Final score- Bradley 85 Murray State 83

[BUfan14]

Feels like this team has the talent to be ranked, but they just can never put it together for a full game at a time. This leads to frustrating losses and close calls against mediocre teams that feel like BU should never lose to.

I think it’s more roster construction than talent. The last couple years we had no guard depth, which cost us. This year we mostly filled the guard depth, but we have a few holes which weren’t filled from last year - strong defenders (Leons, Hick), a taller ball handler (Hick), and rebounding (Leons). We essentially replaced those two with Zek and a bunch of role players and left a couple scholarships for end of bench guys. We really bet big on Atlason and Burch showing growth from last year and neither seemingly has, at least consistently. Think of the lineup from that regular season conference champion (Mast, Leons, Zek, Hick, Deen with Henry, Hannah, Ville, Davis on the bench). and that team still couldn’t become a top 50 team and couldn’t beat Drake or come close in Arch Madness. We didn’t have enough shooting or guard depth despite the overwhelming talent of that lineup. This year we can shoot, but turn the ball over and don’t defend or rebound consistently.

People get on Brian’s in game coaching, but I think he’s actually pretty good at adjusting (we certainly come back a lot), and he’s draws up good plays a lot. Our offensive system could run more sets, but overall pretty good to me. The subbing is erratic at times, but who are we really clamoring should get more consistent minutes? Maybe Burch?

Overall Brian is a really good coach. He develops players well.

I think his biggest problem and the one thing holding us back from the next level is roster construction. We needed a taller combo guard to take the pressure of Deen and give teams a different look (Hick’s role), and we needed a strong post guy who could bang a little down low and rebound. We filled those roles with Zek and Thomas. Zek’s a talented player, but he should not be the third point guard on a championship team, and defense is not his thing. Thomas has talent and is still probably our most talented five man, but he plays on the perimeter a lot and despite being a solid rebounder is not what I would call a banger down low. Then for depth we added Timo, Biliew, Dillon, and Linke/Hartdke. We’ve been incredibly lucky injury wise for a few seasons now. I wish Jim Les had had that injury luck. But that shows all the more that the sum of our parts never seems to equal the whole. When I look at that 22-23 team, I can’t believe that roster wasn’t top 50. But it’s not just about talent, it’s also about how all the pieces fit together. Atlason is a prime example - he’s played out of positions for two years now because we haven’t had a true five and the four spot has been taken. Again, I love that Brian is our coach, and I still think we’re good, but if we’re looking at getting to the next level, that’s what I think he needs to look at. Not easy for a mid-major I know, but clearly he can land talent and develop players. And I hope in a couple weeks we are dancing and none of these struggles matter. But I still want to be Drake at some point.

[houstonbrave]

I largely agree with you except as much as I like him I don’t know where to play Al. He has trouble guarding a 5-I agree but most 4’s will drive right past him.

[bigjimmy]

I largely agree with you except as much as I like him I don’t know where to play Al. He has trouble guarding a 5-I agree but most 4’s will drive right past him.

Almar is just not physical enough to play against a big and hasn't learned how to move his feet quick enough to play against a perimeter player. However you can put him on the wing in a zone defense. Offensively in 6 of our first 9 games he was in double figures. In all of the games since January 1, other than the one exceptional game against Belmont where he scored 28 on 11-15 shooting, he's 16-47. I've constantly heard he's our best shooter in practice. Not sure why it's not been translating in games.