Andrew Warren

[BradleyBrave]

Let me rephrase -- I don't think it's a big deal if he, while talking to other coaches, mentions it was tough as heck to play here. That actually is pretty complimentary of us.

It would just irk me if he was making a point to go out and tell everyone he knows not to come here. He would know that would make it difficult for us to schedule. But again -- I doubt that's the case. I like to believe Izzo's a good guy

Dave Leitao told people not to play us, so it wouldn't be the first time. Of course, we've destroyed a Dave Leitao coached team 2 out of the 3 times we've played them, so it's not surprising. :biggrin:

 

[georgethedog]

Im glad to hear this is only a stress fracture. I remember last year AW broke his thumb, which is strange because in the last 2 years I broke my thumb and stress fractured my foot. I don't think the foot is much to worry about as I remember being able to use it pretty extensively after a month or so.

Only a stress fracture? Ask Tony Bennett (Washington State Head Coach) about foot stress fractures. It ruined his playing career. If I remember right, the effects lingered for a couple years in Parker's case also. These things are bad, period.

 

[Da Coach]

There was no recent injury that caused this. Andrew probably hurt his foot months ago and has already been playing on it for a while. It is true that sometimes stress fractures like this can be slow to heal, and continue to give problems, but by placing the pin in the bone now, that secures the fracture and helps it heal better and more fully. He will be OK by the time the season starts.

 

[BU_EMT128]

Let me rephrase -- I don't think it's a big deal if he, while talking to other coaches, mentions it was tough as heck to play here. That actually is pretty complimentary of us.

I 100% agree. Any time a coach of his caliber and prestige is afraid to schedule a game against an opponent, it speaks volumes to the quality of the program and the fans.

 

[peoriaspitfire]

Tiny Bones

Tiny Bones

While at BU soccer camp this summer, my son broke a bone in the ball of his foot, that is the size of a pea. It was mid July when it happened, but didn??™t get him to a specialist until early August after some convincing from his coach. Long story short??¦he just got permission to take his boot off yesterday and now has PT and at least 3 more weeks to go before he can resume his soccer activities. I know this is vastly different than AP's injury, but it just goes to show how annoying a small injury can be.

Best wishes to AP for a speedy recovery.

 

[New Guy]

I 100% agree. Any time a coach of his caliber and prestige is afraid to schedule a game against an opponent, it speaks volumes to the quality of the program and the fans.

That is the way I took it from Jim Les. Jim also said that Mich State really needed the 1st date and just wanted BU to take a pay game in East Lansing but Jim suggested that they could do a 2 for 1 and Izzo agreed. After the game he said this place is too tough I am never coming back. It is a compliment. Dave Snell talked about scheduling also. He brought up the irony of Virginia's coach that was formerly DePauls coach and he lost to JL yet again. The one comment from all the speakers that sticks with me came from CB. He was talking about Will E. He said that very few players posses the talent to raise our team to the next level and Will is one of those players. I don't know if he will do it but he has that kind of ability.

 

[BUBraves06]

AW will be fine I think. My only worry is losing amonth of conditioning.

That's my biggest concern as well. I'm sure AW will be fine, but losing a month of conditioning before practice starts could set him back a bit.

 

[SFP]

There are ways to keeping yourself conditioned without putting pressure on your feet. I know thought that is is not the same as basketball shape but he'syoung and it should not take to long to back where he should be. Luckily we have some depth at his position and JL will not have to press him so hard. We need AW to be 100% come league play!

 

[georgethedog]

well, Tony Bennett did make it to the NBA and played 3 seasons........
not bad for a sub-6-ft guy who averaged 3 ppg, 1 reb & only 2 assists & couldn't nail a 3-pointer if his life depended on it!!

Anyway, George, that was 15-20 years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Things have changed drastically since then and I am confident Andrew Warren will be healed and ready to go by the time we need him on the court!

With all due respects to you Tornado, I have to highly disagree. The reason Bennett was only in the NBA for 3 seasons was his constant foot injury that NEVER went away and hampered everything he did. With a healthy foot he would have had a long NBA career and would have hit 3's consistently. Did you ever see this guy play? I guess you really did not have the opportunity. He was smart, quick, great passer, strong, great shooter, but BAD FOOT = end of career. The only reason he was in the NBA for 3 years was because of the things I mentioned (management was waiting for things to heal and knew what he was capable of if they had, but he never did heal), and the only reason he did not last for many years was his bad foot. The only thing that I agree with in your assessment is that medicine has come a long way and hence there is hope for Warren's foot. I am going to P.O. everyone on the board when I say this: if Tony Bennett would have been a BU Brave, he would have been BU's greatest point guard in my lifetime as a BU fan (early 1970's-present). Anyone that disagrees (which will be everyone on the board) never saw this man play for any length of time. Anyway, I just hope Warren's foot heals quick and permanent because a stress fracture to the foot is no small injury for a basketball player that depends on their feet for everything!

 

[Da Coach]

I am going to P.O. everyone on the board when I say this: if Tony Bennett would have been a BU Brave, he would have been BU's greatest point guard in my lifetime as a BU fan (early 1970's-present). Anyone that disagrees (which will be everyone on the board) never saw this man play for any length of time.

George, I respect your opinion, but I have been around a long time, too, and many times people have told me that players from the Big Ten and other higher conferences would have dominated the MVC.
However, there have been numerous players who transferred to the MVC from the Big Ten and other higher conferences, and they rarely stood out.

I don't mean to denigrate Tony Bennett, but he played his college career in the Mid-Continent Conference at Wisconsin-Green Bay. That is not exactly the highest level of competetion, in fact, it is well below the level of the MVC. Yes, he had a very good career there, and I think if he played at Bradley he would have been a very good player. But there is no way you will convince any Bradley fans here that he would have been in the same league as Hersey Hawkins or Anthony Parker. I think he might have been a player similar to Jim Les, but who knows?

 

[georgethedog]

George, I respect your opinion, but I have been around a long time, too, and many times people have told me that players from the Big Ten and other higher conferences would have dominated the MVC.
However, there have been numerous players who transferred to the MVC from the Big Ten and other higher conferences, and they rarely stood out.

I don't mean to denigrate Tony Bennett, but he played his college career in the Mid-Continent Conference at Wisconsin-Green Bay. That is not exactly the highest level of competetion, in fact, it is well below the level of the MVC. Yes, he had a very good career there, and I think if he played at Bradley he would have been a very good player. But there is no way you will convince any Bradley fans here that he would have been in the same league as Hersey Hawkins or Anthony Parker. I think he might have been a player similar to Jim Les, but who knows?

I did not say he was in the same league as Hawkins and Parker because I stated he would have been the best "point guard" not shooting guard. Agreed, he is in no way as good as Parker or The Hawk. I think he was better than Les, however, and without his foot injury he would have proven that point. During the time he played that conference was really not not too bad. It had couple teams win some big games in the NCAA and UWGB took out Cal with the "great" Jason Kidd. Anyway, my whole point is that stress fractures can really linger and potentially hurt a player's future in a significant way. Tony Bennett was just one example that I used to help prove my point. Thanks for the nice discussion.

 

[KillerB]

I did not say he was in the same league as Hawkins and Parker because I stated he would have been the best "point guard" not shooting guard. Agreed, he is in no way as good as Parker or The Hawk. I think he was better than Les, however, and without his foot injury he would have proven that point. During the time he played that conference was really not not too bad. It had couple teams win some big games in the NCAA and UWGB took out Cal with the "great" Jason Kidd. Anyway, my whole point is that stress fractures can really linger and potentially hurt a player's future in a significant way. Tony Bennett was just one example that I used to help prove my point. Thanks for the nice discussion.

As far as comparing point guards...
I lived in Green Bay while Tony Bennett was at UWGB. Those were probably the best years for UWGB basketball. But Les and Bennett had different jobs on their respective teams.. so it's hard to compare them. Les' job was to push the ball and distribute it. Bennett was more of a scorer from the point. Also.. unless my memory is failing.. there was no three point shot when Les played. Both were very good point guards.. both undersized.

 

[thefish7]

Why? He did what about 99% of the BCS coaches refuse to do, and that's come to Peoria and play a game. I really don't think anyone should be surprised - Carver Arena is a darn tough place to play, and last time I checked, every team in America tries to avoid places where they 'can't win'. Izzo knows they escaped with a quality road win, and likely wouldn't be so lucky their next visit. You won't find another coach of a Top 10 program who would have come to Peoria, and I think for that the respect for Izzo should be going way up, rather than diminishing.

I understand it is a compliment, and I don't mind him saying it's a tough place to play. The part that bothers me is that because he thinks he might lose, he won't play here. It's a bit of the cowardice that I can't respect. If it's a tough place to play he should want to come here again. Izzo's still my favorite coach out of all of the "big time" programs, but I can't respect somebody who won't go somewhere because he might not win. That argument doesn't work for us, and we have to seek out tough non-conference road games... so should the big boys.

 

[georgethedog]

As far as comparing point guards...
I lived in Green Bay while Tony Bennett was at UWGB. Those were probably the best years for UWGB basketball. But Les and Bennett had different jobs on their respective teams.. so it's hard to compare them. Les' job was to push the ball and distribute it. Bennett was more of a scorer from the point. Also.. unless my memory is failing.. there was no three point shot when Les played. Both were very good point guards.. both undersized.

Those were great years for UWGB basketball. I graduated right before Bennett got on campus. I played a lot of ball and played against him in a couple pick-up games before his freshman year-wow. I agree with your assessment. Very well put.

OK, do you remember the superstar HS player that was ruined by the coach that proceeded Dick Bennett at UWGB? He was my roomate and best friend through college. He was an ALL-American out of Providence St. Mel HS and was recruited to put UWGB on the map when they moved to DI his freshman year. This guy was amazing, but the coach that recruited him was fired his freshman year and the new coach hated him because he wasn't "his" player, so his career didn't turn out too well because... well the coach had all the power. He should of transfered (another story). He was also recruited strongly by BU and many Big 10 and BCS type schools. Can you name him??? He is still arguably the best player UWGB has ever had, and with the right coaching could have played in the NBA. A drink of your choice at the first game to whoever can recall this player and super human being. I apologize for hijacking this thread, but I loved my days at UWGB!

 

[georgethedog]

Are we talking Tom Brown?

Yes, Tom Brown is the right answer. That was quick! Ever see him play? I think he could have been a Globe Trotter with the way he could fake people out and move the ball around. There were three things that were lacking in his college game. A consistent long range shot, desire after the coach that recruited him was fired after his freshman year, and the way he was treated by the incoming coach (which ultimately lead to his lack of desire). He really just seemed to quit caring. He actually ended up getting a Masters degree and is doing quite well. Nice job Tornado. PM me sometime and I will payoff with the drink I promised. Thanks for remembering my good friend Tommy B. I sure wish Bradley would schedule a home and home series with UW-Green Bay. Heck, they seem to schedule all the other Hroizon league teams. I asked Coach Mo (when he was at BU) why he would not schedule Green Bay and he said he did not want to play against Coach Bennett when he was there. I wonder what is keeping BU from doing it now??? Probably nothing to gain from it... I only know one other UW-Green Bay graduate that lives in the Peoria area. Can you name him??? (Hint: he also played basketball)

 

[georgethedog]

Chicago Heights Bloom's head coach Frank Nardi I believe is a UW-GB grad, but I suspect you are referring to Pekin great Pat Taphorn.

Yes, the giant from Pekin, Pat Taphorn. He was a freshman when I was a senior. Can't stump you!!! I don't think Frank is there any longer, but I could be wrong.