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Bradley's seven (Div. I) virgins
- Thread starter Scouter
- Start date
tornado
New member
I can hardly dispute anything he says, and we all saw how all those juco players at ICC last year were strong at the juco level but failed to blossom at the D-I level.
It is rare that a juco kid really has an impact at D-I...not non-existent, so don't throw out the few rare examples, but there are terribly few.
Even Boogie, Will, and Zach were fine players, but not really impact players, and each reallt took a year.
So, I agree with everything Kirk says.
Here is a thread from a few months ago showing just how FEW of the top juco players actually did much at the D-I level, and how most did little to nothing.
http://www.bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4250
It is rare that a juco kid really has an impact at D-I...not non-existent, so don't throw out the few rare examples, but there are terribly few.
Even Boogie, Will, and Zach were fine players, but not really impact players, and each reallt took a year.
So, I agree with everything Kirk says.
Here is a thread from a few months ago showing just how FEW of the top juco players actually did much at the D-I level, and how most did little to nothing.
http://www.bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4250
BradleyBrave
New member
One could argue Jim Les did too. Now we've got to start building with 4 year players, which I think we've started with Warren, Maniscalco, Egolf, and Thompson. We need to keep trending towards the 4 year player, and get the JUCO only when there's an immediate need.
This is why I am totally against bringing in so many JUCOS as you do not have them in your system long enough and if they are not fundementally sound then you are in trouble as 2 years goes by in a hurry; with that being said we were told how good they were playing this summer ( other then Austin) so we expected a lot more out of them earlier rather then later.
houstontxbrave
New member
This is exactly true. But the JUCO's for the most part were brought in out of need rather then want. But if I am correct that means without the need we would not have TW. But I also think, wasnt Austin a late need type of JUCO recruit.
This of course was all created by the losses of Fears, Williams and Brown. But they all had their chances to play at the D1 level and lost that chance.
basketball nut
Active member
It would be nice to see this one in the PJS. I am no different then the other posters that say we expected more this year but I guess if we were as smart as we think, and should be, we would have realized that most players take 1 and some 2 years to develop into a decent D1 player. I was just talking to a couple of guys today about this very thing and how so many of our jc players have not contributed until their senior year. I for one am guilty of thinking that this team was going to be very hard to beat and I still feel that they could be a force to be reckoned w/ by the MVC tourney. I really think that AT reshirting was a great move because now he comes in w/ one year of adjusting to the rigors of D1 ball
V
VromanFan
Guest
Very good points made by Wessler.
Not to play the "what if" game but man if just one or two other of the JUCO's along w/ Wilson were ready to contribute this year we might be in a very different situation...if Ruff doesn't get hurt...if if if if.....
Not to play the "what if" game but man if just one or two other of the JUCO's along w/ Wilson were ready to contribute this year we might be in a very different situation...if Ruff doesn't get hurt...if if if if.....
MacabreMob
New member
Just if we hadn't gone to the Sweet16 we could have MAYBE snared a couple JUCO's that are playing well as SR's this year for ISU.
Ahhhh.... what a sick world we live in.
Without success we woulda had....
With success we get....
Just gotta keep on keepin' on.
Ahhhh.... what a sick world we live in.
Without success we woulda had....
With success we get....
Just gotta keep on keepin' on.
BradleyBrave
New member
Well, unfortunately, we won't see or know the dividends of that recruiting run until Maniscalco, Egolf, and Thompson are juniors/seniors. All 3 of those kids cited the Sweet 16 run as an influence on their decision. I personally think all 3 of them are a good foundation to build upon.
Part of me feels like we completely blew our opportunity to build a CU/SIU-type program where 20 wins is the norm. Maybe DR's injury cost us a few games, but I have a feeling we'd have been a little disappointed anyways. Injury or not, who knows what we would be if Johnson, Sikes, or Bright had decided on BU rather than where they went.
MacabreMob
New member
Agreed BradleyBrave completely.
I suppose a little of my underlying point was the high expectations in B/N last year fell FAR short and now look at 'em.
And that is 2-fold. I am not bitter over players we don't have... just showing how players we were in the hunt for are doing well.
But then look at it - and KW's point - next year, we might see more from these JUCO's.
I suppose a little of my underlying point was the high expectations in B/N last year fell FAR short and now look at 'em.
And that is 2-fold. I am not bitter over players we don't have... just showing how players we were in the hunt for are doing well.
But then look at it - and KW's point - next year, we might see more from these JUCO's.
mrcoachdude
New member
he's been reading my posts 
he's been reading my posts
Well you made a great point with that thread you started!
DUBulldog
New member
There are not nearly as many good juco players now as there were back in the 80's. Back then, any player who didn't make grades out of high school went to juco....now, most of them go to prep school for a year instead. They get their grades/test scores up enough, and they can play 4 years of D-1 ball somewhere, instead of the 2 they'd get if they went the juco route.
This season we obviously were trying to "bridge the gap" with jucos, until our 4 year players mature.
In the last two seasons we were relying on juco players (Bennett, Boogie, Franklin, ZA) who were in their SECOND year. All those players got some spot time as juniors but then were relied on as Seniors. That reliability was a big reason for our success during the last two years.
This season we needed FIRST year juco's to be reliable contributors (Collins, TCS, Austin, Wilson). Wilson has obviously been a steady player and the rest have been dissapointing.
That coupled with the only SECOND year juco on this years team being MUCH less than advertised, IMO has been the biggest factor in our season.
Look at ISU's reliance on first year juco's last season (Johnson, Richardson, Slack). Those players were as highly regarded as you could recruit. In all they had a poor season. This season all those players are in their SECOND year. They are very steady and largely reliable players game in and game out.
In the last two seasons we were relying on juco players (Bennett, Boogie, Franklin, ZA) who were in their SECOND year. All those players got some spot time as juniors but then were relied on as Seniors. That reliability was a big reason for our success during the last two years.
This season we needed FIRST year juco's to be reliable contributors (Collins, TCS, Austin, Wilson). Wilson has obviously been a steady player and the rest have been dissapointing.
That coupled with the only SECOND year juco on this years team being MUCH less than advertised, IMO has been the biggest factor in our season.
Look at ISU's reliance on first year juco's last season (Johnson, Richardson, Slack). Those players were as highly regarded as you could recruit. In all they had a poor season. This season all those players are in their SECOND year. They are very steady and largely reliable players game in and game out.
I guess we need players to start showing what they are capable of, and hopefully that will happen soon.nice post double d...and a very accurate one. The strength of this team is the young 4 year players we are developing.
BradleyBrave
New member
I have been thinking about this for a few days. I think if one is being fair and objective with this, Les kind of got screwed in regards to personnel this season. His plan for this season included Buycks, Fears, Brown, and Williams, not Cole-Scott, Austin, and Wilson. As much as we may say otherwise, Fears and Williams would be making a difference on this team. Buycks might have been too. If he is as good or better than Sammy, and at 6'3", he might be making a huge contribution. Collins would still be Collins and we might still be struggling a little with DR out, but I don't think there's any way we would be this bad. No chance. At the time it looked like we had filled those departures with talent, but pickings had to be slim at that point in the game. I still think this group is talented enough to at least have been 9-9 or 10-8 in the league without DR for a while, so i'm not going to let the coaches completely off the hook. The team looks uncoached half the time. Who knows though, maybe I am wrong. Some think that it has more to do with the players not being very good than the coaching. I'm not real sure right now, but I am starting to lean that way. I guess the coach is still accountable since they're his players.
However, regardless of how good or bad these new guys might be, UNI and WSU should have still been wins.
However, regardless of how good or bad these new guys might be, UNI and WSU should have still been wins.