Bradley is the SoCal Challenge Champion- Bradley 63 UTEP 59

[Da Coach]

Just before going off the air, I thought I heard Dave say Malevy Leons was the Tournament MVP, but there is no official announcement that I can find.
But because there is still another game being played now between Cal and Tulane, the All Tournament team probably won't be announced until much later.
I will predict Leons and Hickman All-Tournament.

It's official- Malevy Leons is the MVP of the 2023 SoCal Challenge- https://twitter.com/SoCal_Challenge/...80052039356816

[yoda]

Well we found another way to win. Not the prettiest game, but our defense pulled us through. Yesterday’s officiating might have meant a lose, but this crew was much better I thought and didn’t call a foul every time there was contact. I’m still not overly impressed with UTEP.

Christian Davis is just a winning player as they say. Four big pressure free throws and he hit them all. Nice to see Hick hit a couple big ones too. Leons took over a little at the end tonight too, which is something I wondered if he had last year. What was the last early season tournament we won? Wasn’t it the first year we won arch madness? Cancun I think the 18-19 year.

Bradley won the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Championship at UTEP in 2021 and at Cancun Challenge in 2018

[bradleyfan124]

Just before going off the air, I thought I heard Dave say Malevy Leons was the Tournament MVP, but there is no official announcement that I can find.
But because there is still another game being played now between Cal and Tulane, the All Tournament team probably won't be announced until much later.
I will predict Leons and Hickman All-Tournament.


Btw, there was this unfortunate incident that happened in Cal's game Monday against UTEP- https://twitter.com/CalMBBall/status...10824527487005

Cal player Fardaws Aimaq climbed into the stands after their first game and confronted a fan who apparently had been mouthing off to him- https://twitter.com/CBBcontent/statu...12708944007663

Fans need to understand. They are there to watch 2 teams play basketball. Other than that they have no involvement in the game. Keep your mouths shut! Cheer on your team but do not become derogatory.

[BUfan14]

Bradley won the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Championship at UTEP in 2021 and at Cancun Challenge in 2018

Oh yes, I forgot that one. I remembered Bradley being in the Virgin Islands that year, which Bradley didn’t win. How did we end up in two tournaments that non-conference season? Was it allowed because of COVID?

[SoCal Pedro]

Both teams look wore down a bit to me. Our team has superior mental toughness this year so far. Outstanding preparation and character.

I tell you what, we sat right behind the BU bench last night and in watching coach Wardle do his thing up close, I can say he is an elite level coach. He has complete control of this team (in a good way) with the respect of his players and is coaching the entire 40 minutes. He holds each player accountable for their actions and doesn't let mistakes go unpunished. Commit a silly foul and someone is off the bench within seconds...that player may sit for only 1 or 2 minutes but he is coached in real time about how to change outcomes. He praises good decisions and is teaching good/bad play to the players sitting waiting their turn when he is not calling out strategy on the floor. The dude is intense and has high level basketball smarts. I just hope we keep him long enough to do more great things at Bradley. Fun note: with about 7 minutes to go in the 1st, he drew up an inbounds play under the basket after a timeout and Burch made an easy layup. I yelled, "that's how you draw up a play coach!" and he turned and gave me a little smile/wink.

Go Braves!

[Da Coach]

Glad you got to be at the game Pedro. I wish I was there, but this Thanksgiving we are spending it with family.
Trophy winners headed home- https://twitter.com/BradleyUMBB/stat...13690982748573


The late game was won by Tulane 84-81 over Cal- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401604309

So it appears Bradley beat the two best of the 3 other teams in the Surf Division.
It was a great tournament with every game close until the final possession or two. The organizers couldn't have asked for better, more exciting games.
They released an All-Tournament team for the Sand Division teams, but I never could find an All Tournament team for the Surf Division.
But no doubt who the MVP was- Malevy Leons.

[yoda]

I tell you what, we sat right behind the BU bench last night and in watching coach Wardle do his thing up close, I can say he is an elite level coach. He has complete control of this team (in a good way) with the respect of his players and is coaching the entire 40 minutes. He holds each player accountable for their actions and doesn't let mistakes go unpunished. Commit a silly foul and someone is off the bench within seconds...that player may sit for only 1 or 2 minutes but he is coached in real time about how to change outcomes. He praises good decisions and is teaching good/bad play to the players sitting waiting their turn when he is not calling out strategy on the floor. The dude is intense and has high level basketball smarts. I just hope we keep him long enough to do more great things at Bradley. Fun note: with about 7 minutes to go in the 1st, he drew up an inbounds play under the basket after a timeout and Burch made an easy layup. I yelled, "that's how you draw up a play coach!" and he turned and gave me a little smile/wink.

Go Braves!

that’s funny, cuz the broadcasters described that very play as ….
”that was a busted play, I’m sure he didn’t draw it up that way”

btw- who were the others on the All Tourney Team?

[Dub]

Rewatching highlights, I’m 90% sure the dunk to end the first half was an intentional pass off the backboard to Hannah vs being a missed layup that was put back. Davis looks over to Hannah before the pass and then bounces it clean to him w/o hitting the rim. If so, a very high level play indeed.

https://x.com/bradleyumbb/status/1727546549851541983?s=46&t=ikBGwnuTcNfqPnRXvtfqJw

[Da Coach]

MVP- https://twitter.com/BradleyUMBB/stat...48879330783597

[Da Coach]

One thing notable about UTEP's team stats through 5 games. They are shooting 54.5% overall (170-312), and 34.8% (32-92) from three. That means they are 138-220 on 2-point shots for a FG% of 62.7% on their 2-point shots. That is outrageously effective shooting when they take 2-point shots, and means they must be getting a lot of shots close to the basket. They also have 59 offensive rebounds in 5 games (11.9 per game), which is a lot of Off. rebounds. By comparison, Bradley has 33 offensive rebounds through 4 games (8.25 off. reb. per game).
I am sure the game plan will try to keep them out of the lane, and block out their rebounders on missed shots. Their stats suggest maybe playing some zone would help negate their success at getting inside points and offensive rebounds.
Also, they are averaging 95.6 points per game, which ranks 5th in the NCAA- https://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketbal...rrent/team/145

PJ Star- https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/...t/71663095007/

Bradley closed UTEP out with defense
But Wardle also took some coaching from his players, who urged him to switch to a 1-2-2 zone defense at times with the gangly Leons at the top, arms and legs akimbo in the passing lanes.
“Our guys wanted to go to (the zone),” Wardle said. “It’s important that we listen to our veterans like that, because they’re the ones in the game and seeing what’s working.”

The zone defense played by Bradley worked great to keep the Braves ahead in the 2nd half. Maybe we'll see more zone in future games.

[Upnorth]

Rewatching highlights, I’m 90% sure the dunk to end the first half was an intentional pass off the backboard to Hannah vs being a missed layup that was put back. Davis looks over to Hannah before the pass and then bounces it clean to him w/o hitting the rim. If so, a very high level play indeed.
https://x.com/bradleyumbb/status/172...cNfqPnRXvtfqJw

I thought the same thing when I saw the clip on X

[bradleyfan124]

PJ Star- https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/...t/71663095007/

Bradley closed UTEP out with defense
But Wardle also took some coaching from his players, who urged him to switch to a 1-2-2 zone defense at times with the gangly Leons at the top, arms and legs akimbo in the passing lanes.
“Our guys wanted to go to (the zone),” Wardle said. “It’s important that we listen to our veterans like that, because they’re the ones in the game and seeing what’s working.”

The zone defense played by Bradley worked great to keep the Braves ahead in the 2nd half. Maybe we'll see more zone in future games.

I disagree with Dave in his article on one fact.The steal that he gave credit to Davis was actually created by Hickman. He jumped in front of the guy down low and tapped the ball to Davis

[Da Coach]

The SoCal Challenge has finally released the Surf Division All Tournament Team, and Congratulations to Connor Hickman who joins the Tournament MVP Malevy Leons as All Tournament players.

[bradleyfan124]

The SoCal Challenge has finally released the Surf Division All Tournament Team, and Congratulations to Connor Hickman who joins the Tournament MVP Malevy Leons as All Tournament players.

Congrats Connor! You made some great plays in this tournament, plays you don't always see in the stats