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Final score: Bradley 95 Belmont 84

What a game! We have to defend the lane better, but the amazing three point shooting wins the game for the Braves- 17-36 overall and 10-13 in the 2nd half, and 2-4 in OT.
Stats: https://bradleybraves.com/sidearmstats/mbball/media;team=home
We beat them at their own game, 3 pointers is why we won tonight. When we shoot the ball well we look very good. The rebounding once again was really bad. It was great to see Timo hit 3 point shots again tonight as it adds so much more to our offense when the opponents have to guard multiple guys on the outside. This team is so hard in figuring out which one of them is going to show up tonight.
 
Important win tonight against the best team in our league. When we play hard on both ends, we are a capable team. This was one of those games that reminded me why I do this.
 
Just finished watching the replay...Whew!
So tense all game. Proud of the fight tonight...and the W!

We are 10-5 and looking better for a Top 5 seed, but why not 2 or 3 at this point?

Let's be realistic about our chances to beat Belmont to take the 1-seed. They may win out now. Highly doubt we'll overtake them even after tonight's huge win. It's a great confidence boost for this team, especially with Murray and ISU still to play at home.

I am still hopeful of the 2 seed - would be an unreal accomplishment for this team and its flaws. Lotta work still to do tho. Had a feeling Wardle would get his guys ready to play after a poor showing at UNI. He just has a great track record of doing this.
 
My take on a few guys tonight...

Bully was just outstanding. We needed every point from him! 3 steals and 6 assists ain't bad either!

His counterpart Wheeler struggled a bit tonight and has lately, but he'll get back when we need him.

Alex's 3-balls were clutch, especially the one to tie the game at 80 to force OT. He did a great job on Lundblade too.

Yu is going to be solid. He made some key plays and just knows what to do - go up strong or kick it out.

AJ Smith - the unsung hero who made some strong plays and a huge offensive board in OT. He played very well for a change.

Timo continues to grow and showed he can knock down the 3. He has a lot of ways to be productive on offense. I really like his game and effort...a guy we need the next 2 seasons!

Glad Coach benched Meta a lot...he's been awful on both ends lately and others deserve more minutes.
 
Great win. I think that we had a statistical anomaly go in our favor last night.

Is it not crazy? UNI runs Murray St out of their gym and ISU red lays a massive egg at Evansville on the same night?
 
My take on a few guys tonight...

Bully was just outstanding. We needed every point from him! 3 steals and 6 assists ain't bad either!

His counterpart Wheeler struggled a bit tonight and has lately, but he'll get back when we need him.

Alex's 3-balls were clutch, especially the one to tie the game at 80 to force OT. He did a great job on Lundblade too.

Yu is going to be solid. He made some key plays and just knows what to do - go up strong or kick it out.

AJ Smith - the unsung hero who made some strong plays and a huge offensive board in OT. He played very well for a change.

Timo continues to grow and showed he can knock down the 3. He has a lot of ways to be productive on offense. I really like his game and effort...a guy we need the next 2 seasons!

Glad Coach benched Meta a lot...he's been awful on both ends lately and others deserve more minute
The reason Meta was benched by Wardle is that he was a "fouling machine", getting his first two fouls early and getting his third foul after getting back in again. He is a great free throw shooter and usually can get one or two baskets on a pick and roll from a guard, but he is a poor rebounder and mishandles the ball too often. Sometimes I believe he "overthinks" his options instead of just going to the basket. Our team plays better with him on the bench.
 
The reason Meta was benched by Wardle is that he was a "fouling machine", getting his first two fouls early and getting his third foul after getting back in again. He is a great free throw shooter and usually can get one or two baskets on a pick and roll from a guard, but he is a poor rebounder and mishandles the ball too often. Sometimes I believe he "overthinks" his options instead of just going to the basket. Our team plays better with him on the bench.
Totally agree and if Burch is actually off the team my opinion of Wardle will change.You can't play favorites.
 
After such a great win and positivity going into the final stretch of the season, if Burch is really gone, let's just hope Bradley doesn't do the charade that Evansville did for a month with Keishon Porter. They continually gave this lame excuse that he was out due to "coach's decision" game after game even though he was clearly not present for any of their games. Then finally Evansville released a statement that they wished him the best but he was gone. It greatly annoyed their fanbase and it's an unnecessary distraction as we get closer to tournament time. I've grown so tired of talking about it already and with this long gap until Sunday's game, let's just give everyone a clean break and a fresh start. No hard feelings - don't even have to get into the "why". Just seems like for the best.

You'd think if we had a true beat reporter covering the team that your job, as not an employee of the school like the radio guys, is to get answers to difficult questions. I'm sure Dave Eminian is a nice guy but he spends so much of his time covering hockey, I don't really know how much he even cares to ask these sorts of questions. Maybe Wardle stonewalls him on this stuff but it's his job to ask. I also don't have a PJStar subscription, so if he's talked about this in any articles, I wouldn't know. I retract my criticism if he has, but since it's a big story, you'd think he would feature it if he had done any writing about it.

(It's sort of ridiculous that someone like DC or others who are "in the know" have to be the gatekeepers for this sort of knowledge. If anyone on the board wants to share what they know, so be it, but it's not really their job to do so. Please don't pressure them on that.)
 
PJS quotes Wardle as saying Burch has been sick all day, but was feeling better and " we should have him back for the next game".
 
I just wish we were talking about someone else on the team...Quanny, Alex, Burch, and Wheels are the glue for this team.
The glue wasn't strong enough with Burch I guess. We are still a good team, but that would be a key loss for Arch Madness and the rest of the season, tho with Timo's resurgent play, we have a chance.
 
Great to get a win last night, but as has been the case, we are so inconsistent. Play really good one game and next game lay an egg like at Northern Iowa. Downside from last night was we were out rebounded once again. Coach Wardle on post game stated that this will be a even stronger point of emphasis this week. Hope the team get's it together going down the stretch and going into St. Louis. We play up to potential we stand as good a chance as anyone in the tournament.
 
...we are so inconsistent. Play really good one game and next game lay an egg...
surely you've noticed that this description fits every team in the MVC this year (except maybe Belmont)

Heck, ISU fans are pulling their hair out- they went from a 26-point clobbering of Bradley & a huge win AT Murray State.....
to a home loss to SIU scoring just 50 pts and now a humbling loss to lowly Evansville (who was without their best player)
 
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