Bradley signs 6-10 post player at the deadline and some other stuff

Still no word on Nigerian-English-Canarian big man, Michael Ocherobia but just before the deadline in the spring signing period Bradley has inked 6-10 center Andrew Davis from IMG Academies (a basketball prep school) in Florida, but originally from Edmond, OK.  Listed at 215 pounds, Davis is unrated by Scout, 2 stars by Rivals, and a solid mid-major 87 by ESPN.  The ESPN report indicates he's a hard-working post player unafraid to mix it up and make the best of his skills and basketball IQ.  He comes to Bradley by way of a decommitment from Army after being released due to a sprained ankle.  It seems a sure thing that our new assistant, Coach Platt, played an instrumental role in bringing Andrew to Bradley.  The Peoria Journal Star has a nice write up here.  I'm still hoping Ocherobia also signs, but this makes me think he might not.  In either case, welcome Andrew-- glad to have you on the Hilltop!

Other things up with BU basketball--
Still haven't replaced Alvin Brooks, III, on our staff.  For a while it was a hot rumor that we would sign DePaul's interim head coach Tracy Webster, but that hasn't come to pass.  The job listing itself has reached maturity, so I have to think Bradley will hire someone when they find the best candidate.  Some of the names that have been rumored have been fairly exciting, but we'll have to see who they actually hire.

Also, Bradley has begun to indicate just how they intend to use the new athletic facilities (including a 4200-seat arena for the womens' team) that will open up this summer.  Very excited to report that Bradley has scheduled a Midnight Madness event for October 15 of this year, to be followed by a renewed Red-White Scrimmage later in the preseason.  They're also going to have one of the two preseason scrimmages games there and are stating that certain other games could be played there instead of the Peoria Civic Center.  Most people believe this is posturing to make sure the PCC gives Bradley precedence over other events, as in previous year we've had to turn down games for Disney on Ice and Riverman games... I think they're probably right because at 4200, a sell out at the new arena would represent about half as many tickets sold as current season ticket holders.  Incidentally, they're also selling a Permanent Seat License type of product they're called a Personal Seat Option-- $1000 for one type of seat, and $500 for the other... Too rich for my blood-- that allows a fan to have a specific seat at any event held in the arena all year.

Big Ten Expansion Warning

Threat Level: Orange.  :)

It's now being widely reported by radio stations all over that the Big Ten has extended offers to some mix of the following: Notre Dame, Nebraska, Missouri, and Rutgers.  The most reasonable sounding one to my ears indicates that Rutgers is a fall back in case the others don't go, but who knows.  The Big Ten has denied all of it, officially, and is claiming to still be on the 18-month time table outlined before.  That could be true, but with this level of cat-out-of-the-baggedness I have to think there's something going on.  It reminds me that I haven't yet spewed out more of my Grand Unification Theory of Conference Realignment on this blog-- something I commit to doing a better job of.

Wilkins Saga Finally Over. I Think.

Well, the John Wilkins saga is finally over.  Late Sunday it was reported he sent his signed NLI into illinois state.  "Why?" You may be asking yourself.  I don't have anything like a definitive answer.  Bradley, by most measures, is a better school and a stronger program.  isu does have a couple of years of relative success, but those in the know recognize that success is tainted by extremely weak non-con schedules and a prodigious lack of postseason success.  Bradley's system is also tailor-made for the type of player Wilkins is purported to be.  Meanwhile, isu stands to take a fall with a couple of their best players graduating this last season.  Yeah, I don't really have any logical answer...

But, I do have a rumor.  It's rumored that Wilkins wanted a free-ride for his lady-friend also.  I'm not sure if it's true, but it would be an NCAA recruiting violation if it was.  This rumor hasn't circulated only at Bradley but also at other pursuing schools-- most notably at Indiana.  Another blogger, bubravesblogger, dives a bit deeper into it here.  So maybe isu got him because they played ball.

Who knows, really.  I would take great pleasure if isu did get investigated for it.  Also, I think, at this point, I'd take some pleasure in karma taking a bit out of John Wilkins' ass.  We'll have to wait and see if he ever actually gets to isu and gets on the floor.  If he ever shows up at Carver Arena, I'll certainly loudly let him know what I think.  As it happens it's also been reported that verballed to Houston.  Buh.  I'm happy to move on, and happy that our coaching staff has confirmed that Bradley has done so also.

This leaves BU with one open scholarship for the 2010-2011 season (provided Michael Ocherobia .  I'd be happy with another big body in the paint, a small forward who can mix it up a bit or step out and shoot, or a pure shooter.  I've heard a few things that Bradley may take a transfer (meaning the player wouldn't be eligible to play until the 2011-2012 season), which wouldn't bother me at all, as I think the team is fairly well positioned for next season.