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Bradley's Future

BradleyJD said:
Well we will agree to disagree then.

In my work, and the work of many of my associates, and during my time on this and other message boards I hear from dozens and dozens of fans.

I only know a handful that have anything negative to say about Bradley basketball, this team, this administration, and this coach. Almost all of that negativity or negative talk is found here. We are constantly told that fallout is all around us and the future is bleak. It's tiring.

The people I talk with regularly all love the change in direction that Bradley has taken. Many of them were ready to see a new direction at Bradley and are happy with the small sample we have seen so far. Again, most realize you do not build a program in a month, a season, a year or even two or three.

Most are thrilled with this season. After last year's dismal record, I think many were hoping to see 10 or 12 wins and some improvement. This season has gone well above those hopes.

However, most also realize that next year is not guaranteed to be better. Every year takes hard work, good players, good coaching, and a few breaks. But those I talk to are seeing positive signs and believe the attendance will rebound with the success of the team.

I know many people who canceled season tickets because BU was losing too much, both in Jim's last few seasons and then last year. I know several people who didn't buy season tickets this year, but have then gone and purchased single game tickets after they saw this team play.

Winning will cure most issues. It usually does.

This has always been a favorite quote of mine: "We can always choose to perceive things differently. You can focus on what's wrong in your life, or you can focus on what's right."


What is past is past. We have to accept it and move forward. This is a great University, with quality administrators, professors, athletic programs, coaches, and athletes. Celebrate what's happening now.

It isn't guaranteed to turn out the way we all want. Geno might fail. If he does, he and we will move on. That's the way it goes. If Geno succeeds wildly, he and we will move on too. He will go to a bigger school, and we will hire his successor and once again HOPE it works out!
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Well said JD.
 
Da Coach said:
Wily you are a wise person, but why the constant derision of others' opinions? Why can't people have differing opinions without someone attacking them, mocking them, or denigrating them?

Are you suggesting we have not suffered any fallout from the last big change affecting the basketball program?

If Bradley joined the Catholic League, which Bradley has lobbied to do (and which will never happen), IMO it would be a disaster for Bradley. We would likely never see another winning season in my lifetime.

Even the A-10 would not be a good move, IMO. It seems fair for fans to have concerns about such moves.
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DC you have taken my post completely out of text. I'm not trying to make fun of Future walk ons posts. I can't speak for him but I think we were both on the same page. I don't think either of us think the fallout is to the extent some on here do.I do think there has been a little fallout but that usually occurs when changes are made. I have also said on here that winning will take care of the season tickets. Message boards are for people to express their differing opinions and thats what we have here regarding the extent of "Fallout". Nothing more nothing less.
 
You take the "fallout" in stride if you don't see the light at the end of the tunnel on the current course. 9 years and never better than 4th was unacceptable to a lot of people, and that I don't think is unreasonable. Les had some bad luck with injuries but on the other hand always having seasons derailed by that exposes a lack of quality depth that falls squarely on his shoulders after the first few years.

Bradley should absolutely take a C-7 invitation if offered (and I very much doubt it will be). Millions of dollars > No millions of dollars. We would sell out the PCC regularly for Georgetown, Villanova etc and attract better recruits.

The A-10 or whatever may be worth looking into as well if the MVC reacts to losing Creighton and/or WSU by adding Dakota schools or anyone else as unserious about basketball. Though BU should demand a travel partner or two to come with like Loyola, Drake or Valpo.
 
Mikovio said:
You take the "fallout" in stride....
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I doubt anyone wants championships, 20 win seasons, and post-season success any more than I do so bring it on.......

and I know they will deny it but MANY of the very people who said exactly this in 2002 when Molinari was canned - are now saying they regretted the loss of all the great players and what they feel has been mediocrity ever since.

So I put very little stock in the rationale of someone who shoots themselves in the foot (fallout) but thinks things will surely get better down the road.
..or someone who takes an unnecessary, arduous detour then says they still feel they're on the right course because they feel they are getting closer tot he destination...
 
BradleyJD said:
Well we will agree to disagree then.

In my work, and the work of many of my associates, and during my time on this and other message boards I hear from dozens and dozens of fans.

I only know a handful that have anything negative to say about Bradley basketball, this team, this administration, and this coach. Almost all of that negativity or negative talk is found here. We are constantly told that fallout is all around us and the future is bleak. It's tiring.

The people I talk with regularly all love the change in direction that Bradley has taken. Many of them were ready to see a new direction at Bradley and are happy with the small sample we have seen so far. Again, most realize you do not build a program in a month, a season, a year or even two or three.

Most are thrilled with this season. After last year's dismal record, I think many were hoping to see 10 or 12 wins and some improvement. This season has gone well above those hopes.

However, most also realize that next year is not guaranteed to be better. Every year takes hard work, good players, good coaching, and a few breaks. But those I talk to are seeing positive signs and believe the attendance will rebound with the success of the team.

I know many people who canceled season tickets because BU was losing too much, both in Jim's last few seasons and then last year. I know several people who didn't buy season tickets this year, but have then gone and purchased single game tickets after they saw this team play.

Winning will cure most issues. It usually does.

This has always been a favorite quote of mine: "We can always choose to perceive things differently. You can focus on what's wrong in your life, or you can focus on what's right."


What is past is past. We have to accept it and move forward. This is a great University, with quality administrators, professors, athletic programs, coaches, and athletes. Celebrate what's happening now.

It isn't guaranteed to turn out the way we all want. Geno might fail. If he does, he and we will move on. That's the way it goes. If Geno succeeds wildly, he and we will move on too. He will go to a bigger school, and we will hire his successor and once again HOPE it works out!
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Well said! I will add that I have received numerous text messages this year from friends who say that they can't get over the great coaching job that Geno and the staff have been doing given the lack of talent and depth on our team. Some of these text messages are from friends who have graduated from other MVC schools!

Onward and upward!
 
tornado said:
I doubt anyone wants championships, 20 win seasons, and post-season success any more than I do so bring it on.......
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I bet I do and can you disprove me? :p I bet there are a few other people who may have more riding on the team's success then any of us on this board who wants it more.
 
Beninator said:
I have received numerous text messages this year from friends who say that they can't get over the great coaching job that Geno and the staff have been doing .. Some of these text messages are from friends who have graduated from other MVC schools!
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Same here Ben! I've gotten text messages, twitter messages,and Facebook messages from Creighton and Wichita fans, as well as a few objective Valley followers. All are impressed with Coach Ford and have pointed out the differences between then and now... One even joked how Stevie Wonder could see how different our guys play now; he couldn't understand why some Bradleyfans still fight the change... Bradley got their guy in Geno Ford! :D Onward and Upward Friend!
 
I like Geno and I am hopeful he can turn this around...we have to do better next year and maybe the Chin-connection can get us some of the Chitown talent - maybe Henry or Shaw -- I'd take that...

...the next year or two are critical in putting a stop to this STREAK of horrible MVC finishes...
this stretch of 10th seed, 10th seed, then yet another Thursday (7-9th seed) are by FAR the worst three-year stretch ever -
Since the MVC Tournament began in 1977 (and all 10 teams were included starting in 1997) - we have never had any 3-year stretch comparable.
I am hopeful we can figure out how we got here, what we can do, then git-r-dun..
..again - three years ago we were promised we'd regularly compete for championships and have "an athletics department of national distinction...
The paramount goal is to win the conference title so it allows you a shot at the national stage."
“To be the best in the Valley.” ....for now I'd take regularly stay out of Thursday ;)

The closest three year stretch we've ever seen was the ugly end of the Albeck era - (1991-1993) when we had a 7th seed, a 9th seed, then a 7th seed in those three years.
http://www.pjstar.com/featured/x1610518190/View-from-the-Hilltop
 
I guess you forgot this quote from 2007:

???The next step is a consistency of excellence,??? Les says. ???That consistency comes from year in and year out being in the top 25, year in and year out vying for a Valley championship, year in and year out knowing it??™s a foregone conclusion that you??™re getting into the NCAA tournament. Those are levels of consistency that we want to take our program to. The past success can help give us momentum to reach those levels.???

???These may be the toughest steps,??? Les continues. ???Now we??™ve reached a level of success. We??™ve reached a level where expectations are higher. Now we have another five-year plan to work as hard as we can to keep up the momentum and use the past success as a springboard to do bigger and better things.???
 
tornado said:
I doubt anyone wants championships, 20 win seasons, and post-season success any more than I do so bring it on.......

and I know they will deny it but MANY of the very people who said exactly this in 2002 when Molinari was canned - are now saying they regretted the loss of all the great players and what they feel has been mediocrity ever since.

So I put very little stock in the rationale of someone who shoots themselves in the foot (fallout) but thinks things will surely get better down the road.
..or someone who takes an unnecessary, arduous detour then says they still feel they're on the right course because they feel they are getting closer tot he destination...
Click to expand...

I don't know what I'm supposed to bring. I wasn't speaking to you or anyone in particular or questioning anyone's desire for championships. I'm speaking hypothetically and saying that if you're running a program and lost faith in a coach, you make a change. If talent leaves, so be it.

I don't want to speak for anyone but myself here, but the same definitely held true for Molinari in 2002. I love Mo as a person and think he's a fine coach but you can only spin 9 years and 1 NCAA so far. Nobody knew at the time what kind of talent he'd compiled at that point and it may look regrettable with the benefit of hindsight, but at the same time it shouldn't have taken 9 years.

I don't know if this road is better, but I've had ample time to observe the last road and I'm willing to take the chance.
 
Chico said:
Agree. Now off to Mountain Brook next to the Superstitions for 18 holes.
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Rick LeHew said:
Chico - Nice meeting you on the plane and seeing you again at the BU game. Wish I was back down there.... have a great round of golf!!
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Chico said:
Weather is a lot better now than when you were here. Didn't help my golf game though.
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Gentlemen.... I believe discussing golf publicly in front of the majority of us who are Midwesterners during the winter season is not allowed on the board. Consider this a warning. ;)
 
Future Walk-On said:
Gentlemen.... I believe discussing golf publicly in front of the majority of us who are Midwesterners during the winter season is not allowed on the board. Consider this a warning. ;)
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Sorry. Guess I should say then that I'm not golfing tomorrow as usual on Friday. But at least you got to watch the Braves all season. I only got to see 3 games early in the season and 1 when I was home for an emergency. What do you consider the better deal?
 
Same here Ben! I've gotten text messages, twitter messages,and Facebook messages from Creighton and Wichita fans, as well as a few objective Valley followers. All are impressed with Coach Ford and have pointed out the differences between then and now... .
... Bradley got their guy in Geno Ford! :D Onward and Upward Friend!
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one more blast from the past- a decade ago...

funny how a handful of fans, some kinda clueless as to how the business of DI coaching goes....
greatly preferred a coach who is a joking, funny guy, but who couldn"t recruit, couldn't win and couldn't control his own players..
...
to a coach who was intense, self-confident, good discipline and who recruited pro-level talent & even NBA talent and who WON GAMES.
Even appearing to give more credence to what opponents' fans thought Bradley should do, than to what our own fans thought.

Now, after nearly a decade of disaster that caused, and that we have finally built back to that winning level,
the fans who most trashed the former coaches and who wanted that change, seemingly have all dried up &
blown away. Most of 'em I haven't seen at games in years. Hope fans nowadays appreciate what we have
in Wardle & Reynolds & staff.
 
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