vs Bradley (8-3) - Saturday 2/3/2024 - 1 pm - MVC Sports Network

[Manchester Matt]

For the first time, I'll say I am ALL IN on Chase Walker. Unless he's on an injury minute restriction he has shown himself worthy of 20 min a game. I'm very curious why he didn't play more because he was effective and the first 3 times he went into the game, we'd go on a small run offensively.

Bradley is better in every single aspect (players AND coaching) and exposed our holes...which are many. But I absolutely believe Chase and Johnny, and I'm hoping Ty...are definitely players to build around. I hope to goodness they stick around. In other words, pretty much what Vboy said.

I was confused by Ty starting. Anyone else have thoughts on that?? He still looks overmatched mentally and somewhat physcially. Which, he's a freshman, so I get it. Did I miss something...did he start against Murray St?

Davis didn’t play, so I’m assuming the staff thought Pence matched up well in his place. Who knows.

Also, nice to have V Boy back. Hope it’s not temporary.

 

[gobirds85]

I know the team practices, but do we practice anything in regard to playing D?

 

[Manchester Matt]

I agree. I mentioned earlier in the thread I wasn’t looking forward to the “BU” chants ringing through the arena. I think it only happened three times. Their fans even see “oh, this is an exhibition.” The top three in the league are in a league of their own. I do think Thursday at the Lou is going to have some really fun and competitive games. Friday is going to be three blowouts, whoever plays the top three and then the whoever emerges as 4 will play a tight game.

Yep. After Bradley, you can throw the rest of the teams, maybe with the exception of UIC, and anything can happen.

The Murray State/UNI game today certainly proved that.

 

[Bdub777]

For the first time, I'll say I am ALL IN on Chase Walker. Unless he's on an injury minute restriction he has shown himself worthy of 20 min a game. I'm very curious why he didn't play more because he was effective and the first 3 times he went into the game, we'd go on a small run offensively.

Bradley is better in every single aspect (players AND coaching) and exposed our holes...which are many. But I absolutely believe Chase and Johnny, and I'm hoping Ty...are definitely players to build around. I hope to goodness they stick around. In other words, pretty much what Vboy said.

I was confused by Ty starting. Anyone else have thoughts on that?? He still looks overmatched mentally and somewhat physcially. Which, he's a freshman, so I get it. Did I miss something...did he start against Murray St?

on Ty, they had him guarding Leons, who killed us last year, so maybe they thought he was a good physical matchup lengthwise and in quickness? If that was the idea, Leons didn’t do much in the first segment and Ty went out when he did. After that, he went on to destroy us, so so much for that…..he didn’t start at Murray

 

[Bdub777]

Knew many of the other coaches in the dept back then, and they said the same thing about Donewald.

Oh yeah, I have a lot of experience there and can confirm he was a very difficult person….but he didn’t cuss like Mr. Wardle apparently does

 

[gobirds85]

Not only that, they will stiff someone from even getting a NIT bid. We will one in the senior prom-13 seed and one in the jr prom-lower seeded on road.

I hate the ncaa.

 

[gobirds85]

The post above was my comment on Humdinger’s last response. Silly me. Sorry.

 

[Loyl2u]

This is the worst off the ball defense in some time. Was anything in the scouting report regarding how Darius Hannah rolls to the bucket on a pick and roll? Did the scouting report show how BU guards go back door the hole?
The defensive off ball IQ of our team is horrible.

BU’s size really creates some problems at the 3-2 spots when they play big, I have to admit that they appeared to be the most talented team to visit Redbird this year but you’re right , or their coaching staff saw in scouting that the way the Birds play defense would create those open drives and back doors- either way we were unprepared to respond. I won’t dwell on the high post switches or the lack of help, but what stuck out to me today was seeing shots created by BU offense -layups mostly, but also some open squared up 3s that came from kick-outs. The Birds just don’t do that- time and time again, people have replied to me “it’s not the defense, it’s the offense” so I’ll at least agree 50% after watching BU today, it’s Both!

 

[jwa123]

As a former resident of Morton, in the Bradley shadow, I remember when their faithful were ready to run the coach out of town.

 

[Bird Friend]

I guess one more thing to say . . . okay two more things . . . First, Mal came out to play in the 2nd half. Was good to see him hit some shots. Second, Though Kinziger can be a matchup problem for us on D, he does not back down on D . . . at all. Kid may not be very big, but he puts body on the line all game long.

That said . . . we still sucked today.

 

[WoodlandWarrior]

I watched the debacle at Kep’s Bar in Washington. The cheeseburger with tomato slice was pretty good along with two cold ones. It was so obvious watching on a big screen the speed of Bradley’s passing, while on offense many times we would have four players on the perimeter and one in the middle. I hate Bradley, but they are a much better team than us. We have several seniors that should not return next year.

 

[Aggie]

ISU is in the middle or a little below the middle of the middle of the MVC, and that is not real great basketball. ISU blue, Drake and Bradley can run with lots of the big dogs. Maybe not win but can run with them. I still believe ISU is going to have to reload from the current management and players and start again. Maybe we never have a really good team again. NIL, portal and who wants to come play basketball and football at a place that seems to put more emphasis on other sports. We need to find a lower level young coach who has proven he/she can win and plays entertaining basketball at least. And, let them try and prove themselves here. Rant over, ISU has fallen to the depths in men’s basketball.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

Davis didn’t play, so I’m assuming the staff thought Pence matched up well in his place. Who knows.

Also, nice to have V Boy back. Hope it’s not temporary.

Davis was in street clothes; appears some sort or injury.

 

[Redbird222]

Davis was in street clothes; appears some sort or injury.

Looks like a thumb or hand injury

 

[Dmills]

We seem to play better on the road in conference.

 

[Adunk33]

We seem to play better on the road in conference.

I was thinking about this today. We know this team has some mental lapses in scheme and then the mental yips shooting. Could it be they’re over thinking home games? “We HAVE to win this for our fans or they won’t come back.” Whereas on the road, it’s more that they think they can just go out and play? I don’t know but there was a lot of pressure on the guys today and they folded as they did vs Valpo, and SIU.

 

[Rollbirds]

For once we hit threes (8-16) and still not even close

 

[CaliRdBrd]

I think gas was $0.05/gallon last time we were good.

 

[redbirds2000]

I don’t think Bradley broke a sweat.

Hannah probably needed ice packs for his hands after dunking so much!

 

[cubird]

Obviously the best Mal has looked all year. Did not hesitate on the jumper and drove it to the free throw line and hit the fade away jumper. Still have winnable games on the schedule.