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Bradley
Dec 7, 2007 22:15:59 GMT -5
Post by Wolf on Dec 7, 2007 22:15:59 GMT -5
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/truthserum607/College%20logos/WrightState_Raiders.png) vs. Tue., Dec. 11 vs. Bradley Ervin J. Nutter Center 7:00 PM Bradley is currently 6-3 with an RPI of 108. Illinois-Chicago 75-84 L Iowa St. 65-56 W MD Eastern Shore 98-71 W Fla Gulf Coast 82-74 W Iowa 67-56 W Vanderbilt 86-95 L Loyola (IL) 64-47 W SE Missouri St.90-72 W Michigan St. 61-66 L
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Bradley
Dec 7, 2007 22:18:14 GMT -5
Post by Wolf on Dec 7, 2007 22:18:14 GMT -5
Roster:32 Austin, Rashad F 6-7 245 Jr. 0 Cole-Scott, Tyrone G 5-10 186 Jr. 4 Collins, David C 7-0 240 Jr. 14 Crouch, Jeremy G 6-5 216 Sr. 21 Egolf, Will F/C 6-9 220 Fr. 50 Lavin, Brian G 6-0 174 Jr. 5 Maniscalco, Sam G 6-0 185 Fr. 25 Phillips, Ryan G 6-3 207 So. 20 Ruffin, Daniel G 5-10 162 Sr. 22 Salley, Matt F 6-7 230 Sr. 54 Singh, Sam F/C 6-9 256 Jr. 30 Sweatman, Cameron F 6-7 183 Fr. 41 Thompson, Anthony C 6-10 186 Fr. 34 Thornton, Ryan G/F 6-7 197 So. 24 Warren, Andrew G 6-5 200 So. 12 Wilson, Theron G/F 6-5 197 Jr. Stats:www.bubraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=19334&SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=1309880
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Bradley
Dec 7, 2007 22:19:20 GMT -5
Post by Wolf on Dec 7, 2007 22:19:20 GMT -5
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Bradley
Dec 7, 2007 22:19:50 GMT -5
Post by Wolf on Dec 7, 2007 22:19:50 GMT -5
Bradley BravesOverall Rank: #44 Conference Rank: #2 Missouri Valley 2006-07: 22-13, 10-8, 4th 2006-07 postseason: NIT The backcourt will win championships in the Missouri Valley and Bradley boasts a couple of the best in the conference. Point guard Daniel Ruffin and wing Jeremy Crouch both averaged 13.8 points per game last season and are quality shooters. Crouch is one of the best in the nation and shot 50 percent from long range and made over three per game. Ruffin is a smart floor leader and averaged 5.4 assists and only 2.4 turnovers per game. Who’s Out: Ruffin and Crouch do lose their backcourt mate and the team’s leading scorer Will Franklin. Franklin was the third dangerous threat from three-point land and averaged 14.6 points per game on the season. Fellow starting guard J.J. Tauai has also run out of eligibility. Tauai, the fourth of last year’s starting guards if you are keeping track, was never a great scorer, but he was a solid defender and did a lot of work on the glass despite his 6-3 stature. The big man around those four guards is also gone. Zach Andrews averaged 11.1 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds during his senior campaign. Forward Danny Adams was usually one of the first players off the bench and little used guard Saihou Jassey has transferred to SIU-Edwardsville. Who’s In: Despite all the losses, four junior college transfers are expected to use their experience and contribute immediately. The frontcourt needs the most help and David Collins and Rashad Austin fit the bill. Collins, a seven-footer, is a decent rebounder and shot blocker and will at least be a big body off the bench. It is Austin who is garnering larger expectations after averaging 13.3 points and 7.9 rebounds at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado. However, at 6-7, Austin is not the biggest of big men around. Theron Wilson will do a little bit of everything and the 6-5 wing will be effective inside and outside, on offense and defense. Guard Tyron Cole-Scott is a terrific scorer. He scored nearly 1,100 points during his junior college career and will continue to shoot lights out from anywhere on the floor. The only knock on the Waterloo, Iowa native is his height. At 5-10 he may have more trouble finding clean looks in the MVC than he did at the junior college level. That fills all the holes Bradley was concerned about this year, but a few other newcomers will help build for the future. Center Anthony Thompson needs to put on a little weight, but he is a good athlete who can hit the mid-range jumper. For now, it will be his defensive presence that moves him up the depth chart. Will Egolf is another versatile big man who can handle the ball, but it will be difficult for the incoming freshmen to see many minutes in a suddenly crowded frontcourt. Point guard Sam Maniscalco will learn behind Ruffin, but the 6-0 Chicago product is mentally and physically prepared to earn some quality minutes as a backup. Coach Jim Les ran a two point guard offense last year and it is not out of the question that Maniscalco could see some minutes on the court at the same time as Ruffin as well. Who to Watch: Matt Salley was a junior college transfer and had a decent campaign his first year in Peoria. The 6-7 forward started 13 games and, with a more traditional lineup expected, Salley should step into a starting position at the four spot. Salley is a strong rebounder and can step outside and hit the jumper. His versatility and upside could turn into a big, big season for the senior. The only other returning player up front is Sam Singh. The 6-9, 266 pound junior has struggled with injuries much of his career but, if healthy, Singh could develop into a quality reserve. Final Projection: Andrew Warren had a good freshman season and will battle with the newcomers for minutes on the wing. He only averaged 4.1 points per game, but Warren is a quality scorer and could drastically increase that number with the increase in playing time he will most certainly see this season. The only thing stopping Bradley from being really, really good is fitting all the new faces together. Once everybody learns their roles, the Braves are good enough to win the conference and make some noise in the NCAA Tournament. Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA Projected Starting Five: Daniel Ruffin, Senior, Guard, 13.8 points per game Tyrone Cole-Scott, Junior, Guard, DNP last season Jeremy Crouch, Senior, Guard, 13.8 points per game Matt Salley, Senior, Forward, 7.1 points per game David Collins, Junior, Center, DNP last season www.collegehoopsnet.com/new/story/2007_08_bradley_basketball_preview41110
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Bradley
Dec 7, 2007 22:21:11 GMT -5
Post by Wolf on Dec 7, 2007 22:21:11 GMT -5
BRADLEY While the Salukis are looking to extend their streak of NCAA Tournament bids to seven, Bradley is looking to get back to the NCAAs after reaching the Sweet 16 in 2006 and the second round of the NIT in 2007. There is high reason for optimism in Peoria as the Braves return the league’s top two scorers in Jeremy Crouch and Daniel Ruffin. It’s not known whether the league has ever had teammates who were the top two returning scorers, but it hasn’t happened since 1975-76 (records prior to that are not complete). Crouch led the nation in three-point field goal percentage last year, while Ruffin enters his senior season as the nation’s active leader with 475 career assists. He also leads The Valley’s active players with 154 career steals and boasts a 2.01 assists-to-turnover ratio in 3,017 career minutes played. Coach Jim Les lost four players who played significant roles on Bradley’s back-to-back post-season teams, but seven letterwinners are back. Filling some of those vacated holes will be members of a recruiting class rated among the Top 25 in the nation. Notably, Les lost two assistant coaches (Lennox Forrester and Chuck Buescher) after last year but added former Evansville coach Steve Merfeld. Merfeld is the first Valley head coach to become an assistant at another Valley school since Drake’s Gary Garner moved on to become an assistant at Tulsa for the 1988-89 season. www.nmnathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=36371&SPID=2901&DB_OEM_ID=7600&ATCLID=1275097
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Bradley
Dec 7, 2007 22:24:17 GMT -5
Post by Wolf on Dec 7, 2007 22:24:17 GMT -5
#9 Michigan State Rallies for 66-61 Win at Bradley Courtesy: Bradley University 12/04/2007 PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley’s senior backcourt duo of Daniel Ruffin (Peoria, Ill./Central H.S.) and Jeremy Crouch (Pekin, Ill./Pekin H.S.) combined for 30 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals, but Michigan State’s frontcourt dominated the glass, keying the #9/10 Spartans to a 66-61 come-from-behind victory in front of a Bradley record crowd 11,597 Tuesday night at Carver Arena. Michigan State (7-1) snapped Bradley’s 29-game non-conference home winning streak, which was the sixth-longest in the country and dated back to a 74-71 loss to Chris Kaman’s Central Michigan squad Dec. 18, 2002 in Jim Les’ first season as Bradley’s head coach. Ruffin scored a game-high 17 pointss and shared game-high honors with five assists, while Crouch chipped in with 13 points, five rebounds and a game-high four steals for the Braves (6-3). Raymar Morgan made 9-of-11 free throw attempts and led four Michigan State players in double-figures with 15 points. Drew Neitzel and Kalin Lucas both scored 13 points and Marquise Gray chipped in with 10. Goran Suton pulled down 11 rebounds and Drew Naymick added 10 boards off the bench as Michigan State won the rebounding fight, 48-29. While Bradley limited the Spartans to 40.7 percent shooting from the field, Michigan State ripped down 21 offensive rebounds and outscored the Braves, 20-9, in second chance points. In a sequence the capsulized the game, Michigan State took its first lead since midway through the first half when Naymick rebounded a Neitzel miss and powered his way back up for a dunk, giving the Spartans a 52-51 lead with 4:20 remaining. The freshman Lucas came through with two clutch shots to give the Spartans some space, draining a baseline jumper for a 54-51 lead with 3:35 left and his first career 3-pointer for a 57-53 edge with 2:39 remaining. After Suton scored inside for 59-55 lead with 1:46 left, the Spartans made 7-of-8 free throw attempts to prevent a final Bradley rally. After the first 10 minutes of the game featured three ties and four lead changes, Bradley used a 9-0 run to pull away from a 17-17 tie for a 26-17 lead with 4:50 left in the half. Sophomore guard Andrew Warren’s steal and acrobatic transition layup, followed by a free throw to complete a 3-point play, was sandwiched by a pair of David Collins two-handed slams to start the run. Michigan State outscored Bradley 10-2 to close the half, however, as the Braves settled for a 28-27 halftime lead. After the Spartans pulled into a 31-31 tie to start the second half, Bradley nearly broke the game open by going on an 11-2 spurt to take a 42-33 lead with 13:55 remaining. The Braves used 3-pointers from Ruffin, Theron Wilson and Crouch to start the run and junior center Sam Singh capped the outburst with a pair of free throws. The Spartans again rallied with an 8-0 run before Bradley freshman Sam Maniscalco buried a trey ith 10:41 left for a 45-41 Bradley lead. That was Bradley’s final 3-pointer, however. While Michigan State missed seven 3-point attempts in a row after Neitzel opened the game with a triple, his bomb with 4:56 left pulled the Spartans to within 51-50, setting the stage for the finishing kick. After hosting a top-10 ranked team for the first time since Feb. 27, 1982 (#8 Tulsa), Bradley’s schedule does not get much easier. Following a week off, Bradley’s next three games will be at defending Horizon League champion Wright State Dec. 11, at #13 Butler Dec. 19 and home against defending Colonial Athletic Conference champion VCU Dec. 22. www.bubraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25965&SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=1346270
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Post by Class of '83 on Dec 9, 2007 9:56:58 GMT -5
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Bradley
Dec 10, 2007 19:33:59 GMT -5
Post by Class of '83 on Dec 10, 2007 19:33:59 GMT -5
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Bradley
Dec 10, 2007 20:56:07 GMT -5
Post by Raider Alumni on Dec 10, 2007 20:56:07 GMT -5
Bradley Basketball Notebook -- Dec. 10, 2007 Championship Slate• Bradley’s next three games will be played against defending conference champions, beginning with Tuesday’s clash at Horizon League regular-season co-champion and tournament champ Wright State (3-2). • Following Tuesday’s road game against the Raiders, Bradley will visit the other Horizon League defending co-champion, Butler, Dec. 19 then will host defending Colonial Athletic Association regular-season and tournament champion VCU Dec. 22. New Horizon Streak• Having snapped a seven-game road losing streak to Horizon League teams with its 64-47 victory Nov. 28 at Loyola Chicago, Bradley will try to start a new streak when the Braves visit Wright State Tuesday night. • Bradley has not won consecutive road games versus the current Horizon League membership since a four-game streak that started Nov. 22, 1985 at Loyola Chicago (94-84) and ran through a 71-54 win Jan. 16, 1990 at Loyola. • In addition to a third win against Loyola in the middle of that streak, the four-game run included a 122-107 victory Feb. 22, 1988 at Detroit, a win that was highlighted by Hersey Hawkins’ school and MVC single-game record 63-point performance. Schedule Has Stiffened• Not only will the next three games be played against defending conference champions, but Bradley’s schedule has stiffened significantly since the calendar turned to December. • Starting with the 90-72 win Dec. 1 against Southeast Missouri State, Bradley has started a stretch of 11 consecutive games against teams with at least a .500 record. • The Jan. 8 game at Southern Illinois (3-3) is the only game in that run against a team that does not currently have a winning record. • Beginning with Tuesday’s game at Wright State, five of the next eight games will be played on the road. Ruffin Streaking• Bradley senior point guard Daniel Ruffin has scored in double figures in a career-best 12 consecutive games dating back to last season. • Ruffin, who is fifth in The Valley in scoring at 16.4 points per game this season, is the only Brave to score in double figures in all nine games so far this year. Wright State Redo• For the second year in a row, Bradley will face Wright State on the heels of a loss to Michigan State. • Last season, Bradley rebounded from an 82-53 loss at Michigan State with an 88-49 triumph against Wright State at Carver Arena. • Last year’s game against the Raiders was the first meeting in the all-time series. www.bubraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25965&SPID=1498&DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=1350734
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Bradley
Dec 11, 2007 4:32:40 GMT -5
Post by bballraider on Dec 11, 2007 4:32:40 GMT -5
My take on the Bradley Game:
Last year's meeting at Bradley, the first in the series between the 2 teams, was total domination by Bradley 88-49. They put on one of the best performances the Raiders saw last year, the passing was near perfection which led to a lot of open looks from 3 and they buried them. The good news is only 2 starters from that team return, 5'10" Sr. guard Daniel Ruffin and 6.5" Sr. guard Jeremy Crouch. The bad news is both are very capable scorers. Ruffin leads the team averaging 16.4 points/game, while 3pt specialist Crouch scores 14.6 pts/game shooting 46.5% from 3, which is a little down from last year (50%). Also you do not want to foul these two guys as they have only missed 3 shots in 43 attempts.
Although Bradley is pretty balanced in scoring, the key to stopping Bradley is to stop Ruffin and Crouch, as they are what make Bradley's offense go. To stop Crouch, you want to make him put the ball on the floor, and not give him any open looks from outside. Ruffin on the other hand is much more difficult to stop as he is pretty quick and can drive, and shoots 39.3% from three. However I think the Raiders will put Duggins on Ruffin and I think Vaughn's relentless hustle, size and speed will frustrate Ruffin, who can be coaxed into making some bad decisions both in passing and taking really difficult shots. Hopefully this is the case for the Raiders. Look for Bradley to clear out for Ruffin to create something if they are really deep into the shot clock, similar to what WSU would do with D. Wood last year.
Bradley and WSU are similar in that both are trying to assimilate a bunch of new faces into their rotations. This may be one of the few teams WSU faces that actually has more new guys than the Raiders as Bradley has 4 JC players and 4 freshman new to the team. So both teams are going to get better as the season progresses. Bradley is also facing some of the same challenges with these new bench players. Most of the new guys have not developed their game on both sides of the ball yet, the good offensive players, seem to lack on the defensive side and vice versa.
Bradley doesn't start a lot of size, as they basically play 4 guards and a forward, but 3 of the guards are 6'5", but their biggest starter is only 6'7" and 230 lbs forward Matt Salley, who has fouled out of 2 games this year. The other two starting 6'5" guards are Theron Wilson and Andrew Warren. Wilson, a solid all around player that can shoot from 3 (43%) but takes most of his shots from inside the arc is versatile and a good rebounder. Finally the last guard Warren has been inconsistent, he takes half his shot from beyond the arc but only hits 28% of them, but can have a good game on occasion.
Bradley does bring some scoring and size off their bench with a 7' center in David Collins and 2, 6'9" forwards. Bradley's bench scores about 22 pts/game featuring the 7' Collins, the JC transfer is pretty good on the offensive side averaging 7 pts/game, but at only 240 lbs. needs to hit the weight room, and it shows in his defense, and strength with the ball. Only one of the 6'9" players is really consistently solid off the bench, that is 256 lb. Sam Singh, the other a freshman is probably a year or two away from making an impact. Bradley also brings 2 new guards under 6' off the bench that are quick but still learning the system.
I think this game will be more up tempo than the Butler game and the score will be in the 60s. I have seen odds from different places going +2 to -2 for each team, which shows these two teams look pretty even. I like the match ups for Wright State, assuming Duggins stays out of foul trouble against Ruffin, and WSU can keep it's two senior forwards on the floor, where I think they can out duel Bradley's guys on the glass, which hopefully leads to some second chance points. The other thing of note between the 2 teams is the 3 point shooting percentage, overall if you take the percent made and the percent given up by each team, the difference is only a minimal .6% advantage for WSU. But when WSU is at home and Bradley is on the road the percentage favors WSU by 7%. So basically what I am saying is that WSU being at home will make the difference in this game. I say WSU by 3-5 pts. My point spreads have been pretty accurate but my final scores have not, but I will make one anyway. My prediction 61-65 in favor of the Raiders.
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Bradley
Dec 11, 2007 7:19:25 GMT -5
Post by Raider Country on Dec 11, 2007 7:19:25 GMT -5
Raiders continue stretch vs. mid-major powersBy Marc Katz Staff Writer Tuesday, December 11, 2007 FAIRBORN — Tough games are not only played against Duke University, North Carolina, Indiana and Kentucky. Tough games are played against Marist, Valparaiso, Butler, Bradley and Miami. That second list is 3-2 Wright State's lineup since Dec. 1, continuing today at 7 p.m. as the 6-3 Bradley Braves visit the Nutter Center. All five of those schools have winning records now and likely will have them at the end of the season. "Bradley made the Sweet 16 two years ago and last year won 20 (22 in all) games and was in the NIT," WSU coach Brad Brownell said. "They get more than 9,000 fans a game. That's a high-level mid-major program." Wright State's current stretch of games is probably its toughest of the season. All five teams had winning records last year with veteran teams returning. The Raiders have lost to Marist and Valparaiso, then stunned No. 13 Butler 43-42 on Saturday. Only Scottie Wilson and Todd Brown scored in double figures for the Raiders in that game, with 10 each. They'll probably have to score more to beat Bradley. "Everyone's going to go through some down times," Brownell said. "It's rare to sustain the excellence you strive for. No. 1, it's gotten more competitive. But these teams have been good. Bradley's got about as good a backcourt as there is in the college game." Senior Daniel Ruffin averages 16.4 points and 7.0 assists. Senior Jeremy Crouch averages 14.6 points. A year ago, in Peoria, Ill., the two scored 27 points in an 88-49 pasting of the Raiders, aided by 13 3-point baskets. "We've got to make sure we have energy," Brownell said. "(Bradley) is a high-energy team. They play with great pace. They push the basketball." Bradley has already played two other Horizon League teams, losing at Illinois-Chicago 84-75 and beating Loyola 64-47. Last Tuesday, Bradley hosted and lost 66-61 to Michigan State. www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/12/10/ddn121107wsubb.html
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Bradley
Dec 11, 2007 7:21:12 GMT -5
Post by Raider Country on Dec 11, 2007 7:21:12 GMT -5
Preview: Wright State vs. BradleyBy Marc Katz Staff writer Tuesday, December 11, 2007 When: 7 p.m. Radio: WONE-AM (980), WIZE-AM (1340) About BradleyRuffin is the nation's active leader in assists with 538 and is only the fourth player in Missouri Valley Conference history with 1,000 points and 500 assists ... Bradley has not had a winning record on the road since going 7-4 in 1995-96 ... Although the Braves' rebounding has been better this year, Michigan State won that battle 48-29 in a 66-61 loss last Tuesday, including 21-10 on the offensive boards ... With 32 appearances, Bradley has made more postseason tournaments than any team in the MVC. About Wright StateThe Raiders are coming off their biggest victory of the season, a 43-42 win over No. 13 Butler on Saturday night. "You'd like to have a little more time to enjoy it," WSU coach Brad Brownell said. "We're right back in the fire." The most consistent of the Raiders? Scottie Wilson, ranging from nine to 14 points, and has been out of double figures only once ... Raiders are in the midst of a five-game homestand, ending Dec. 18 with St. Bonaventure. FYIBoth teams were picked to finish second in their respective leagues, Bradley (to Southern Illinois) in the Missouri Valley, WSU (to Butler) in the Horizon. Quote unquote"You look at it one game at a time, but you also look at it one week at a time," Brownell said. "On Sunday, I say, 'What do we have this week? Bradley and Miami. We only focused on Bradley Sunday and Monday, but I know Miami's next." www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/12/10/ddn121107wsubbpre.html
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Bradley
Dec 11, 2007 11:45:07 GMT -5
Post by rock70 on Dec 11, 2007 11:45:07 GMT -5
My take on the Bradley Game: Last year's meeting at Bradley, the first in the series between the 2 teams, was total domination by Bradley 88-49. They put on one of the best performances the Raiders saw last year, the passing was near perfection which led to a lot of open looks from 3 and they buried them. The good news is only 2 starters from that team return, 5'10" Sr. guard Daniel Ruffin and 6.5" Sr. guard Jeremy Crouch. The bad news is both are very capable scorers. Ruffin leads the team averaging 16.4 points/game, while 3pt specialist Crouch scores 14.6 pts/game shooting 46.5% from 3, which is a little down from last year (50%). Also you do not want to foul these two guys as they have only missed 3 shots in 43 attempts. Although Bradley is pretty balanced in scoring, the key to stopping Bradley is to stop Ruffin and Crouch, as they are what make Bradley's offense go. To stop Crouch, you want to make him put the ball on the floor, and not give him any open looks from outside. Ruffin on the other hand is much more difficult to stop as he is pretty quick and can drive, and shoots 39.3% from three. However I think the Raiders will put Duggins on Ruffin and I think Vaughn's relentless hustle, size and speed will frustrate Ruffin, who can be coaxed into making some bad decisions both in passing and taking really difficult shots. Hopefully this is the case for the Raiders. Look for Bradley to clear out for Ruffin to create something if they are really deep into the shot clock, similar to what WSU would do with D. Wood last year. Bradley and WSU are similar in that both are trying to assimilate a bunch of new faces into their rotations. This may be one of the few teams WSU faces that actually has more new guys than the Raiders as Bradley has 4 JC players and 4 freshman new to the team. So both teams are going to get better as the season progresses. Bradley is also facing some of the same challenges with these new bench players. Most of the new guys have not developed their game on both sides of the ball yet, the good offensive players, seem to lack on the defensive side and vice versa. Bradley doesn't start a lot of size, as they basically play 4 guards and a forward, but 3 of the guards are 6'5", but their biggest starter is only 6'7" and 230 lbs forward Matt Salley, who has fouled out of 2 games this year. The other two starting 6'5" guards are Theron Wilson and Andrew Warren. Wilson, a solid all around player that can shoot from 3 (43%) but takes most of his shots from inside the arc is versatile and a good rebounder. Finally the last guard Warren has been inconsistent, he takes half his shot from beyond the arc but only hits 28% of them, but can have a good game on occasion. Bradley does bring some scoring and size off their bench with a 7' center in David Collins and 2, 6'9" forwards. Bradley's bench scores about 22 pts/game featuring the 7' Collins, the JC transfer is pretty good on the offensive side averaging 7 pts/game, but at only 240 lbs. needs to hit the weight room, and it shows in his defense, and strength with the ball. Only one of the 6'9" players is really consistently solid off the bench, that is 256 lb. Sam Singh, the other a freshman is probably a year or two away from making an impact. Bradley also brings 2 new guards under 6' off the bench that are quick but still learning the system. I think this game will be more up tempo than the Butler game and the score will be in the 60s. I have seen odds from different places going +2 to -2 for each team, which shows these two teams look pretty even. I like the match ups for Wright State, assuming Duggins stays out of foul trouble against Ruffin, and WSU can keep it's two senior forwards on the floor, where I think they can out duel Bradley's guys on the glass, which hopefully leads to some second chance points. The other thing of note between the 2 teams is the 3 point shooting percentage, overall if you take the percent made and the percent given up by each team, the difference is only a minimal .6% advantage for WSU. But when WSU is at home and Bradley is on the road the percentage favors WSU by 7%. So basically what I am saying is that WSU being at home will make the difference in this game. I say WSU by 3-5 pts. My point spreads have been pretty accurate but my final scores have not, but I will make one anyway. My prediction 61-65 in favor of the Raiders. Job well done bballraider. To me the keys to the game, as you have also mentioned, are whether or not Vaughn can contain Ruffin. Vaughn has a big size advantage on Ruffin but is Vaughn quick enough to stay with him? Vaughn struggled at times trying to stop number 23 for Valparaiso last Thursday. My guess would be that coach Brownell will rotate Todd and Will on Jeremy Crouch. This Crouch kid has a quick release. You really can not give him much room or he will shot it in a heart beat. As always we need Scottie and Jordan Anthony to stay out of foul trouble. We tend to match up well with perimeter oriented teams so hopefully we can slow Bradley's outside game down tonight. It should be a good game. Lets hope we find a way to win at the end.
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Bradley
Dec 11, 2007 14:30:09 GMT -5
Post by bradleybravesfan on Dec 11, 2007 14:30:09 GMT -5
Hello all from Peoria!
This is a great thread and really gives a good overview of Bradley basketball. Especially the team analysis from "bballraider" in reply #9...you are right on the money. In fact, your final score prediction is almost identical to the beat writer for the Bradley for our local Peoria Journal Star. Should be a great game and believe me, nobody in Brave country thinks this is going to be an easy game, despite what happened last year. To me there are 3 keys to victory against BU:
1. Don't allow the 3-ball. When we get hot, it gets ugly because we have about 6 players capable of hitting the 3. When teams tighten up their perimeter defense, BU's inability to score from mid-range is exposed. 2. Defensive intensity. Outside of Crouch and Ruffin, we have a lot of youth. These young players have been intimidated in the past by intense defense, whereas a more seasoned veteran doesn't react as adversely to in your face D. 3. Work the ball inside. We tend to foul (whether called or not) on almost every interior play. Or we simply let the opponent have the points so we can start our running.
Best of luck to WSU, this will be a good one!
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Bradley
Dec 11, 2007 17:13:19 GMT -5
Post by bballraider on Dec 11, 2007 17:13:19 GMT -5
Thanks bradleybravesfan, I have a lot of free time, so I try to catch alot of games. Our guys also are young, and haven't been the go to guys in the past, so we too have been having some trouble closing games when pressured, hopefully they are getting better each game they are thrown into the fire. I agree that the Raiders need to work the ball inside against Bradley. The problem is our passing into the post hasn't been too good this year. We seem to miss the guys when they first get open, and by then it's too late. Hopefully the team has been working on this. I'd wish you good luck, but I'll hold that until after the game ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) And for the record I agree with what both rock70 and blitz said in their posts. Rock70 is certainly right with Crouch's release, we need to be in his hip pocket all night. And I cannot wait to Ronnie can get in and bang, he is still a step slow with the foot injury, but hopefully he can start to pick up the pace soon.
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