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Final score: UIC 85 Bradley 70

We've all seen that this team has some flaws, but any weakness that the Bradley team has shown at any time this season all happened tonight to the extreme- poor shooting, poor rebounding, allowing offensive rebounds and second chance points, missed layups, not defending the three pointers, etc.
UIC is a very good team all of a sudden, but BU made them look a lot better than they are.
Final score- UIC 85 Bradley 70
Official box score- https://uicflames.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2025-26/bradley/boxscore/21135

Attendance was pretty good for an awful weather night- 6,209
 
By the second half I was hoping Hersey would slip into a uniform and check in. This was another sad game to watch. We desperately need reliable outside shooters.
 
Wardle's radio interview with Chad and Dave indicated that he was resigned to acknowledge that this team is deficient in several areas (which all opposing coaches know) and there is little than he can do to remedy it this season. I think that is why he didn't even bother to call time outs. He stated that he needs a better team for next year. I am not sure if I want to go to St Louis for the tournament this year. It was a real bummer watching this game tonight.
 
The senior leadership is non-existent this year. That makes a huge difference in games like these. That said, this is the second year in a row that UIC has clobbered us at home. They have scouted our teams very well and know our weaknesses, which were exposed right and left tonight. We were outplayed, outhustled, and outcoached tonight.
 
molar50 said:
Wardle's radio interview with Chad and Dave indicated that he was resigned to acknowledge that this team is deficient in several areas (which all opposing coaches know) and there is little than he can do to remedy it this season. I think that is why he didn't even bother to call time outs. He stated that he needs a better team for next year. I am not sure if I want to go to St Louis for the tournament this year. It was a real bummer watching this game tonight.
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Sadly this is my 1st real chance to go to St. Louis, but I think our chances of making the Final game are the worst in 5 years.
If we end up a 5-seed, I'm there...but it could be very ugly.
 
BradleyBiz said:
The senior leadership is non-existent this year. That makes a huge difference in games like these. That said, this is the second year in a row that UIC has clobbered us at home. They have scouted our teams very well and know our weaknesses, which were exposed right and left tonight. We were outplayed, outhustled, and outcoached tonight.
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Most embarrassing home game in years. And this was a key game to have any chance at 1st place...and we didn't bring anything to the court.
Now we have to rebound and win at Drake, which I don't think is going to happen. It really is our last shot to stay in the race for Top 3 IMO.
We'll see what team comes out. Very sad game.
 
BradleyBiz said:
The senior leadership is non-existent this year.
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Ding Ding Ding! Our 4 senior studs from last season replaced by senior duds...no offense to they individuals, but they have all pretty much been busts. Alex isn't doing much lately. The other 3 seniors just aren't very good period.

Burch hasn't played as well as hyped...his 3-point shot looks off this season, and misses half his layups.
Jaquan I think just has a heavy load to carry every night. He'll be alright - so will Montana.

Dang - so disappointing. I'd almost rather be in UIC's shoes right now - a game behind the Braves. They are really clicking and gelling together. They looked like a Top 3 team in the league tonight. Gotta give 'em credit. They made us look horrible.
 
We need more then just shooters. We also need athletic forwards and centers that can rebound. This team has been inconsistent because of the lack of talent in the front court period. Embarrassing that UIC comes in here and blows us away 2 seasons in a row. They have a nothing fan base and are still able to recruit better players. They were more athletic and better overall basketball players period. What coach said after the game was true but in order to do what he said needs to be done players need to be let go that cannot help us win. We can no longer give scholarships to project players. The portal and JUCO gives us a chance to find proven players every season. I can see several guys on this team that should not be here next year based on results.
 
tomahawk chop said:
I can see several guys on this team that should not be here next year based on results.
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Who would you say? Thankfully all the seniors will be gone.
I'm sad that Kai Yu isn't playing anymore - I think he has a big upside with more playing time.

Are DR and MZ really that good? I don't see much from them when they play - granted they haven't played much, but they don't look ready for D-I mid-major hoops.
 
molar50 said:
Wardle's radio interview with Chad and Dave indicated that he was resigned to acknowledge that this team is deficient in several areas (which all opposing coaches know) and there is little than he can do to remedy it this season. I think that is why he didn't even bother to call time outs. He stated that he needs a better team for next year. I am not sure if I want to go to St Louis for the tournament this year. It was a real bummer watching this game tonight.
Click to expand...

I had to write this one up quickly without my other breakdowns because this postgame really shocked me.

Here's my full write up: https://bubraves2006.substack.com/p/as-the-rest-of-the-valley-improves

I'm putting together a lengthy section in my recap, but I can't recall Coach being that dejected in an interview:

“We couldn’t make any open shots. And then that, with our team, getting them to play D after that, is very, very difficult to do with this roster,” Wardle said in the postgame show. “That’s just something I can’t do anything about right now, but I can do something about it in the offseason.”
 
LittleBrave said:
Who would you say? Thankfully all the seniors will be gone.
I'm sad that Kai Yu isn't playing anymore - I think he has a big upside with more playing time.

Are DR and MZ really that good? I don't see much from them when they play - granted they haven't played much, but they don't look ready for D-I mid-major hoops.
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Remember last season Timo, at this point of the season, wasn't even getting into games. Now he is, possibly, our best rebounder. Give DR and MZ time to mature. This teams future are the freshmen and sophomores along with new players they get.
Give these young guys time.
Our problem is a couple guys that were being counted on didn't get the job done-1 junior and 4 seniors.
 
I'm just like everyone else in saying very disappointed with the results. The roster construction has many many deficiencies. What disappoints me most is the poor defense and horrific rebounding. With high effort, a tough mindset and proper positioning this can be brought every night. This team lacks that tremendously. I know its being worked on every day. It's a staple of coach wardles past teams. This is the worst 14-8 team I can remember but we are still 14-8. The portal has killed the mid majors and coaches are adjusting on the fly. We probably aren't going anywhere this year, just have to accept it. Senior leadership is important but overrated. I'm watching wagler lead Illinois and he is a freshman. Nick saban has said your best players have to be your leaders. When that happens coaches can coach. To say we need a new coach is ludicrous. He is a proven winner. He also has a completely new staff. I feel confident that major adjustments will be made next year.
 
Bballjunkie said:
I'm just like everyone else in saying very disappointed with the results. The roster construction has many many deficiencies. What disappoints me most is the poor defense and horrific rebounding. With high effort, a tough mindset and proper positioning this can be brought every night. This team lacks that tremendously. I know its being worked on every day. It's a staple of coach wardles past teams. This is the worst 14-8 team I can remember but we are still 14-8. The portal has killed the mid majors and coaches are adjusting on the fly. We probably aren't going anywhere this year, just have to accept it. Senior leadership is important but overrated. I'm watching wagler lead Illinois and he is a freshman. Nick saban has said your best players have to be your leaders. When that happens coaches can coach. To say we need a new coach is ludicrous. He is a proven winner. He also has a completely new staff. I feel confident that major adjustments will be made next year.
Click to expand...
 
Wardle still retained Mike Black. The results of the season is on him. He’s the head coach and is highly compensated. Yes, he deserves one more season, but if the results are not significantly improved, there will be demands to seek a new coach.
 
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