Bradley Hires Brian Wardle

[rlh04d]

A young, mid-major coach with recent success. Sounds a lot like our last hire on paper. Bradley needs a coach who can build up the program. I hope this is the guy.

The difference: Ford only had three years of experience, Wardle has five. That's a pretty big difference, considering Ford won with the previous coach's recruits, while Wardle won with his own.

The only question will be whether Wardle just got lucky with two great players or he was effectively building a program there. Unfortunately that's something that's hard to determine without 7+ years at a job.

IMO, it's a great hire. He's young, from the area, had five seasons of improvement, and didn't have to schedule weak (Marty) to get to the records he put up. I'm very happy with this hire.

[squirrel]

A young, mid-major coach with recent success. Sounds a lot like our last hire on paper. Bradley needs a coach who can build up the program. I hope this is the guy.

The difference: Ford only had three years of experience, Wardle has five. That's a pretty big difference, considering Ford won with the previous coach's recruits, while Wardle won with his own.

The only question will be whether Wardle just got lucky with two great players or he was effectively building a program there. Unfortunately that's something that's hard to determine without 7+ years at a job.

IMO, it's a great hire. He's young, from the area, had five seasons of improvement, and didn't have to schedule weak (Marty) to get to the records he put up. I'm very happy with this hire.

Right-that's a SIGNIFICANT difference, IMO. Wardle did inherit a strong program, but at the beginning of a rebuild phase. He did it the old fashioned way of 4-year players, developing them. Ford inherited good players, and restocked with JUCOs. And he had an all-conference player that bridged both groups as well.

[Wufan]

Zero Tournament appearances while having by far and away the best talent and best player in the league in Brown and then Sykes.

Color me skeptical.

And he's an ass on the sideline.

Surely Marshall will keep his title of most hated coach? Right?

[pafan]

I thought Muller had already taken that mantle.

[rlh04d]

I thought Muller had already taken that mantle.

Definitely took the mantle of most T's.

[Mikovio]

Another big difference between Ford and Wardle is that the Horizon is stronger during Wardle's time than the MAC was during Ford's time. So Wardle was winning in a tougher league only about a half step behind the MVC.

Horizon RPI finishes w/ Wardle
2015 16
2014 14
2013 12
2012 14
2011 11
Avgt 13.4

MAC RPI finishes w/ Ford
2011 20
2010 16
2009 21
Avg 19.0

I love hearing this reactionary crap about how Wardle is too "Ford like." Oh the last coach had a great resume and failed; better not hire another coach with head coaching experience, COY awards and a lot of wins! We've learned our lesson with great resumes! I'm glad Reynolds didn't buy into that. True he stumbled in the conference tournament and didn't make the NCAAs. Of course if he didn't he probably would be going higher than Bradley.

Probably the biggest positive for Wardle is his recruiting ties, especially to the Fire from which Josh Cunningham and Xzavier Taylor hail. If he can keep them (and Thomas) from bolting that would convince me right now Reynolds made the right decision.

[PapaBear]

Zero Tournament appearances while having by far and away the best talent and best player in the league in Brown and then Sykes.

Color me skeptical.

And he's an ass on the sideline.

I am also skeptical---He was an ass to some of his players 2 years ago too and got reprimanded --but BU was way overdue for a new head gargoyle--and maybe he can at least get them out of the MVC basement in a year or two and get them back to being competitive.

[ptownbraves]

Another big difference between Ford and Wardle is that the Horizon is stronger during Wardle's time than the MAC was during Ford's time. So Wardle was winning in a tougher league only about a half step behind the MVC.

Horizon RPI finishes w/ Wardle
2015 16
2014 14
2013 12
2012 14
2011 11
Avgt 13.4

MAC RPI finishes w/ Ford
2011 20
2010 16
2009 21
Avg 19.0

I love hearing this reactionary crap about how Wardle is too "Ford like." Oh the last coach had a great resume and failed; better not hire another coach with head coaching experience, COY awards and a lot of wins! We've learned our lesson with great resumes! I'm glad Reynolds didn't buy into that. True he stumbled in the conference tournament and didn't make the NCAAs. Of course if he didn't he probably would be going higher than Bradley.

Probably the biggest positive for Wardle is his recruiting ties, especially to the Fire from which Josh Cunningham and Xzavier Taylor hail. If he can keep them (and Thomas) from bolting that would convince me right now Reynolds made the right decision.

I think the fanbase is jaded and isn't going to get overly excited about anyone until the wins start coming. We've had close to a decade of craptastic basketball, lost a lot of fan support, and all with BU spending near the top in the Valley on men's basketball. I think most Bradley fans would agree that this is a solid hire. Many felt Geno was a solid hire, and you can't deny they have similar backgrounds. It doesn't mean Wardle isn't the right guy, just that people are cautiously optimistic right now.

[Redbird Recon]

Watched the Phoenix at Redbird Arena a few weeks ago. They were athletic but struggled against the zone due to a lack of shooters.

[squirrel]

Looking at efficiency numbers from his time at Green Bay, his team's defensive efficiency improved every single year, while offense didn't really trend in any particular direction.

However, I think the most encouraging this is though last year was a peak year in terms of his roster and a comfortable adjusted efficiency margin of +8.3, this year while defense made a dramatic improvement and offense being a challenge, the team kept a margin of +8.2.