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Itoo Hall Meet the Braves event

tornado

tornado

New member
wonders of the electronic era....
I am posting/blogging live from the Itoo Hall and the Spaghetti supper.

When I get time I'll give a longer report but here's a brief report...

The turnout is great!
Unlike past seasons, there was no mass mailing of notices about this late-added event....
and there were no series of notices and ads in the newspaper...
but still it was standing room only....
there were over 300 people there at 5PM, and when the food was served at 5:30PM the line wrapped all the way around the room, over 400 people waiting nicely in line talking Bradley basketball.

I had the chance to talk with several posters, lots of the players, the coach, Dave Snell, etc...
all are energized about a great season ahead.

Here are a few specifics...

--there are going to be even new construction announcements.....to be revealed soon...
--I heard many, many great compliments about the message board and numerous people had nice things to say about Joe's Bradley Braves Examiner!
(Joe, I didn't the credit but I told 'em I'd pass it on....but even the folks at BU like what BF and Joe are doing!)
--I even met some people from the message board that I had not previously known personally...nice to get to know you!
--the players and coach are yet to speak...so someone will cover that later
--Coach Jim Les walked between every table and greeted every attendee personally, shaking hands, and signing autographs.....probably 400+ people!
--food was good....should have had more water available, as you had to stand in line for drinks after getting food.
but it gave a chance to talk with lots of great fans, and a couple of the coaches!
--many people I know came up and said nice and supportive things about the BradleyFans message board. There are a lot of people reading but not posting who really rely on the info posted here...some of them are pretty "official" people who like what they see on BradleyFans and went out of their way to thank us.
--lastly, if this is any indication...without really any notice beyond word of mouth and the posts on BradleyFans about the ITOO event, this is an enormous turnout and suggests this is gonna be a great season!
Lots of people buzzing about the players' development, how tough and solid Sammy, TB, and AW looked, how tall Milos is, how humble and optimistic all the players are.

Next year...there will be no spaghetti supper at the ITOO hall...
I was told that this preseason spaghetti supper will be held at the new On-Campus Arena as the Premier and initial event........
So barring the unforseen...we'll see you next year at the Arena for spaghetti!
 
I just returned from the Itoo Hall event. Nice to see so many fans there.
The women's team has great expectations and should be better this year. There is a large part of their scoring and rebounding back, along with 3 talented freshmen. They will play one more year at the ICC gym. I had a chance to talk with many of the women players, and every one of them are bright and personable.

The men's team was introduced by Coach Les. Here is a brief synopsis what was said about each player-
Jake Eastman- was a little behind the other freshmen in conditioning, but he's catching up. Coach les described him as a great shooter with an all around game, similar to Jeremy Crouch.
Milos Knezevic- Coach Les spent a little time educating everyone how to pronounce Milos' name. It's pronounced "Mi-losh K-nez-e-vich". He was described as a "gym rat" and a good shooter and passer.
Dyricus Simms-Edwards- He's recovered from his right wrist injury that affected for most of this year. Coach Les said DSE is a perfect player for Bradley's style of play.
Jordan Prosser- Coach Les was excited to get both the Class A and Class AA Players of the Year in our area. He described Jordan as a skilled big man.
Ned Goertzen- Ned is a perfect walkon- he has done everything asked of him, and put in as much work as everyone else, knowing he isn't going to play. Coach Les related the funny story about ned going through customs as the team entered Brazil, and he was hauling all the tee shirts the team brought as gifts. Ned was held by customs agents for a hour while the rest of the team waited in their bus, unable to re-enter customs. Finally, Ned used a few tee-shirts as "bribes" to satisfy the Brazilian customs agents.
Eddren McCain- Coach Les said that Eddren was slowed last year a little by a lingering injury to his leg that he never complained about. This season, he is 100%, and has displayed some blazing bursts of speed that he did not show last year. At times, Coach Les said, he has shown "Ruffin-like speed".
Taylor Brown- TB was our best player in Brazil, and was the leading scorer and rebounder. Big things are expected from Taylor this year.
Charonn Woods- Charonn tried out for a walkon spot last fall as a freshman, but didn't make the team. But he became a team manager, helped out the team in many ways, and even became an extra practice player later in the year when the team was shorthanded with all the injuries. So this year he was rewarded with a roster spot.
Will Egolf and Andrew Warren- both are fully healthy, and 100% cleared to play. Everyone knows what they are capable of and we will see great things from these 2.
Anthony Thompson- AT is up to 214 pounds, the heaviest he has been at Bradley. Coach Les said he surprised everyone and played well in stints in Brazil. He will be better this year and will see more playing time.
Sam Maniscalco- Coach Les had some of his highest praise for Sam. He is a kid who doesn't have the greatest natural athletic ability, but he maximizes his abilities, gives supreme effort, and is a great leader.
Ryan Phillips- Ryan's a senior this year, and he played very well in Brazil and was a real spark plug that energized the team in a couple of the games. Ryan has also been the epitome of a great walkon player who has worked as hard as anyone, and done everything he has been asked to do.
Sam Singh- This year there were fewer "old" jokes about Sam than the last 2 years. Probably everyone is tired of them. Sam is back for year 6, and will be a great help to the team, and especially the younger players.
Chris Roberts- Coach Les praised CR as perhaps the most "explosive" athlete he has ever coached. His shooting has improved a lot. Coach described one shooting drill with an automatic rebounding device that returns the ball to the shooter, and records whether the shot was made or missed. Chris made 500 out of 680 shots!
Dodie Dunson- Coach Les finally revealed publically what has been known by many "insiders", that Dodie actually fractured his right hand last year in the BracketBuster game at Loyola. It was an extremely painful fracture, but DD and the team never said anything other than DD had a slight sprain, so as not to give opponents an advantage, and he continued to play through the MVC tournament and the CIT, and he played well. Coach also praised Dodie for his 4.0 GPA last semester, and reiterated that the team had the highest cumulative GPA that the men's basketball teams have ever recorded.

Another great event by the BU athletic staff, and all the volunteers.
 
Da Coach said:
Dodie Dunson- Coach Les finally revealed publically what has been known by many "insiders", that Dodie actually fractured his right hand last year in the BracketBuster game at Loyola. It was an extremely painful fracture, but DD and the team never said anything other than DD had a slight sprain, so as not to give opponents an advantage, and he continued to play through the MVC tournament and the CIT, and he played well. Coach also praised Dodie for his 4.0 GPA last semester, and reiterated that the team had the highest cumulative GPA that the men's basketball teams have ever recorded.
Click to expand...

Since ValleyTalk is down, I can only hope BraveRave is reading this...I hate to say "I told you so"....but I did... ;)
 
Thanks DC...good recap. Saved me alot of typing.:)

Good to see many of board faithful at the event.

Sam M. and AW sat with us to dine.....both are as personable as you would ever want.


If I took anything away from this event that was different then past years is BU is really doing a GREAT job instructing these kids to be approachable and sociable. Obviously some come at it naturally but even the shy ones seem to be getting the message to smile...interact and have fun.

The word for this year is toughness. Jim seemed to stress that no one will outwork us or be mentally and physically tougher. Good to hear.

Any questions to height can be put to rest with Dogs annual "is he taller then me" comparison. I stand next to as many of the BIGS as I can and then ask me friends.....was he taller then me.

At 6" 4" myself these guys are legit as advertised. JP at 6'7"...quite possibly 6'8". Taylor Brown had me by 2" and Roberts by an inch. Milos HAS to be 6'7" and also might be pushing 6'8".

Great time...can't wait for the season to start.

Funniest line of the nite...when Roberts told Les this summer that he had made 500 of 680 shots he took one session with the rebound machine that records your shots as it returns the ball to you..."so Chris, were those layups"...:)
 
Thanks for the updates on behalf of those of us who were unable to attend!

Anyone else have any thoughts on the ITOO Supper tonight?
 
Surrounded by complete class and respectability, I was ... ... ...

Surrounded by complete class and respectability, I was ... ... ...

The girls are going to be so much fun to watch this year. Talking with those I did from the team gave me the happied knowledge of how much they had learned from last year and how strongly the same would be applied to how they approached this coming year. Only because I am thinking of it do I want to remind every one to attend the women's tournament in Saint Louis. The gym used could not be more proper and fit for the event!

The crowd was so positive. So happy. So in the know. So ready to go for the season. I had tears in my eyes most of the night through all of what transpired and left knowing from this first time attending I would never miss this event again.

The food was so good. It did feel funny paying for a soda when the beer provided was free. Regardless, the treats could not have been better.

Focused. Serious. Ready. In fantastic shape. Completely together like a family with Coach Les leading them on as their presumptive father. In tune with one another in a way so exciting one can not help believing this is the year! This men's team is going to be so much fun to watch!!!!! GOD did I ever have fun tonight!!!!! Great company. Great food. Great feelings!!!
 
arabbitwhisperer said:
The girls are going to be so much fun to watch this year. Talking with those I did from the team gave me the happied knowledge of how much they had learned from last year and how strongly the same would be applied to how they approached this coming year. Only because I am thinking of it do I want to remind every one to attend the women's tournament in Saint Louis. The gym used could not be more proper and fit for the event!

The crowd was so positive. So happy. So in the know. So ready to go for the season. I had tears in my eyes most of the night through all of what transpired and left knowing from this first time attending I would never miss this event again.

The food was so good. It did feel funny paying for a soda when the beer provided was free. Regardless, the treats could not have been better.

Focused. Serious. Ready. In fantastic shape. Completely together like a family with Coach Les leading them on as their presumptive father. In tune with one another in a way so exciting one can not help believing this is the year! This men's team is going to be so much fun to watch!!!!! GOD did I ever have fun tonight!!!!! Great company. Great food. Great feelings!!!
Click to expand...

I know how you feel. I've been going to this event since it started several years ago, but just back in town and had to miss my first one. There is no other event, before or after the season, that compares to it. I always enjoy watching the look on the player's faces, especially the newcomers, when they walk through the door and see and hear the crowd. They have to realize right then that they have made the right choice in choosing to be a Brave. Welcome aboard. Don't be a stranger. The board can always use someone as fired up as you.
 
A few more thoughts...

I was pleased to meet Wizard...a reader of the board for years - a guy who knows everyone, but a poster only for the past year...
and it's great to know, now, I am, not the oldest person on the boards!!
 
tornado said:
A few more thoughts...

I was pleased to meet Wizard...a reader of the board for years - a guy who knows everyone, but a poster only for the past year...
and it's great to know, now, I am, not the oldest person on the boards!!
Click to expand...

I thought that honor might have belonged to Chico...but I could be mistaken! ;)
 
PTownHawkeye said:
Thanks for the updates on behalf of those of us who were unable to attend!

Anyone else have any thoughts on the ITOO Supper tonight?
Click to expand...

Had a great time (as always) attending the kickoff of the BU basketball season. The food was good, and I enjoyed sitting with some of the players (Ryan Phillips, Jake Eastman, DS-E).

My biggest takeaway from the event was the interaction of the players. They seem to really enjoy each other's company (as evidenced by their reaction to Drew's imitations of Superfan, Sammy, DD, and the Coaches Bish). They appear to be a very close-knit group, which will hopefully pay dividends on the court when the season begins.

In addition to meeting the players and listening to the coaches, what I enjoy as much as anything is seeing old friends who love BU basketball as much as I do. It's good to get reacquainted with friends/co-workers, as well as seeing former/current posters on the Board.

I can't wait for the season to begin...Go BU!! :)
 
9 days until practice starts
10 days until the Preseason Gala/Auction
20 days until MVC Media Day and the announcement of preseason honors
24 days until the first preseason exhibition/scrimmage
32 days until the first exhibiiton game at Carver
37 days until the season opener at BYU
39 days until the first home game
5 weeks until LOI's can be signed
 
Just a couple of things to add.

1. While in line, we had the pleasure to talk at length to Dodie Dunson. I have to say that Dodie is a very impressive gentleman and an outstanding representative for the BU team. Both my friend and I who talked to Dodie came away extremely impressed with him. :)

I also had a chance to briefly meet Chris Roberts as I had him sign my BU-Oakland ticket stub. Chris gave me a strange look when I asked him to sign my ticket stub, then he laughed when he saw the game printed on the stub. Another nice guy.

Last but not least, I am glad to hear that this event is being moved on campus to the new arena next year. Congrats to the person in the athletic department responsible for this great idea. :D
 
Itoo Hall

Itoo Hall

Tornado: Thanks much for the kind post. Enjoyed meeting you, Coach, and others. A great event and I'm looking forward to a great season---I have a gut feel that this season may be a very plesant surprise for all BU fans.
 
Me too..but the very first game at BYU will be tough...
likely they will be the class of the MWC as everyone is picking them #1 in the MWC...
The game AT BYU on Nov. 13 is the very FIRST regular season MVC game against a D-I opponent..so the Braves had better be ready!
 
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