"Going from left for dead to NCAAs?"

[tornado]

Dave Reynolds' column this morning in the PJ Star,

http://pjstar.com/stories/020408/DAV_BFM81GP8.W02.php

[MacabreMob]

Nice article from DR.

Look out, though.... this kinda thinking can get us looking past an opponent.

[tornado]

I am not looking past anyone....but I sure would love to be playing Saturday night for the 2nd seed in the MVC!

[BradleyBrave]

The headline is a bit misleading, but Reynolds tells the truth. We're whole, we know our role(s), and we're on a roll. Why stop now?

[Beninator]

Nice article from DR.

Look out, though.... this kinda thinking can get us looking past an opponent.

Agree, but so far I havent seen this from the team.

It's an old cliche, but one game at a time...

[IlliBraves]

I see he also mentioned who has purchased tickets for the MVC tourney. For a team ranked in the top 15 (almost certain to happen when rankings are released) in the country and atop the Valley standings with a perfect record, Drake doesn't seem to be getting too much support from its fans.

[BU ICEMAN]

What strikes me about the article is that Dave was smart enough never to mention the words: "at-large berth."

[tornado]

I see he also mentioned who has purchased tickets for the MVC tourney. For a team ranked in the top 15 (almost certain to happen when rankings are released) in the country and atop the Valley standings with a perfect record, Drake doesn't seem to be getting too much support from its fans.

Indeed............let me post what you are referring to....

Here are the figures for the sales of all-session tickets for the MVC Tourney in St. Louis,
a month away, by each of the member schools......

"........through Jan. 31, with 2007 numbers in parentheses:
Southern Illinois 1,734 (1,579)
Creighton 1,559 (1,442)
Wichita State 1,125 (2,574)
Bradley 1,000 (500)
Northern Iowa 650 (399),
Illinois State 604 (216)
Missouri State 505 (677)
Drake 290 (100)
Evansville 275 (191)
Indiana State 150 (106).

Last year's tournament drew a record 85,704, including sellouts of 22,612 for both the semifinal and championship rounds."

Wow....Bradley has sold double what we had last year, and the Shockers are going to be scarce by comparison to last year.
At least ISU and Drake have tripled their all-session sales!!

[Headless Bobcat]

2 things:

First, fans and sportswriters are allowed to look past whatever opponent they want. Contrary to popular belief, we have little to no effect on the game. No amount of my "focus" is gonna mean a lick. As long as the team is focused (which I'm sure they are) things are fine. So everybody can relax.

Secondly, Dave Reynolds makes no mention of the NCAAs. Looks to me like there's an over-zealous headline writer at the PJS.

But all-in-all, it's a pretty impressive run by the Braves and things are certainly looking up.

[tornado]

....... Contrary to popular belief, we have little to no effect on the game. .....

I disagree 100% and I know almost every player, fan, and coach would disagree also.
Have you ever noticed that Bradley over long stretches of time, wins over 80% of their home games, but loses more than 50% of it's road games.
I have shown that this is true for even some of the top D-I programs, such as Wisconsin and even Illinois. There is a HUGE discrepancy between playing at home in front of your own fans and playing on the road in front of hostile fans. So you may think we have little or no effect, but the effect IS there even if you are unwilling to see it or acknowledge it.

I'd just defer to comments made by every single one of the BU players and coaches after the fans were so awesome up in Michigan in 2006.

[ph]

Secondly, Dave Reynolds makes no mention of the NCAAs.

I beg to differ: (While technically the words "NCAA Tournment" do not appear together..)

Thursday night in the Valley tournament has become a distant thought for the Braves, who now have their sights set on a much more glamorous Thursday night (or afternoon or Friday afternoon or night) in March.

[TheAsianSensation]

If we could've closed out either Vandy or Butler, I would feel about 10000000% better about our at-large chances.

Seriously.

Run the table to the MVC tourney finals and we're in, IMO.

Either way, we're in prime jockeying position for a #2 seed in StL. Let's get it done.

[BradleyBrave]

If we could've closed out either Vandy or Butler, I would feel about 10000000% better about our at-large chances.

Seriously.

Run the table to the MVC tourney finals and we're in, IMO.

Either way, we're in prime jockeying position for a #2 seed in StL. Let's get it done.

I had a similar conversation with some friends of mine. I said if we ran the table and lost Sunday we were an NCAA lock. They weren't so sure. I say close your eyes and look at a 23-11 record, winning 15 of 16 to close out the year with an SOS and RPI in the top 50, and you have yourself a textbook at-large team. Open your eyes and add to that an injury to a potential all-american, and there's your bid.

Let's just win the darn thing and not have to worry about this scenario!

[dogsrus]

I disagree 100% and I know almost every player, fan, and coach would disagree also.
Have you ever noticed that Bradley over long stretches of time, wins over 80% of their home games, but loses more than 50% of it's road games.
I have shown that this is true for even some of the top D-I programs, such as Wisconsin and even Illinois. There is a HUGE discrepancy between playing at home in front of your own fans and playing on the road in front of hostile fans. So you may think we have little or no effect, but the effect IS there even if you are unwilling to see it or acknowledge it.

I'd just defer to comments made by every single one of the BU players and coaches after the fans were so awesome up in Michigan in 2006.

In all fairness to Headless T I don't think he was talking about homecourt fans. I THINK he was simply saying its OK for fans to "look ahead" or not "take one game at a time". In THAT context we, the fans, have zero impact on the game.

[BU ICEMAN]

I had a similar conversation with some friends of mine. I said if we ran the table and lost Sunday we were an NCAA lock. They weren't so sure. I say close your eyes and look at a 23-11 record, winning 15 of 16 to close out the year with an SOS and RPI in the top 50, and you have yourself a textbook at-large team. Open your eyes and add to that an injury to a potential all-american, and there's your bid.

Let's just win the darn thing and not have to worry about this scenario!

Two words: Missouri State.