Final score: Northern Iowa 74 Bradley 63

[BUBraves2006]

Yeah, I heard the reasoning in his post game comments on the radio. While I am so happy he’s our coach, I wholeheartedly disagree with his assessment, but he’s the coach and I am just a fan. Not only his assessment but the assessment of all the people he mentioned contributed to that assessment. That was a long list of people that were really off on their evaluation. So I do have to respect his decision, but do not agree with it.

I like this sentiment because while I wasn't in favor of how it was handled in this game, I remember earlier in the season when Ellis seemed to have a longer leash and after his 5th bad decision in a row, he'd get taken out and there were people here going (paraphrasing), "why is he playing so much? All he does is make mistakes".

So, Burch looks really out of control in a game. When is the right time? 1 bad decision? 5? Somewhere in the middle? Coaches always get questioned on stuff like this and I'm positive people would be whining if we had a lead, kept a guy in to "work through the issues" and then he contributes significantly to the lead evaporating.

I'm not saying I have the answer but I don't think it's so cut and dry as it seems.

[tomahawk chop]

I like this sentiment because while I wasn't in favor of how it was handled in this game, I remember earlier in the season when Ellis seemed to have a longer leash and after his 5th bad decision in a row, he'd get taken out and there were people here going (paraphrasing), "why is he playing so much? All he does is make mistakes".

So, Burch looks really out of control in a game. When is the right time? 1 bad decision? 5? Somewhere in the middle? Coaches always get questioned on stuff like this and I'm positive people would be whining if we had a lead, kept a guy in to "work through the issues" and then he contributes significantly to the lead evaporating.

I'm not saying I have the answer but I don't think it's so cut and dry as it seems.

The problem I have is he has no bench other then Burch and Atlason because Meta and Hardtke are not going to give you much on offense or defense. I still think Thomas could help if given more time.

[Tomahawk]

I am like many of the people on this board. Burch has a ton of talent. He just plays out of control. Needs to let the game slow down and he will play better. Hope he does not get discouraged and stays at Bradley. He is super talented. He just needs to "SLOW DOWN"

[Da Coach]

Someone pointed out to me an odd coincidence. There is an official named Gary Maxwell who does a lot of MVC games.
Here are 4 Bradley games he has officiated this season.
1) He officiated the Murray State game in Peoria on Nov. 29 that Bradley trailed by 10 at halftime, and lost 79-72. Murray State shot 15 FTs in the 2nd half to Bradley's 4.
2) He officiated the Bradley game at SIU. Recall that SIU was able to build the lead to 21 points at halftime, and 23 points early in the 2nd half before Bradley rallied to win 70-69 with an unlikely and historic comeback.
3) He officiated the Bradley game at Evansville where UE built a 17 point lead in the 1st half and held on to win 73-70 despite a Bradley 2nd half rally. Malevy Leons fouled out, and a couple other BU players spent time on the bench in foul trouble (Hannah & Hickman). Evansville shot 23 free throws to Bradley's 10.
4) He officiated the Northern Iowa game this past Sunday. UNI built an early 21 point lead, and lead by 18 at halftime. Bradley managed to get within 4 midway through the 2nd half, but lost 74-63. Several Bradley players were in foul trouble. Leons and Jonovic fouled out, and Hannah had 4 fouls.
So Bradley is 1-3 in the games officiated by Maxwell and 0-4 against the point spread.
In each of the 4 games, I thought that Bradley was getting fouls called on them for much less contact than the opposing teams, allowing the opponents to play much more physical that Bradley played.
In each of these 4 games officiated by Maxwell (3 losses and one unlikely comeback) Bradley fell behind early by double digits (12, 23, 17, and 21 points) in games they were favored to win. Maybe the outcomes would have been the same regardless who officiated, but the early fouls seemed to affect Bradley's style of play, and made them less aggressive, while allowing the opponents to be more physical.

But could this incident from last season have some connection?....
In last year's Bradley game at Indiana State, the Sycamores built a double-digit lead in the 1st half, but Bradley rallied thanks to a career game by Zek Montgomery, who scored all 18 of his points in the 2nd half, and BU outscored Indiana State 44-28 in the 2nd half to come back and win 78-67.
Gary Maxwell was involved in a bizarre and unexplainable incident. During a timeout in the 2nd half, Maxwell tried to push his way into the Bradley team huddle while Coach Wardle was talking to his players. He appeared to signal that he wanted Wardle to come out and talk, but, and when Wardle refused to leave the team huddle, Maxwell called a technical foul on Wardle. The announcers were mystified, and we never heard why the technical was called.
Check out the video- https://twitter.com/icetimecleve/sta...56673864105986
Thread from last year- https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/sp...ge5#post506405
Dave Eminian article- https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/...s/69814596007/
Is there more to this between Wardle and Maxwell?

[BUfan39]

Someone pointed out to me an odd coincidence. There is an official named Gary Maxwell who does a lot of MVC games.
Here are 4 Bradley games he has officiated this season.
1) He officiated the Murray State game in Peoria on Nov. 29 that Bradley trailed by 10 at halftime, and lost 79-72. Murray State shot 15 FTs in the 2nd half to Bradley's 4.
2) He officiated the Bradley game at SIU. Recall that SIU was able to build the lead to 21 points at halftime, and 23 points early in the 2nd half before Bradley rallied to win 70-69 with an unlikely and historic comeback.
3) He officiated the Bradley game at Evansville where UE built a 17 point lead in the 1st half and held on to win 73-70 despite a Bradley 2nd half rally. Malevy Leons fouled out, and a couple other BU players spent time on the bench in foul trouble (Hannah & Hickman). Evansville shot 23 free throws to Bradley's 10.
4) He officiated the Northern Iowa game this past Sunday. UNI built an early 21 point lead, and lead by 18 at halftime. Bradley managed to get within 4 midway through the 2nd half, but lost 74-63. Several Bradley players were in foul trouble. Leons and Jonovic fouled out, and Hannah had 4 fouls.
So Bradley is 1-3 in the games officiated by Maxwell and 0-4 against the point spread.
In each of the 4 games, I thought that Bradley was getting fouls called on them for much less contact than the opposing teams, allowing the opponents to play much more physical that Bradley played.
In each of these 4 games officiated by Maxwell (3 losses and one unlikely comeback) Bradley fell behind early by double digits (12, 23, 17, and 21 points) in games they were favored to win. Maybe the outcomes would have been the same regardless who officiated, but the early fouls seemed to affect Bradley's style of play, and made them less aggressive, while allowing the opponents to be more physical.

But could this incident from last season have some connection?....
In last year's Bradley game at Indiana State, the Sycamores built a double-digit lead in the 1st half, but Bradley rallied thanks to a career game by Zek Montgomery, who scored all 18 of his points in the 2nd half, and BU outscored Indiana State 44-28 in the 2nd half to come back and win 78-67.
Gary Maxwell was involved in a bizarre and unexplainable incident. During a timeout in the 2nd half, Maxwell tried to push his way into the Bradley team huddle while Coach Wardle was talking to his players. He appeared to signal that he wanted Wardle to come out and talk, but, and when Wardle refused to leave the team huddle, Maxwell called a technical foul on Wardle. The announcers were mystified, and we never heard why the technical was called.
Check out the video- https://twitter.com/icetimecleve/sta...56673864105986
Thread from last year- https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/sp...ge5#post506405
Dave Eminian article- https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/...s/69814596007/
Is there more to this between Wardle and Maxwell?

If so, that’s ridiculous

[bradleyfan124]

Someone pointed out to me an odd coincidence. There is an official named Gary Maxwell who does a lot of MVC games.
Here are 4 Bradley games he has officiated this season.
1) He officiated the Murray State game in Peoria on Nov. 29 that Bradley trailed by 10 at halftime, and lost 79-72. Murray State shot 15 FTs in the 2nd half to Bradley's 4.
2) He officiated the Bradley game at SIU. Recall that SIU was able to build the lead to 21 points at halftime, and 23 points early in the 2nd half before Bradley rallied to win 70-69 with an unlikely and historic comeback.
3) He officiated the Bradley game at Evansville where UE built a 17 point lead in the 1st half and held on to win 73-70 despite a Bradley 2nd half rally. Malevy Leons fouled out, and a couple other BU players spent time on the bench in foul trouble (Hannah & Hickman). Evansville shot 23 free throws to Bradley's 10.
4) He officiated the Northern Iowa game this past Sunday. UNI built an early 21 point lead, and lead by 18 at halftime. Bradley managed to get within 4 midway through the 2nd half, but lost 74-63. Several Bradley players were in foul trouble. Leons and Jonovic fouled out, and Hannah had 4 fouls.
So Bradley is 1-3 in the games officiated by Maxwell and 0-4 against the point spread.
In each of the 4 games, I thought that Bradley was getting fouls called on them for much less contact than the opposing teams, allowing the opponents to play much more physical that Bradley played.
In each of these 4 games officiated by Maxwell (3 losses and one unlikely comeback) Bradley fell behind early by double digits (12, 23, 17, and 21 points) in games they were favored to win. Maybe the outcomes would have been the same regardless who officiated, but the early fouls seemed to affect Bradley's style of play, and made them less aggressive, while allowing the opponents to be more physical.

But could this incident from last season have some connection?....
In last year's Bradley game at Indiana State, the Sycamores built a double-digit lead in the 1st half, but Bradley rallied thanks to a career game by Zek Montgomery, who scored all 18 of his points in the 2nd half, and BU outscored Indiana State 44-28 in the 2nd half to come back and win 78-67.
Gary Maxwell was involved in a bizarre and unexplainable incident. During a timeout in the 2nd half, Maxwell tried to push his way into the Bradley team huddle while Coach Wardle was talking to his players. He appeared to signal that he wanted Wardle to come out and talk, but, and when Wardle refused to leave the team huddle, Maxwell called a technical foul on Wardle. The announcers were mystified, and we never heard why the technical was called.
Check out the video- https://twitter.com/icetimecleve/sta...56673864105986
Thread from last year- https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/sp...ge5#post506405
Dave Eminian article- https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/...s/69814596007/
Is there more to this between Wardle and Maxwell?

Interesting!!Chris Reynolds should be told of this.. Let him check into it

[Tommy]

I remember that T and great job to whomever recognized that ‘coincidence’. Sounds like there might be something to that and hope something can be done. Those 4 games had a lot of unusual foul calls for certain.

[tomahawk chop]

Maxwell is terrible and seems to not like Bradley for whatever reason. He also is too old to keep up which is why he calls a lot of fouls in order to stop play so he can rest. The guys that officiated our UIC game were really good in not calling a lot of fouls . The thing I hate is the refs that call fouls when the offensive player goes in the lane completely out of control and jumps into the defender who is standing still with his hands straight up.

[Dubl R 1]

Maxwell also officiated the game at Valpo this year and we blew them out from start to finish.

However before That game during warmups when I saw Maxwell was reffing I thought to myself “well he’s gonna screw us again”. But it really didn’t happen.

other than that game I agree that things don’t usually go well for BU when Maxwell is reffing.

[Tommy]

Cursory search on this guy pulls up more than one complaint about him. Guy sounds like a nut. Here's a snippet from the K-State article that tells the whole story:
"I got a technical for waving my hands in the last game, so I didn't wave my hands this game," he said. "Then I got a technical for telling Gary that he was the adult and he needs to act like it, because he was chirping with one of my players.
"I'm always going to defend my guys. When my guys are wrong I am going to correct them. But what Gary Maxwell did and said to my player was not warranted. All I told him was, he's better than that as a person and he's the adult. Then I got a technical for that."
Tang went on to accuse Maxwell of saying inappropriate things to K-State guard Cam Carter, who led the Wildcats with 16 points against the Cougars.
He thinks it was no coincidence that Carter fouled out with 4 minutes, 46 seconds remaining in the game.
"He told Cam Carter that if he wasn't quiet he would get him out of the game," Tang said. "And then he proceeded to call two tick-tack fouls on him. Like, bro, you are the adult here. We can tuck our egos away and say, 'Let the kids play the game.'"

https://www.newspressnow.com/news/regional_news/kansas/k-state-coach-jerome-tang-blasts-big-12-ref-gary-maxwell-after-loss-at-houston/article_213b6da4-4c03-5f4c-8fff-6304c6525461.html

https://www.dailypress.com/2006/02/07/uneven-officiating-in-acc/

https://twitter.com/icetimecleve/status/1615956673864105986?lang=en

[bradleyfan124]

Cursory search on this guy pulls up more than one complaint about him. Guy sounds like a nut. Here's a snippet from the K-State article that tells the whole story:
"I got a technical for waving my hands in the last game, so I didn't wave my hands this game," he said. "Then I got a technical for telling Gary that he was the adult and he needs to act like it, because he was chirping with one of my players.
"I'm always going to defend my guys. When my guys are wrong I am going to correct them. But what Gary Maxwell did and said to my player was not warranted. All I told him was, he's better than that as a person and he's the adult. Then I got a technical for that."
Tang went on to accuse Maxwell of saying inappropriate things to K-State guard Cam Carter, who led the Wildcats with 16 points against the Cougars.
He thinks it was no coincidence that Carter fouled out with 4 minutes, 46 seconds remaining in the game.
"He told Cam Carter that if he wasn't quiet he would get him out of the game," Tang said. "And then he proceeded to call two tick-tack fouls on him. Like, bro, you are the adult here. We can tuck our egos away and say, 'Let the kids play the game.'"

https://www.newspressnow.com/news/regional_news/kansas/k-state-coach-jerome-tang-blasts-big-12-ref-gary-maxwell-after-loss-at-houston/article_213b6da4-4c03-5f4c-8fff-6304c6525461.html

https://www.dailypress.com/2006/02/07/uneven-officiating-in-acc/

https://twitter.com/icetimecleve/sta...105986?lang=en

This guy should not be officiating.

[Da Coach]

I wish there were more details about the incident at that Indiana State game last year.
In the postgame press conference after that game, Wardle was asked what happened. He smiled and said this-
"It's a good team win, guys battled through adversity and a lot of it. They found a way to win. We're going to move on. It was an emotional, competitive game, an intense game. That's what it's all about."

He was obviously reluctant to talk about it, probably out of concern there would be repercussions for criticizing the officiating.
The Dave Eminian article about the game did not contain any additional information - https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/...s/69814596007/
And to my knowledge, nobody has since given any further details about what Maxwell's purpose was for that bizarre effort to push his way into Bradley's timeout huddle or the reason he got his feelings hurt and called a technical. Good thing the technical free throws did not affect the final outcome.

[Tommy]

Can only speculate, but looking at the video my guess would be that he wanted BW to come out of the huddle to talk to him and BW refused so he T’d him up.
Like I said, just speculation, but sure looks that way, and BW’s reaction after the T shows that he was very shocked and surprised by it.

[LittleBrave]

Is something going on with the team? They started out the season playing better and have gotten worse since then. They come out with no energy or drive..Liket they dont care. Last week they had a team meeting and have been playing terrible since. Is there dissension on the team? No team chemistry. Has Wardle lost this team?

I would like to know as well. I feel worse about this time now than at any point in the season. The BU bench (including coaches) almost seemed like this game was not important - very little energy from Wardle until he was fed up.

[LittleBrave]

I am like many of the people on this board. Burch has a ton of talent. He just plays out of control. Needs to let the game slow down and he will play better. Hope he does not get discouraged and stays at Bradley. He is super talented. He just needs to "SLOW DOWN"

This has been my fear all season. This guy has mega talent and Bradley needs to do everything to keep him. I just have a bad feeling, so hoping we get 1 more year out of him.