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| | Tuesday, November 2 | |||||||||||||||
COACH AND PROGRAM
(actually 58.6) percent of the games we've played here in eight years," Molinari said. "And that's a little misleading because of the way we've scheduled. We like to bring in good teams for our fans and for our RPI. Going to Hawaii will be a tremendous trip four our team and our fans."PROJECTED STARTERS ROB DYE (6-1, 190 lbs., SR, SG, #4, 17.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.9 apg, 3.4 tpg, 2.7 spg, 36.9 minutes, .411 FG, .356 3PT, .813 FT, Southeast HS/Springfield, Ill.) The top returning scorer in the Valley, Dye is the only player back from the All-MVC first team and is a leading preseason candidate for the league's Player of the Year. Dye also led the conference in steals and ranked among the national leaders most of the season. He tied the school and MVC record with nine steals against Southwest Missouri State. The senior guard was also voted to the All-Tournament team after scoring 44 points in Bradley's two league tourney games. Dye came to Bradley as a point guard, but is better suited as a shooting guard. Bradley hasn't had a true point during his four years, so he has had to man the position off and on as needed. The Braves' motion offense easily allows him to switch between the spots, often in the same game. Quickness has always been Dye's main attribute. But his strong competitive nature has rounded his game well through the years. He has become a strong rebounder and a rugged defender aside from the steals. Always a solid outside shooter, one of his best traits is an ability to finish. ERIC ROBERSON (6-4, 185 lbs., SR, PG, #10, 9.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.2 apg, 3.8 tpg, 2.2 spg, 0.7 bpg, 31.5 minutes, .442 FG, .393 3PT, .594 FT, Penn Hills HS/Pittsburgh, Pa.) Nicknamed "The Predator," Roberson is a lean, mean two-time member of the Valley's All-Defense team. Besides drawing the other team's best scorer whether he is 6-1 or 6-7, Roberson led the Braves in rebounding last year. A slasher who also bagged 33 treys as a junior, his offense perked up after going through two seasons in which teams would lay off him and double-team Dye. In one memorable performance at Illinois State, he nailed 6-for-6 from three-point range to lift the Braves to victory. For all his assets, Roberson has not improved his ballhandling as his turnovers have increased from 45 to 95 to 111 in his first three seasons. Granted, he is out of position when at the point. But by playing there, Dye is given the freedom he needs to cut and set up for his shots. "Rob and Eric have done a terrific job for Bradley," Molinari said. "But they haven't led us to a championship yet. That's the dynamic that differentiates good players from great players. They've led us to postseason play, they've done some neat things. "But the consistency and leadership levels need to be [higher] if they want to go down as great Bradley players." JEROME ROBINSON (6-3, 195 lbs., JR, SF, #23, 6.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.2 tpg, 0.6 bpg, 26.0 minutes, .500 FG, .226 3PT, .712 FT, Westwood Secondary School/Mississauga, Ont.) A strong athlete who should be 100 percent after suffering through an injury-plagued sophomore season (stretched knee ligament) that limited his mobility and jumping ability, Robinson fits the Roberson mold for athleticism and defensive emphasis. Robinson, of suburban Toronto, played for Basketball Canada in the World University Games, averaging 12 points as he showcased an offensive game seen only in flashes at Bradley. One of the Braves' best jumpers and position defenders, Robinson struggled with his ballhandling and outside shooting. He is most impressive when finishing fastbreaks as long as he's not leading the break himself. "Any time you can play in the summer helps," Molinari said. "Jerome will get better because improvement is directly related to character. And Jerome is a character guy. He's coachable and he works hard. He'll be a major factor in there." ED CAGE (6-7, 225 lbs., JR, PF, #40, 7.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.1 tpg, 25.3 minutes, .439 FG, .804 FT in 1997-98, Lake Forest HS/Lake Forest, Ill.) Early in the third game of last season, Cage went up for a rebound with another player against Loyola and ended up with a fractured eye socket. The other player was his aggressive teammate, Eric Roberson. Cage, who was off to a good start, averaging 8.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg despite playing with a dislocated index finger on his shooting hand, would eventually undergo surgery and receive a medical redshirt. He suffered double vision for some months after the injury, but was able to resume workouts in the spring and has been declared 100 percent by doctors. That's great news for the Braves, who desperately missed Cage's inside presence and outside shooting last year. That combination has made the suburban Chicago forward difficult to guard since he has a nice arching jumper from up to 17 feet. "Ed has to take on more responsibility," Molinari said. "It'll be an adjustment for him after sitting for a year, but at least he's only seeing one basket now." JEFF RABEY (6-11, 260 lbs., JR, C, #5, 15.4 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 2.5 bpg, .586 FG, Kalamazoo Valley CC, Mich. & Ottawa Hills HS/Grand Rapids, Mich.) Rabey, a fall signee, led all NJCAA Division II players with 367 total rebounds and ranked second in the nation in rebound average last season. Both were school records. He was also the top scorer for Kalamazoo Valley CC, leading the team to a 20-11 record. AS A FRESHMAN AT CONTRA COSTA (Calif.) College, Rabey averaged 17 points and 13 rebounds. Rabey gives the Braves a dimension they've rarely had, even during the school's glory days of the 1950s and 60s a big, back-to-the-basket post player. Molinari has not had a center of this skill level during his tenure.KEY RESERVES ABA KOITA (6-9, 225 lbs., SR, C #34, 4.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.4 bpg, 0.9 tpg, 17.9 minutes, .530 FG, .579 FT, New Trier HS/Winnetka, Ill.) Koita played more than expected last year with the injuries to Moran and Cage, and he responded with some solid defense and a few good offensive moments. With the additions of Rabey and Flanders, as well as the return of Cage, his role will almost certainly be reduced. But don't underestimate Koita's ability to improve his lot. Koita, a native of Mali, has only played basketball since he was 15 and made great strides last year. He is athletic and has put on 10 pounds since last season. REGGIE HALL (6-6, 195 lbs., JR, F, #21, 4.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 tpg, 15.6 minutes, .320 FG, .167 3PT, .620 FT, Providence St. Mel HS/Chicago, Ill.) As a Prop 42 sophomore, Hall had his difficulties adjusting to the college game. Just when he was coming around, he suffered a season-ending stress fracture in his foot, missing the final three contests. A rangy lefthander, he provides the Braves with versatility. Hall can be a big perimeter player who hits the outside shot over shorter opponents or he can be a small inside player who can drive to the basket on slower foes. "Reggie had a typical first season," Molinari said. "He had some good moments and he had some moments when he was just surviving." ANGELO FLANDERS (6-8, 230 lbs., JR, F, #14, 13.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg, .620 FG, Highland CC, Ill. & Milton Peters HS/St. Marteen, Virgin Islands) Flanders ranked among the top 20 NJCAA Division I rebounders last season to help Highland CC to a 28-5 record and the Arrowhead Conference title. He earned first-team All-Region IV and All-Conference honors. Flanders, who joins Franz Smith (1982-84) as the second Caribbean player to play for the Braves, is expected to be an aggressive inside banger for a team that lacked one a year ago. "We didn't want to lose Milo Kirsh," Molinari said. "But Angelo is a very similar player and he's farther along at this point." DAVID SELBY (6-0, 175 lbs., G, #1, 19.7 ppg, 2.8 spg at Fort Scott CC, Kan. & Indian River HS/Chesapeake, Va.) Selby was named second-team All-Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division and his scoring average was the sixth best in his region. He was a late spring signee, but is still expected to contribute in a crowded backcourt. "David is a scorer, a slasher," Molinari said. "We believed we needed to add competition on our team. David can take pressure off Rob (Nye) and get us some scoring when we hit those droughts." JERMAINE BROWN (6-5, 180 lbs., SO, G, #25, 11.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg in 1997-98, Proviso West HS/Maywood, Ill.) The younger brother of NBA veteran guard Randy Brown, Jermaine sat out his freshman year as a non-qualifier. He has shown great athleticism in preseason drills, but needs to get stronger. "Jermaine is a slashing player and one of the better jumpers we've had in our program," Molinari said. "He has a love for basketball coming from that family. He understands structure. His adjustment will be [to] the intensity level, learning what it takes."OTHER RETURNEES MATTHEW LEE (6-8, 225 lbs., SR, F-C, #3, 4.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 0.9 bpg, 1.5 tpg, 21.1 minutes, .456 FG, .556 FT, St. Thomas Academy/St. Paul, Minn.) Lee led the team in blocked shots, earning unexpected playing time with the injuries to Cage and Moran and the struggles of Kirsh. When classes began this fall, he was in school, but not with the team as individual workouts began. Lee was granted special permission from Molinari to take some time to become more academically stable. Whether Lee would return to the Braves at all for his senior season was uncertain at press time. "He's sorting it out," Molinari said. "He wants to do better academically and I told him to get it in order. We'll see how he progresses, but he'd be welcomed back to the team." KEVIN CLANCY (6-3, 185 lbs., SO, G, #12, 2.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 tpg, 14.6 minutes, .293 FG, .262 3PT, .813 FT, Niles Notre Dame HS/Chicago, Ill.) A pleasant surprise as a freshman, Clancy was a walk-on who ended up starting seven games and earning a scholarship. Touted as a good three-point shooter, that was the weakest part of his game. But his scrappy play on the court belied his choir boy looks. BRIAN HOGUE (5-11, 172 lbs., SO, G, #24, 1.0 ppg, four appearances, McCluer North HS/St. Louis, Mo.) A second-year walk-on, Hogue is strictly a practice player.OTHER NEWCOMERS ANDRE CORBITT (6-5, 185 lbs., FR, G, #32, 26.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, Tampa Bay Tech/Tampa, Fla.) Corbitt helped Tech reach the Sweet 16 of Florida's Class 6A state tournament, earning second-team All-State honors. The lone freshman on the Braves, Corbitt reportedly chose Bradley over La Salle. Despite the logjam at guard, Molinari sees playing time available for him right away. "I see Andre helping us this year," Molinari said. "He's a scorer who can shoot the 'three.' He's a typical Bradley kid who's athletic and has good character."STARTERS NOT RETURNING None.OTHERS NOT RETURNING GAVIN SCHAIRER (6-7, F, 7.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 20.2 minutes, .438 FG, .432 3PT, .889 FT) Schairer emerged last year as a great success story a small-town kid with extremely limited athletic skills playing a little bit more each year before becoming a big contributor as a senior. Out of place on a team of explosive athletes, Schairer did the most dirty work of any Brave taking charges, setting effective screens and blocking out and also was the team's top three-point shooter by percentage. His blue-collar approach earned him a spot on the Valley's Most Improved team. "Gavin became a very good college basketball player and is a testament to people who work hard," Molinari said. MILO KIRSH (6-7, F-C, 4.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.8 bpg, 15.6 minutes, .391 FG, .600 FT) A sturdily built freshman last year, Kirsh showed promise in the Braves' first 21 games. He started 11 of them, had 13 points in one game and a dozen in two others. He physically frustrated Penn State senior Calvin Booth. But in Bradley's final eight games, Kirsh's playing time diminished greatly. He averaged just five minutes per contest, totaling only two points and zero rebounds. Though nursing a sprained ankle, he seemed overly tentative and lacking in confidence. Seeing the incoming recruits, Kirsh deduced his playing time would be quite limited and transferred to Toledo during the summer. FRED ATKINS (6-6, F-G, 2.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 7.7 minutes, .500 FG, .526 3PT, .833 FT) Atkins lost ground as a sophomore after a promising freshman season in which he averaged 5.9 ppg and started seven times. One month into last season, Atkins was playing less than walk-on Kevin Clancy and it became clear he wasn't a good fit for the defensive-minded Bradley program. "My style of play is different than the play of our team," Atkins said. "It just wasn't the right situation for me." After the season, Atkins transferred to Division II Lipscomb University. JIM VERSHAW (6-4, F, 1.3 ppg, 0.8 rpg, four appearances) Vershaw was a popular two-year walk-on who was essentially a practice player. He appeared in just eight games the past two seasons.QUESTIONS Dirty work? With Schairer graduated, there are plenty of Braves willing to dive for loose balls, but taking charges and setting strong picks are another matter. Flanders seems the type to assume that blue-collar role, while other candidates are Cage and Clancy. JC jumpstart? Molinari has never brought in three junior college players at once. How will they adapt to an extremely demanding system? More important, how will they blend into an already experienced team that will be giving up minutes to accommodate them? Offense? Dye can't be expected to carry this team again. Can Cage come back strong after a serious eye injury? Can the new players provide some scoring help and inside-outside balance? Will the fans get off Molinari's back about the team's slow tempo and let him coach to his strength?ANSWERS Defense! Every returning player, especially Roberson, plays good-to-great "D" and will set the tone for the new guys. With the quickness and athleticism of this group, the league's best defense four years running should be even better. Rob Dye! The Valley's top returning scorer should be better than ever now that he appears to have some help and doesn't have to take every big shot. Experience! With a tough non-conference schedule staring them in the face, the Braves have the seasoned veterans capable of pulling an upset or two.
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Conferences ACC Atlantic 10 Big East Big Sky Big South Big Ten Big 12 Big West Colonial Conference USA Independents Ivy League MAAC Mid-American Mid-Continent Mid-Eastern Athletic MCC Missouri Valley Mountain West Northeast Ohio Valley Pac-10 Patriot SEC Southern Southland Sun Belt SWAC TAAC WAC West Coast | |||||||||||||||
