Bradley @ Florida on 11/16

[FlaGator73]

This should be a great test for our team before our game with Syracuse in Kansas City. I know you guys lose 4 of your top 6 scorers but how do the players who are going to replace them look? What are the expectations for the season? Luckily for your team I'm not sure it's going to be a great enviroment because of our bandwagon basketball fans. Most of them are too ignorant to realize Bradley is an extremely quality opponent and will think this is just another bad OOC game.

 

[chitown fanatic]

welcome to the board! We are hoping the FL fans are hungover from the football game too. seriously, this is our 2nd biggest marquee opponent other than Mich St on our sked, and considering the other garbage we have on it this year, one we need to pull the upset in to have at-large consideration. Losing the Alaska tourney really hurt us in scheduling. as for our chances, it will be up to the newcomers and if Anthony Thompson is the real deal or not. Without a true big man, we don't stand much of a chance, despite three talented guards that we start.

 

[Da Coach]

Nice to have you here FlaGator73.
Bradley will be a similar team to the last couple years, only this year they have better depth at guard, and more interior players. I expect this team to be as good or better than last year's team. However, it will be a near impossible task to win at Florida.

 

[SFP]

Flagator, thank you for being knowledgeable and not starting this discussion with bad taste. We usually have some BCS loud mouth come in and say how they will kill us. You should have seen the discussion board before we beat Kansas in the Sweet 16 a few years back.

Now on to your question. I believe like most of our posters that our season this year will depend on how our bigs step up. We have some size but last year they played inconsistently. Our back court will be deeper and just as productive. We do expect this team to be very competitive and I would say a few of us would not find defeating you as a huge upset. I do believe this is the time to play you guys because come March Billy Donavan should have your young guys shaped up to make a run.

I'm also glad to hear that our fans will probably be able to get tickets because we do travel well.

I'm sure we will have a bunch posts here leading up to that game. Good luck and we also can't wait until the season starts.

 

[BUFAN]

This should be a great test for our team before our game with Syracuse in Kansas City. I know you guys lose 4 of your top 6 scorers but how do the players who are going to replace them look? What are the expectations for the season? Luckily for your team I'm not sure it's going to be a great enviroment because of our bandwagon basketball fans. Most of them are too ignorant to realize Bradley is an extremely quality opponent and will think this is just another bad OOC game.

I think someone on our board said they were hoping your bandwagon fans were hungover from the homecoming party for coach Spurier, and your gym would be deserted.
We are very excited about the upcoming season. We lost a lot from last year but return some nice players and have two JC players and a Redshirt coming in we are hoping can fill their shoes. We actuall have some size which is very unsual for a nonbcs school. We have David Collins a 7.0' er who came into his own late last year, Anthony Thompson a 6'10" redshirt freshman who we have great expectations for along with two 6'9" guys that can play.
I will get you a lot more info later, and I'm certain will find this board to be very helpful

 

[amckillip]

I know you guys lose 4 of your top 6 scorers but how do the players who are going to replace them look?

Actually, thats not true. We're returning 3 of our top 5 scorers. (losing only 3 of our top 6). We have two players who many are throwing around as MVC POY candidates in Theron Wilson and Andrew Warren, and a sophmore point guard who IMO will be a All-MVC at at least some level. We also are bringing in two JUCO guards who most say are ready to compete right away. The real questions, like most years for us, surround our inside presence. We have depth, but may not really have a clear cut starter(s).

Also, traditionally, Under Jim Les, BU has not been overly consistent on the road... (I may get a little heat for that, but it's true...)

 

[FlaGator73]

I'm definitely worried about a lack of an enviroment. We haven't lost to a non-BCS team at home since atleast before 1998 so I have a bad feeling a lot of our fans who just became fans since our national championships will see Bradley, never had heard of them in football and think it's an easy win. It sounds like down low is where the game is going to be won for whichever team. We lost Marreesse Speights to the draft so now Eloy Vargas and Kenny Kadji(both true freshman) will have to step in and fill his role.

 

[Bradleyguy10]

I, confessedly, am one of those who would not be that surprised by an upset. Not by logic just by gut intuition, which I'm sure is worth a lot.;-)

We have a very strong core of 3 players mentioned earlier: Theron Wilson, Sam Maniscalco, and Andrew Warren. All 3 of the are legitimate All-MVC candidates. TW is a POY candidate in my mind. I think if we can get a little bit support from the 4 and 5 spots we will be a handful for ANY team beat with Theron at the 3.

Just from feeling I say Bradley pulls off a stunning upset 71-67, because they go in wanting it more and Florida expects to win easily...remember that's using no brain power haha

 

[SFP]

I believe we will want it more. The game is right now has a big circle around it because it could be the difference for us in making the dance. Florida on the other hand will have a few more games to make a statement. As I said I would rather play you early then in March. We all know it takes a bit for Freshmen to adjust to D I ball, especially the bigs.

We have another tough match up later on with Mich State that would truly be a huge upset if we win. I do hope your guys over look us but I doubt that Billy Donovan will.