BU at a Crossroads

[Bravesfan]

I thought it was interesting listening to the SIU pregame where their announcer said SIU's problem was over-recruiting after their s-16. They went out of their system to get offensive minded players, they got a highly ranked class, and it bombed for SIU.

I think we've gone through a similar adjustment, recruiting potential 4 stars that don't show up, and spending too much time recruiting nationally/internationally, when really we should be getting the stable (but less flashy) more local workhorses you can build a program on, guys like JP DSE...if our staff has had that realization, then yes I do think we have a future to be good and solid under JL.

Great points! I didn't even think about this, but you're right. Recruiting in a different direction can disrupt the continuity of a program. It will be interesting to see how a team like Butler reacts after their near championship run last season. Come to think of it, although they did have an additional NCAA appearance, George Mason has not exactly become the second coming of Gonzaga either since their Final Four appearance.

And of course we all know what happened when Creighton went into that direction. They ended up with a bust in P'Allen Stinent which ultimately caused Dana Altman to seek a new team.

So while Les does has done a decent job at recruiting some good starters over the years, maybe he needs to concentrate on recruiting more fundamentally stable bench players who can help the team chemistry more than the current bench players can.

 

[Bravesfan]

Is there a post over at the Redbird or Saluki forum about how we are in meltdown mode at BradleyFans? If there is, it is well justified.

I strongly agree with TAS' post. I don't know what to think or what side to take. I'm not a JL lover or a JL hater, I'm simply a die-hard BU fan. I want to see a winning and established "high-mid major" program. JL has not shown that he can put that type of team together on a consistent basis. HOWEVER, I also feel for the guy as he lost two huge pieces of this years team which we all had high hopes for before the season began. He's also endured more than his share of injuries and setbacks during his tenure.

It's scary to think of what our fate will be with whatever direction we go.

We keep JL and hopefully get SM and TB back at full health next year as well as adding what I feel is a solid recruiting class. We either finish top 3 in the valley with an NCAA appearance OR a deep NIT run. If not...I would think that JL's stint as the Dean of the Valley is up.

We part ways with JL and possibly lose some of our current players and incoming recruits, spend 2-3 years in mediocrity (or the Valley cellar) while getting a new coach/system/team established and hope for the best. But maybe we spend longer than that in the cellar...maybe we never bounce back. Who knows?

All I know is that the fun and excitement that we had from 2006-2008 is gone. This program is on a downhill slide and fans (and most likely donors) are losing interest and patience. Either way you look at it, this program is in a BAD spot and there are some very tough decisions ahead.

I'll stop rambling now.

Very well said! But I do remember that this program went through a hideous period following their two NCAA Tournament appearances in three years after 1988. They eventually recovered from that and had a nice four year run under Coach Mo from 1994 to 1997, with a couple more NIT appearances afterwards. So even with a coaching change we can get back to more consistency, perhaps after a couple of shaky years. Or we could turn into Evansville and hope we are just good enough to make the CBI/CIT once every few years.

My point being that no matter who's coaching, we have been good before and we will be good again. But at this point in time the coaches, the players and the administration need to do a little soul searching to see how we clean this mess up. Hopefully it will be a quick rebound.

 

[Bravesfan]

Unless this current team rolls over and plays without any heart I would fall into this camp as well TAS.

Ditto from me. I will support whatever decision the adminstration makes and whomever is coaching here next year.

 

[Chico]

Always have, always will.

 

[BUfan14]

I am a huge JL supporter. I agree next year needs to be big, if we stay healthy, for JL to stay. I would love for that to happen and JL to be here in a successful program for a while. I think he does deserve one healthy year next year with SM and TB going out as seniors to decide his fate. Also I do not want to lose next year's class more than I have not wanted to lose any class in a while. I think this is the best recruiting class I can remember. This year I just want to stay in games and get better now.

Also someone said earlier TB will not get the extra year?? When was that decided?

 

[Braves4Life]

I think this is the best recruiting class I can remember.

I'm not sure it was as good as the 2007 Class of Jeremy Fears, De'Aaron Williams, Sam Maniscalco, Will Egolf, Rashad Austin, Cole-Scott, David Collins, and Anthony Thompson. That was supposed to be the class that carried BU to National prominence. There were even a few other better players like Byucks (sp) and one other (I believe) that never got here due to bad grades/testing.

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=876400

 

[Buesch N Chips]

My point being that no matter who's coaching, we have been good before and we will be good again.

When you think about it, the only time we have ever been "good" (in the modern era) is when we had players that wildly over-achieved and ended up in the NBA. JJ, Les, Hawk, Parker.

I'd love to see that happen every year, but the truth is, it historically is the exception more than the rule. I'm not sure it is fair to any coach to want them fired because they haven't done what has never been done before(win consistently at BU). Am I concerned with the way things are going? Yes. Has Les done any worse than any other recent BU coach? You could argue that he hasn't. Depending on which stats you choose you could either paint him as a horrific coach or a great one.

Right now, everyone is wounded, from the players to the staff to the fans. I sincerely hope the team does some things over the course of the season that make us feel good, rather than sick. That can start tomorrow.

 

[SaintLouBrave22]

I'm not sure it was as good as the 2007 Class of Jeremy Fears, De'Aaron Williams, Sam Maniscalco, Will Egolf, Rashad Austin, Cole-Scott, David Collins, and Anthony Thompson. That was supposed to be the class that carried BU to National prominence. There were even a few other better players like Byucks (sp) and one other (I believe) that never got here due to bad grades/testing.

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=876400

And this is where I say why I feel you can not rely on a Coach staying or leaving based on who is here and who we have heading in....

Do others fully believe this team will win 20+ and go 13-5 in conference next season? I am just not seeing that...not one bit...even in our best complete season under Les we finished 5th in conference...and have never finished higher than 4th...

So what is it in the track record that makes anyone believe that he will do remarkably better next season, especially given that Sammy will be coming off two surgeries and Taylor may or may not even be back and we lose Andrew...


How is it possible to even remotely assume better days?


I just don't see anything in the past to suggest we'll be any better than 10-8 and win around 17-18....and that's in prime conditions.

 

[AZ BU Fan]

Boy,
I bet Mo would have loved to have the current JL supporters in his corner back in early 2002. No worries then about losing top recruits if he was replaced with Jim Les!

Here is who Mo would have had on his team for the 2002-03 season if he hadn't been dumped...

Robinson 5'11"
Gilbert 6'3"
Gillingham 6'4"
Tucker 6'5"
Suggs 6'6"
Faulknor 6'7"
Granger 6'8"
Stewart 6'8"
Tisby 6'8"
Heemskerk 7'1"

Do you think Mo would have had a pretty good 2002-3 season if allowed to stay? Other than the NCAA Sweet 16 Team, nothing JL has had in his career would come close to this line up.

No excuses for Mo about having a young team in 2001-2 either...
Jason Faulknor Sophomore
Phillip Gilbert Sophomore
James Gillingham Sophomore
Danny Granger Freshman
Brandyn Heemskerk Freshman
Marcello Robinson Sophomore
Michael Stewart Freshman
Mike Suggs Freshman
Antoine Tisby Freshman
Joah Tucker Freshman

My how times have changed!
Molinari Fired as Bradley Coach
March 5, 2002
PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - Jim Molinari was fired as Bradley's basketball coach Tuesday after completing a 9-20 season in his 11th year with the Braves.
University president David Broski cited the team's 42-48 record during the three seasons he has been president. He said Bradley should regularly challenge for conference titles and NCAA tournament bids.
"I think we should be holding our teams to a higher standard than that," he said. "Basketball is very much a core part of our traditions and history, and I think we need to pay attention to it." Molinari, the dean of Missouri Valley Conference coaches, was not at Tuesday's news conference. Bradley ended its 2000-2001 season Saturday, losing to Southern Illinois 66-44 in the quarterfinals of the league tournament. Last year (1999-2000) the team was 19-12 and advanced to the NIT....

Hipocrisy with JL supporters who were Mo opponents?

I Double-Dog-Dare anyone to delete this post! :lol:

 

[ph]

And this is where I say why I feel you can not rely on a Coach staying or leaving based on who is here and who we have heading in....

Do others fully believe this team will win 20+ and go 13-5 in conference next season? I am just not seeing that...not one bit...even in our best complete season under Les we finished 5th in conference...and have never finished higher than 4th...

So what is it in the track record that makes anyone believe that he will do remarkably better next season, especially given that Sammy will be coming off two surgeries and Taylor may or may not even be back and we lose Andrew...


How is it possible to even remotely assume better days?


I just don't see anything in the past to suggest we'll be any better than 10-8 and win around 17-18....and that's in prime conditions.

Really, my main reason for thinking things might be different is JP.
My secondary reason for things being different is Platt and the improved devensive emphasis.
I'm also very excited about Remy, but all recruits are an unknown.

I do think I'd be more leaning against JL if TB had a 'normal' injury. But this was a new University policy that took TB from the team this year...

 

[SaintLouBrave22]

AZ-

You think Cross might want to read Broski's statement there about BU's tradition and history?

From what I have heard and been told, Cross wants to turn this into a soccer and lacrosse school!

 

[squirrelgotdead]

I'm not sure it was as good as the 2007 Class of Jeremy Fears, De'Aaron Williams, Sam Maniscalco, Will Egolf, Rashad Austin, Cole-Scott, David Collins, and Anthony Thompson. That was supposed to be the class that carried BU to National prominence. There were even a few other better players like Byucks (sp) and one other (I believe) that never got here due to bad grades/testing.

And all the more reason to either, A) not measure success by a guy's ability to recruit or B) look at the overall development of talent as a key component to the overall quality/body of work. And of all those top recruits you mention, Maniscalco is the standout.

 

[Beninator]

AZ-

You think Cross might want to read Broski's statement there about BU's tradition and history?

From what I have heard and been told, Cross wants to turn this into a soccer and lacrosse school!

If that is the case, then the entire administration would be run out of town by BU alumni. jmho

 

[SaintLouBrave22]

If that is the case, then the entire administration would be run out of town by BU alumni. jmho

Well, I can't exactly say I have a glorious outlook on the President...

She already rubbed me the wrong way when BU was gettin waxed at home, I believe it was a 12 pt margin and she's in the student section laughing it up on the big board and excited as though BU was up by 12...

That didn't sit very well with me or many I talked to after that.

 

[squirrelgotdead]

I honestly have no problem if BU wants to pursue Lacrosse.

It's the fastest growing NCAA sport in both genders. The nearest DI men's programs are Detroit Mercy and Ohio State.

It's probably safe to assume Big Ten schools won't be adding the sport near-term.

The sports participants boast the best graduation rates among NCAA-sponsored sports (1st for men's and 2nd for women's).

There is an opportunity for someone to start a program west of Lake Michigan and make a go of it.

I imagine Lacrosse in the suburbs is becoming much more popular and mainstream. Why not give them a great opportunity closer to home?

 

[SaintLouBrave22]

I honestly have no problem if BU wants to pursue Lacrosse.

It's the fastest growing NCAA sport in both genders. The nearest DI men's programs are Detroit Mercy and Ohio State.

It's probably safe to assume Big Ten schools won't be adding the sport near-term.

The sports participants boast the best graduation rates among NCAA-sponsored sports (1st for men's and 2nd for women's).

There is an opportunity for someone to start a program west of Lake Michigan and make a go of it.

I imagine Lacrosse in the suburbs is becoming much more popular and mainstream. Why not give them a great opportunity closer to home?

My point here was saying that they don't get that Bradley Basketball is their cash cow and they want to divert to other sports...

That's what I was getting at.

 

[squirrelgotdead]

Well, I can't exactly say I have a glorious outlook on the President...

She already rubbed me the wrong way when BU was gettin waxed at home, I believe it was a 12 pt margin and she's in the student section laughing it up on the big board and excited as though BU was up by 12...

That didn't sit very well with me or many I talked to after that.

Isn't a bit presumptuous to state "laughing it up...excited" was directed at the losing effort?

She has a camaraderie with the students and was having a good time during a timeout or band tune...not the losing.

I have no problem if the President wants to show enthusiasm for the program. She shows more enthusiasm for the program than 85% of the paying members, and as an administrator she gets criticized for it?

That's just really funny to me.

 

[BradleyBrave]

I honestly have no problem if BU wants to pursue Lacrosse.

It's the fastest growing NCAA sport in both genders. The nearest DI men's programs are Detroit Mercy and Ohio State.

It's probably safe to assume Big Ten schools won't be adding the sport near-term.

The sports participants boast the best graduation rates among NCAA-sponsored sports (1st for men's and 2nd for women's).

There is an opportunity for someone to start a program west of Lake Michigan and make a go of it.

I imagine Lacrosse in the suburbs is becoming much more popular and mainstream. Why not give them a great opportunity closer to home?

Lacrosse would be a HUGE pickup for the university IMO.

So would a real hockey program.

If we can't have football, let's add some of these sports.

I know, I know...much easier said than done. I don't know the numbers but I am guessing BU athletics is more likely to drop sports than add them.

 

[SaintLouBrave22]

I am a huge JL supporter. I agree next year needs to be big, if we stay healthy, for JL to stay. I would love for that to happen and JL to be here in a successful program for a while. I think he does deserve one healthy year next year with SM and TB going out as seniors to decide his fate. Also I do not want to lose next year's class more than I have not wanted to lose any class in a while. I think this is the best recruiting class I can remember. This year I just want to stay in games and get better now.

Also someone said earlier TB will not get the extra year?? When was that decided?

But the question is, do you want to get the recruits in and get a year out of them and start all over again after next year?

I think this is perfect timing as there are now less important players that can leave rather than if you do it the following year...

JMO

 

[squirrelgotdead]

My point here was saying that they don't get that Bradley Basketball is their cash cow and they want to divert to other sports...

That's what I was getting at.

I think they understand full well what the situation is. However, their hands have been tied by the previous administration in what they can do.

It could be argued Cross made a miscalculation with the PSO thing. But it was also largely mis-interpreted by too many "old guard."

The administration also full well realizes that Bradley benefits more overall when all of its programs are successful. Basketball WILL NOT be a sacrificial lamb. Anyone who speculates or honestly believes that need not worry.

They are looking at opportunities for positioning and long-term growth in a number of areas.