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Final score: Bradley 86 Missouri State 62

BUfan14 said:
Also, unless Deen said something worse than it appeared, that technical seemed completely unnecessary. I think a guy can be a little fired up to no one in particular for hitting what I believe was his 8th three of the game at the time. It looked like a fairly tame reaction of Duke’s part.
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Seeing all this play out in person from just a few rows back, I think there’s a chance that this T was actually the culmination of adding up a few minor/moderate instances from earlier in the game between Deen and the MSU bench. Not that you’re supposed to think that way as a ref, but that was my interpretation. Luckily it didn’t matter whatsoever bc Duke had already put them in the rear view.
 
I loved seeing Linke get some playing time and perform admirably on the floor as he’s always been a high effort guy that appears to equal that with integrity.
Also, does anyone else remember how much slack Duke was taking on this forum during our losing streak? I hope now, we can we all agree that regardless of his size, the kid can play, and is a HUGE part of what makes this team successful? If Hickman is our floor general, Duke is the heart. How lucky are we to have these two guys as our starting backcourt? I wouldn’t trade either of them for anything. They are BU!
 
Tommy said:
I loved seeing Linke get some playing time and perform admirably on the floor as he’s always been a high effort guy that appears to equal that with integrity.
Also, does anyone else remember how much slack Duke was taking on this forum during our losing streak? I hope now, we can we all agree that regardless of his size, the kid can play, and is a HUGE part of what makes this team successful? If Hickman is our floor general, Duke is the heart. How lucky are we to have these two guys as our starting backcourt? I wouldn’t trade either of them for anything. They are BU!
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Duke also took some "slack" when Bradley signed him. A 5'6" point guard (he's not 5'8" even with the shoes on) who shot only 33.9% from three at Troy?
But nobody is doubting him now. There are probably about 10 other MVC head coaches who would love to have him.

I'd like to see Duke get 1st team All-MVC, but the competition is really tough. SIU PG Xavier Johnson is averaging league-leading 22.8 ppg and 6.1 apg, InSU PG Isaiah Swope is averaging 17.3 ppg and 2.2 apg, Missouri State PG Alston Mason is averaging 18.1 ppg and 3.5 apg, Valpo's PG Isaiah Stafford is averaging 17.1 ppg and 2.1 apg, UIC's Isaiah Rivera is averaging 15.1 ppg, Drake's Atin Wright averages 14.2 ppg, and Bowen Born was the preseason 1st team All-MVC point guard. Plus, there are several other quality guards.
 
LittleBrave said:
Not sure what Thomas did to get in Wardle's doghouse. He was playing pretty well before he got glued to the bench. I like his game.
About every season since Wardle arrived, there is a guy who we can't fathom why he doesn't get much PT.

Suggs in '17
Van Bree in '18
Pittman in '19
Not really anyone in '20 (our most complete team)
East in '21 (before our roster was depleted)
Hannah in '22
Weathers in '23
Thomas, Ellis in '24

It goes to show the work ethic and character of D Hannah to have made the most of his opportunity when he didn't see the floor much his soph season.
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'20 Don't forget Luqman Lundy. Got very little playing time the first half of the season but eventually became a starter. We don't make the NCAA's without him. He was fantastic late in the season. Couldn't understand why he wasn't playing mid-season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2O_Yrm7H0A
 
Tommy said:
I loved seeing Linke get some playing time and perform admirably on the floor as he’s always been a high effort guy that appears to equal that with integrity.
Also, does anyone else remember how much slack Duke was taking on this forum during our losing streak? I hope now, we can we all agree that regardless of his size, the kid can play, and is a HUGE part of what makes this team successful? If Hickman is our floor general, Duke is the heart. How lucky are we to have these two guys as our starting backcourt? I wouldn’t trade either of them for anything. They are BU!
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I said all this earlier in the year too, but I’ve always loved Hickman and thought he could be really good. I still don’t think he reached his full ceiling yet.

Deen I always liked as a valuable guard and what I thought would be a Ben Gordon like sixth man who could score points in bunches when hot. What has truly impressed me beyond what I ever thought possible with Deen this year is his growth on defense, passing, and limiting turnovers more. I don’t know if I ever thought all three of those things would come together for him as well as they have. A credit to Duke and staff for him becoming a true starting, and really star, point guard. I’d actually take him over DB now, and I never thought I’d say that. Like I said, I liked him as a piece, but I never saw this complete game coming.

I have to believe DB has had a lot to do with this improvement. I’d love to see him keep rising up our coaching ranks over the years. Should Brian ever leave, I’d love DB to have enough experience by that time (hopefully many many years from now) to be in the mix to take over someday. Guy just seems like a coach and hard worker who loves to compete and win.
 
BUfan14 said:
I said all this earlier in the year too, but I’ve always loved Hickman and thought he could be really good. I still don’t think he reached his full ceiling yet.
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I've heard from a reliable source, Connor's ankle is still bothering him. He "tweaked" it in practice early this month, then re-sprained it a bit in the Drake game when his foot was stepped on. It will probably not have a chance to get fully healed until after the season.
And I agree with you. I think we'll seem an even better version of him next season.
 
BUfan14 said:
I’d actually take him over DB now, and I never thought I’d say that. Like I said, I liked him as a piece, but I never saw this complete game coming.
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Great post, though I don’t know if I’m ready to agree about him surpassing DB. DB will have his name on a banner eventually. If we get one more year of Duke, who knows, but DB is one of the all-time greats.

Agree about him as a coach. I hope he is with the program forever!
 
Duke should go well over 500 points for this year by the end of the season. If he came back for another year, and added another 500+ points, it would put him near the top 10 scorers in Bradley history and in the vicinity of some of the all-time greats like Marcellus Sommerville, Andrew Warren, Anthony Parker, and Phil Gilbert.
 
Tommy said:
Great post, though I don’t know if I’m ready to agree about him surpassing DB. DB will have his name on a banner eventually. If we get one more year of Duke, who knows, but DB is one of the all-time greats.

Agree about him as a coach. I hope he is with the program forever!
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In accomplishment for sure DB had the heart of a champion and willed Bradley to great postseason success and is still ahead of Duke for now. But if you gave me one guy at their best for one game today, I don’t know if we’ve had many players that can go off for six plus threes like Duke can. How many six plus threes games has he had this year now? 5 by my count. When he gets going, it’s truly amazing to watch. I guess we’ve been lucky to witness them both.
 
BUFAN1 said:
Yep, I give up trying to understand. Whatever Wardle, do your thing. I feel that Wardle has been a bit clocked out in this little slump. He usually never sits in the chair, but he has been in it alot lately.
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Judging by his comments, it does seem like Brian has coached “harder” this year than recent ones. He’s made reference to things like not trusting the players to make good decisions after the ending of the Duquesne game, and been begging the team to put together 35 complete minutes in a game. This team has been very streaky of course. He also has had two guys leave mid year and shuffles guys in and out of the rotation even towards the end of the year now. He’s been more animated and then, as you said, seemingly exasperated at times more this year than most. Putting all that together I’m guessing he would say this has been a year where more energy than most goes into coaching and leading this team. I don’t know what that all means, or if it’s good or bad, but just interesting with a mostly veteran group. Each group has its own personality of course.
 
BUfan14 said:
In accomplishment for sure DB had the heart of a champion and willed Bradley to great postseason success and is still ahead of Duke for now. But if you gave me one guy at their best for one game today, I don’t know if we’ve had many players that can go off for six plus threes like Duke can. How many six plus threes games has he had this year now? 5 by my count. When he gets going, it’s truly amazing to watch. I guess we’ve been lucky to witness them both.
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Yes, Duke has had 6 or more threes in a game 5 times this season.
Here are his game-by-game stats - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/4897149/duke-deen
 
BUfan14 said:
Deen I always liked as a valuable guard and what I thought would be a Ben Gordon like sixth man who could score points in bunches when hot. What has truly impressed me beyond what I ever thought possible with Deen this year is his growth on defense, passing, and limiting turnovers more. I don’t know if I ever thought all three of those things would come together for him as well as they have. A credit to Duke and staff for him becoming a true starting, and really star, point guard.
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I think Duke deserves a spot on the MVC 1st team, and I thought this about a month ago, but after last night, I don't think there's much doubt.
Malevy should make 2nd team and Def. POY again.
 
BUfan14 said:
I have to believe DB has had a lot to do with this improvement. I’d love to see him keep rising up our coaching ranks over the years. Should Brian ever leave, I’d love DB to have enough experience by that time (hopefully many many years from now) to be in the mix to take over someday. Guy just seems like a coach and hard worker who loves to compete and win.
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I think DB is the perfect guy for the position he has! My son met him last month and he wants to play for DB Jr if he ever becomes a head coach and if our 10-yr-old develops to the level he needs.
 
LittleBrave said:
THAT IS JUST INSAAAAAANNNNE!

I wonder if any Brave since Hersey has made 6 or more in 3 games in the same season (??)
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I posted this earlier in this thread - https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/s...dley-86-missouri-state-62?p=516358#post516358

These were the Bradley single-game record holders prior to Duke's 9 three pointers-
three.png
 
LittleBrave said:
I think Duke deserves a spot on the MVC 1st team, and I thought this about a month ago, but after last night, I don't think there's much doubt.
Malevy should make 2nd team and Def. POY again.
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What I'd like to see the most would be Duke Deen for MVP at Arch Madness.
 
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