BU vs CU

[Bravesfan]

But we were still picked to be a top 2 team in the Valley and an NCAA contending team long after Williams, Brown, Fears, Buycks, etc. were out of the picture. I don't think it is valid to use that as an excuse.
The problem is that all the depth and talent we were thought to have just didn't pan out...and TCS, Collins, Egolf, and Austin were a large part of that underacheivement of this year's team.

I have to disagree with you a bit here. TCS and especially Collins have improved greatly toward the end of the season. The others, yes I agree. Very limited depth (ironic considering this was supposed to be our strong point this year!) is what did us in, even with Ruffin in the lineup. Having said that, Ruffin tried to do too much tonight and had a subpar game, IMO.

But I feel good about next year in that our returning players have more experience thanks to the playing time earned during Ruffin and Warren's absence, and hopefully we can obtain some depth next year as I think we have the makings of a great starting five. And look what Drake did this year with lots of unknowns. It could happen to us next year!

[ph]

I have to disagree with you a bit here. TCS and especially Collins have improved greatly toward the end of the season. The others, yes I agree. Very limited depth (ironic considering this was supposed to be our strong point this year!) is what did us in, even with Ruffin in the lineup. Having said that, Ruffin tried to do too much tonight and had a subpar game, IMO.

But I feel good about next year in that our returning players have more experience thanks to the playing time earned during Ruffin and Warren's absence, and hopefully we can obtain some depth next year as I think we have the makings of a great starting five. And look what Drake did this year with lots of unknowns. It could happen to us next year!

You must mean Austin greatly improved. DC regressed from a seemingly OK Michigan State game.

Dave Reynold's comment about not being worse next year does give me reason to hope more.

[TNel]

D

Say what you will about lack of size, four-guard offense, injuries, threes not falling. Good teams can overcome that with solid, 40 minute defense. Something we've had only in spurts this year. Case in point: ISU. Just watched them win despite a very lackluster overall game with OE, their marquee player, stinkin' it up for most of the game. But they played belly button-to-belly button defense the entire game. Same players as last year. Bought into the new system. 23-8 and on their way to The Dance.

[ph]

Say what you will about lack of size, four-guard offense, injuries, threes not falling. Good teams can overcome that with solid, 40 minute defense. Something we've had only in spurts this year. Case in point: ISU. Just watched them win despite a very lackluster overall game with OE, their marquee player, stinkin' it up for most of the game. But they played belly button-to-belly button defense the entire game. Same players as last year. Bought into the new system. 23-8 and on their way to The Dance.

Still think size is a problem for this team's D. By design, our guards gamble to get a steal, but no big paint defender is waiting..

[RaiderOfBradley]

Hello all,

It took me nearly 24 hours to get the MVC tournament loss out of my system, but now I can talk about it!

The game was basically decided in the first half. We couldn't hit the broad side of a barn and Creighton was hitting pretty much anything they put up. Our defense was good in the first (and better in the second, hence the nice comeback), there's just some days when you can't do anything against a team that is on fire.

The Salley call close to the end made no sense. Either he was in the act of shooting and should have got two shots or should have got the basket and one. I didn't see ANYTHING resembling a foul before he put the shot up but you can't rely on one call to turn a game.

As far as any postseason, we might get a road game in the NIT (a long shot, admittedly) or fall to the CBI (which I despise). Thus it seems that this year could be done.

I believe we will be a better team next year. Sam M. got some valuable experience this year with the injuries to Ruff and AW and, if he can control that "hell bent for leather" approach he takes, he'll be even better (there is sometimes you have to just WALK the ball up, Sam!).

Theron and Andrew would be best in the 2-3 positions and interchangeable at the same time. Thompson, if he can put some bulk on his frame, will be solid and Rashad is going to be a very good player next year. I personally like Sam S. because he does the dirty things (defense, rebounding) that are necessary. If Collins gets a heart transplant and toughens up, he MIGHT be something next year.

Add in a good recruiting class and they buy into the system and we will have a solid team next year. Overall, I am looking forward to it. The 2008-9 team will be surprising and we could have a more successful season than this one.

[ER3]

Hello all,
Our defense was good in the first (and better in the second, hence the nice comeback), there's just some days when you can't do anything against a team that is on fire.

Our defense was not good in that game...it was horrible. Go back and count the number of layups and wide open threes that we gave Creighton. The reason Creighton made so many threes in the first half was because every single one was uncontested. Cavel Witter destroyed Ruffin over and over in that game and we gave up layup after layup because he couldn't stop him from beating him off the dribble.
They hit their open shots in the first half, but we certainly didn't make it difficult for them...

[pfunk880]

Our defense was not good in that game...it was horrible. Go back and count the number of layups and wide open threes that we gave Creighton. The reason Creighton made so many threes in the first half was because every single one was uncontested. Cavel Witter destroyed Ruffin over and over in that game and we gave up layup after layup because he couldn't stop him from beating him off the dribble.
They hit their open shots in the first half, but we certainly didn't make it difficult for them...

Agreed.

[BradleyBrave]

We lost because we didn't shoot well and didn't defend. It's that simple. We were better than CU, and I think most folks who've seen all 3 games between the teams would agree. But, we lost 2 of 3. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why.

[real fan]

Just got back and I agree that our defense was once again terrible as Creighton was getting wide open shots , the bad call on Salleys basket hurt our final opportunity to try and salvage a win but you can"t let a team that I feel we were better then have such a huge lead because we failed to guard their best shooters; I think the coaching staff put our players in a position to win but some of our players did not stick to the game plan.