• Welcome to BradleyFans.com! Visitors are welcome, but we encourage you to sign up and register as a member. It's free and takes only a few seconds. Just click on the link to Register at the top right of the page, and follow instructions. If you have any problems or questions, click on the link at the bottom right of the page to Contact Us.

No Energy, Etc.

W

wizard1

New member
Clearly, one of the major problems with this team is a complete lack of energy, desire, and competitiveness. Our players are soft and do not have any kind of hungry toughness. We absolutely will not dive for loose balls, set tough, hard picks or aggresively run an offense with speed and crisp passes. All of this is a function of coaching. Our coaches do not demand this kind of play and it shows in a pitiful, losing team. We really do not recruit very well and seem to rely on foreign players who have not been brought up on the tough, urban, competitive basketball played in the USA. As a result, our basketball program is a total failure and an embarassment to our school and our peoria community. Shame on Bradley, shame on our athletic Dept., and most of all, shame on our basketball coaches and coaching staff.
Wizard
 
wizard said:
Clearly, one of the major problems with this team is a complete lack of energy, desire, and competitiveness. Our players are soft and do not have any kind of hungry toughness. We absolutely will not dive for loose balls, set tough, hard picks or aggresively run an offense with speed and crisp passes. All of this is a function of coaching. Our coaches do not demand this kind of play and it shows in a pitiful, losing team. We really do not recruit very well and seem to rely on foreign players who have not been brought up on the tough, urban, competitive basketball played in the USA. As a result, our basketball program is a total failure and an embarassment to our school and our peoria community. Shame on Bradley, shame on our athletic Dept., and most of all, shame on our basketball coaches and coaching staff.
Wizard
Click to expand...

I agree with most everything you said. The only possible difference of opinion is in the diving for loose balls, toughness and aggressive play. In my opinion these aren’t things you coach. They are an inherent part of a player’s pedigree. In Major League Baseball you see a lot of foreign players (Latin American). In the NBA you see a handful foreign players and of that handful, few played college basketball here. If you look at the European pro basketball leagues, they limit how many foreigners (Americans) are on a team. The reason is, if they didn’t the league would consist of mostly Americans. America is clearly the world leader in basketball. As I’ve said before, Wardle has recruited good people, just not good basketball players.
 
Last edited:
I don't agree either. I think our players play as hard as any opponent. But when we lose games we expect to win, I can see why fans think this.
 
Our team isn't as talented as most fans and I perceived based on last years results. Last year, our team over achieved and this year it has under achieved. I think they are trying their best. Until we get better talent, we are likely no better than fourth place in the MVC.
 
DaCoach;Scoretable...You guys disagree with my post on Energy, etc., then you must believe that our team has great energy, plays with great desire and competitiveness, and is very tough. You must also believe the team sets tough, hard picks and runs a quick offense featuring crisp passes. We must be tough under the boards and we go after loose balls also with toughness. Our guys must be as competitive and tough as major High School teams in USA urban areas.
However, I have one big question.....What Basketball team are you watching?...surely not Bradley who is in last place in the MVC. and has no competitiveness at all. I suggest you come to Carver Arena and watch the real world Bradley team withouit convincing yourselves thru rose colored glasss that we are something that we are not.
Wizard
 
DaCoach.....Our guys play with little energy. Sometimes they start games ok but they lose their competitiveness rather quickly and their desire goes down the drain as the game progresses. Simply stated, They are soft, not tough at all, do not play together, and look like they don't care very much if they win or lose.
Wizard
 
I see all the games. Players and coaches and fans surely disappointed in results. Current check shows 8 games left before MVC tourney. Season is over when it is over! My cup is still half full.
 
wizard said:
DaCoach;Scoretable...You guys disagree with my post on Energy, etc., then you must believe that our team has great energy, plays with great desire and competitiveness, and is very tough. You must also believe the team sets tough, hard picks and runs a quick offense featuring crisp passes. We must be tough under the boards and we go after loose balls also with toughness. Our guys must be as competitive and tough as major High School teams in USA urban areas.
However, I have one big question.....What Basketball team are you watching?...surely not Bradley who is in last place in the MVC. and has no competitiveness at all. I suggest you come to Carver Arena and watch the real world Bradley team withouit convincing yourselves thru rose colored glasss that we are something that we are not.
Wizard
Click to expand...

I have been to every home game and multiple road games. And the ones I have not attended, I have seen on TV or streaming. Plus I have been to multiple practices. So you are free to disagree with me, but let's not try to diminish others' opinions as if some have greater knowledge and insight. My comment was about "playing hard", and I stand by that. This team has problems, but IMO it is not because we don't play hard.
 
Da Coach said:
I have been to every home game and multiple road games. And the ones I have not attended, I have seen on TV or streaming. Plus I have been to multiple practices. So you are free to disagree with me, but let's not try to diminish others' opinions as if some have greater knowledge and insight. My comment was about "playing hard", and I stand by that. This team has problems, but IMO it is not because we don't play hard.
Click to expand...

I agree. I’ve been to all home games, multiple road games, and watched all of the others as well and I don’t think we have any issue with playing hard. It’s hard to compete when you don’t have a ton of talent at the guard position in today’s game.
 
I concur that the team is not suffering from a lack of effort. Are there points in games where may be a loose ball isn't recovered, sure. However, through the entirety of the game I believe the effort is there. This team suffers mightily from missed shots, and do not have a go to scorer to break up scoring lulls. The other thing I have noticed at times is poor defensive rotation, but I see that more as misunderstanding than no effort.
 
There is definitely effort from the players. It just appears there isn’t at times because the vast majority of opponents have more talent and instincts. Our lack of success backs this up.
 
well, but it's understandable - we were NOT playing well thru January-
who knows - perhaps some of those comments that Coach Wardle referred to a "the noise and distractions" (LINK)
were exactly part of what inspired our guys to turn it around...
 
tornado said:
well, but it's understandable - we were NOT playing well thru January-
who knows - perhaps some of those comments that Coach Wardle referred to a "the noise and distractions" (LINK)
were exactly part of what inspired our guys to turn it around...
Click to expand...

That is what I was thinking too. Wardle had to of known if the season kept up like it was in January people wouldn't be happy. While I didn't think we should have fired him like some started calling for, I definitely was giving him maybe two more years to turn things around .

I mean, that's how it works. You have to earn the benefit of the doubt. Its not automatically given. And this year was a year in which I and I'm sure many others felt that we should start seeing the sunnier side of the turnaround. Although I surely did not expect to go to the finals let alone win. Either way, in my opinion he has earned the benefit of the doubt now.

Remember, we're 4 years into the Wardle Era now.
 
I agree, we were not playing well thru January. I don't believe over the top comments had any influence on the team's very impressive turn around. All credit for the improvement should go to the coaches and players.
 
Well, I was looking back at some of my text messages to friends, telling them that I'm not going to waste my time, or $, watching another Bradley basketball game this season (after the Drake game where we missed a zillion straight shots). Also told my friend that there is no freakin' way we're winning Arch Madness this season - let along winning a game until February.
Crow don't taste so good. LOL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top