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Final: Drake 72 Bradley 67

We really had the makings for a championship but couldn’t make the shots down the stretch - multiple times to take the lead.
 
Heart Breaking loss as BU was right their in the end. Drake beat us 3 times. That's hard to do! We just seem to be missing that extra spark to winning close games. Malevy as good as he is on Defense missed 2 critical 3's in the end. I hope next year we can find that extra special player who will come through in the end! Although Tucker was off tonight, he did hit a big shot when it Mattered. Maybe we can find that special 5 star player to help us get to the next level! Recruiting will be critical for next year! However, it was a fun year to follow the Braves!!! They are still a very good team....just not Great. They did leave it all on the line tonight which is still very noteworthy!!!!
 
I've been saying it all season. When the refs call a loose game, we get into a flow and can beat anyone. Considering the foul fest that this turned out to be, it was really amazing we kept it so close and had a good chance to win.

I hope we make the NIT. These guys deserve another game.
 
Tough one to lose. Mal did such a great job on Devries for most of the game. But being that locked in and expending that much energy definitely took him out of the flow offensively. A couple bad unforced turnovers here a really bad foul call or two there and it's a BU win. But that's college ball for you.

I think we have an NIT resume but with the changes this year for the selection process, I just don't know. I hope we get to see the boys play at least one more. But if we don't, thank you Malevy Leons for being the epitome of Bradley Basketball during your time here. Man one of the absolute best defenders we will ever have the pleasure of watching. Darius, Duke, Connor, Christian, Almar, Demarion, Coach Wardle...unfinished business boys. Hope to see you all back next year.
 
Great game plan and Malevy really just did an outstanding job on DeVries and Brodie was pretty much a non-factor. Sadly, early foul trouble on Hannah and Deen cost us this one, but you have to adapt because you can never predict what the officials will do.
Great game and year for a team that had to deal with a lot of adversity this year. Look forward to Hickman healing up during the off-season and leading us to a championship next year.
 
Malevy did an excellent job on Devries. It’s the help u have to give on him and #10 killed us. We fought hard just needed a couple more stops or made baskets. I’m very upset but proud of our guys. Hopefully we can keep Wardle a while longer or the next few years will be tough.
 
Once again the refs took us out of the game. 12 more attempts from the line than we did. All in all a pretty good year though. Hopefully we get one more game
 
Just some takeaways as I just arrived back home from STL:

1) Is 3 seconds in the lane no longer a violation? Brodie practically lives there. I know it is because they called one on UIC last night.

2) Is Linke getting that much playing time necessary? I thought our guard depth was a problem? Those guards kept us in the game. We have no post talent beyond Hannah at all unless you considered Mal a post. I mean NONE!

3) I think Enright has vertigo. The guy literally just falls down out of nowhere. He may need to see a neurologist.

4) When did Drake fans get so bad? I mean you’re good ONLY because your coach has a son that’s a 5 star recruit. Without him, you’re Murray State.

5) Has anyone seen a player regress more than Bowen Born?

6) I’m glad DB Jr. didn’t get 1st team All-Conference in 2020. Because that dude was amazing in the tournament. Duke WAS named 1st team and scored what 10 points in 2 games? I guess he had nothing to prove like DB did. We needed his scoring bad today. Unfortunately the referees didn’t allow it and against UIC we didn’t need it by midway through the 2nd half. Today we did.

7) How did Avila hit 3 triples in a row from the same spot? Can someone get a hand in his face?

8) Coach talked last night about “doing too much” and “playing outside ourselves”. It happened the final 25 minutes of the game and cost the game for us. I love the extra pass but it can’t be to the other team or out of bounds, nor should it be the first instinct when you have a wide open look to shoot.

9) Can we get DB more involved in-game? The guy is going to be a heckuva coach.

10) Sucks the season is over. We deserve an NIT bid, but won’t get one. First and foremost I hope we keep what’s ours and have a couple decent portal players sign. Plus I am excited to see Burch continue to develop. He has the talent and motor to be a heckuva player. Just needs to control the chaos a bit.

Oh well, another great even put on by the MVC. Love this tournament. Now for my 162 game sentence of Cubs fandom begins. Take care everyone!
 
patrick_o'brian said:
Just some takeaways as I just arrived back home from STL:

1) Is 3 seconds in the lane no longer a violation? Brodie practically lives there. I know it is because they called one on UIC last night.

2) Is Linke getting that much playing time necessary? I thought our guard depth was a problem? Those guards kept us in the game. We have no post talent beyond Hannah at all unless you considered Mal a post. I mean NONE!

3) I think Enright has vertigo. The guy literally just falls down out of nowhere. He may need to see a neurologist.

4) When did Drake fans get so bad? I mean you’re good ONLY because your coach has a son that’s a 5 star recruit. Without him, you’re Murray State.

5) Has anyone seen a player regress more than Bowen Born?

6) I’m glad DB Jr. didn’t get 1st team All-Conference in 2020. Because that dude was amazing in the tournament. Duke WAS named 1st team and scored what 10 points in 2 games? I guess he had nothing to prove like DB did. We needed his scoring bad today. Unfortunately the referees didn’t allow it and against UIC we didn’t need it by midway through the 2nd half. Today we did.

7) How did Avila hit 3 triples in a row from the same spot? Can someone get a hand in his face?

8) Coach talked last night about “doing too much” and “playing outside ourselves”. It happened the final 25 minutes of the game and cost the game for us. I love the extra pass but it can’t be to the other team or out of bounds, nor should it be the first instinct when you have a wide open look to shoot.

9) Can we get DB more involved in-game? The guy is going to be a heckuva coach.

10) Sucks the season is over. We deserve an NIT bid, but won’t get one. First and foremost I hope we keep what’s ours and have a couple decent portal players sign. Plus I am excited to see Burch continue to develop. He has the talent and motor to be a heckuva player. Just needs to control the chaos a bit.

Oh well, another great even put on by the MVC. Love this tournament. Now for my 162 game sentence of Cubs fandom begins. Take care everyone!
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I like the thoughts. Although I do think we are in the running for an NIT bid.
 
POB - post of the year! I think you hit on all cylinders with that one, buddy!

Did anyone watch the warmups for the Indiana State game prior to ours? I’ve never seen a team hit so many shots in a warmup and could have literally counted their misses, and it carried over to the game.

My gut feeling is they blow out Drake today, but I hope I’m wrong as I’d like to see two Valley teams in the tourney and I think at this point, they almost have to give one to ISU Blue (but they do hate mid-majors, so we’ll see).
 
Tommy said:
POB - post of the year! I think you hit on all cylinders with that one, buddy!

Did anyone watch the warmups for the Indiana State game prior to ours? I’ve never seen a team hit so many shots in a warmup and could have literally counted their misses, and it carried over to the game.

My gut feeling is they blow out Drake today, but I hope I’m wrong as I’d like to see two Valley teams in the tourney and I think at this point, they almost have to give one to ISU Blue (but they do hate mid-majors, so we’ll see).
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I hate to disagree with you Tommy because you keep me going during the summer watching Bradley games you posted on YouTube.Lol!! I think Drake will win today. There is alot of nervous tension today because of the national TV and national exposure. Drake players are used to it. They have been there before. Indiana State players have not. Plus Bradley taking Drake to the final seconds gives Bradley a little publicity.
Added note: not sure if you were able to record yesterdays game with Drake but if you did could you post it on YouTube. I dont get CBSSports. Would love to re-watch the game..
 
bradleyfan124 said:
I hate to disagree with you Tommy because you keep me going during the summer watching Bradley games you posted on YouTube.Lol!! I think Drake will win today. There is alot of nervous tension today because of the national TV and national exposure. Drake players are used to it. They have been there before. Indiana State players have not. Plus Bradley taking Drake to the final seconds gives Bradley a little publicity.
Added note: not sure if you were able to record yesterdays game with Drake but if you did could you post it on YouTube. I dont get CBSSports. Would love to re-watch the game..
Click to expand...

I hope you’re right, my friend!

As long as my recordings worked correctly, I should have the 2 BU games posted when I get back from St, Louis.
 
I hope Bradley gets an NIT bid! We are still a very good team and worthy of it! But once again, Mid- Majors have to always as of late sweat out any bids!!!! Just a thought that Bradley wasn't a mid-Major always and the Missouri Valley at one time had as good as teams as any in the nation!!!! To bad that so many Great teams chose to leave the Valley! It could have remained a high major league! On the other hand though I believe Bradley may have a much tougher time getting an NCAA bid like they did in 2018-19 and 2019-2020 by winning the tourney! Say you have still Creighton in the Valley now, it would be even harder I believe to get more then 1 Bid! Of course long ago, Kansas was in the Valley....incredible but true! I'm excited to watch Drake vs.Indiana State today! Bradley still will get recognition for taking Drake to the limit yesterday! I hope we get 2 bids for the Valley, but once again, it's hard to have faith in a rigged committee only out to put power 5 teams in! But I'll keep my small faith because we deserve 2 bids irregardless of the outcome of today's game!
 
One last note: I just read a great Article by Sports Illustrated regarding why the MVC deserves 2 bids to the NCAA tourney this year!!! I don't know how to post it here, but anyone should be able to find the Article! I mention this because the Article also gives great praise to Our Bradley Braves for putting up such a tough fight last night vs.Drake! The Article states that Bradley 22-11 is a good team also!!! Plus it mentions Indiana States only Quad 1 win was at Bradley! As we know, to earn a Quad 1 win on the road, you have to best a very good team!!!!! This article made me feel good about the MVC and our Tough Street fighting team the Bradley Braves!!!!!!!
 
Very nice article. My expectation is we get one team in the NCAA, the loser gets an NIT bid, and our season is over. After all, they need to save 14 spots for the Big 10. Hope I'm wrong.
 
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