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Final score: Bradley 79 Illinois State 75

Foul a minute refs were the star of this game. Worst officiating crew I’ve ever seen. Stopped play several times to the benefit of ISU. That said, we just aren’t very good.
 
Least excited I’ve ever been by a win, especially against ISU. They didn’t deserve it. After what happened Saturday, to come out against your rival and play with that effort level? Not good. At one point they were jogging down the court and look like they gave up. We turned it on just enough and ISU ran out of gas, but they played with far more effort.

In the who is our go to guy thread I commented on our go to move being a left handed hook from Mast. That’s what we went to at the end of regulation again and that’s now three times I recall that not working out this year. I really believe we need a go to perimeter guy. Luckily, Zek and Connor had some decent plays today at the end (thanks for fouling Zek on that three or we lose). I just don’t believe this team has it unless something changes drastically. Can you imagine where we’d be if the Valley was better?

Why are we so poor at free throws even at home? I gotta believe it’s because we don’t have pure shooters, and that shows up at the line. Even Ville has missed a few lately. But it’s really not good and needs fixed somehow. We always want this team to get to the line more…maybe not if it looks like that.
 
braves16 said:
I agree, but they didn't quit and hung in there to give themselves a chance. Overall, brutal, just brutal.
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Definitely a brutal game but I agree their endurance to hang in there is something that will be needed come late February and the MVCT.
 
We got so lucky. Out-rebounded, terrible from the line, bad 3 point shooting, being out hustled on every loose ball and not feeding out 1st teamer Mast is a bad combination.

ISU is not as bad as I thought but we played not well. We won’t make it far the tourney with that play.
 
carter said:
Bradley does not deserve this game!!
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That's the way I felt through most of the game, but they mustered up enough energy to come back and win it in overtime. But they did not look anything like the team that played in the first 11 home games this season.
Give credit to ISU. They ran a simple weave offense with guys cutting to the basket, and for nearly 40 minutes, the Bradley players and coaches seemed unable to figure out how to defend it. The first half was the worst half of basketball Bradley has played at home all season, defensively IMO, and with horrible rebounding. And ISU appeared to play the best half they have played all season shooting 57%, 14-16 from the FT line, and outrebounding Bradley 18-7.
The one thing that kept Bradley from getting blown out was the 24 turnovers by ISU.
Let's hope the other Bradley team returns for the rest of the season.
Bradley now in a 4-way tie for 4th place-
Missouri Valley Conference Standings
mvvcc.png
 
I don't think Ville should get minutes anymore. I'd rather see Montgomery get all his minutes, he can actually score and has the size to defend. I'd like to see the +/- on Ville this season, I don't think it is positive because he can't guard anyone.

I don't think BU can afford to have two undersized defensive liabilities at the guard position when only one of them can score. Zeke has to get more minutes.

I also was not impressed with Hickman. I know he gets a lot of praise for being a defensive talent and scrappy player, but all I saw tonight outside a couple late threes was poor decisions, lack of ability to defend without fouling, very limited scoring, and being undersized in a lot of defensive match ups. He felt like a bench player tonight, not starter quality.

The FT shooting was horrendous. The defense in the 1st half was horrendous by the BU guards. Any team with average to good guards is going to smoke BU the rest of the year IMO.

If BU wants any chance at 3rd or 4th place finish this year the guards have to be much, much better.
 
I thought Leons played a good game, and I'm beginning to think he is our best player. I wish he would be more selfish. ISU really capitalized on Dean's lack of height. Mast looked like he was playing in molasses tonight as far as going after rebounds and loose balls. I cringe every time I see Wardle substituting Ville for Jashon. I'm just not a Ville fan. The officiating was terrible. I don't believe we deserved to win. I put a premium on free throws, and don't believe you should win when you miss them. Those are my thoughts, in random order. What did Clint Eastwood say in Unforgiven? "Deserves got nothing to do with it."

Bradley must have given out free tickets. Lots of raucous students around me in the upper bowl. That was fun. Oh to be young again. I hope they keep coming.
 
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