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I think there is some merit in the comment on scheduling. I remember when ISU started out 14-0 and then went 10-10 over their next 20 games when Jank was the Coach. He played noncon patsies like Houston Baptist. I have concerns with a schedule that includes IUPUI, Missouri Science and Technology, SEMO, etc as well as our rebounding strength and athleticism when playing strong programs. I like the depth of the team but...........is BU really a contender in the MVC? Don??™t mean to be a skeptic but I think there are legitimate questions.
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On the flip side though....I think we are much better than what we played like today.Comment
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We have had a problem for several years of not being "ready to play" at the start of the first and the second halves (that is a term that even Coach Wardle has used more than once to explain the problem).
Tonight, after 10 minutes in the first half, Bradley trailed 22-3. One basket and one free throw in the first 10:02 of the game.
Then Bradley only scored 4 points in the first ~6 minutes to start the 2nd half.
I don't recall ever seeing a team that frequently has so much trouble getting their offense going at the start of each half. I realize SDSU is a bigger and more athletic team. But this is a problem that needs to be fixed.Comment
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Your comment points to a two-sided problem. One is recruiting and the other seems to be on the staff. Maybe I am wrong on the source of inspiration.Comment
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I concur, though I think it should be fixable.Comment
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San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher...
???They had a certain degree of toughness with the fact they played a game
Friday night in Peoria, bussed to Chicago the next morning, flew across country
and played a 3 o??™clock game,??? Dutcher said. ???So we knew that would be to our
advantage. That??™s a tough deal for anybody, traveling across time zones and
playing an afternoon game.???
I know there probably was a reason, but can anyone fill me in on why we scheduled like this?
We knew as far back as early June that we'd be playing this game on the west coast Sunday, December 3, why did we put a game on Friday night?Comment
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I really don't like hearing the excuses for getting beat badly by 23.
SD State is not Duke or UNC.
These young men are conditioned well. It's not like they played across 2 times zones and started at noon.
Oh well, let's learn and knock off the next opponent!Comment
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Prior to the start of the season, nobody thought BU was a contender to win the valley this season. The fact that you/we question it now speaks to the overachievement so far, and the thought that maybe they COULD contend.Originally posted by YATittle View Post
The fact is we don??™t know yet. We have several of the key ingredients in place. To me, it will all depend on how well the group responds to and learns from losses and other setbacks. Last years team improved all the way throughout the season, while other teams stagnated.
If this years team improves through the season on a similar scale to last years, it is my opinion we are a contender for top 3. If we stagnate, we could finish average or below, as projected by the experts.
These Braves need to listen to the staff and remain dedicated to continuous improvement, and they could do great things if they do. Will they? None of us knows. As fans we will support them and see where it leads!Compete. Defend. Rebound. Win.Comment
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Originally posted by YATittle View Post
Who is saying Bradley is a contender? They were picked 7th in the MVC Preseason poll. They did not receive a single 1st place vote, like ISU did.
I think they have overachieved so far, but even the most ardent Bradley fans, including me, did not pick Bradley to contend for the top of the MVC.
The real question, is your team, ISU a contender?
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I??™ve followed the Valley since I moved here to work in 1974. I do not think ISU, with their current playing roster, is a contender. But with players back from injury and having the Valley schedule under its belt, it is conceivable that ISU could win the Valley tournament. Good athletes on the roster but weak rebounding right now. Rebounding is also a weakness for the Braves when they play good teams.Comment
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who would ISU get "back from injury" that would help?Originally posted by YATittle View Post
I am sure you will say N'Diaye, but he has been horribly underproductive and inconsistent - plus so often injured...
In 3 years now, he's scored a total of just 69 points and grabbed just 126 rebounds...
Those numbers are DWARFED by what Callum Barker has put up in the same time span!!
Even Scottie James put up consistent numbers and yet you are hanging your hopes on N'Diaye??
Then Clarance- same thing-- he's never played in college before and you are counting on him to be a difference maker? Romine?? Seriously? ISU pretty much better keep the guys healthy that they got because I don't see any help coming
even all the early season gloating about Tinley seems to maybe have been premature...
he plays 30-37 minutes per game and has only scored 29 points all season, hitting 6-35 from the arc (17%)Comment
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I do think Ndiaye can help with his height and shot blocking. Any scoring coming from him would be a bonus. I do not think that he was recruited to be a scorer. Clarance did put up good numbers in high school. Will have to see what he does as a freshman, but at the very least can provide rest for other players. Don??™t know anything about Romine or if he will even come back to the team.
In the past 40+ years I??™ve been to a lot of Bradley games and watched a lot more on television. I want to see Carver and Redbird Arena at full capacity when the teams play each other again. Don??™t you? The old rivalry just isn??™t there like it used to be, and that takes away anticipation and excitement. And for what it??™s worth, I??™ve taken classes from both schools.Comment
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I want to see all MVC teams rise to the level of what Creighton & WSU have been the past few yearsComment
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So do I. It would be great if the Valley was a top ten conference again.Comment
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