Interesting Statistical Tidbit About Bradley

[PTownHawkeye]

I was just looking over some statistics from the previous few seasons and noticed something interesting. In the past 4 years, the Braves have had 4 players averaging double figures each year:

2004-2005
Sommerville
Bennett
Boogie
POB

2005-2006
Sommerville
POB
Bennett
Boogie

2006-2007
Franklin
Crouch
Ruffin
Andrews

2007-2008
Crouch
Ruffin
Warren
Wilson

I wonder how many other teams in all of college basketball have achieved this? Drake was the only other team in the Valley to even have 4 in double figures this year.

I checked the stats of several other college basketball teams and the only other one I found on a quick check was pretty successful this year...Kansas. Who on BU would be in double figures next year?

My prediction is...
Warren
Wilson
Sammy
Thompson

[mportsch]

With a quick check, here's a couple teams that come close:

• UMass had 4 guys in double figures the past two years, and 3 guys the two seasons before that.
• North Carolina had 4 guys in double figures the past two years, then 3 the year before that, then 5 the year before that.

I haven't been able to find another team that has done it over the past 4 years, and I'm beginning to doubt anyone else has done it.

Here's what I see as the keys to being able to accomplish something like that:

Good to great offense
Fairly fast Tempo
No single dominant scorer

Here's where Bradley ranked nationally in offensive efficiency and tempo over the past 4 years:

......Offense... Tempo
08..... 45 ...... 67
07..... 33 ...... 85
06..... 70 ...... 41
05.... 165 ..... 35

Jim Les has certainly shown the ability to consistently put a good offense on the court at a fast tempo. Defense has been the difference between great and just decent seasons. Over the past 4 years, here's where Bradley has ranked nationally in defensive efficiency:

...... Defense
08..... 143
07..... 104
06..... 11
05..... 98

As you can see, the defense in 2005-06 was excellent, and that resulted in the Sweet 16 run. That team had one of the better shot-blockers and defensive rebounders in the nation in Patrick O'Bryant, but they also got a lot of steals (led by Tony Bennett and Daniel Ruffin) and did a great job defending the three. If Les can get Bradley playing that great defense again without sacrificing too much on offense, the Braves can really make some noise again. Can Anthony Thompson can become the dominant shotblocker the Braves need?

[cpacmel]

Xavier had 4 players average double figures. They had a 5th player who averaged 9.9 points per game and a 6th player average 9.7 points per game.

[romar]

Xavier had 4 players average double figures. They had a 5th player who averaged 9.9 points per game and a 6th player average 9.7 points per game.

The point made was that it has happened at BU 4 years consecutively. Has X had that kind of production the last 4 years?

[cpacmel]

The point made was that it has happened at BU 4 years consecutively. Has X had that kind of production the last 4 years?

I undertand that, but X was .4 away from having 6 guys this average double digits. Think about that.

And yes for the last years X has had atleast 4 players that average double digits.

[MacabreMob]

I undertand that, but X was .4 away from having 6 guys this average double digits. Think about that.

And yes for the last years X has had atleast 4 players that average double digits.

I'm an X fan dating back to Lumpkin-Brown-Posey-D Williams Freshmen year.

They had a very balanced attack in their 4 year run.

I did not know they had such balanced numbers the last 4 years. I think it is great!

[bugregshu]

3 of the last 6 years Xavier had 4 players average double figures

The other 3 years they had 5 players average double figures

WOW

[Braves4Life]

All great points about our double digit scorers, however I think BU needs a standout scorer of the Sommerville, Parker, Hawkins, Phegley, Dye, etc. mold in order to be very successful. All of BU best years seem to occur when the team has a 'superstar" or "go-to" player. It is no coincidence that BU got on a run this year and began winning and competing consistently once Crouch got into the groove and became a near 20-point scorer.

For BU to be successful next year we need that "take charge", "give-me-the-ball" player who can average 18-22 ppg and score in double figures EVERY game. We need Andrew Warren to be THAT guy!

[JasonAtBradley]

For BU to be successful next year we need that "take charge", "give-me-the-ball" player who can average 18-22 ppg and score in double figures EVERY game. We need Andrew Warren to be THAT guy!

Or Theron Wilson...

[Out of Balance]

Or Theron Wilson...

I don't why but I keep having these visions of TW shooting and slashing to the hoop to lead BU from the 3 spot and not playing out of position at the 4!

[ph]

Offensively, it does not much matter who is playing positions 2,3,4 in this system. They all need to be outside guys that can drive inside.

The only difference is on defensive energy expended. It would be nice to have a "fresher" TW that does not have to guard the other team's stronger 4. If TW only had to guard a 3, he may have better engery available to be more productive on the O end.