Bravehearts V1E3: Bradley vs. Missouri-Kansas City

Note: The seats may be cheap, but I can't afford them every game, right? Thankfully, we've got a lot of talented writers here in the balcony. Kevin McClelland is a 2011 graduate of Bradley University, and as a Cleveland native, he knows the ignominy of waiting until next year (sorry, man). Here are K-Mac's thoughts on Bradley's first real men's basketball game of 2011-12.


First and foremost, let's begin with the vitriol I spit at the UMKC coach, Matt Brown:

"Hey! You coach D-I basketball, at least put on a necktie!"

What self-respecting Division I coach has the gall to NOT wear a tie with his shirt? How hard is this to comprehend? Sheesh.

Now, for the game.

Final Score: Bradley 68, UMKC 58

Slow start on both sides. UMKC has some shooters, but that's about it. Jordan Prosser went "beast mode" and was the man on the boards—a career-high 17 rebounds, five offensive, giving the Braves a 44-33 rebounding edge. He has added some bulk and UMKC had little to no height advantage. Translation: he dominated inside defensively. His 12 points were also a career high. 

DSE had 21- including an impressive 10-11 from the line—more free throws than UMKC made as a team (7 of 18; one guy was an ugly 1 for 8). He was his usual athletic self, taking a breakaway steal and dunking it home late in the first half before UMKC tied it with a three-pointer to make it 29-all going into the break.

Taylor Brown's baseline J is still silky smooth, and nothing was rusty about his game: 20 points on 8-13 shooting and 4-4 from the line proves it. He had some great offensive rebounds (five, to be exact) which quickly turned into easy points in the paint. TB is excellent within 12 feet of the rim and his athleticism makes it easy for him to fake out and overpower opponents. He had a great block after a UMKC rebound—just hopped up and pinned it on the backboard. If he keeps his head out of his ass (no smoking!), he'll score 20 or more on everybody this season. 

Shayok Shayok and Walt Lemon did not have great games—in fact, barely approaching good. Walt DID have one helluva of a block in the second half that energized the team defensively.

However, I cannot shake the image of Jake BEASTman (Eds. note: that nickname WILL stick) coming out of nowhere to block a shot into the student section, and then again on the next possession. His energy and hustle can't be beat. He finished with a very quiet but important 12 points to go along with the aforementioned two  blocks, three boards, two assists, and a pair of steals. We'll need that from him every game. 

Things to work on: 

-GET SOME STUDENTS IN THE STANDS. Pitiful attendance for "the start of the Geno Ford era." (I hate that people are calling it that- it's not the second coming, for Pete's sake.)

-Get Walt to slow down. He's got great vision and his speed is unquestioned, but he needs to slow down mentally and use his skills in ways that help the team. 

-Stay aggressive defensively. The Braves showed lapses in their defense, and UMKC took advantage. TB lost his man on an easy back cut; can't have that. 

We've got a good team, not a great team, and by no means do I expect us to finish in the top half of the Valley but if we overachieve, then anything is possible.

Did he just say, "Anything is possible?" That's my line!

There's always next year,

KDM


When he's not cursing the name of The-Akron-Basketball-Player-Who-Will-Not-Be-Named, Kevin McClelland works for Bradley's Admissions Department and is the public address announcer for BU women's basketball and volleyball. Check out his blog, "At Least We're Not Detroit", at http://atleastwerenotdetroit.wordpress.com.