Coach Wardle interview in Greg & Dan this morning, Friday 8/28

[yoda]

Player | WMBD 1470 & 100.3

wmbdradio.com

Summary
- small talk
- happy to be done with the schedule - stressful
- five really good teams that had good years last season & supposed to be good this year- challenging - North Texas, George Mason, Davidson, Pacific x 2
- can't get anyone to come for home-and-home, calling everyone, begging...called every high major, reached out to everyone
- the delay to August was because teams get to a stage where "they have to play you" when it gets late and they have to find someone with openings
- then discussed all the players. returnees & new guys
- Josh Ibukunoluwa "can shoot the three"
- Georgi, he thinks, would have been "All Valley"
- Just had a recruit visiting yesterday (Lyris Robinson) and showed him all around and credited President Shadid for helping show around
- they went down to the Civic Center and saw the renovation of the floor (installing cooling system for hockey)
- Trevon Payton - very good, energetic, passionate, "blue collar"
- Dietrich - high major talent, shooting the 3 better
- lots of international talent

 

[Kososaur]

- can't get anyone to come for home-and-home, calling everyone, begging...called every high major, reached out to everyone

We've played at other majors in the past without a return visit, so are we now refusing those games? I don't like it, but if it's your only chance at a game like that you have to take it.

 

[Dub]

Player | WMBD 1470 & 100.3

wmbdradio.com

Summary
- small talk
- happy to be done with the schedule - stressful
- five really good teams that had good years last season & supposed to be good this year- challenging - North Texas, George Mason, Davidson, Pacific x 2
- can't get anyone to come for home-and-home, calling everyone, begging...called every high major, reached out to everyone
- the delay to August was because teams get to a stage where "they have to play you" when it gets late and they have to find someone with openings
- then discussed all the players. returnees & new guys
- Josh Ibukunoluwa "can shoot the three"
- Georgi, he thinks, would have been "All Valley"
- Just had a recruit visiting yesterday (Lyris Robinson) and showed him all around and credited President Shadid for helping show around
- they went down to the Civic Center and saw the renovation of the floor (installing cooling system for hockey)
- Trevon Payton - very good, energetic, passionate, "blue collar"
- Dietrich - high major talent, shooting the 3 better
- lots of international talent

Yoda thanks for the recap. This right here is what makes the fan community special. Our HC happens to give a quick preseason interview to the local AM radio, and a dedicated fan takes the time to author a “just in case you missed it” post for his fellow man.

 

[yoda]

Thank you Dub....
and...

We've played at other majors in the past without a return visit, so are we now refusing those games? I don't like it, but if it's your only chance at a game like that you have to take it.

But I think Coach Wardle is saying that he did personally call & try to get those "high majors" to play us,
but they won't because they fear getting beaten on their own home court by a solid mid-major.

That's why the big schools choose the Kennesaw State's and the Evansville's for their cupcake buy-games.
Note that the Valley bottom dwellers always play a couple of those games at, say Kentucky, Indiana, Purdue, etc...
Remember- under Jim Les, Bradley had an 8-0 stretch vs Big-12 & SEC teams, and they probably have never forgotten that... won't even answer the phone.
Also, Illinois views Bradley as a recruiting rival, so they won't answer the phone.

 

[bradleyfan124]

Thank you Dub....
and...

But I think Coach Wardle is saying that he did personally call & try to get those "high majors" to play us,
but they won't because they fear getting beaten on their own home court by a solid mid-major.

That's why the big schools choose the Kennesaw State's and the Evansville's for their cupcake buy-games.
Note that the Valley bottom dwellers always play a couple of those games at, say Kentucky, Indiana, Purdue, etc...
Remember- under Jim Les, Bradley had an 8-0 stretch vs Big-12 & SEC teams, and they probably have never forgotten that... won't even answer the phone.
Also, Illinois views Bradley as a recruiting rival, so they won't answer the phone.

Plus I believe Illinois stated they would never play Bradley again after we walloped them in Chicago several years ago

 

[MAK77]

Plus I believe Illinois stated they would never play Bradley again after we walloped them in Chicago several years ago

Ah... that was 1974 (I was a BU Sophomore then). Game was at the Chicago Stadium.
I did go to a BU-Illinois game at the United Center in the 90's. We lost.

 

[Da Coach]

Plus I believe Illinois stated they would never play Bradley again after we walloped them in Chicago several years ago

In the "Chicago" game I think you are recalling, it was actually Illinois beating Bradley in a very close game 75-71 at the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates, just outside of Chicago, in the Chicago Challenge Invitational Nov. 25, 2006.-
Recap- https://bradleybraves.com/news/2006/11/26/696081.aspx
Stats- https://bradleybraves.com/news/2006/11/26/696085.aspx
Peoria Richwoods grad and star Illinois guard Jamar Smith was not supposed to play due to an ankle injury. He had missed the previous 5 games for the Illini and Illinois Coach Bruce Weber stated before the game that he planned to rest Smith against Bradley to ensure he was healthy for Illinois' next couple games against #23 ranked Maryland three days later and then at #16 ranked Arizona. But with Illinois trailing Bradley, Bruce Weber surprised everyone and pulled Smith off the bench and put him in the game. He went wild and scored 14 points in 17 minutes to win the game for Illinois and keep them undefeated.
Ironically, Smith probably aggravated his ankle injury by playing against Bradley, because he played only 15 minutes and was scoreless in Illinois' next game against Maryland, and then he did not play at all against Arizona, as the Sun Devils easily defeated the Illini.

It was Nov. 28, 2009 where Bradley and Illinois met again 3 years later and Bradley won in the Las Vegas Invitational at the Orleans Arena. Bradley lead most of the game and beat the #20 ranked Illini 72-68, with all 5 Bradley starters scoring double-digits-
Recap- https://bradleybraves.com/news/2009/11/29/204841463.aspx
Stats- https://bradleybraves.com/news/2009/11/29/204841452.aspx
After the loss, Illinois head coach Bruce Weber, reportedly spoke to the disappointed Illinois fans who attended and said he was never going to schedule Bradley again. There is no verification that he said those exact words, but I recall that some Illini fans reported it on their fan message board, so the story was born.

 

[bradleyfan124]

In the "Chicago" game I think you are recalling, it was actually Illinois beating Bradley in a very close game 75-71 at the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates, just outside of Chicago, in the Chicago Challenge Invitational Nov. 25, 2006.-
Recap- https://bradleybraves.com/news/2006/11/26/696081.aspx
Stats- https://bradleybraves.com/news/2006/11/26/696085.aspx
Peoria Richwoods grad and star Illinois guard Jamar Smith was not supposed to play due to an ankle injury. He had missed the previous 5 games for the Illini and Illinois Coach Bruce Weber stated before the game that he planned to rest Smith against Bradley to ensure he was healthy for Illinois' next couple games against #23 ranked Maryland three days later and then at #16 ranked Arizona. But with Illinois trailing Bradley, Bruce Weber surprised everyone and pulled Smith off the bench and put him in the game. He went wild and scored 14 points in 17 minutes to win the game for Illinois and keep them undefeated.
Ironically, Smith probably aggravated his ankle injury by playing against Bradley, because he played only 15 minutes and was scoreless in Illinois' next game against Maryland, and then he did not play at all against Arizona, as the Sun Devils easily defeated the Illini.

It was Nov. 28, 2009 where Bradley and Illinois met again 3 years later and Bradley won in the Las Vegas Invitational at the Orleans Arena. Bradley lead most of the game and beat the #20 ranked Illini 72-68, with all 5 Bradley starters scoring double-digits-
Recap- https://bradleybraves.com/news/2009/11/29/204841463.aspx
Stats- https://bradleybraves.com/news/2009/11/29/204841452.aspx
After the loss, Illinois head coach Bruce Weber, reportedly spoke to the disappointed Illinois fans who attended and said he was never going to schedule Bradley again. There is no verification that he said those exact words, but I recall that some Illini fans reported it on their fan message board, so the story was born.

You are correct. I remember it was Webber that said that. I guess I got confused on what town the game was in..lol

 

[yoda]

....
After the loss, Illinois head coach Bruce Weber, reportedly spoke to the disappointed Illinois fans who attended and said he was never going to schedule Bradley again. There is no verification that he said those exact words, but I recall that some Illini fans reported it on their fan message board, so the story was born.

LOL
and recall, when Wichita State was living their ego trip, and ditched the MVC heading to the American Conference,
All Time favorite Head Coach Gregg Marshall famously stated he was never, ever going to schedule Bradley again.

Here's one of BradleyFans' posters, 64NIT, back in 2018 referencing that Twitter feud with Gregg- LINK

and here's a thread discussing it - LINK

 

[tomahawk chop]

What about the good mid major schools, Wright St. like to get Tulsa back Oakland also., no need to try and get BCS teams period.

 

[Da Coach]

What about the good mid major schools, Wright St. like to get Tulsa back Oakland also., no need to try and get BCS teams period.

I think the same issues exist with trying to schedule the better mid-majors. I know Bradley has tried to get more on the schedule. Most come from one-bid conferences and they need to be very careful who they schedule and need to avoid non-conference losses that can be used to eliminate their at-large chances.

 

[Kososaur]

I think the same issues exist with trying to schedule the better mid-majors. I know Bradley has tried to get more on the schedule. Most come from one-bid conferences and they need to be very careful who they schedule and need to avoid non-conference losses that can be used to eliminate their at-large chances.

At-large chances are about 0, schedule games that are going to get good attendance and help your finances.

 

[egib52]

I think the same issues exist with trying to schedule the better mid-majors. I know Bradley has tried to get more on the schedule. Most come from one-bid conferences and they need to be very careful who they schedule and need to avoid non-conference losses that can be used to eliminate their at-large chances.

This seems like a contradiction or at least a pipe dream. As Valley fans are well aware, one-bid conferences are one-bid conferences regardless of how well the non-champion is. It would seem to me that winning against good mid-majors is better than playing low majors and hoping the committee lets you in with 28 wins against what they see as inferior competition.

 

[yoda]

..........get good attendance and help your finances.

speaking of attendance...

who can cite the TWO HIGHEST ATTENDANCE HOME GAMES in Bradley Basketball history??
If you cannot recall - here are the answers....

- December 4, 2007 - LINK (11,597)

- then barely more than a year later, January 6, 2009 - LINK (11.592)

so you can ignore all the idiots, pundits, and ex-PJStar writers who claimed that Bradley basketball's decline started in the early 2000's, when it is quite clear
that Bradley basketball was still in its heyday and running strong all the way to the end of the decade & the JL era, then tanked massively after that.