Wichita State @ Bradley Game Thread - First Valley Game of the Year

[ISASO]

No way Murry is ever considered for Valley POY. That award belongs to the media darling, not to a guy who stuffs the stat sheet but doesn't do it in a flashy way, as McDermott and Weems do. He is a silent assassin, not a media darling.

[KC Shox]

Better buy a six-pack, you're likely going to need it.

Now why would I need it?

[1979Shocker]

Wichita State scored as much in the second half (51) as Bradley did for the whole game.

[another shocker]

Sorry to rub it in, Braves lurkers. Bradley has skilled mid-size guys.. what they need is big guys. Ford will get that done eventually, I believe.

http://www.pjstar.com/bradleyhoops/x1569727455/Wessler-Valley-s-gap-as-wide-as-the-Grand-Canyon

[shox1989]

And their 2nd worst loss ever.

DaveReynolds2

Dave Reynolds

It's official: Bradley's 90-51 loss to Wichita State is the worst home defeat in BU history and 2nd-worst loss, period, in history.

WOW. This was a totally impressive win. WSU managed to score 51 points in the second half even with our future players getting lots and lots of playing time.

Man, I can't wait for Saturday. Time to take it to the Bluejays!

[wufan]

If Murry doesn't make Valley POY this year, the Shox have fallen flat on their face somewhere. Hall Newcomer of the Year. And if Cotton pulls a Ben Smith and starts pouring it on the second half of conference play, he could be in the FreshmanOY conversation, although I don't know squat about whether there are other freshman out there tearing it up.

Edit: And yes, this is all premature silly talk this early on, but what the heck?

McDermott and Gibbs are the media darlings at Creighton and will be serious competition for Murry and Hall in the POY and NOY categories respectively. For that matter, I expect Stutz, Murry, and Rags to all get competing votes for first team and it may end up that all three end up on the second team all conferenc.

Smith will be runner up to Latham for 6th man.

Hall will be runner up to the Brown kid at Ill St or the Downing kid at MSU for NOY.

UNI has a couple of good freshman that start. The PG at Ill St is averaging like 8 points and 4 assists, and Drake's freshman PG (was averaging 6 points per game) just went off for 26 against Odum! Cotton is unlikely to be on the All-Freshman team.

[shox1989]

Sorry to rub it in, Braves lurkers. Bradley has skilled mid-size guys.. what they need is big guys. Ford will get that done eventually, I believe.

http://www.pjstar.com/bradleyhoops/x...e-Grand-Canyon

That is one great article. The Eagle should reprint it so all Kansans can see it. Here are a few of the many quotes from it that I like:

"The Shockers are as good, or better, than any team Bradley has faced this season — including nationally ranked Big Ten teams Michigan and Wisconsin."


"The Shockers have size, strength, athleticism, ball-handling skill, shooters, balance, depth and experience."
“I don’t know who their best player is,” Ford said. “I don’t know. They’ve got a lot of ’em.”

This is what Bradley coach Geno Ford sounded like Wednesday night, after the Missouri Valley Conference opener: “I’ve not sat through a game like that in my life.”

"He was not alone, even though most of the announced crowd of 7,184 were gone long before the final buzzer. But nobody in 108 seasons of Bradley basketball has seen the Braves lose by such a lopsided margin at home...."

" Preseason MVC favorite Creighton, upset at home Wednesday by Missouri State, has earned national acclaim and a top-25 ranking. Wichita State deserves as much acclaim, if not more..."

[SB Shock]

This is what I liked - this was what was missing from last year team...

“They’re playing with an edge,” Ford said. “To beat people like that, you’ve got to have an edge. They were mad when we scored. When we hit that 3 from the corner to get to 51 points, they were ticked off.”

[another shocker]

This is what I liked - this was what was missing from last year team...

Yes, I liked that part, too.

[GarH]

If they can avoid last years letdowns, they will be in the Dance. GM is positioning them to get in the Dance on a regular basis.

[Aargh]

If they can play with anything resembling the way they've been playing lately, they're not just "in the dance" - they're not even Cinderella - they're a legitimate contender for E8 status.

[hizzshock]

If they can play with anything resembling the way they've been playing lately, they're not just "in the dance" - they're not even Cinderella - they're a legitimate contender for E8 status.

I think that's cutting them a little short. If they played in the NCAAs like they have been, that's at least Final Four... if not more (yes, I might be crazy but I LOOOOOVVVVEEEE this team.)

[bcg]

Sorry to rub it in, Braves lurkers. Bradley has skilled mid-size guys.. what they need is big guys. Ford will get that done eventually, I believe.

I think most Bradley fans could tell you before the season that there was a large talent gap between BU and the top part of the Valley. When BU plays good teams, Taylor Brown is the only guy that could make it on the opposition's roster. The bottom part of the BU roster isn't even D1 quality.

[WstateU]

Now why would I need it?

Sorry, maybe one of these?

[1972Shocker]

No way Murry is ever considered for Valley POY. That award belongs to the media darling, not to a guy who stuffs the stat sheet but doesn't do it in a flashy way, as McDermott and Weems do. He is a silent assassin, not a media darling.

I agree. None of the Shockers will be media darlings because of the balance this team has. The minutes, the stats and the talent is simply spread among too many players and I love it that way. Hopefully, the guys stay focused on team accomplishments. I think they will.