Who thinks bradley is the worst team in the valley?

by **Saluki2009** » January 2nd, 2014, 8:54 pm

after watching that uni game I'm questioning if bradley's talent was exaggerated at the beginning of the season

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by **BradleyBrave** » January 2nd, 2014, 9:58 pm

Saluki2009 wrote:after watching that uni game I'm questioning if bradley's talent was exaggerated at the beginning of the season

Random post but whatever. BU's team was built around Walt Lemon, who was all-league last year. Walt has played like sh-t and has turned out to be a complete turd in the locker room. With our other players more or less being dependent on him being good for them to get their looks, it's been the perfect storm for the disaster that is our season. I think we have the worst set of guards in the league. Our frontcourt is OK, far from the worst in the league. Overall we're in the bottom half talent wise, but chemistry wise we're by far the worst team in the league, and our record reflects that. So sure, if it makes you happy to say we're the worst, go for it.

by **Aargh** » January 2nd, 2014, 10:34 pm

A wise man would probably avoid this thread, so I guess I'm making a statement about myself.

The offense I saw BU running against UNI had several notable characteristics
1) I've seen better offensive schemes in pickup games.
2) It did not resemble anything a D1 coach, or a JuCo coach, or a HS coach, or a biddy basketball coach would run.

Ford is indeed a D1 coach, I don't think I was watching the offense that Ford is trying to run.

It appears the team has abandoned the coaching staff. If there is poison i the locker room, that would pretty much explain that.

Les had some success, but was unable to maintain that success. Ford was successful before going to BU, now he's looking like his next career will not involve basketball. That has caused some speculation that the problem might be something other than who is coaching. A rumor has surfaced that BU interviewed Lusk, nd he refused the job.

A weak AD, or even a University President who's not behind sports can have a trickle down effect. WSU had a Prez in the '80's and part of the '90's. During that period WSU dropped FB, and let the BB program fall into some horrible depths.

Problems at the very top can end up with a symptom of problems at the team level. I have no clue what's going on, but there's something other than problems with coaching or talent going on at BU.

by **rlh04d** » January 2nd, 2014, 10:41 pm

Aargh wrote:It appears the team has abandoned the coaching staff.

That was my thought.

Bradley is not the least talented team in the league. They might be the worst, though. For that to be the case, either the coach is terrible, or the team has quit on the coach.

by **BradleyBrave** » January 2nd, 2014, 10:51 pm

I'm pretty sure Paul Lusk wasn't offered the job. Prior head coaching experience was one of our top requirements this time around (any surprise there?). Tommy Ammaker, Sydney Johnson, Rob Jeter, and Scott Sutton were all rumored to have turned down the job, or declined to interview for a variety of reasons.

The president isn't the problem. We may have some recruiting/admission/drug testing restrictions that other MVC schools don't have to deal with, but the program has a sparkling new practice facility and more than enough in the recruiting budget to get the job done even if we're dealing with a smaller player pool than our competitors. At the very least, we should be able to avoid this disaster. The staff royally f'd up an entire backcourt, and has a senior turd as the so-called leader. It's a formula for complete and utter failure.

by **Wufan** » January 3rd, 2014, 6:30 am

BradleyBrave wrote:I'm pretty sure Paul Lusk wasn't offered the job. Prior head coaching experience was one of our top requirements this time around (any surprise there?). Tommy Ammaker, Sydney Johnson, Rob Jeter, and Scott Sutton were all rumored to have turned down the job, or declined to interview for a variety of reasons.

The president isn't the problem. We may have some recruiting/admission/drug testing restrictions that other MVC schools don't have to deal with, but the program has a sparkling new practice facility and more than enough in the recruiting budget to get the job done even if we're dealing with a smaller player pool than our competitors. At the very least, we should be able to avoid this disaster. The staff royally f'd up an entire backcourt, and has a senior turd as the so-called leader. It's a formula for complete and utter failure.

I think Bradley is missing a PG. with a leader that runs the offense and distributes, most of the problems I saw would go away or be much less of a problem.

by **BUFANATIC79** » January 3rd, 2014, 12:03 pm

We could have Jabari Parker team, but if we don't like each other I don't care who's on our team. I think chemistry may be our biggest issue. Watching the UNI game I noticed when a Panther was on the floor, the other four teammates sprinted over to him, well we have one or two guys that do that. When UNI hit a three, the whole bench stood up, I haven't seen that once all year from the Braves. We just haven't clicked, and chemistry is my biggest issue.
P.S I found it funny a Saluki fan started this thread

by **TheAsianSensation** » January 3rd, 2014, 12:14 pm

I mentioned this elsewhere, but the problem starts with Lemon. I think this is a textbook addition by subtraction case looming. His inability to get his own shot in addition to not setting others up is actively stunting the growth of the rest of the team. Once he's gone, I think others will be able to fit their roles better.

Now, a big part of it is no one's making a shot to help. But Lemon turns the ball over too much and has questionable shot selection. Without him, we'll be forced to move the ball with more regularity, and I believe better shots will follow.

The problem is that Ford will pretty much have 1 year to show this is the case. After Lemon's gone, he'll be in year 4. Needs to show he's building something here. The good news compared to the last couple of years is that I think BU has the pieces in place now. We can finish a jigsaw puzzle with the pieces we have next year, whereas the last 2 years, we had an incomplete set of pieces and couldn't finish it.

I don't think lack of caring about athletics at the top is an issue. Athletics is a priority now, and I'd actually say its priority has increased in the last couple of years. Now, execution of their jobs can be questioned, but I don't see anyone question it outside of a couple of randoms. Don't worry about resources.

by **BradleyBrave** » January 3rd, 2014, 1:19 pm

Wufan wrote:
BradleyBrave wrote:I'm pretty sure Paul Lusk wasn't offered the job. Prior head coaching experience was one of our top requirements this time around (any surprise there?). Tommy Ammaker, Sydney Johnson, Rob Jeter, and Scott Sutton were all rumored to have turned down the job, or declined to interview for a variety of reasons.

The president isn't the problem. We may have some recruiting/admission/drug testing restrictions that other MVC schools don't have to deal with, but the program has a sparkling new practice facility and more than enough in the recruiting budget to get the job done even if we're dealing with a smaller player pool than our competitors. At the very least, we should be able to avoid this disaster. The staff royally f'd up an entire backcourt, and has a senior turd as the so-called leader. It's a formula for complete and utter failure.

I think Bradley is missing a PG. with a leader that runs the offense and distributes, most of the problems I saw would go away or be much less of a problem.

You are correct wufan. That's why the Anthony Fields miss is such a killer. Waiting a year on him wasted a scholie last year which could have gone to a contributor...which may have meant the difference between playing in and not playing in. This year it may mean the same thing. If this year continues as a disaster and next year isn't what it needs to be, we'll look back at the Anthony Fields miss as the one that sank an entire regime.

by **saluki762** » January 3rd, 2014, 2:29 pm

I probably sound like a broken record spouting negatives. SIU is still the worst team in the Valley.

Given the mound of crap he stepped into though, Barry Hinson is doing a good job. The criminal and academic problems are not happening and I think Barry is doing a way better job than Geno. SIU appears on the upward tren in year 2, Bradley is at best flat in Geno's third year if not snowballing downhill. Given that BH is making $250K and Geno is over 700K, I like what SIU has done much more than what Bradley has so far.

I still think Bradley takes it to SIU in Peoria and has an decent shot at a sweep. SIU is really bad.