Final score: Bradley 118 Indiana State 65

[tomahawk chop]

This is always the same biggest concern that fans express every year, and I'm sure it is a priority for the coaches. Landing a quality big man is extremely difficult at the mid-major level. You can count on one hand the quality big men in the MVC any year. Right now in the MVC, among the top 20 scorers in the league, 16 are guards and only 4 are labelled as "forwards" (Cooper Schwieger, Chase Walker, Jonathan Pierre, and Jaden Daughtry), and none are centers. It demonstrates how difficult and rare it is to acquire a quality big man.
Yet this coaching staff has been very good, and arguably better at bringing in talented and quality forwards & big men than most other MVC teams.
Each year, they have landed forwards and/or big men who can score and rebound, and who have contributed to Bradley's successes.
For the record, here are the top forwards/big men recruited each year.
2016- Koch Bar
2017- Elijah Childs
2018- Ja'Shon Henry
2019- Rienk Mast
2020- Darius Hannah
2021- Malevy Leons
2022- Christian Davis
2023- Almar Atlason
2024- Corey Thomas

Combined with the terrific guards this staff has consistently landed, it has allowed Bradley to play at a high level, average over 20 wins per year for the past 7 seasons, and win multiple post-season and in-season championships. Give them a chance. I am optimistic that they will restock the roster with the right talent again.

I would love to have a J.Henry or E.Childs type of player on this team, a 6-6 or 6-7 tough rebounding player. Those type of forwards are what we have been missing lately. I know Leons was great yet he was different in how he played which was pretty much outside.

[Tommy]

I would love to have a J.Henry or E.Childs type of player on this team, a 6-6 or 6-7 tough rebounding player. Those type of forwards are what we have been missing lately. I know Leons was great yet he was different in how he played which was pretty much outside.

I think the rest of the MVC would kill to have Hannah, Atlason, and Davis. Childs was a different beast altogether and was as close as anyone as we've had to being an NBA prospect. If we ever get another guy like Childs, I doubt we'll be able to hang onto him with the current NIL and open portal rules. That being said, Malevy stuck around (bless that guy's soul - we love you Malevy!).

[BUBraves2006]

This is always the same biggest concern that fans express every year, and I'm sure it is a priority for the coaches. Landing a quality big man is extremely difficult at the mid-major level. You can count on one hand the quality big men in the MVC any year. Right now in the MVC, among the top 20 scorers in the league, 16 are guards and only 4 are labelled as "forwards" (Cooper Schwieger, Chase Walker, Jonathan Pierre, and Jaden Daughtry), and none are centers. It demonstrates how difficult and rare it is to acquire a quality big man.
Yet this coaching staff has been very good, and arguably better at bringing in talented and quality forwards & big men than most other MVC teams.
Each year, they have landed forwards and/or big men who can score and rebound, and who have contributed to Bradley's successes.
For the record, here are the top forwards/big men recruited each year.
2016- Koch Bar
2017- Elijah Childs
2018- Ja'Shon Henry
2019- Rienk Mast
2020- Darius Hannah
2021- Malevy Leons
2022- Christian Davis
2023- Almar Atlason
2024- Corey Thomas

Combined with the terrific guards this staff has consistently landed, it has allowed Bradley to play at a high level, average over 20 wins per year for the past 7 seasons, and win multiple post-season and in-season championships. Give them a chance. I am optimistic that they will restock the roster with the right talent again.

Really good list! I would support this and counter the disappointed posts two other ways:

1. Every program has to have optics to it, especially for kids who might not know much about Bradley. Coach Wardle has built this family loyalty aspect to the program and while it might be in the recruiting pitch, I think it has to come across that he means it when he gives out an extra scholarship or two to guys who have helped push the key players to new heights by being part of the practice squad. That says that you're more than just a cutthroat school only concerned about winning - I see this is a big factor on why Darius and Duke came back.

2. Everybody wants playing time and a good window towards getting it. Someone like Jaquan can see that once Duke's eligibility is gone, he has a path to being the starting PG. Someone on the outside could see our team for this year and go - they are returning Atlason, Davis, Hannah, Meta and bringing in this new Thomas guy. How many 4/5 minutes will be there for me? (Argue Davis is a 3, it's fine but you get my point.) I would have looked at this on the surface and said that the opportunities would be lower than on a new team with a lot of new players where it would be a bit more of an open competition.

While you might have wanted even more "bodies", the reality is that these two points help support the feeling that many of these other late portal guys may not have been the right fit (for them or us).

[tomahawk chop]

Really good list! I would support this and counter the disappointed posts two other ways:

1. Every program has to have optics to it, especially for kids who might not know much about Bradley. Coach Wardle has built this family loyalty aspect to the program and while it might be in the recruiting pitch, I think it has to come across that he means it when he gives out an extra scholarship or two to guys who have helped push the key players to new heights by being part of the practice squad. That says that you're more than just a cutthroat school only concerned about winning - I see this is a big factor on why Darius and Duke came back.

2. Everybody wants playing time and a good window towards getting it. Someone like Jaquan can see that once Duke's eligibility is gone, he has a path to being the starting PG. Someone on the outside could see our team for this year and go - they are returning Atlason, Davis, Hannah, Meta and bringing in this new Thomas guy. How many 4/5 minutes will be there for me? (Argue Davis is a 3, it's fine but you get my point.) I would have looked at this on the surface and said that the opportunities would be lower than on a new team with a lot of new players where it would be a bit more of an open competition.

While you might have wanted even more "bodies", the reality is that these two points help support the feeling that many of these other late portal guys may not have been the right fit (for them or us).

I am not talking about just bodies, it is more about players that can actually contribute in giving them scholarships. Heck I would rather have given the Metamora kid Mason a scholarship because he knows how to play and could come in and actually score in a game.

[daveineureka]

Hoping we start doing a better job of rebounding and not allow so many points in the paint. UIC had 30 points in close. Wardle and staff have I hope have certain players in mind to help in that area for next year. My old coach used to say you need glass eaters to play inside with the mentality of a junkyard dog. Simply put to get more than the teams fair share of rebounds against your competition. Have no doubt they will bring in players to fill the front court. Only can hope they can be impactful players. We will definitely need that considering what we lose next year. "GO BRAVES"

[Bradley8792]

. Just giving out scholarships because they are good persons and students is not the way to go in my opinion.

I think this plays into the selection more than we would think. Over the years we’ve had our fair share of players that were athletic, but train wrecks off the court.

[BUfan17]

When you break it down that way, that's an impressive list. And let's not forget Ari Boya was no chump, and I suspect Meta is going to continue to improve.

I think Meta has quite a lot of potential, probably more than Ari. He is decent on defense and if he could only develop a few post move he would be quite a challenge for other teams. I saw him think about it in the UIC game, he needs to at least attempt some post moves and get our shooters open.

[BengalFan14]

I’m predicting that Coach will go with a 3 headed monster at the 5 tomorrow. Combo of Almar, Corey and Meta will play. Linke if there is foul trouble or a need for some toughness.

[tomahawk chop]

I think Meta has quite a lot of potential, probably more than Ari. He is decent on defense and if he could only develop a few post move he would be quite a challenge for other teams. I saw him think about it in the UIC game, he needs to at least attempt some post moves and get our shooters open.

Ari was so much better defensively then Meta is now. Meta has some time left to improve but he needs to play some in every game. We cannot not play him for several games and expect him to improve.

[LittleBrave]

I'm not disappointed that the Braves didn't "go hard" after more guys. Wardle plays 7-8 and sometimes 9.
I don't want someone with equal talent taking time from Burch, Atlason, Thomas - the more minutes they get, the better their chance of returning next season. These 3 guys are capable of being leaders in the next couple seasons as we continue adding talent (3 Freshmen among others). Definitely need to go for a big man who can score down low and defend.

I have little doubt that our sophomores (let's face it - most Braves who end up with nice BU careers struggle in Year 2) will blossom and be a big part of Bradley basketball in the next couple seasons should they decide to stay.

[Dubl R 1]

I’m predicting that Coach will go with a 3 headed monster at the 5 tomorrow. Combo of Almar, Corey and Meta will play. Linke if there is foul trouble or a need for some toughness.

I don't think Linke brings any toughness whatsoever to the game...in fact, I think our toughness level goes down.
I don't dislike Linke, and I'm sure he's been a valuable piece to the team....guys can bring lots of plusses to the team in practice, as a teammate, and countless other ways, but right now, for in game situations I just don't see the advantage of playing him before Meta, or Thomas in any facet of the game.

[Tommy]

I don't think Linke brings any toughness whatsoever to the game...in fact, I think our toughness level goes down.
I don't dislike Linke, and I'm sure he's been a valuable piece to the team....guys can bring lots of plusses to the team in practice, as a teammate, and countless other ways, but right now, for in game situations I just don't see the advantage of playing him before Meta, or Thomas in any facet of the game.

Would have to agree that he shouldn't take minutes from Thomas or Meta, but it never hurts to have another big to put in that can give a couple fouls and a breather to your other bigs. Linke is pretty strong when he has the ball (imo) and he seems to do a good job blocking out. I think he's actually better at blocking out than just about anyone on the team as this has been a real weak spot for us this year, hence the large number of offensive rebounds we give up.

[Dubl R 1]

Would have to agree that he shouldn't take minutes from Thomas or Meta, but it never hurts to have another big to put in that can give a couple fouls and a breather to your other bigs. Linke is pretty strong when he has the ball (imo) and he seems to do a good job blocking out. I think he's actually better at blocking out than just about anyone on the team as this has been a real weak spot for us this year, hence the large number of offensive rebounds we give up.

He may block out well, but for 2 games in a row he played he had as many rebounds as you and I...zero. (in 14 min of play.).....in the last 3 games he has played 23 min and gotten a total of 2 rebs. In that same time he hasn't scored any points, so, idk, to me, at 6'9" with those numbers...unless we are in DEEP foul trouble, I just don't see the value....and after 5 years I'm not sure he's gonna have a breakout game.

[Dub]

He may block out well, but for 2 games in a row he played he had as many rebounds as you and I...zero. (in 14 min of play.).....in the last 3 games he has played 23 min and gotten a total of 2 rebs. In that same time he hasn't scored any points, so, idk, to me, at 6'9" with those numbers...unless we are in DEEP foul trouble, I just don't see the value....and after 5 years I'm not sure he's gonna have a breakout game.

Haha. Good debate.
RR, I agree with you generally speaking on this one... but there have been a few weak-sauce games from Meta in the past that frankly Linke was the "tougher" option. But right now, no. I agree.

[Tommy]

He may block out well, but for 2 games in a row he played he had as many rebounds as you and I...zero. (in 14 min of play.).....in the last 3 games he has played 23 min and gotten a total of 2 rebs. In that same time he hasn't scored any points, so, idk, to me, at 6'9" with those numbers...unless we are in DEEP foul trouble, I just don't see the value....and after 5 years I'm not sure he's gonna have a breakout game.

Fair point, but you can find single games where any of our players put up crap stats, and most of them have far more opportunity than Linke. I just don't think it's fair to judge him so harshly with the limited playing time he's had, and if you go strictly off the numbers, he's got more rebounds per minute played this season than both Thomas and Meta. Now that's based off of 28 minutes of playing time against much more for Meta and Thomas, but if we're giving a fair comparison on the opportunities they've had, I think it's only fair to consider:
Meta - 3.45 rebounds/min.
Thomas - 3.7 rebounds/min.
Linke - 5.6 rebounds/min.