A BRAVE finish - Have we Lost Hope??

[Stryker]

3 scholarship guards on the roster for a potential 3 days straight in STL is not a winning combo. The league has figured out how to play physical with our guards. Love this team but we just don’t have the horses right now. Wardle needs to fill those last 3 scholarships with difference makers.

Couldn't agree more. UNI was mauling the guards the other night. Defenders literally had a hand on the ball handler at all possible times it felt like. Refs just let the hand checking go.

[LittleBrave]

I have not lost hope for a brave finish to answer your question. Not at all.

I haven't lost hope either Dub, but I wish I could feel good about our chances and the way we're playing in late Feb. It starts tonight to right the ship.

[BUFAN1]

We need to finish 3-1 which means tomorrow is a must win. The Tour. will be tough and your first round game will not be easy so our bench will need to step up and contribute on both ends. This is why I think it was important for both freshman and Thomas to get minutes in these games. Hoping coach can be more calm in directing the team in these games.

Just FYI, Matt Hackman on twitter shows that if we get 2 more wins, we get the bye.

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[BUFAN1]

I would rather play ISUb Sunday, their depth as bad as anyone's if not the worst, get them when they are as tired as possible.

Let's not forget our own coaches decided to play only 5 guys vs UNI. If anybody should be concerned about depth, it should be us. Or at least concerned about the coaches decisions. "This game is too big for them" Like really?

[tomahawk chop]

Let's not forget our own coaches decided to play only 5 guys vs UNI. If anybody should be concerned about depth, it should be us. Or at least concerned about the coaches decisions. "This game is too big for them" Like really?

It is a bad time for our coach not trusting some of his players after this many games.We pretty much only have 7 players that are capable of scoring 10 or more points so not playing two of them does not help our chances of winning. Hoping this all gets straightened out tonight because we badly need a win.

[LongTimeFan]

The people responsible for players that can help Bradley win are sitting on the bench. I know several disagreed with me earlier when I mentioned the lack of depth mostly due to this year's portal experience. I know I will hear about it again.

[LittleBrave]

I'm not a fan of Jonovic (with regard to his game) and would rather see Thomas play more. He is more athletic and has better touch, and seems to have more fire. Sitting Burch last game really was disappointing as he's been a key to the bench and providing a spark. I would guess if his minutes dwindle, he will NOT be back next season. The kid has so much potential and hustles more than anyone else on the court.

[PattonMD]

After tonight's game, I'm convinced Thomas will leave for the portal after this season. Although Linke played surprisingly well, I still think Thomas is good enough to be in the rotation and has the potential to be a starter in a year or two, but he didn't even see the floor at then end when the benches emptied.

[ChiTownBrave]

I think we can agree that getting the 2 seed is all but shot right? So challenging your guys, and calling them out without doing so by name, is a move that could benefit in the long run. We are all but assured the 3 seed, and even if we slip to 4th, it doesn't materially change Arch Madness.

In my mind, what does change after the MOst game is it confirmed that we have a guy in Duke Deen who can single handedly win us a game in St. Louis. A performance like that is capable of taking down anyone. 13-17 FG / 9-12 3PT can beat anyone on any night. Coach called out his guys after UNI and they responded.

After the INst loss in OT, and the Drake loss, the 1 seed and at-large bid were gone for Bradley, and like most people there was probably some mental letdown. They righted the ship against a team that beat Drake and lost to INst by 2. Peaking at the right time is important, and I think that's what is happening.

[LittleBrave]

Well I feel slightly (ok, ok - SO MUCH) better about this team after last night's game. I still don't think we were totally as sharp as we have been in past Valley games, but the seniors (Duke & Leons) lifted us and had a sense of urgency that every game and every possession counts as senior leaders.

As tremendous a show that Duke put on in the 2nd half, it was Leons who got the Braves going with key shots in the paint, giving them separation, and they ran away with it.

I think the play of the game was Burch's bullet pass to Hick at his ankles with 2 sec. on the shot clock and then Hick nailing the 3 as the clock expired.

[Da Coach]

Yes, maybe we should retire this "lost hope" thread.

[tomahawk chop]

I'm not a fan of Jonovic (with regard to his game) and would rather see Thomas play more. He is more athletic and has better touch, and seems to have more fire. Sitting Burch last game really was disappointing as he's been a key to the bench and providing a spark. I would guess if his minutes dwindle, he will NOT be back next season. The kid has so much potential and hustles more than anyone else on the court.

This Thomas, Jonovic and now Linke thing is troubling this late in the season.I think Thomas has a higher upside then Jonovic period. I could see him leaving and then being a good player wearing another uni. next 2 seasons.I just do not get recruiting so many players that either do not fit your system or do not practice hard enough that you bench them. We have lost 2 players that have become stars at Missouri and Ind. ST. because they did not fit in here for whatever reasons. Recruiting and retaining players needs to be a lot better because you cannot continue to bring in a bunch of new ones every season.

[LittleBrave]

Yes, maybe we should retire this "lost hope" thread.

Well, it wasn't intended to be that, but just more trying to figure out how we can regain hope we once had this season.

[tomahawk chop]

Kyle Thomas had 13 points, 7 rebounds in 19 minutes for Eastern in their upset of Iowa last season in Iowa City which proves he has the ability to be good.

[LittleBrave]

Kyle Thomas had 13 points, 7 rebounds in 19 minutes for Eastern in their upset of Iowa last season in Iowa City which proves he has the ability to be good.

Just doesn't make sense TomaH - he's shown flashes this season too with blocking, rebounding, mobility, free throws, and brings high energy.
Maybe his attitude is an issue?