Check the facts, correct where you might find some errors, but I think these stats and numbers are being badly overlooked by some.
Do we all want to win more - of course yes...but if you read some of the whines and complaints, you'd think Bradley is the losingest program in the midwest! But the truth is far from that.
I have checked how Bradley matches up in regard to the other programs in the Missouri Valley, and I have tried to find numerous significant categories. I believe I have picked enough categories and will present the numbers...
Here's how BU ranks when looking at these categories, which mostly cover performance over the past 5 seasons - current season included:
-all time wins
-coaching changeovers that often lead to bad & disappointing rebuilding years
-total wins since 2005 (counting right up to today!)
-total conference wins since 2005
-post-season appearances since 2005
-post-season games since 2005
-post-season wins since 2005
-NCAA games since 2005
-NCAA wins since 2005
-MVC Tournament wins since 2005
-Average RPI since 2005
-Average SOS since 2005
-games played while missing starters or key players (included for the heck of it)
OK...here are how the teams finish in those categories...
-All Time Wins: BU is first by far, check yourself at the NCAA official site, BU is 25th most in all of college basketball!
-Coaching changeovers: BU is tied for the fewest along with SIU and CU, although Creighton came dangerously close. Every other team had started over at least once since 2005.
-Total wins: CU 104,UNI 104,MSU 99,BU 98,SIU 95,WSU 91,ISU 90,DU 85,InSU 67,UE57 (BU ranks 4th but would have been easily able to overtake a couple teams ahead had we weakened our schedule)
-Conference wins: CU 57,UNI56,SIU 51,ISU 50,BU 47,MSU 42,WSU 42,DU 39,UE 23,InSU 22 (BU ranks 5th)
-Postseason appearances: BU 4, CU 4, SIU 3, DU-ISU-MSU-UNI-WSU 2ea, UE 1, InSU 0 (BU ranks 1st)
-Postseason games: BU 16,CU 7,SIU 6,WSU 5,DU-MSU-ISU 4ea,UNI 2,UE 1,InSU 0 (this one's a blowout)
-Postseason wins: BU 10, CU-SIU-WSU 3ea, MSU 2, ISU 1 (another big blowout)
-NCAA wins: BU, 2, SIU 2, WSU 2 (tied for 1st)
-NCAA games played: SIU 4, BU 3, WSU 3, UNI 2, DU 1 (2nd - tie)
-MVC Tournament wins: CU-UNI-SIU 5ea, BU 4, DU-ISU-InSU 4, MSU-WSU 2, UE 1.
(this also does include Thursday wins - but you'd think we would have had zip the way people gripe..but instead only a couple teams finish a single game ahead of BU in this category)
-Average RPI: CU 51,UNI 64,SIU 76,BU 80,MSU 95,WSU 105,DU 128,ISU 114,InSU 142,UE 187
-Average SOS: SIU 61,InSU 65,BU 67,CU 70,MSU 80,UNI 84,DU 85,WSU 96,UE 103,ISU 113 (ISU dead last! but the top three or four teams are in a virtual dead heat)
-Games played with key players missing & unexpected losses of players - this is a bit subjective, but as I reviewed all the other Valley teams, nobody even comes close to BU on this one...
we have lost key players every single season, Will Franklin, POB, Ruffin, Crouch, Warren, Egolf, Dodie, etc..
This isn't an excuse, just a fact...and it is unfortunate and hopefully will end soon.
So - in the end, add up all the finishes from 1-10 in each of these Valley categories...
In the 13 categories I have ranked...Bradley has SEVEN #1 finishes, ONE #2 finish,
ONE #3 finish, THREE #4 finishes, and ONE #5 finish.
So Bradley's average finish in those 13 categories is a 2.2.
No other Valley team does better in my formula that encompasses a BROAD winning overview...
Creighton and SIU are close...but all other Valley teams are way off on those stats...UNI has an average rank of almost 4! (no postseason success at all and surprisingly little even in the MVC tourney!)
So I am sure there are other ways to cook the data but overall, it is certainly clear that the argument can be made that Bradley has at least as much long term success and wins and as much short and medium term success and wins as any other team in the Valley.
AND,
if we envied those other programs like some do - I am 100% convinced that those whining and complaining BU fans would STILL be just as unhappy.
I have heard people say we should emulate the success of Creighton and one writer said they are a far better program (although quite a few of their own fans sure don't agree), also emulate the success of SIU, of UNI, and even recently the success of Missouri State or ISU! (yes there are BU fans saying we shuold be like them!)
But the facts just don't support that if Bradley had their numbers and their success, the fans wouldn't be any happier...in fact, I suspect with the fans we have in Peoria, they'd all be saying...
Geez...why can't we be as successful long term and short term as BRADLEY IS!!!!!!
You are free to disagree and envy any program you'd like, but I am not so sure I want to jump ship at this time.
Just heard the ex-White Sox Frank Thomas just announced retirement. Frank was a favorite player of mine!
Go Braves!! Hosting #18 ranked Northern Iowa on Saturday!
http://bit.ly/biwv08
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I think you can look in your post for the reason that Bradley fans are unsatisfied:
ReplyDelete-Coaching changeovers: BU is tied for the fewest along with SIU and CU. Every other team had started over at least once since 2005.
-Conference wins: CU 57, UNI 56, SIU 51, ISU 50, BU 47, MSU 42, WSU 42, DU 39, UE 23, InSU 22 (BU ranks 5th)
You picked the four best years of the Jim Les era against similar competition when seven of the schools went through coaching changes and BU is 5th. BU is behind ISU and that includes the final two years of the Porter Moser era. Is that acceptable to you?
I know there are unsatisfied fans, but there seems to be an open season for unsatisfied fans everywhere.
ReplyDeleteGo read the comments on SIU's board, Creighton's board, and even on ISU's board...fans everywhere just wouldn't be happy with their teams unless they won a title every year.
Honestly, I even see frequent dissatisfaction from UNI fans, as they have virtually no post-season success at all!