Game Six Recap: ETSU @ Bradley

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Bradley showed it was vastly superior to East Tennessee State even without guard Andrew Warren. Now the Braves will have to come together even more after a serious injury to starting center Will Egolf.

Finally, head coach Jim Les had found an interior player who could play with intensity and skill. But in one ugly twist of the knee, Egolf looks to be gone for the season. He crumpled to the ground after turning to attempt a shot near the basket midway through the second half.

Even watching the game online, you could feel the air go right out of the arena. Bradley finished the game as feebly as Egolf was escorted off the floor, clearly in shock after such a disappointing turn of events.

The game looked very promising as Bradley jumped all over ETSU to start the game, running 17 straight points into a 17-2 lead. Most of these were put in by guard Dodie Dunson who started the game on fire again, just like against Florida Gulf Coast. Dunson finished as the Braves' leading scorer with 17 points.

Guard Chris Roberts continues to improve nightly, scoring 16 points including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. His athleticism makes your jaw drop at least once or twice a game.

Forward Theron Wilson chipped in 12 points, the same total he's had in four of Bradley's six games. His consistent scoring might be trumped in importance by Wilson's rebounding intensity (8 for the game, the same as he's averaging on the season).

The freshmen also continue to show they belong in the Bradley rotation. Guard Eddren McCain had his best game in a Braves' uniform, dishing out four assists to go along with 10 points. Forward Taylor Brown, who will surely see more minutes with the Egolf injury, had a nice performance of seven points and six rebounds.

Other observations:

* - Moving on - In addition to Brown, look for redshirt freshman center Anthony Thompson to be slid into the rotation with Egolf out for at least awhile. Center David Collins needs to show more aggressiveness, otherwise he'll still be planted on the bench even with Egolf going down.

* - Playing hurt - Chicago Cubs radio broadcaster Ron Santo calls pitcher Ted Lilly "The Bulldog" because of his ability to seemingly always get through tough situations. If the Braves have their own "Bulldog," it has to be guard Sam Maniscalco. The sophomore has been playing nearly 30 minutes per game even though he's got a nagging foot problem.

After a torrid week that included travel, four games and his 20th birthday, Maniscalco turned in a flawless eight assist, zero turnover game against ETSU.

* - Root for North Carolina? - This might be a little tough to do if you're a fan of non-BCS conference teams. But, the top-ranked Tar Heels have a date with Michigan State on Wednesday. Hopefully it's a tough game that wears down the Spartans, Bradley's next opponent.

Going up to the Breslin Center isn't an easy task for any team, but especially a Braves' team as ravaged as it is with injuries. Maybe North Carolina's fast paced style can help Bradley keep it close against the Spartans. (But don't count on it.)