keep the Bradley program going in the right direction.

[egib52]

We won the Valley, but it is the weakest the Valley has been. This has caused some debate as to how good we are this year. In the end, as much as we all complained, the NET actually seems pretty accurate. This is a top 80 program this year, but still not top 50. I think the Valley will get better. Drake, UNI, Belmont, SIU all seem like sustainably good programs. Indiana State is on the upswing, ISU I think will get better. Missouri St. and Murray State should always be decent too.

I wouldn't bank on this with the portal. Belmont is losing players already, and Shepherd is going to the Draft. Drake was an abnormally old team thanks to Covid, and once Devries leaves, do they have a pipeline to other 4 stars who will stay? I am not saying the league will be bad, but more that there will be ebbs and flows. In today's game you have to hit on some transfers because once they use their one freebie you are more likely to keep them.

[egib52]

My biggest fear is that if we can get to that top 50ish level, Wardle is going to leave for a bigger program because as much as he has said he likes what he is building here, he went to a big school and will start to get annoyed not getting at large bids every year if he has a top 50 team. I hope I'm wrong about that but if/when he leaves, we are back at square one again.

Our goal is to be big enough that good coaches leave, because then other good coaches will come to hopefully have a stepping stone. Butler was that way, Gonzaga before Few. If we luck out and get to a Gonzaga level then maybe you get one to stay. The reality though is that our ceiling most years will be Drake this year, get into the Tourney as a 12 seed. I enjoyed watching the team for a majority of this year, and that for me was good enough for most years. I would love to hit on a Ja Morant or Damien Lillard. However, realistically if we did, we would only have them a year. I think the goal is to get a team that has a bunch of players with great skills that play their best basketball together like the Sweet 16 team. We need a a couple freak athletes, some good shooters, and then a few just solid players.

[BUfan14]

I wouldn't bank on this with the portal. Belmont is losing players already, and Shepherd is going to the Draft. Drake was an abnormally old team thanks to Covid, and once Devries leaves, do they have a pipeline to other 4 stars who will stay? I am not saying the league will be bad, but more that there will be ebbs and flows. In today's game you have to hit on some transfers because once they use their one freebie you are more likely to keep them.

I’m not meaning players necessarily, but I trust those coaches to keep a quality program going with new players. Despite mid majors losing players every year to high major teams now, mid majors can also reload the same way using low major players moving up and guys who didn’t get time at high majors, along with JUCO guys and the high school guys left behind by high majors focusing more on already established players. Belmont did it last year fairly well, as has Bradley the last couple years. SIU and UNI seem play the modern recruiting game fairly well. Brian may actually be better at building a program this way than the way he was the old way (which he did pretty well at). I think these coaches/programs will be better going forward. I agree year to year it might be more prone to ebbs and flows, but I think as a whole they’ll be better than 15th as a conference.

[bigjimmy]

Wardle is at the point where, at his age and with the success he's had, he's either ready for the next step or will stay here until his kids get through school. Hope he doesn't leave but certainly understand it if he goes. I would figure Dr Reynolds already has a plan in place for a replacement.