Lathan Sommerville commits to Washington

[BleedRed4]

I also see people wanting Cooper Koch, this is his 2024-25 season
We can do better than Cooper, sorry but just because he’s from Peoria doesn’t mean he’s going to be an immediate impact which is what we need.
When you look at his numbers from last year- is it fair to say that he only got in when either the team being played isn’t that great OR they’re going to win by 20+ ??
Theres much better 5’s out there.. Bradley can’t be set on this guy either

[Da Coach]

As a team over the past 5 years- what have we done?

Wow, that's the most negative screed I've seen in a long time. Bradley is not a Power 5 big school and never will be. I don't think any coach will be bringing in 4-star and 5-star kids at Bradley or at any MVC school. Nor is any MVC team going to be dominating the Power 5 teams or making a big run in the NCAA Tournament.

And, you left out the 2021 MVC Tournament championship and NCAA appearance. In fact, other than a nice fortuitous run by Drake, no other MVC team has had the success Bradley has had over the last 5-6 years. No team other than Drake has won more games, or won more championships than Bradley. No team has had more All-MVC players than Bradley. And, Bradley has consistently finished in the top half of the MVC in most, if not all, offensive categories. And this past season, the shooting percentage numbers were among the top in all of D1.

The coaches are doing a great job recruiting, IMO, although, as you said, let's be realistic, they aren't going to land McDonalds All-American candidates. This recruiting class is looking good, so far. The two Peoria area recruits are among the finalists for 2025 Illinois Mr. Basketball, and the other might be the most talented of the three. And I am confident the coaches will add to this class with a quality big man or two.

And why take shots at Koch? He had multiple Power 5 offers, and is a very skilled young man. He'd be a terrific player in the MVC, though he is not a "5". For the record, he was playing behind some pretty good players at Iowa, and then was injured most of the year, and shut down. - https://www.si.com/college/iowa/bask...ws-cooper-koch

[bradleyfan124]

I also see people wanting Cooper Koch, this is his 2024-25 season
We can do better than Cooper, sorry but just because he’s from Peoria doesn’t mean he’s going to be an immediate impact which is what we need.
When you look at his numbers from last year- is it fair to say that he only got in when either the team being played isn’t that great OR they’re going to win by 20+ ??
Theres much better 5’s out there.. Bradley can’t be set on this guy either

I think Cooper is a really good player and would help Bradley jump to the next step. Bradley should never give up trying to get the upper level players. If you quit trying then you quit trying to excel. A few years ago who would have thought that Bradley would get 2 players up for Player of the Year in Illinois

[Tommy]

Let’s be realistic here as fans- Bradley isn’t going to land some big name from D1. We would be lucky to land a 3star player- we don’t even have near the $$ to pay these kids, the kids reality of money has been inflated (kinda like the inflated dreams of some BU fans).
As a team over the past 5 years- what have we done? We made it to the 2020 NCAA- cancelled. We’ve been to the NIT 3x, and after this year it was the farthest we’ve advanced. BU doesn’t have the a resume to adhere to the requirements of $ from the players.
McCollum brought in D2 players and dragged damn near every Valley school. Repeat that- D2 players!

A little add- in to this is maybe it’s our coaching staff too- we all witnessed 0 offensive plays all year. A stupid 3 man weave at the top of the key that barely works, and then a high ball screen from our center and then can’t get the pass to the screener…
And we think we are good enough to land a high D1
recruit?? We gonna continue this ridiculous offense with good players too?

We need a big man, actually a couple of them-
do we even have anyone in the coaching staff that is able to teach our big man? I’m gonna say no because look at our past years- Reink being an exception-Hannah progressed over the 4 years but it wasn’t enough. Meta, Koch Bar, Ari Boya… meta has improved the most outta those 3 IMO but is Meta a true force in the Valley?- No.

I’m willing to bet if Bradley tanks this freshman class coming in- Wardle is going to be bye bye.

Bradley’s NIL better dig really deep into their pockets because roughly $500,000 in NIL isn’t going to bring any rockstar players here.

Latham for example is not a rockstar and he wants close to a MIL..

B4Red, can you tell me something you do like about Bradley Basketball? Anything in the BW era that you thought was fun, entertaining, and/or successful? Was this season a complete loss in your opinion?

While I share your frustration with the NIL and the NCAA’s attempt to squeeze out mid-majors, I think we’ve still been blessed with a fun and successful program, and have been fortunate to be able to follow a lot of our kids through their entire college career here, which is more than even most PC’s can say.

Just curious what you like about BU and what your expectations for the team are.

[Steve Zalutsky]

Tommy, well said! Let's be positive! Bradley has become one of the top mid-major teams in the country during the BW Era! I doubt we could have landed top 3 star and a 4 star recruit without our past success! Why not set the Bar high? If Gonzaga or St Mary's can have continued success, why not us especially with our storied past! Maybe it's impossible to win the NCAA tourney, but a sweet 16 run or final 4 run should not be out of the equation!!!!! Let's go for Lathan, a hometown hero or Koch or some undervalued 3 star or a great Division 2 player! We have the Marketing ability to attract really good players! We are a Basketball only proud program and we can compete for some really decent players! Let's see how our team shapes up for next year! I'm really excited!

[Kososaur]

Let’s be realistic here as fans- Bradley isn’t going to land some big name from D1. We would be lucky to land a 3star player- we don’t even have near the $$ to pay these kids, the kids reality of money has been inflated (kinda like the inflated dreams of some BU fans).
As a team over the past 5 years- what have we done? We made it to the 2020 NCAA- cancelled. We’ve been to the NIT 3x, and after this year it was the farthest we’ve advanced. BU doesn’t have the a resume to adhere to the requirements of $ from the players.
McCollum brought in D2 players and dragged damn near every Valley school. Repeat that- D2 players!

A little add- in to this is maybe it’s our coaching staff too- we all witnessed 0 offensive plays all year. A stupid 3 man weave at the top of the key that barely works, and then a high ball screen from our center and then can’t get the pass to the screener…
And we think we are good enough to land a high D1
recruit?? We gonna continue this ridiculous offense with good players too?

We need a big man, actually a couple of them-
do we even have anyone in the coaching staff that is able to teach our big man? I’m gonna say no because look at our past years- Reink being an exception-Hannah progressed over the 4 years but it wasn’t enough. Meta, Koch Bar, Ari Boya… meta has improved the most outta those 3 IMO but is Meta a true force in the Valley?- No.


I’m willing to bet if Bradley tanks this freshman class coming in- Wardle is going to be bye bye.


Bradley’s NIL better dig really deep into their pockets because roughly $500,000 in NIL isn’t going to bring any rockstar players here.

Latham for example is not a rockstar and he wants close to a MIL..

And I thought I was a pessimist. Yes, you're right, we're not going to land a big name, and I'm okay with that. The current dealings with free agency every year and players going to the highest bidder are really turning me off from college sports. I doubt that I could cheer for a team of free agents - in what way does that represent my school? No thanks, I'll cheer for the kids who commit to the school and the program, even if that means tourney success is unlikely.

What Wardle has done is to clean up the program, bring in kids with character, and got them to buy into his system. Look at our player retention rate - I don't see many other teams keeping the players the way we do, and I think there's something to that. I was embarrassed by some of the legal issues that were happening before Wardle, and we don't hear anything like that anymore. That to me is more important than anything else. Would I like more NCAA tourney appearances, more NIT wins? Sure, but I'm not willing to trade that for the integrity Wardle has instilled into this program. And 20 win seasons are nothing to sneeze at. It's disappointing to go into a season with championship expectations and not get them, but it would be even more disappointing to not be able to have those expectations. Wardle is not perfect, but I am happy with what he's done and where the program is. I would be very disappointed if the administration had any thoughts whatsoever about replacing him. And I'm sure anytime you're willing to throw some money into the NIL pot the collective would be happy to accept it.

[Steve Zalutsky]

Cooper Koch back to Iowa. He feels that's his home as his father played Their! On to the next possibility! It was a longshot.It is disappointing because he would have been a hometown hero, but you never know in this environment, he still could come to BU in next couple years! What's more Important is we keep our freshman recruiting class! Coach Wardle has done very well keeping his past players! His biggest Challenge will be to keep his best recruiting class intact in the years to follow!!!!

[Da Coach]

Cooper Koch back to Iowa. He feels that's his home as his father played Their! On to the next possibility! It was a longshot.It is disappointing because he would have been a hometown hero, but you never know in this environment, he still could come to BU in next couple years! What's more Important is we keep our freshman recruiting class! Coach Wardle has done very well keeping his past players! His biggest Challenge will be to keep his best recruiting class intact in the years to follow!!!!

Hoping he gets back to 100% and has a great career at Iowa. From everything I have heard, he is a terrific young man and comes from a great family. And good luck with the appeal for a redshirt year. I think he has a better chance to get that at Iowa, than if he headed elsewhere.

[yoda]

I also see people wanting Cooper Koch, this is his 2024-25 season
We can do better than Cooper, sorry but just because he’s from Peoria doesn’t mean he’s going to be an immediate impact which is what we need.
When you look at his numbers from last year- is it fair to say that he only got in when either the team being played isn’t that great OR they’re going to win by 20+ ??
Theres much better 5’s out there.. Bradley can’t be set on this guy either

Bleed4red,
surely you know that mid-majors aren’t ever going to get the 4-star & 5-star kids & blue chippers,
so one option is to get the under-recruited kids who you see potential in.
That’s how Bradley landed Darius Hannah, Connor Hickman, Duke Deen, Zek Montgomery, etc….
They were all kids that either weren’t getting any Power-5 attention or who had major injuries in high school that caused all the big schools to drop off.

Every mid-major has a few recruiting missed but if you don’t take a chance on the guys with potential, you’ll never get the kids like I noted above or guys like Cellus, Walt or Jaquan

[Steve Zalutsky]

Back to Lathan Sommerville! Do we stand a chance in any of the next 3 years? I mean he could transfer 2 more times! Can the Bradley Collective raise enough money to match other schools offers? I bet if they really want a home town hero, they would find a way! However, Sommerville may want to do it his own way and doesn't care about his Father's success and history at Bradley. Then again on the other hand, I have to think he's thought about staying home and being a home town star! I don't think BU will ever be out of the equation in the next few years. I just wish I knew where his head was at! If the Bradley Collective sent out word that they needed funds to keep Lathan home, I as well as many others I believe would contribute! Plus those at the top of the collective are not poor and I really believe if they want, they will find the $$$$!

[Da Coach]

Back to Lathan Sommerville! Do we stand a chance in any of the next 3 years? I mean he could transfer 2 more times! ...

Sure, Bradley has a chance if his priority is to play in his hometown in front of his family. Prior to NIL days, that used to happen often.

Can the Bradley Collective raise enough money to match other schools offers?...

Not a chance.

[Steve Zalutsky]

I'm sorry to hear that our Collective can not raise the funds needed to match other schools offer. I guess then as you say coach, Lathan would want to have to stay in Peoria. Obviously, then he would have to give our Collective a Hometown discount. I Guess now with NIL $, if any of our 3/4 star Freshman shine brightly next year, the Odds of keeping them will be pretty low. Valparaiso is losing its Allright Star Freshman who I really enjoyed watching when he played Bradley. All we can do as fans is enjoy one year at a time and hope for the best! Plus we still have 2 more years to Possibly watch Lathan stay home and Play, if he doesn't commit this year!

[yoda]

Sure, Bradley has a chance if his priority is to play in his hometown in front of his family. Prior to NIL days, that used to happen often.



Not a chance.

intertesting - just a thought -- lots of local businesses pony up big chunks just to rub elbows with the staff and in the BSS room, but won't pony up to get good players?
Meanwhile a handful of average, private fans/donors give just as much, confidentially and out of the limelight, and are appreciated way more
than anyone knows. Anyone remember when the Bradley AD did an online chat, and one guy who perennially buys "nosebleed section" tickets
asked the question whether the "nosebleed section fans" were just as important to the program as the high money donors?
The AD's answer was funny - he said flatly - NO, that the big money donors are the lifeblood of the program and Bradley Basketball would
collapse if they stopped giving. Interestingly, we have an actual example of that happening, when late in 2015, a bunch of fans/donors did pull
their gifts & support, and a couple months later, everyone from the Coach to the AD to the Univ Prez were sent packing, saving
the program from collapse and dropping down to DIII, which was Mike Cross' plan all along.

[Steve Zalutsky]

Wow, Yoda, What a Story! A proud historical program could have Dropped to Div.3!? Well, St. Francis Did and many around that school are not Happy. It does make me wonder due to the ever dividing line of Majors/ Mid-Majors if that will happen more often? It also seems with more Majors opting out of the NIT, if that now is the new Mid-Major Championship!? We Know how Proud Peoria would have been if we made it to at least the NIT Final 4! I Remember in 1982-83 when Bradley was overlooked, I believe Dick Versace said, We will win the NIT! The NIT does have Quality Mid-Majors and it's great when a mid-major wins it! Sometimes I think moving forward, it may be more thrilling for BU to win the NIT, then just make the NCAA tournament and be a pretty big Underdog even in the first game! There is no shame in Bringing home a mid-major title!

[CarolinaBrave]

Sometimes I think moving forward, it may be more thrilling for BU to win the NIT, then just make the NCAA tournament and be a pretty big Underdog even in the first game! There is no shame in Bringing home a mid-major title!

Getting blown out in the first round of the NCAA is MUCH better than winning the NIT. Back in 82 it was a different ball game in many different ways than today. There were only 48 teams in the NCAA, significantly fewer D1 hoops programs, etc. Don't get me wrong winning the NIT would still be a good way to end a season but I will take Drakes season this year over BU winning the NIT this year every single year.