Reynolds: BU senior sticks with the process

To say the least, it’s been a trying senior season for Bradley’s Jordan Prosser.

The 6-foot-8 Goodfield native began the year as the Braves’ starting center and posted a nice eight-point, eight-rebound effort in the second game vs. Alabama State.

Then the first wave of adversity struck. Prosser was declared ineligible for violating university policy and sacked with at least a four-game suspension.

“Nobody knew what the outcome of the suspension would be,” he said. “It was basically a waiting game. But once they ruled I could play, I knew I was going to give 100 percent because I was lucky to get a second chance.”

He played the next five contests in a reserve role before spraining his knee in the first Las Vegas game against Portland. That meant two more missed games before getting back into action for the Missouri Valley Conference opener at Northern Iowa.

After a brief five-minute showing that night, Prosser has played 16 and 14 minutes, respectively, on the past two-game homestand, totalling eight points, five rebounds and two blocked shots as freshman Xzavier Taylor’s backup in the post.

Prosser has made four of his five field-goal attempts in league games.

“I feel good,” he said. “My knee gets a little tight at times, but if I stay on top of that (rehab) stuff, I’ll be fine. I’m OK with my role for now. If I start playing better, maybe I’ll get the starting spot back. Who knows?”

BU coach Geno Ford is pleased with what Prosser is giving the team of late.

“He’s in as good of a mindset right now as any time in the three years we’ve had him,” Ford said. “He’s given us physicalness in the lane, he’s blocked some shots and challenged some shots. Those weren’t strengths of his prior. He’s in a position now to end his senior year on a high note. That’s what you want.”

Ford would like to see Prosser and the other post guys get more touches than they’ve gotten to help make the offense flow more efficiently, both from low-block scoring and an inside-out passing attack.

“Pross is our best post scorer,” he said. “Our biggest weakness as a team has been passing — inaccurate and not on time. The guys hurt the most from that are the post guys. The ball needs to be delivered on time, on target. The times Pross has gotten the ball, he’s done a pretty good job of finishing for us.”

Wichita’s start: At 16-0, sixth-ranked Wichita State is one of just five undefeated Division I teams. The Shockers are also moving quickly up the MVC all-time list for best start.

WSU is tied with the 1950-51 Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) club for the eighth-best Valley start to a season. Just ahead at 17-0 are two Missouri teams (1919-20 and 1920-21) and Kansas State in 1918-19.

Then it’s Oklahoma, which began 1927-28 at 18-0. At 19-0 were Cincinnati in 1962-63 and Kansas in 1908-09.

The all-time MVC best start is held by the only team in that group still in the league, Indiana State, which was 33-0 in 1978-79 before losing the national title game to Michigan State.

BRAVES BRIEFS: Walt Lemon’s 25 points vs. Missouri State pushed him within three of No. 18 Al Smith on the all-time Bradley scoring list. Smith, of course, accomplished his total of 1,408 points in three seasons (1966-68 and 1970-71) before freshmen were eligible to play varsity. ... Next on the list is James Gillingham (2000-04) at 1,416. ... Lemon ranks 10th all-time on the steals list at 176, four behind Dyricus Simms-Edwards. ... Bradley announced Thursday a multi-year agreement with OSF Healthcare as “the official healthcare provider of Bradley athletics.” ... The two upcoming road games against the two Valley leaders — Indiana State at 12:05 p.m. Saturday and Wichita State at 7 p.m. Tuesday — will both be televised on WAOE, My 59.

Dave Reynolds covers Bradley men’s basketball for the Journal Star. He can be reached at 686-3210 or at dreynolds@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @davereynolds2.

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