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2024-25 Bradley team

PhiAlphaBoy said:
Linke, Hardtke, Biliew... Love'em but, if back, wasted opportunities to upgrade the roster.
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PAB - Linke turned into a nice bench piece by the end of the year, and Hardtke was a walk-on and wasn't using up a scholarship. Didn't you think Linke showed some good value and progress last year? Given his performace, I'm hoping to see more growth this year which gives me hope that he will be an even better bench piece moving forward. Hardtke was getting minutes as a walk-on last year, plays good defense, and doesn't turn the ball over (granted, this was in very limited minutes, but you can't dispute the effort).

I guess for me, in this day of complete roster turnover, I'm a softie for guys that have been around for more than 1 year. I love all these guys and I'm glad to see them sticking around.
 
I still believe Wardle and staff are not done recruiting for this season. I think it all depends on which players may still be available and interested in coming to Bu. No I am not sold on Linke, Hardtke or Billiew coming back on scholarships. Those 3 need to be replaced by 2 incoming recruits that have multiple years left to play at BU. Those 3 are great young men but it comes down to production at this level and quite frankly they did not produce enough to get a scholarship. We have any injuries we would be in trouble again next season. Hickman got injured last season and we proceeded to lose 5 games in a row, those games can make a huge difference in having any chance to get an at large bid.
 
tomahawk chop said:
I still believe Wardle and staff are not done recruiting for this season. I think it all depends on which players may still be available and interested in coming to Bu. No I am not sold on Linke, Hardtke or Biliew coming back on scholarships. Those 3 need to be replaced by 2 incoming recruits that have multiple years left to play at BU. Those 3 are great young men but it comes down to production at this level and quite frankly they did not produce enough to get a scholarship. We have any injuries we would be in trouble again next season. Hickman got injured last season and we proceeded to lose 5 games in a row, those games can make a huge difference in having any chance to get an at large bid.
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This is how I feel. I think I can understand the coach's thinking by bringing back these three, but we're rolling the dice and hoping for an injury-free season by doing this. Hardtke was given a scholarship so, unless he wants to leave, I'm not an advocate of taking it back. Linke has value as a practice player and a limited sub against certain teams so I can kind of understand that, but he graduated and I think should have been recruited over. Biliew I just don't get.
 
I think this team needs another combo guard who’s accustomed to putting the ball in the hoop… don’t care what level or how many years he has left.
 
Da Coach said:
I'll try my description... :)....For the record, I have heard college coaches vary a little in their description of these terms.
Both Zek and Burch are capable of playing the 1 or 2 positions, though they are not as skilled ball-handlers and passers as Duke, so their time at the 1 (point guard) would be only if necessary. Burch is more of a typical 2-guard, or off-guard. Zek, because of his size (6'6") could play the 2 or the 3, which more often these days is referred to as a wing. Davis is more of a typical 3 (small forward or wing forward), but in some systems he also might be used as a wing guard. Atlason is not going to play either guard spot (1 or 2), but could play the 3 or 4. In basketball today, there is much more of a blurred line distinguishing a 2 from a 3, or a 3 from a 4. That is why the term "wing" or "swingman" is used instead (a player who plays mostly away from the basket on offense, but is not the primary ball-handler).
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Thank you DC! This helps!
 
Tommy said:
PAB - Linke turned into a nice bench piece by the end of the year, and Hardtke was a walk-on and wasn't using up a scholarship. Didn't you think Linke showed some good value and progress last year? Given his performace, I'm hoping to see more growth this year which gives me hope that he will be an even better bench piece moving forward. Hardtke was getting minutes as a walk-on last year, plays good defense, and doesn't turn the ball over (granted, this was in very limited minutes, but you can't dispute the effort).

I guess for me, in this day of complete roster turnover, I'm a softie for guys that have been around for more than 1 year. I love all these guys and I'm glad to see them sticking around.
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Couldn't agree more Tommy! The bigger the family the better, right??
Maybe more satisfying than the success as a fan is to see the great character of these young men in the past 5 seasons.
Definitely a team-first philosophy built by Wardle and staff.
 
Unless we get another big at the same level and potential as CT or DH (likely not), I am totally fine with who we have for next season. We have ample scorers, accurate 3-point shooters, athletic guards/wings, and you gotta figure that Ahmet, Burch, and Atlason will provide a bit more.

We have 5 newcomers - I'm more concerned about getting 3 of them (Thomas, Dillon, and Zek) prepped to contribute significantly and the other 2 (JJ and Timmy VDK) to get some good experience at this next level to get them to want to stay at BU for the future, as we'll lose a lot of experience after this season.
 
Wow this roster looks ok for this coming year, but we have put ourselves in a position where we will need a number of home runs in the portal next year. We lose Darius, Duke, Christian, Zek, Dillon, Hardtke, Billew even if everyone else stays-that looks like the whole starting five. While I believe there will be improvement in all other team members-that leaves a huge hole. I know you can lose any player with the portal but starting out knowing you have at least 7 spots to fill seems a bit extreme. Especially when you consider we have been pretty poor in success in the portal ( yes Zek and Dillon were good gets this year but they were essentially “coming home” -not sure that is repeatable).
 
houstonbrave said:
....We lose Darius, Duke, Christian, Zek, Dillon, Hardtke, Billew ....
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Yes, the coaches have a lot of work to do for the next recruiting cycle.
One of those listed does have 2 more years of eligibility. Cade Hardtke has been a member of the team for 3 seasons and will be a senior next season. But he did not play his freshman year due to injury issues. So with a redshirt year for 2021-22, he should be eligible for 2 more seasons, if he chooses.
Cade's career stats - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/4897450/cade-hardtke
 
houstonbrave said:
Wow this roster looks ok for this coming year, but we have put ourselves in a position where we will need a number of home runs in the portal next year. We lose Darius, Duke, Christian, Zek, Dillon, Hardtke, Billew even if everyone else stays-that looks like the whole starting five. While I believe there will be improvement in all other team members-that leaves a huge hole. I know you can lose any player with the portal but starting out knowing you have at least 7 spots to fill seems a bit extreme. Especially when you consider we have been pretty poor in success in the portal ( yes Zek and Dillon were good gets this year but they were essentially “coming home” -not sure that is repeatable).
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It may not be as bad as one might think. Here is the positive side of this. They will have 6 or 7open spots. That might be easier to recruit because potential recruits can see the possibility of playing time. Blend them with the 6 or 7 guys that will have experience that theoretically will be coming back
 
I am more excited about this next season's team than I have been since DB Jr, Kennel, and Koch Bar were seniors, and Childs was a junior. As far as talent and depth, I believe this team is the best in the Wardle era. Sad that Maly is gone - he was a 1-of-a-kind player you can't replace.

Davis, Duke, Darius, and Zek were part of the MVC championship team 2 seasons ago. Guys will be battling for minutes as they strive to improve. Lots of different combinations to try out with our 5 newcomers who are hopeful to contribute. Corey Thomas could be the X factor and let's hope he is a diff. maker inside!
 
houstonbrave said:
Wow this roster looks ok for this coming year, but we have put ourselves in a position where we will need a number of home runs in the portal next year. We lose Darius, Duke, Christian, Zek, Dillon, Hardtke, Billew even if everyone else stays-that looks like the whole starting five. While I believe there will be improvement in all other team members-that leaves a huge hole. I know you can lose any player with the portal but starting out knowing you have at least 7 spots to fill seems a bit extreme. Especially when you consider we have been pretty poor in success in the portal ( yes Zek and Dillon were good gets this year but they were essentially “coming home” -not sure that is repeatable).
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Agree 100%, 7 spots to fill is a lot and again I am concerned with our depth because we lost several games last season when Hickman was injured. We have some really good players but they need to stay healthy in order for us to reach the top.
 
tomahawk chop said:
Agree 100%, 7 spots to fill is a lot and again I am concerned with our depth because we lost several games last season when Hickman was injured. We have some really good players but they need to stay healthy in order for us to reach the top.
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There is a possibility that Christian Davis has another year available to him. His 20-21 season was cancelled by whatever conference LeMoyne was in at the time.

CD-Demarion-Almar-Corey Thomas-Bully-Meta-Timo could be a nice returning core.

But you might as well enjoy this season. It will be rare to have this much continuity from season to season. Enjoy the last dance for Darius and Duke who will have had a great 8 total years here. I hope they become the first group in a long time to win 2 MVC regular season titles and a tournament title.
 
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