Happy to receive the feedback. So NIU will be joining the Mountain West Conference for football ONLY, but will be competing in the Horizon League for all other sports. Would having Bradley join another conference for basketball (men's & women's) ONLY, but staying in the MVC for all other sports be a bad idea? Other universities have athletic teams in different conferences and even at different Division levels. I just think the Bradley Top Brass needs to think out of the box if it wants its basketball at the highest level possible. And I do think teaming Bradley and Drake with this concept would have merit. Come to think of it Drake plays Division II football, and doesn't field a baseball team.
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Looking ahead
- Thread starter daveineureka
- Start date
I can state with certainty that the current administration is fully committed to the best outcome for Bradley, and they are examining every possible option. We are fortunate to have the current people guiding Bradley both on the athletic and academic side. But Bradley is facing some serious challenges in both areas, especially in this new environment where every athlete is seeking to be paid, and there are a ton of schools with a lot more money to pay them. Over the next few years, there will be more schools dropping out of Division I, or dropping sports, and there will be pressure on the NCAA to change their rules that require 14 sports (16 for FBS football schools).
Burch told me after last season he was going to transfer after this year and try to get paid, can't blame kids for wanting to do it, money is important. Just have to wonder what his market is like now
basketball nut
Well-known member
Smart move
ISU got all their key players back last year (Kinziger, Walker, Dougherty, Pence, Wolf, Lieb)
.. and were the overwhelming pick to win the MVC
In the day and age of the portal & NIL,, it's hard to know who's gonna be good next year, but at
least this is a start for Valpo, who every year lose their best players to the portal.
.. and were the overwhelming pick to win the MVC
In the day and age of the portal & NIL,, it's hard to know who's gonna be good next year, but at
least this is a start for Valpo, who every year lose their best players to the portal.
BUBraves2006
Well-known member
Yeah and Valpo has one of the best coaches in the conference. ISU Red does not.
It is not softening at all. It is going up, up, up.
The Valpo fan should be very impressed with retaining those 3. Hell, Valpo just got a million dollars from Don Fites, part-time Peoria resident and former CAT CEO.
I do wonder how much Pettigrew watched his older brother bounce around and be unsuccessful at every subsequent stop.
I just watched a replay of the game we defeated Liberty. Burch made unbelievable baskets and he's one of the main reasons we toppled a superb Mid-Major! Makes we wonder if he can have a senior breakout season! He has the talent to be very good consistently. However, being injured and sick has not helped. If he stays, Coach Wardle shows promise in him, this could give him confidence to play very good every game!
I am honestly shocked by this one. I would have bet that he was one of the 5 Valley players most likely to transfer. That's great for Valpo and the MVC!
It won't soften at all. However, the NIL will become more regulated due to the House settlement. Now, though, schools can pay players directly, which will put small private universities at a major disadvantage. https://honestgame.com/blog/house-vs-the-ncaa/
LittleBrave
Well-known member
I am happy for Coach Powell. He did an awesome job at replacing last year's defects. They have great chemistry - a tough-minded group that should be able to finish Top 5 next season with these guys returning and Powell seems to be a very good recruiter. They have a culture established now - much like what Bradley and UNI have.
tomahawk chop
Well-known member
I am hearing that these players are returning next season, Quan, Timo, Montana, Kai, Dietrich and Matthew. I also would expect our 2 redshirt players back Jason Seastrunk and Gustavo. We have 3 new recruits coming in which gets us to 11. That leaves us with 4 open rides and possibly just 3 if Gus returns. The 2 that are not on this list are Burch and Touissaint.
Again this is what I heard.
Again this is what I heard.
That list does not include the two red-shirting freshmen, Jackson Seastrunk and Gustavo Guimaraes. But I am hearing from a separate source that they also plan to return.
That leaves only 3 players not among those reported to be returning- Gus Rugaard, Handy Toussaint III, and Demarion Burch.
That leaves only 3 players not among those reported to be returning- Gus Rugaard, Handy Toussaint III, and Demarion Burch.
This would be great news for the program. If Timoty, Kai, and Deitrich get stronger, they could be weapons in this league. I think Bully and Montana are going to be the top guard combo, and Zobrist just needs experience.
bradleyfan124
Well-known member
I am so glad to hear that. I am really excited from what I see in Guimaraes. I think he could be a surprise. If true sorry to hear about Burch. I really liked him