New Dave Eminian article about summer workouts

[Da Coach]

New Dave Eminian article about summer workouts and activities (free to read)-
https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/...n/70380312007/

One quote from Coach Wardle-
"Hannah has to take a big step for us....That high level of consistent play. If he can do that, look out."
"He's going to be really hard to deal with."

I have heard from a knowledgeable source that "Darius Hannah is doing even better than last summer".
Recall how much improvement Darius made over last summer. My source says he is still improving and that it "bodes well for this coming season".
I have also heard that another player who has shown significant improvement this summer is Goanar Biliew. He is a hard worker, and should contribute more in 2023-24, which will be needed with the departures of key players, including Rienk Mast, Ja'Shon Henry, Zek Montgomery, and Ville Tahvanainen. Between those players who left, Bradley lost over 40 ppg and 20 rebounds per game, plus a lot of good defense.

There is a mention at the end of the article about the pending 2023-24 non-conference schedule. According to Coach Wardle:
"We have two or three more games to fill," Wardle said. "We're in talks. You don't get a whole lot done in May and June and July. But scheduling is always a challenge for MVC teams. Trying to find dates, find (Power 5) teams that will play you."

It sounds like it might be a while before we see the non-conference schedule completed and released.

[LittleBrave]

Could anyone paste the article here for those who don't subscribe to PjStar? TY in advance.

[Da Coach]

For some reason, the article was free for a while yesterday, but now it is subscription-only. So I can't see it either. I'll try to remember, but if anyone else can read it, feel free to add to this...

From what I recall, it didn't really say much new. Dave must have interviewed Coach Wardle, and he said Connor Hickman is taking over more of the "leadership role", as is walk-on Cade Hardtke. And I think there was a comment about the new players adjusting to changes, and Darius Hannah having to "take a big step for us" and play a bigger role.
There was also a summary of what kind of team activities they have been doing this summer. The NCAA limits the number of practice and workout hours, so they have been doing other non-basketball activities as a team like visiting the Peoria Riverfront Museum.

We try to comply with copyright rules, so we can't have the entire article posted. But it is OK to summarize and even post a couple short clips. Maybe someone who subscribes can send you a Private Message with more of the article itself.

[sam hannam]

Little Brave - You've got a New Message

[yoda]

try this link

https://is.gd/MQcwPF

or this one- https://is.gd/Bb4IfT

[Big Mike]

Anyone else find it strange that 7" Jonovic is not mentioned in the article....maybe I'm wrong but I see him getting good minutes at the 5!

[Da Coach]

Anyone else find it strange that 7" Jonovic is not mentioned in the article....maybe I'm wrong but I see him getting good minutes at the 5!

I don't think it means anything. I hear he has improved, though he is still learning and adjusting like the new players. In addition to Jonovic, there was no mention of Christian Davis either. Davis ranked 5th in games played and minutes played last year among the returning players.

Other players not mentioned- Goanar Biliew, Connor Linke, and Sam Hennessy.

[bradleyfan124]

Anyone else find it strange that 7" Jonovic is not mentioned in the article....maybe I'm wrong but I see him getting good minutes at the 5!

I also think Jonovic's contributions this coming season will be more than what people think. He showed a couple moves in the Wisconsin game that impressed me and that he is learning

[Stryker]

I also think Jonovic's contributions this coming season will be more than what people think. He showed a couple moves in the Wisconsin game that impressed me and that he is learning

I as well. He and Hannah will be key factors going into this season. If Ellis can come in and contribute right away and if Hickman is as good as he was down the stretch, it will bode well.

[Big Mike]

Your right DaCoach......Davis wasn't mentioned either....he will be counted on for some 3's for sure!

[Da Coach]

"There's leadership, and it doesn't always come from guys who put up the best stats, either. Cade Hardtke is one of our best leaders, and he's a walk-on. He doesn't put up stats, but he leads and he's important to us."

Bradley junior Cade Hardtke's brother, Cole Hardtke, was just named an assistant coach at Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kansas.

https://twitter.com/ColeAHardtke/status/1675613018737065985/photo/1

Cole Hardtke was also a standout player at Glenbard South HS, as was Cade, and he just graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College, where he was a member of their basketball team for 4 years (NCAA Division III)-

https://wlcsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/cole-hardtke/7834

Former Bradley player Marcus Pollard, who is enshrined in both the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame and the MVC Hall of Fame, came to Bradley from Seward County CC. He played for BU from 1992-1994 under Coach Jim Molinari.
Marcus Pollard-

https://sewardsaints.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20130912lk0tfs

https://bradleybraves.com/news/2016/8/10/mens-basketball-bradleys-latest-mvc-hall-of-famer

https://mvc-sports.com/hof.aspx?hof=5

Marcus has been employed by the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL since 2013 as their Director of Player Development-

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-pollard-3b517772

https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/2014/03/16/where-are-they-now-marcus/38141999007/

[LittleBrave]

Little Brave - You've got a New Message

Thank you buddy!

[LittleBrave]

I also think Jonovic's contributions this coming season will be more than what people think. He showed a couple moves in the Wisconsin game that impressed me and that he is learning

I'm seeing quite a few hopeful posts about this dude, but he didn't show me enough to be able to tell how much of an impact he will make. He seems to move very well for a big man, and has some good Euro experience. Maybe he can give us 10-15 quality min. and not a liability on D.

[LittleBrave]

try this link

https://is.gd/MQcwPF

or this one- https://is.gd/Bb4IfT

Thanks Yoda! And a big thanks for all the Almar updates for a month!

[houstonbrave]

Personally I don’t read anything into Wardle not saying much about players that are new or who have not played that much (Meta & Davis). Wardle always tries to keep comments to the minimum in an effort to keep opponents in the dark. That means we are in the dark but he seems to feel that is best to position the team for success.