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Final score: Loyola 78 Bradley 71 - in Overtime

Tommy said:
No Flagrant foul we win in regulation.

terrible call. Refs sucked this whole game.
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Tommy hate to tell you this but that was the correct call. It's called an F1, in my day it would have been called an intention foul. Both the same penalties. Look no further than missed FT's again and missed layups for the loss. Also didn't defend penetration with the lob over Mast for easy layups. 3 main reason for the loss again.
 
As has been the case for this team all season there were moments of putridness and moments of brilliance. Until we can get more of the latter and less of the previous we'll keep having games like this. As dominant as Rienk was in the first half I didn't think we looked to him enough in the second half and that sure seems like a familar pattern of not going to the hot hand. And frankly that's on the coaching staff. Rienk finished with 20 points and 7 rebounds. Terry Roberts has carried us on his back in some games but unfortunately in this one he lost his grip as he was just 2-13 overall, 1-6 from 3 and 1-4 from 1 and had 4 turnovers and fouled out in OT. Early in the second half we made 4 straight 3's. The rest of the game we were just 3-22 and most of those were uncontested open shots. I also thought the foul on Leons, after giving it a second look, was the right call. And it only cost us 1 point. After giving up the lead late in the 2nd half I thought we showed our toughness to be able to take it to OT. Unfortunately we were just 1-6 overall and 3-6 from the FT line in OT. I'll say it again. We have talent. As long as they don't get too frustrated I think we'll be fine and be a team who'll be dangerous to play in March.
 
Big Mike said:
These games are getting really hard to watch. Other than a couple 3's by Loyola they won the game with multiple lay-ups in the 2nd half. Very frustrated......
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Yeah. Loyola got way too many poorly defended layups throughout the game. It is the same thing that cost Bradley the win at home vs. Missouri State. Whatever defense we are trying against these last two opponents, it wasn't working well in the paint.
Loyola had 42 points in the paint. And it was mostly their guards and wing players driving and scoring. Their big man Hutson played only 12 minutes, and was scoreless.
Missouri State Had 40 points in the paint, and likewise, it was mostly their guards who penetrated and got easy layups. Prim only had 8 points.
Indiana State.

These were 2 games Bradley should have won, IMO, and lost because we didn't seem to adjust to what they were doing.
 
Has Hannah disappeared, is it some prolonged disciplinary thing, or are we red shirting him at this point? Also, is Boya still hobbled and nursing an injury? He just has never developed up to expectations. We just seem to be missing stoppers in the lane and the extra rebounding we had in years past. Teams are just taking it to the rim and pounding the glass more against us.

In any case, if just one or two of our short-comings could be addressed (3's, free throws, interior defense, consistency), this could be a successful team. They work extremely hard of have big hearts. it would be great and deserving to see them get over the hump and get rewarded for that.
 
While I wasn't able to attend this in person like most seasons, I was able to watch this one late this evening and it echoes a constant sentiment every single time we play at Loyola. They DO NOT get called for fouls at home at even remotely the same rate as their opponents. Play some defense when Loyola is clawing back? The fouls at one point were 8 to 2 and if you still have it DVR'ed, legitimately go back and see the countless times we went into the paint and were hacked. Mast had at least two that should have been and 1s, one by Kent, etc. On the other end, there were a few phantom calls, especially one on Roberts that would have had him playing with 3 instead of 4 fouls for such a long stretch.

(Side note: The F1 was actually one of the few things they did get right. It was a clear holding on a clear to basket play.)

This isn't like it in any other arena. Not in Normal, not at Cedar Falls, not in Springfield, MO.

I'm not arguing the other sentiments about making more FTs, tightening up some of the defensive possessions, etc. But the refs did and usually do play a major role every time at Loyola. I haven't felt this way about any of the other losses except for this one.

----

All that said, as much as this has been a difficult stretch, I want to end on a positive note. I don't anyone here would have honestly thought that when we were losing to cupcakes at home early in the season that we would have had a prayer in a game like this. The past two games have given me more hope that this season can be salvaged and that we can be a force come Arch Madness time. We've gone toe-to-toe with a few of the best teams in the conference and even with our best player having off nights, we could (and should) have won them. I still believe in these guys.
 
I still hold out hope that when Henry returns it will help in the paint on both ends. Hope he is close before it's too late on saving this season. Plus a return of Robert's play back to normal, just watch him on offense for something has changed. As far as Hannah I would transfer out,, there is no reason for him to have not played in the last 2 games IMO !
 
BUBraves2006 said:
While I wasn't able to attend this in person like most seasons, I was able to watch this one late this evening and it echoes a constant sentiment every single time we play at Loyola. They DO NOT get called for fouls at home at even remotely the same rate as their opponents. Play some defense when Loyola is clawing back? The fouls at one point were 8 to 2 and if you still have it DVR'ed, legitimately go back and see the countless times we went into the paint and were hacked. Mast had at least two that should have been and 1s, one by Kent, etc. On the other end, there were a few phantom calls, especially one on Roberts that would have had him playing with 3 instead of 4 fouls for such a long stretch....
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Yes, I hate to complain about the officiating, but there were several more critical calls that the replay showed were bogus. The late foul call on Kent on a 3-point shot by Williamson was definitely a flop by Williamson. That shot and free throw put Loyola ahead after they had made their 16 point comeback.
Then on a subsequent possession late in regulation, Williamson drove into the lane, and Leons knocked the ball out of his hands cleanly (seen clearly on replay), but was called for a foul, and 2 free throws.
And there was a late Bradley possession where Bradley missed a driving layup, and Mast rebounded it was hacked and missed the putback, got another rebound, was hacked again and missed another putback, and then finally Loyola got the rebound. Any one of those would have won the game for Bradley in an overtime game. And there were others, but those three, late in regulation were the most memorable to me.
 
Big Mike said:
As far as Hannah I would transfer out,, there is no reason for him to have not played in the last 2 games IMO !
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Well he pretty much is the human turnover. He'll have 2 or 3 turnovers in 7 minutes. That could be why... Good defensively but can't hold the ball for 2 seconds without giftwrapping it right back the other way
 
I agree with BUBrave2006 last paragraph. We all knew that it was going take half of the season for this team to come together. The ISU and Drake games coming up will give an idea if we're for real or not. I'm hoping we can go 10-5 during the rest of conference play.

GO BRADLEY
 
Really confused with all the easy points in the paint we were giving up why Boya didn’t play, as he contests everything down low and changes shots.

Also think Linke looked really good defensively in the few minutes he played.
 
Tommy said:
Really confused with all the easy points in the paint we were giving up why Boya didn’t play, as he contests everything down low and changes shots.

Also think Linke looked really good defensively in the few minutes he played.
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I agree. I think Linke had some good minutes. He was on the floor for most of the stretch when Bradley made their run and stretched the lead to 16 in the 2nd half.
Though the plus/minus stat is not always a good measure of an individual player's performance (since it is affected greatly by who else is on the floor), but Linke's plus minus was one of only 4 Braves who had a plus stat, and only Hickman's was better. If Hannah isn't going to get playing time, maybe Linke should get a few more minutes.-
http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=369445 (click on "Visitor Stats" to see plus/minus numbers)
 
Da Coach said:
If Hannah isn't going to get playing time, maybe Linke should get a few more minutes.-
http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=369445 (click on "Visitor Stats" to see plus/minus numbers)
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That's a good point, Coach. Hannah is an offensive liability, but the guy can flat-out rebound and block shots and with the easy baskets we were giving up, he and Boya could have totally changed that dynamic. Ah well, hindsight is 20/20. Like many have already said, so many little things could have put us over the top and if we're playing our best ball come tournament time, none of this will be as important.
 
Long time follower-First timer posting. Here we go!
Hannah is a good off the ball defender, weak side blocks and big rebounds on both ends but he gets beat on defense ALOT while he’s in. Loses his man or gets bodied down low due to his skinny frame. I think IMO that’s why Wardle has been sitting him, the Valley is no cake walk and we need guys who can perform.
Ari’s playing time has been cut significantly because let’s be honest here- he’s awful. I think he’s regressed since he’s been here. Unfortunate foot injuries have occurred but my goodness he can’t catch a ball to save his life! Weak offensive play. If you’re 7’-1” playing D1 basketball you should be greatly better than he plays. He’s had 4 years to make a difference and other than a couple good blocks in games this year he’s just not the big man that’s performing for us. Get him in there to give Reink a breather but other than that I can’t see him in the game plan. Let’s get Linke some more minutes, he’s a strong body and he’s got 2 more years with us- hope to see him progress!

Side Note: these past three losses still hurt me to this day
 
If we are debating who needs more playing time between Boya, Hannah, and Linke, none of whom are complete players by any stretch, then we seem to lack the depth on the inside we thought we had. Linke looks better, and I hope he can get there still. But if there is anyone I would like to personally see more of it is Ekono. Nothing spectacular so far, but also on both ends I haven't noticed him being a liability when in the game in small spurts. Montgomery doesn't look ready to me on either end despite the potential. Then again I have only seen him and Ekono in small spurts.

At this points you have 8 rotation players....Mast, Leons, Kent, Hickman, Roberts (which I think is the correct starting 5 going forward), with Henry playing starter minutes off the bench, Ville, and Howell. Sprinkle in Linke and Ekono as necessary.

Howell seems wildly inconsistent for a 5th year senior point guard. He will make a great pass or have a nice stretch, and follow it with a couple bonehead mistakes back to back. He doesn't provide enough otherwise, like Roberts, to make these kinds of mistakes. He is the best backup point guard we have right now I suppose though, without getting to see Ekono more.
 
ghunt said:
Has Hannah disappeared, is it some prolonged disciplinary thing, or are we red shirting him at this point? Also, is Boya still hobbled and nursing an injury? He just has never developed up to expectations. We just seem to be missing stoppers in the lane and the extra rebounding we had in years past. Teams are just taking it to the rim and pounding the glass more against us.

In any case, if just one or two of our short-comings could be addressed (3's, free throws, interior defense, consistency), this could be a successful team. They work extremely hard of have big hearts. it would be great and deserving to see them get over the hump and get rewarded for that.
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In the Wardle era, there is ALWAYS 1 or 2 guys that seem to be in his doghouse for most of the season.

Last year it was East - this season it's Hannah (but to a much larger degree). I love Hannah's game - I loved East's game. I don't understand it, but we have to live with it and trust in Wardle. Also, why is Ekono not getting minutes?
 
Did anyone really think we had the game in good hands up 15 with 15 min. to go? I was quivering in my seat at that point and thought it would be a major task to keep the lead. I did have hope that we'd win, but it wasn't a great feeling even at that point.

I was just happy to go to Gentile Center and see a game!!!
 
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