Bradley vs Michigan State - Discussion Thread

[dogsrus]

I have no idea what to expect from this game. Heh. As long as the 2nd half BU team shows up for the whole game, I'll be happy. I agree that if we dig ourselves in a hole early, it would not be good. This isn't Loyola where we can easily go on a monster run.

If we do get in a hole though, I DO NOT want to see this team just give-up. Somebody better step-up and provide the needed energy to bounce back.

Definitely, Andrew Warren will probably need to step-up as JC will be hounded all night. Unless JC has an absolutely unbelievable game, I can't see him scoring too easily. Theron Wilson and Salley need to stay out of foul trouble, Theron most importantly.

To BU's defense I don't think they had their legs for the Loyola game. Trust me I had that same 16 hour Monday airport debacle and you should have seen ME at work Tuesday.....yikes.

BU should be well rested and ready to go......if 11,400 in white screaming doesn't get em going nopthing will.

Go BU.

[BUconnorD]

To BU's defense I don't think they had their legs for the Loyola game. Trust me I had that same 16 hour Monday airport debacle and you should have seen ME at work Tuesday.....yikes.

BU should be well rested and ready to go......if 11,400 in white screaming doesn't get em going nopthing will.

Go BU.

true story

[BradleyBrave]

Opening Line...

Michigan St -3. I love my Braves...but I would HAMMER the Spartans.

[DUBrave5]

I think we are going to see an excellent game tomorrow. Granted we aren't as big as other schools, but if the crowd stays in the game, Carver Arena can become a difficult place to play. I think that this game stays close all the way until the end and hopefully we can pull it out. Either way I don't see a blowout.

On a side note, drive safe everyone. I just looked at a weather report and apparently they are predicting PM Snow Showers for tomorrow night.

[Chucky T's]

On a side note, drive safe everyone. I just looked at a weather report and apparently they are predicting PM Snow Showers for tomorrow night.

You mean their could be WHITE OUT conditions tomorrow night?

[SFP]

I'd be concerned about Crouch getting shots, but double teams certainly aren't the answer. Watch the old games from this year - we pass very well off those pick and roll plays and get tons of easy layups for the big guys.

Salley isn't a huge threat down low posting up, but he generally doesn't miss layups ...

Salley doesn't miss layups? What games have you been watching this year. Salley may not miss a layup because he fumbles the ball before he has a chance.

They will play JC tough and I believe Warren will have to step up in order for us to have a chance. I believe DR will be DR (which means 16 points, 8 assists and plays great D), hopefully TW stays out of foul trouble and Warren starts off strong, if this happens we will win.

[jasonpeoria911]

-Well I predicted last week that BU will win by 5 in OT. MI State is beatable and if Bradley can keep it close, MSU tends to keel under the pressure at the end, hence losing at UCLA and then barely getting by at Missouri and then the home game barely getting by Oakland. Our shooting is coming around, the new guys are stepping up better each game and we have a huge advantage with it being a home game. It's statistically proven that Carver is a tough place for an away game. MSU isn't to terribly different from Vanderbilt. About the same height, Neitzel is equivalent to Vandys Foster and the rest are fairly equal. They like to take it down low and I believe Bradley can get a big lead if the refs don't call the ticky tack stuff like the Vandy game. Even with all the TO's in that game, BU was clearly the better team when the game was being called evenly. I think we have a much better chance of beating MSU than the away Butler game. If we lose, I at least hope it's close and shows we can compete against top notch competition. After all, Davidson briefly got into the top 25 by losing to the then #1 NC by 3 points. So a close loss could be a gain pending the results of the season.

-Some of you mentioned Crouch being double teamed with Salley in there. The obvious answer is to play DC. I have all the confidence in DC on the offensive end. Shooting 70% FG and great at the FT's. Also has only missed exactly 1 shot in 6 of the 8 games. If DC gets on a roll, Crouch shouldn't have a problem with double teams. Plus with MSU being a bigger team, they may be slightly slower with our quick passing.

Jason

[jasonpeoria911]

Forgot to mention about the snow. It has been updated to snow likely with only an inch or so but it has a day to change its mind. Either way, whats better than some white falling outside to a white out inside LOL.

Jason

[bugregshu]

"MSU isn't to terribly different from Vanderbilt. About the same height, Neitzel is equivalent to Vandys Foster and the rest are fairly equal."

I have to disagree with that statement. While Shan Foster and Drew Neitzel are both very good point guards, they're styles of play are different. Foster is a scorer. He gets the ball and the first thought he would have would be to get a bucket. I think he had 0 assists in the Bradley game. Neitzel is a scary point guard because of his ability to get the entire team involved in a game. He is outstanding offensively and defensively, has an amazing ability to distribute the ball, his assist/turnover ratio this year is excellent, and he possesses a lot of the intangibles in basketball as well. I would say Neitzel is better than Foster.

Also, Vanderbilt had Ogilvy, who I personally think is better than Goran Suton, but still Suton is great. After that the edge has to go to MSU. Who on Vanderbilt resembles Raymar Morgan at all? Everyone is so fixated on the Neitzel-Ruffin matchup, but there is no one on a team we have played so far that has the body and the skill set of Morgan. Throw them out there with Marquise Gray, Travis Walton, and their 3 stud freshman, and I don't see how Vanderbilt is equal in talent to MSU.

With all that said, lets pull one out! Everyone needs to be spot-on, but I think it's do-able. I think the keys are going to be Wilson's defense, Warren's shooting, and rebounding.

[JackTalkThai]

- Plus with MSU being a bigger team, they may be slightly slower with our quick passing.

Thus far in the season, Izzo doesn't appear to have any qualms about going to a smaller lineup where he runs Lucas or Walton at PG, Neitzel at SG, Summers or Allen at SF, Morgan at PF and Gray at C.

While there are some similarities btwn MSU and Vandy, I will say this...Bradley has yet to play a team that rebounds and fast breaks as well off made baskets as MSU does. It's difficult to imagine not being able to get back on defense (especially after a made basket?) until you see it with you own eyes. They outlet and push the ball up the court as quickly as anyone I've seen yet this year.

[Dallas Brave]

Sportsline Preview

http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/gamecenter/preview/NCAAB_20071204_MIST@BRAD

"I read one article an alum sent me that said this is the biggest thing that has happened there in 10 years," Izzo said. "I'm not sure whether we're that big or they haven't had a lot of things that have happened there. But they don't get a Michigan State to come in there all the time. There's no question about that."

[SFP]

I want to give MSU and Izzo the cudos they deserve for comiing to Carver. I know it's a 2 for 1 deal but anyway not every or many top BCS schools for that fact would be willing to play us at home regardless.

This should be a great game in a great atmosphere. GO BRAVES!

[Double D]

Sportsline Preview

http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/gamecenter/preview/NCAAB_20071204_MIST@BRAD

"I read one article an alum sent me that said this is the biggest thing that has happened there in 10 years," Izzo said. "I'm not sure whether we're that big or they haven't had a lot of things that have happened there. But they don't get a Michigan State to come in there all the time. There's no question about that."

It is a big deal because BASKETBALL is a big deal in Peoria and at Bradley. We have big games with great sold out crowds every year. We can even say that we have been fortunate enough to have one of these game in the non conference every 2-3 years (Illinois, Michigan, Depaul, etc.).

There are not many places that would make as big of a deal out of a non conference game on a Tuesday in early December. Sure it is great to have Michigan State in and that has a lot to do with the festvities and excitment. But it is my take that this is as much about Bradley and Peoria showing the rest of the country what kind of basketball town we are.

[dogsrus]

Thus far in the season, Izzo doesn't appear to have any qualms about going to a smaller lineup where he runs Lucas or Walton at PG, Neitzel at SG, Summers or Allen at SF, Morgan at PF and Gray at C.

While there are some similarities btwn MSU and Vandy, I will say this...Bradley has yet to play a team that rebounds and fast breaks as well off made baskets as MSU does. It's difficult to imagine not being able to get back on defense (especially after a made basket?) until you see it with you own eyes. They outlet and push the ball up the court as quickly as anyone I've seen yet this year.

I recall hearing that same type of statement from Kansas fans before we beat them in the NCAA's a few years ago. They even included a picture of a player from Kansas dunking the ball...we all thought it was over right then.

Hey MSU is going to be as good as we have seen....I'm sure they are quick and it will be an upset if we win but we won't get "outquicked".

[Phantom]

Hey Braves fans, just wanted to wish you guys good luck tonight. This is a very tough game obviously but I'm confident your team and fans will be ready. We'll all be pulling for you guys tonight. Go get 'em!