Bradley v. Michigan State

[sixth ace]

I watch the BIG finals and MSU lost a key player in the game. MSU rallied back down at least 14.

[Milanmiracle]

What a crappy deal. Not only a 15, but against the best 2 seed.

I'll go ahead and stick my neck out. I think Bradley is going to win this game. This is the same Spartan team that lost to a crappy IU team twice.

Well that’s putting it out there for sure. I like the confidence. I like Wardle as a coach however it’s easier to outcoach the other team when that coach isn’t Tom Izzo.

[musiccitybulldog]

Unfortunately I think Michigan State will squeak it out.

[bcg]

I have a seat in section 315. I'll be able to see the people that can see the game.

I've only seen Michigan State play once and that was in Champaign. I was talked into going since they said we would eat at Black Dog Smoke & ale before the game. I assume the Spartans are much better than they showed that night.

I have low expectations for the Braves. This has been such an odd season.

[musiccitybulldog]

I have a seat in section 315. I'll be able to see the people that can see the game.

I've only seen Michigan State play once and that was in Champaign. I was talked into going since they said we would eat at Black Dog Smoke & ale before the game. I assume the Spartans are much better than they showed that night.

I have low expectations for the Braves. This has been such an odd season.

If you like Barbeque, I like Jethro's in Des Moines. It is an all around good place to eat.

[BCPanther]

Its a bit out of the way but if you want good BBQ in DSM, Smokey D's is fantastic.

[bcg]

If you like Barbeque, I like Jethro's in Des Moines. It is an all around good place to eat.

I ate there once when driving through Iowa. I failed miserably at the Adam Emmenecker challenge, but it was good. My plan is to get the ribs this time.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/sto ... 207581002/

On Thursday in Des Moines, Michigan State will once again be the No. 2 seed against No. 15 Bradley. So what should the Spartans expect?

We asked the experts. Three coaches very familiar with Bradley from the Missouri Valley Conference – Illinois State coach Dan Muller, Indiana State coach Greg Lansing and Loyola assistant Drew Valentine – provided a scouting report on the Braves and answered the question: Can Bradley be the next Middle Tennessee?

A physical, defensive-minded team

Valentine: “My two years in the Valley, they’ve been one of the best defensive teams. They try to plug the paint and make you beat them shooting 3s.

“They really like to go under screens on guys they consider non-shooters. On guys they consider shooters, they like to fight over top of those and keep their big in the paint. They want to make you take mid-range jump shots. Kind of like an NBA-style philosophy on ball-screen defense.”

Muller: “They have kind of a zone press. They have a 1-2-2. But mainly they’re a half-court, man team. Just very sound defensively. They don’t force a ton of turnovers. But mainly just physical, in position, guard the ball, make you take jump shots.”

Run, rebound, compete

Valentine: “They love toughness and playing fast. They try to have a similar identity to coach (Tom) Izzo and Michigan State. They really turned their season around this year ever since they started to play at a much faster pace. They’re flying the ball up the court on makes and misses, really trying to score in transition.”

Offensively, it starts with the point guard

Point guard Darrell Brown Jr. runs the show for the Braves. He’s a 5-foot-10 junior from Memphis who averages 14.7 points and 3.1 assists per game. He's shooting nearly 44 percent from 3-point range.

Valentine: “He’s listed at 5-10, but he’s probably 5-8. He’s an extremely crafty player. He plays with a ton of confidence.”

Muller: “Brown is kind of the engine of the ship. He kind of has a weird shot. It’s kind of a set shot, but he can still shoot off the dribble, which is very rare. Then he makes big shots. He can make floaters. He’s got a great pull-up game.”

Other than Brown, the two names to know are Nate Kennell and Elijah Childs

Lansing: “Kennell can shoot it from deep, deep, deep. He beat us by himself a year ago at our place. I think he made seven 3s.”

Valentine: “I’d say he’s probably like a poor-man’s (Matt) McQuaid. A 6-5, 6-6 kid. Not a broke athlete. Plays hard on defense.”

Childs, meanwhile, is a 6-7 sophomore from Kansas City, Missouri. He provides a nice inside-out balance when the Braves are in their half-court sets, while averaging 12.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Valentine compares Childs to Jalen Hayes, a former Oakland University star who played with Valentine's brother, and former Spartan, Denzel Valentine in high school at Sexton.

Valentine: About 6-7. Left-handed. Really has a great knack to score around the basket and can also step out to hit a 17-foot jumper.”

Lansing: “They spread you out a lot. They’ll drive and kick and share the basketball. Childs will get points around the basket.”

The formula for an upset?

Muller: “Any team in the tournament can upset another team. We’ve seen that, especially after last year.

"Bradley doesn’t score it like that MTSU team did. They don’t have the offensive firepower. If Bradley is going to get an upset here, I think it’s going to be because they guard you, grind it out. It’s a close, low-scoring game. They can do that. They beat Penn State earlier in the year."

Lansing: “They’ve got to have some good fortune. Bradley would have to make some 3s. They would have to keep Michigan State out of transition, which is almost impossible. Then, you’ve got to keep them off the offensive glass. That’s just a difficult, difficult task.”

Valentine: “For them to have a chance to win, they have to defend. That’s their identity. If they get some stops, maybe they can keep the game at their pace. When we played them and they beat us, the games were in the 50s and low 60s. If they can limit the scoring opportunities for Michigan State, I think they’ll have a chance.”

[ColonialBulldog]

(Personal) BBQ in Des Moines rankings:

1. Uncle Wendell's on Ingersoll
2. Woody's Smoke Shack by Drake (I have not been since the owner changed, I think its just Smoke Shack now)
3. Smoky D's
4. Jethro's

I have not been to Butcher's and BBQ on MLK south of downtown yet. I heard it is very similar to the previous Guru BBQ which was excellent. That would've been #3 on the list. They're all pretty good. Jethro's is your best bet if you want a sports bar to go with your BBQ as its the only place with booze.

[ColonialBulldog]

Its a bit out of the way but if you want good BBQ in DSM, Smokey D's is fantastic.

You're in luck! Smoky D's now has two downtown locations!