NIL comes from donors so unless you think donors are holding back because we are in the MVC and not the A10, I don't understand your argument. Now that schools can pay players, I suppose an argument can be made that if their media rights are substantially more that they can pay more, but that's assuming that the extra schools don't dilute the pool, and the school has to distribute the money. As for performance being better, that's more of an outlier and team specific. Depaul for instance has arguably never been good in the big East and they have the additional draw of being in Chicago.
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Looking ahead
- Thread starter daveineureka
- Start date
Speaking of "Looking Ahead" (the title of this thread), some of us might be forgetting that Bradley will have another highly athletic 7-foot player on the roster next season, who had interest from several high level D1 programs last year, before he was injured.
Gustavo Guimaraes will be fully rehabbed and recovered from his knee injury he suffered his senior year in high school in Miami, and ready to play by next season.
There aren't many videos, but here were a couple we posted of him-
Video from 2 years ago playing at Riviera Prep in Miami- www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtDlygCMb8c (#11 in white)
Video from 1 year ago playing AAU basketball 1 year ago- www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwsI-0EG9JE
Interview for those who speak Portuguese- www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeFPpOi-fWs
Other relevant links-
www.x.com/TMarkwith14/status/1831392827835916463
www.x.com/tabeladode3/status/1846699852333568157
www.x.com/BasketHoopz/status/1854340629645476117
www.x.com/TMarkwith14/status/1870494931137265684
www.x.com/TMarkwith14/status/1829893555554279772
www.x.com/ALLBALL365/status/1828769245959999750
www.x.com/ALLBALL365/status/1813314797221650872
www.x.com/ALLBALL365/status/1813263429651636629
Gustavo's X.com account with more info- www.x.com/guguimaraes_17?lang=en (give him a follow if you are on X.com)
Bradleyfans thread- https://bradleyfans.com/threads/new-bu-commit-gustavo-guimaraes.529103/
Gustavo Guimaraes will be fully rehabbed and recovered from his knee injury he suffered his senior year in high school in Miami, and ready to play by next season.
There aren't many videos, but here were a couple we posted of him-
Video from 2 years ago playing at Riviera Prep in Miami- www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtDlygCMb8c (#11 in white)
Video from 1 year ago playing AAU basketball 1 year ago- www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwsI-0EG9JE
Interview for those who speak Portuguese- www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeFPpOi-fWs
Other relevant links-
www.x.com/TMarkwith14/status/1831392827835916463
www.x.com/tabeladode3/status/1846699852333568157
www.x.com/BasketHoopz/status/1854340629645476117
www.x.com/TMarkwith14/status/1870494931137265684
www.x.com/TMarkwith14/status/1829893555554279772
www.x.com/ALLBALL365/status/1828769245959999750
www.x.com/ALLBALL365/status/1813314797221650872
www.x.com/ALLBALL365/status/1813263429651636629
Gustavo's X.com account with more info- www.x.com/guguimaraes_17?lang=en (give him a follow if you are on X.com)
Bradleyfans thread- https://bradleyfans.com/threads/new-bu-commit-gustavo-guimaraes.529103/
I just hope we are done with projects.With the NIL and transfer portal we need guys that are ready to play from day one to be competitive.The days of developing guys are over in my opinion.
We have 15 spots now, teams only play around 8-9 regularly during conference play, so I don't have any problem with some projects because I am sure they don't command much NIL.
there should be a mix of both, i bet we don't pay every player on our roster nil. and there really isnt a need to because you dont play the whole team, only your best players. use all/most on the best players and then develop players that will maybe sit for a year or play a limited role and come into a bigger role the next season. think timo last year, zobrist this year, Jonvic first year, just guessing. NIL is still the most important thing for sure and recruiting in the portal. There's not unlimited money though
bradleyfan124
Well-known member
He looks pretty mobile and agile. Something we are not used to
Braves4Life
Well-known member
If he's fully recovered, I expect Gus to be a nice contributor by conference play.
I am working on getting a translation... I think you know I have an excellent source...
Actually, I asked AI to translate, and here is the result if anyone cares-
Video-
Presenter (on camera, playful tone): ....And now let's talk with Gustavo to hear a bit about his journey. It's truly a source of pride to see someone from Itatiba paving the path to success, achieving dreams, and more than that, seeing someone from Itatiba inspiring others—because we know there are a lot of kids in this city dreaming, right? Just playing basketball there at Quinta Tiba, so many boys have that dream—it's really cool.Now I'm actually going to ask you: how did your passion for basketball start?
Gustavo Guimarães: It came through my older brother, who used to play here on the court where I live, right here in the condo, and that's how I started dribbling a ball. Back then it was soccer, then it turned into basketball, and now here we are. I started playing basketball at 11 years old, right? I played soccer, like you said, just for fun too, but because of my brother I started playing basketball here in Itatiba, right here at the training center. I played one year here in Itatiba, and in my second year I went to Campinas and started playing for them. That's when I really started loving basketball, you know? You start training every day, you start liking it more and more, and then I just kept playing more and more. I was champion in my first year with Regatas, played there for three years, and now I'm in the United States.
Narrator (voiceover): Wow, the place where stars are born, right? The opportunity to go to the United States came while he was still playing for Regatas in Campinas. Gustavo and his best friend, Arthur, went to Mexico, and shortly after, he was invited to play in Miami at a high school. But his basketball journey started on the courts of Itatiba—it began with Marcelo Cirilo.
Marcelo Cirilo (interviewee): "Paulo. First year, right? He stayed here one year. Gustavo is a very coordinated kid, so the path is the Federation, and let's see what happens there." And that's how it started. In his first year in the Federation, the whole world came after me and I thought: "Wow, I just got into this!" Then came invitations from Italy and Spain, and he went to play in a tournament in the United States through the NBA Junior League, and there he earned a scholarship to a school. And that was it. He's there now, at 14 or 15 years old, right? My heart hurts a little bit, but I'm only proud.
Narrator (voiceover): With strong performances in high school, Gustavo, at 18 years old, is projected for the 2026 draft. His dream is to play in the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world, and that's why today his goal is to be on the courts of American universities. Scholarships to play and study aren't lacking for him.
Gustavo Guimarães: I have 10 university scholarships, including one from Division 1. I need to choose the best college now, right? I still have one year to decide, but I'm excited. It's going to be great. Playing for a university is where everyone is watching you, right? And I think that's where I'll have the best opportunity. All the NBA coaches and coaches from every league will be watching me, so I'm really pumped.
Narrator (voiceover): Having lived outside Brazil for 4 years, Gustavo has already achieved impressive feats. The Itatibense had a game with 13 blocks and still finished the championship as Florida state champion with his team, the Riviera Trap. He was named MVP. But Gustavo's success has been so consistent that ESPN ranked him in the top 25 centers for 2025. Even with all this growth and spotlight outside Brazil, Gustavo never stops talking about the love he feels for the Brazilian national team jersey.
Gustavo Guimarães: My first national team call-up was last year. I played in the U19 World Cup, right? I was 17 years old, the youngest on the team. Then I played the U17 South American Championship in my age group, and this year I played the U18 AmeriCup. Playing for Brazil is the best feeling there is, right? Representing your country, having the shield on your chest—it's an emotion you can't describe, you know?
Presenter: Alright, so now let's play a little ball again. But this time he's going to teach me some shooting techniques. Guys, I can't guarantee I'll make the sixth shot—obviously I'm not going to make the sixth shot, okay? I'll say it, right? I'll make it, but at least I'll learn how to hold the ball properly so I don't embarrass myself in the report. And I'll say openly that I'm passionate about this sport, so I'm dedicating that passion to learning. Let's go!
(There are segments with music, applause, and lighthearted fun at the end, like the presenter trying to shoot and asking for help.)This matches the video's content closely. Note: Based on current info (as of March 2026), Gustavo Guimarães (born March 31, 2006, ~6'11" center from Brazil) is now a freshman at Bradley University after high school at Riviera Preparatory School in Florida—he committed there and is draft-eligible later (around 2029 per some profiles, though the video from an earlier local report hyped a 2026 projection).
Video-
Presenter (on camera, playful tone): ....And now let's talk with Gustavo to hear a bit about his journey. It's truly a source of pride to see someone from Itatiba paving the path to success, achieving dreams, and more than that, seeing someone from Itatiba inspiring others—because we know there are a lot of kids in this city dreaming, right? Just playing basketball there at Quinta Tiba, so many boys have that dream—it's really cool.Now I'm actually going to ask you: how did your passion for basketball start?
Gustavo Guimarães: It came through my older brother, who used to play here on the court where I live, right here in the condo, and that's how I started dribbling a ball. Back then it was soccer, then it turned into basketball, and now here we are. I started playing basketball at 11 years old, right? I played soccer, like you said, just for fun too, but because of my brother I started playing basketball here in Itatiba, right here at the training center. I played one year here in Itatiba, and in my second year I went to Campinas and started playing for them. That's when I really started loving basketball, you know? You start training every day, you start liking it more and more, and then I just kept playing more and more. I was champion in my first year with Regatas, played there for three years, and now I'm in the United States.
Narrator (voiceover): Wow, the place where stars are born, right? The opportunity to go to the United States came while he was still playing for Regatas in Campinas. Gustavo and his best friend, Arthur, went to Mexico, and shortly after, he was invited to play in Miami at a high school. But his basketball journey started on the courts of Itatiba—it began with Marcelo Cirilo.
Marcelo Cirilo (interviewee): "Paulo. First year, right? He stayed here one year. Gustavo is a very coordinated kid, so the path is the Federation, and let's see what happens there." And that's how it started. In his first year in the Federation, the whole world came after me and I thought: "Wow, I just got into this!" Then came invitations from Italy and Spain, and he went to play in a tournament in the United States through the NBA Junior League, and there he earned a scholarship to a school. And that was it. He's there now, at 14 or 15 years old, right? My heart hurts a little bit, but I'm only proud.
Narrator (voiceover): With strong performances in high school, Gustavo, at 18 years old, is projected for the 2026 draft. His dream is to play in the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world, and that's why today his goal is to be on the courts of American universities. Scholarships to play and study aren't lacking for him.
Gustavo Guimarães: I have 10 university scholarships, including one from Division 1. I need to choose the best college now, right? I still have one year to decide, but I'm excited. It's going to be great. Playing for a university is where everyone is watching you, right? And I think that's where I'll have the best opportunity. All the NBA coaches and coaches from every league will be watching me, so I'm really pumped.
Narrator (voiceover): Having lived outside Brazil for 4 years, Gustavo has already achieved impressive feats. The Itatibense had a game with 13 blocks and still finished the championship as Florida state champion with his team, the Riviera Trap. He was named MVP. But Gustavo's success has been so consistent that ESPN ranked him in the top 25 centers for 2025. Even with all this growth and spotlight outside Brazil, Gustavo never stops talking about the love he feels for the Brazilian national team jersey.
Gustavo Guimarães: My first national team call-up was last year. I played in the U19 World Cup, right? I was 17 years old, the youngest on the team. Then I played the U17 South American Championship in my age group, and this year I played the U18 AmeriCup. Playing for Brazil is the best feeling there is, right? Representing your country, having the shield on your chest—it's an emotion you can't describe, you know?
Presenter: Alright, so now let's play a little ball again. But this time he's going to teach me some shooting techniques. Guys, I can't guarantee I'll make the sixth shot—obviously I'm not going to make the sixth shot, okay? I'll say it, right? I'll make it, but at least I'll learn how to hold the ball properly so I don't embarrass myself in the report. And I'll say openly that I'm passionate about this sport, so I'm dedicating that passion to learning. Let's go!
(There are segments with music, applause, and lighthearted fun at the end, like the presenter trying to shoot and asking for help.)This matches the video's content closely. Note: Based on current info (as of March 2026), Gustavo Guimarães (born March 31, 2006, ~6'11" center from Brazil) is now a freshman at Bradley University after high school at Riviera Preparatory School in Florida—he committed there and is draft-eligible later (around 2029 per some profiles, though the video from an earlier local report hyped a 2026 projection).
LittleBrave
Well-known member
Heck NO to A-10! Do you guys really want to see match-ups with those East coast teams over our current opponents? I already feel SLU and Loyola are out of place among all the east teams. Maybe better competition but I'd rather play schools closer - we've formed some good rivalries over the years and the league has been pretty solid the past 3 seasons. Even more, think of all the travel for the student-athletes!
I like the league's current teams and the geographic proximity, tho we could add 1-3 more in the coming years to strengthen the league. Glad Mo State left. Need UIC's fan base to get better and would be nice to see Evansville middle pack with their strong fan base.
ATLANTIC 10...BU doesn't belong, and if you think they do, it's not gonna be easy to contend with those teams the first few seasons - maybe more than a decade. I'd rather take what we have and consistently win 23-25 games, reaching the Big Dance every few seasons. I think it's great that BU has been in the NIT the past 3 seasons while falling short of the biggest goal. Yeah I'm as hungry as the rest of you to return to the NCAA tourney.
I could see BU becoming the DePaul of the A-10, and let's face it - we haven't been a great road team even in the Valley the past few decades. We experience some bad road blowouts even in good seasons. How is that going to change in a stronger conf.? (Just posing a question here - and maybe it COULD/WOULD change)
Would attendance go up? Probably, and there would be more fans that what we're used to on road games. That to me is not a deal breaker.
If the reason for moving to a stronger conference is to have a better chance to Dance, I feel ya. But that doesn't necessarily translate into the chance becoming a reality. The Shox and Ramblers had a great thing going in the Valley and they messed up. Let's not do the same.
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The A-10 is made up of 8 Catholic universities, 3 large public universities (VCU, Rhode Island, and George Mason), and 3 private universities (Davidson, Richmond, and George Washington). Bradley would be one of the smallest, and least funded programs in that conference, which, along with the huge increase in travel costs, would doom them to failure. Even the increase in TV money wouldn't help.
There are big changes coming soon for smaller private schools like Bradley, Drake, Belmont, etc. Bradley needs to stay where they are and wait to see how these changes affect them.
There are big changes coming soon for smaller private schools like Bradley, Drake, Belmont, etc. Bradley needs to stay where they are and wait to see how these changes affect them.
tomahawk chop
Well-known member
I heard a rumor yesterday that Burch found out what other players were being paid and felt he was slighted compared to other teammates ,like I stated this is a rumor but coming from reliable sources.
tomahawk chop
Well-known member
Bradley cannot afford all the travel costs and I agree that they are in the right league.
LittleBrave
Well-known member
I think we have the most athletic 7 footers in the Valley next season (Kai and Gus). They already have a strong bond off the court.
Hopefully that translates into playing well together, tho I don't think they'll be on the court simultaneously often.
LittleBrave
Well-known member
Yeah Baby!
Thanks for correcting the right way to simplify Northern Iowa as UNI. I believe NIU to me is Northern Illinois. However, I suspect these 2 Abbreviations could mean many other schools especially outside the Mid-west! Anyway, overall Talent and Cohesiveness can win the Valley tournament, but that's combined with retaining your players from year to year and if possible having as many local players as possible! Once again UNI has 4 players from Cedar Falls! That adds mentally to pride in your hometown! So UNI had it all this year! They may have won the Regular season if not for so many Injuries.However, unless the top 2 teams get a bye in the tourney, the Regular season seedings can be meaningless. Health, Cohesiveness,Talent and local talent staying more then 1 year is a great Blueprint! An outlier is Drake from Division 2, but Drake coach brought most of his players with him! Murray State may have fell apart because it's rare to bring in an entire new team each year and win the tourney! I hope Bradley can retain all its players that have eligibility! Better also to add juniors who have 2 more years for Cohesiveness! If we lose Quanny, although he has his up and down games, we lose the heart of Bradley 
! To have a legitimate chance next year, I believe it's crucial he come back!
! To have a legitimate chance next year, I believe it's crucial he come back!BradleyBiz
Member
Definitely 'no' on the A10. Honestly, the MVC will need to be prepared for the possibility of a major conference realignment across the NCAA within the next 5-10 years. For those without football and not part of a major conference (Big East and above), I could see a new conference being formed (which could retain the MVC name). If mid majors are to survive for the long haul in basketball, a power mid-major conference might be needed for the Midwest region.
I think right now, the MVC should start the conference season earlier (or remove all December non-conference games) and reserve a slate of 2-3 non-conference games in late January/early Feb. for matchups with other mid-major conferences (AAC, A10, MWC, maybe CUSA). We would form strategic partnerships with these conferences for the late season games. These games' opponents would be TBD and would put our top teams against other conferences' top teams; bottom tier teams would also play, but would not be as consequential. NET rankings would be more firmed up by then and would allow schools with the opportunity to get solid Q1 and Q2 wins, with fairly minimal downside. The MVC gamed the RPI rankings back in the mid-2000s...time to unite with other mid-major conferences to game the NET rankings as much as we can.
I think right now, the MVC should start the conference season earlier (or remove all December non-conference games) and reserve a slate of 2-3 non-conference games in late January/early Feb. for matchups with other mid-major conferences (AAC, A10, MWC, maybe CUSA). We would form strategic partnerships with these conferences for the late season games. These games' opponents would be TBD and would put our top teams against other conferences' top teams; bottom tier teams would also play, but would not be as consequential. NET rankings would be more firmed up by then and would allow schools with the opportunity to get solid Q1 and Q2 wins, with fairly minimal downside. The MVC gamed the RPI rankings back in the mid-2000s...time to unite with other mid-major conferences to game the NET rankings as much as we can.
LittleBrave
Well-known member
Just weird that he wouldn't have known this until now. Pretty sure teammates talk about this amongt each other.
If this were indeed true, Burch's production this year speaks louder than his words. (Love the guy, but ya know...)
You heard a bad rumor. 110% untrue.
LittleBrave
Well-known member
A lot of bad rumors have surfaced about O-Show this season, which is sad. I don't claim to know him that well, but he is such a nice young man and hard worker, great teammate...the most polite among all the BU guys...just the impression I got over 2 days this past summer seeing him a lot. Everybody goes through tough times - he's had a rough career at BU with injuries, illnesses, etc.
Would love for him to go out with a Bang at BU, but I have doubts he will stay (which I've had after EVERY season with Burch)