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Coach Les

dogsrus said:
S...I don't think anyone is "discounting" the season....just putting it into context regarding the topic.

It was a good season with a pretty terrific ending.......some would rather trade that ONE season, alphabet tourneys, middle of the pack Valley for multiple bids...tourney championships....valley titles/finals...and MVC top finishes thats all.
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Right.....and some also point out his sub-.500 record in Valley games, most of which happened BEFORE the distant memory of the Sweet 16.
 
I always figured it was Les' cockiness as a player and coach and the fact that he's the coach of Bradley that causes the rest in the Valley to despise him. But I can't figure out why so many Bradley "fans" hate the guy and always look for a reason to put him down. And, before all the "haters" start spewing their cockamamie reasons, let me just say save your breath. I'm just gonna think anything you say is horse$4!t anyway.
 
shaunguth said:
Right.....and some also point out his sub-.500 record in Valley games, most of which happened BEFORE the distant memory of the Sweet 16.
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Hey...the thread was started talking about Dana's first 7 seasons compared to JL's...so his first few years are fair game. If we want to compare the year each had their first winning season, the comparison doesn't work out favorably either. I have no idea why people still want to make this comparison, as all it does is fuel people to look at what the gold standard of success in our league is, and see how far we are from it.

What's funny is that JL is the last person that would ever make excuses or say that those first few years were acceptable.
 
BradleyBrave said:
What's funny is that JL is the last person that would ever make excuses or say that those first few years were acceptable.
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That's why I personally believe he is still the right guy! I bet he is also not satisfied where the program is right now but is optimistic where it is heading and the potential that is now in place.
 
BradleyBrave said:
Hey...the thread was started talking about Dana's first 7 seasons compared to JL's...so his first few years are fair game. If we want to compare the year each had their first winning season, the comparison doesn't work out favorably either. I have no idea why people still want to make this comparison, as all it does is fuel people to look at what the gold standard of success in our league is, and see how far we are from it.

What's funny is that JL is the last person that would ever make excuses or say that those first few years were acceptable.
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I also hope he wouldn't expect us to push aside the most successful season Bradley has had in a good number of years.

I'm just saying that many people seem to "ignore" or chalk up the Sweet 16 as just a fluke or whatever else they may think of it. Those same people are probably just as quick to point out JL's sub-.500 conference record, without pointing out more than half of those losses came in the years even more distant than that Sweet 16.
 
SFP said:
That's why I personally believe he is still the right guy! I bet he is also not satisfied where the program is right now but is optimistic where it is heading and the potential that is now in place.
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I would certainly hope any head coach would not be "satisfied where the program is right now" when the team hasn't finished in the top 3 in the Valley. It's time to start looking for a new coach whenever/wherever that happens.
 
Braves4Life said:
I always figured it was Les' cockiness as a player and coach and the fact that he's the coach of Bradley that causes the rest in the Valley to despise him. But I can't figure out why so many Bradley "fans" hate the guy and always look for a reason to put him down. And, before all the "haters" start spewing their cockamamie reasons, let me just say save your breath. I'm just gonna think anything you say is horse$4!t anyway.
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Hate is such a strong word and I can assure you its something I wouldn't even use for ISU fans, players or coaches.:)

Again....start at the threads begining and take the corresponding information in the context it is being used in.

No one in this thread HATES Jim Les. IF I hated the guy I wouldn't have the guts to shake his hand and wish him luck like I did at the Vegas send off party like I did the other nite.

I wouldn't follow his team from Illinois to California through Texas and back to Vegas like I (we) do.

We are simply saying this program under JL has been mostly mediocre to just above mediocre because of a terrific Sweet 16 run. Some simply want more, as far as Wins go, then middle of the Valley, Alphabet tourney's, etc.

We are pulling for him and the team to take that next step...I think he can do it but the proof will be in the puddding..... i.e., results.

Hate.....I don't think so. Its NOT in my vocabulary when it comes to things so realtively meaningless as sports.
 
Braves4Life said:
I always figured it was Les' cockiness as a player and coach and the fact that he's the coach of Bradley that causes the rest in the Valley to despise him. But I can't figure out why so many Bradley "fans" hate the guy and always look for a reason to put him down. And, before all the "haters" start spewing their cockamamie reasons, let me just say save your breath. I'm just gonna think anything you say is horse$4!t anyway.
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Classy. I'm not getting that fans hate him, just that they want more and 2006 showed that more can be obtained. I do not believe one has to be a "hater" to expect more from their program. Are you happy with an overall record of 129-106, and Valley finishes, etc.? Is the program heading in the right direction? Hopefully. Put the Kool Aid down and take a look at where we are. I am not saying fire the guy, but I expect more from this program. Hopefully, this weekend in Vegas has everyone :D
 
shaunguth said:
I also hope he wouldn't expect us to push aside the most successful season Bradley has had in a good number of years.

I'm just saying that many people seem to "ignore" or chalk up the Sweet 16 as just a fluke or whatever else they may think of it. Those same people are probably just as quick to point out JL's sub-.500 conference record, without pointing out more than half of those losses came in the years even more distant than that Sweet 16.
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There's no pushing it aside. It was the most successful season since '96, but let's call a spade a spade - it was a pretty frustrating 2/3 of the season, and a magical late season/postseason. However, each year we don't go back to the NCAA's it looks more and more like a fluke than the beginning of something special for this program. Even if you only look at the overall record, conference record, and conference finishes since the Sweet 16 on up to now, we're a slightly above-average team and program. Comparing us favorably to a program like Creighton, who regularly beats us, finishes above us, and has been to the tournament 6 more times in the last 11 years than we have is downright silly.
 
SFP said:
I bet he is also not satisfied where the program is right now but is optimistic where it is heading and the potential that is now in place.
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And thats EXACTLY how many very good BU fans feel yet we are admonished and scolded for those feelings.....
 
BradleyBrave said:
There's no pushing it aside. It was the most successful season since '96, but let's call a spade a spade - it was a pretty frustrating 2/3 of the season, and a magical late season/postseason. However, each year we don't go back to the NCAA's it looks more and more like a fluke than the beginning of something special for this program. Even if you only look at the overall record, conference record, and conference finishes since the Sweet 16 on up to now, we're a slightly above-average team and program. Comparing us favorably to a program like Creighton, who regularly beats us, finishes above us, and has been to the tournament 6 more times in the last 11 years than we have is downright silly.
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Hater.....:)
 
I don't despise him. I don't hate him. I don't think he is a bad coach (I think he is a young coach still learning which has equated to inconsistency and mediocrity). I just have had higher expectations than what the results have been in the league. He stood up when he was hired and said he would bring BU basketball back to consistent national prominence (or something to that effect). The one Sweet 16 was great, but never finishing above 4th place in the league over 7 years seems to offset that in some way. National prominence was found and earned for 2 games and it was great (the season was actually quite a struggle), but it was quickly lost with 4th-6th place finishes and the "leftover" postseason tourneys.

I want him to succeed and I think he is set up to do so in the next few years (especially if we get Wilkins), but if the results are still 4th place finishes or worse then I would like to try someone else. Even if he does not succeed in the next 3 years, I will still not despise or hate him--that is just wrong. I will, however, consider him a mediocre coach, which is what he is in my opinion right now until proven otherwise. That's my stance. We'll see what happens.
 
georgethedog said:
I don't despise him. I don't hate him. I don't think he is a bad coach (I think he is a young coach still learning which has equated to inconsistency and mediocrity). I just have had higher expectations than what the results have been in the league. He stood up when he was hired and said he would bring BU basketball back to consistent national prominence (or something to that effect). The one Sweet 16 was great, but never finishing above 4th place in the league over 7 years seems to offset that in some way. National prominence was found and earned for 2 games and it was great (the season was actually quite a struggle), but it was quickly lost with 4th-6th place finishes and the "leftover" postseason tourneys.

I want him to succeed and I think he is set up to do so in the next few years (especially if we get Wilkins), but if the results are still 4th place finishes or worse then I would like to try someone else. Even if he does not succeed in the next 3 years, I will still not despise or hate him--that is just wrong. I will, however, consider him a mediocre coach, which is what he is in my opinion right now until proven otherwise. That's my stance. We'll see what happens.
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I respect your opinion george:)
 
Some people get frustrated with JL cause when he got the job he pretty boldly said he'd get BU back on top...with the exception of the miracle run in the NCAA's, there hasn't been a lot to get real excited about...Every year every recruit is going to put BU back on top...This gets frustrating when this doesn't happen...It has nothing to do with the person, has everything to do with wanting success...

What is funny, is Mo was treated the same way as JL has been by some as JL's BU progress has stalled. My guess is some of JL faithful were calling for Mo to go, and, probably exhibited some of the same "hate" re Mo they are now claiming is being focused on JL...

Just win baby....Next two years should be the defining years for JL's BU program, no more excuses, no more waiting!
 
To be "Politically Correct"... the venom in this thread is from what I call "Tornado-Hate"... But it is best to call it "Tornado-Dislike". :roll: :lol:
 
I for one liked Mo and thought we pulled the plug to early. He ran a clean respectful program. JL is much of the same with a bit more of an upside.
 
I really think it's put up or shut up time for JL. I love the guy but there needs to be results over the next few years or a change should be made.
 
FutureBrave2013 said:
I really think it's put up or shut up time for JL. I love the guy but there needs to be results over the next few years or a change should be made.
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Oh really! I believe as much as you think this I'm glad you do not have the capability to change or really influence what happens to JL after this season. There are some real fat cats along with Glasser that will determine if anything would be considered if this team tanked it. Have a little bit of respect. I'm glad BU is not an institution of what have you done for me now.
 
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