Shox vs Bradley

[Trueshock]

I can handle losing to a deserved team and output. This is NOT one of those cases though. I just can't believe how this game was taken from us. Effing BS.

This Bradley team is not bad like you think. They were 10-3 coming into this game and only lost to Michigan at home by 8 pts. As for our team. We won believe it or not!!!

[ShockerFever]

This Bradley team is not bad like you think. They were 10-3 coming into this game and only lost to Michigan at home by 8 pts. As for our team. We won believe it or not!!!

Actually, they were 10-4, all creampuff wins. They are improved but we were superior. If it wasn't for the stripes, we would have won by 10-15.

[ShockerFever]

Thoughts on the game:

Gregg Marshall was amazing. We all know what the officials were like the whole game, but he was able to make adjustments to keep guys out of foul trouble (no one had more than 3!!!) and to try and reduce the impact of those free throws. Did I mention the fact that we actually made more free-throws than Bradley? We did, despite committing 50% more fouls. He ran a 3-2 zone way more than in other games, and while it had holes it definitely helped whenever we couldn't afford to foul. He called plays out of timeouts that were perfect (DW at the end, for example), and he kept control of the game even when a lesser coach or a lesser team would have crumpled. Big props to Gregg Marshall.

Cleanthony Early. Just huge. Big shot after big shot after big shot after big shot. He had 24 points today, but almost all of those points were momentum changers. And while he only had 4 rebounds, 3 of those were crucial offensive rebounds. Most amazing was the fact that he did his damage in 24 minutes, scoring a point per possession BY HIMSELF!

Ehimen Orukpe has become what we always wanted. He is not going to dominate with 20 points in a game, but he is one of the best players in the country at intimidating a shot. He totally wrecked havoc on their inside game, and probably had 10 shots altered to go with his 3 blocks. It has gotten to the point where I am silently urging for him to come back in the game every time he goes out, the opposite of what I felt last year.

Demetric Williams is interesting for the Shockers. His box score looks very bad (4-10 from the field, 1-6 from 3), and yet I'd say he had a good game. I think he steps up in big time situations and makes baskets when we need them. And for all the love for Bradley's ballhawks, Demetric Williams contributed to us winning the steal battle 10 to 8. Every starter had at least 1 steal, and DW and Armstead had 3 each.

Malcolm Armstead needs to keep that floater in a time capsule. He pulled it out a few times when we needed it most, and it seems to be his best offensive weapon. He turned the ball over too much, but I was generally pleased with his shot selection.

Fred van Vleet was a big factor in the first half, but didn't play much (or at all) in the second half. Good game from him in limited minutes; he really plays well in his home state.

The officiating was bad, but we played through it. That is a big positive.

Those announcers were big homers for Bradley, but I thought they did a good job when they did analysis. Still, it was a little weird that they said basically nothing about the Shockers success or their injury situation. It would have been nice to get some love from MVC announcers on national television, but we let our play speak for itself.

I thought Geno Ford did a tremendous job coaching Bradley. They are lucky to have him.

Don't do this much, if ever, but I agree with every single thing you stated.

[pinstripers]

Marshall is a better coach now, than he was when he came here.

[Trueshock]

It's pretty much mute now so what is the poinrt. We won didn't we.

[Ta town]

Officiating is going to suck from time to time, especially on the road so I say whatever.

Add to officiating that it seemed every single bounce went Bradley's way till around the 5 min mark in the second half and you have a tough game. Friging blocked shots being redirected to swish in, missed free throw clanking off the front at line drive speed and turning into a 4 point possession for Bradley, up 4 and cotton not only misses a wide open put back but it rims out to the point that it becomes an easy fast break for Bradley (4 pt swing), Orukpe tries to tip an offensive rebound and ends up basically an outlet pass to Bradley for easy 2.

Just a tough night all around and don't care cause they friging won.

[ShockerFever]

It's pretty much mute now so what is the poinrt. We won didn't we.

Yes, you should be mute.

[wusphlash]

Don't you just like having EO back guarding the basket. No cheap stuff.
To paraphrase Dennis Green "Cleanthony Early is who we thought he was".
It's good to have Senior guards. Mistakes they make but it never seems to happen at crunch time.
First half Fred. That's what I want to see.
Tekele "whatever it takes to win" Cotton. Glad you're a Shocker.
Gregg on his way to another COY? Hard to say no.

Lastly, I think Geno Ford is doing a great job. Looks like he is bring BU back to respectability which is, in the long run, good for us.

[shockmonster]

Bradley's a good team (at least at home). They have made a lot of improvement since last year and are a formidable foe. They played Michigan to an 8pt. win early in the year and I have a feeling that they're confidence is better than it was then. They think that they can play with anyone at home. We didn't play great but we played good and it was a very nice win on the road.

[MadaboutWu]

on the Bradley board, they said there were 4 NBA scouts to watch Cleanthony Early

As long as they wait till next year!

[pogo]

Bradley went toe to toe with us and played tough. I think we could have played a little smarter on several possessions but it is what it is. The fouls looked to be somewhat skewed but I have the luxury of typing this an hour after the game and knowing we won. I was livid during the game and my stomach was killing me. Good to see Don and Shirley Beggs sitting behind the bench, much better than that beer swilling,, mullet wearing, mouth breathing bradley fan that was behind their bench. My son called me during the game so I paused it and he was asking me if I had seen him yet and as it turned out he was centered on the frozen picture. I would love to be able to get a picture and use it as my avatar. Shocks persevered and won a tough road game which may be the toughest one we play all year. Hope to get everyone healthy soon and back into shape. Have I said how much I love these guys?

[1979Shocker]

on the Bradley board, they said there were 4 NBA scouts to watch Cleanthony Early

Why would they watch him? He still has another year.

[RoyalShock]

Why would they watch him? He still has another year.

They are doing their homework. Same reason college coaches begin watching players before they are seniors.

[1979Shocker]

Cle is never late and delivered as he has all Season long

Except for the Tennessee game where he was MIA. Otherwise, we could've been 15-0.

[another shocker]

bradley was in the bonus with ten minutes left in the second half. i thought our goose was cooked.. until, as somebody else here mentioned, marshall threw a 2-3 zone at them to minimize the foul situation (b.s. charge call on early that should have been an and-1). kudo's, once again, to coach marshall.