BU could maybe try CBI
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/030908/BRA_BG0CBH37.080.php
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/030908/BRA_BG0CBH37.080.php
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Dave Reynolds 3/9
- Thread starter Da Coach
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Lakeview Brave
New member
Jim Les quote in the article
"To me, a lot of things were built. I look at the development of Sammy Maniscalco, Theron Wilson and Rashad Austin. They were thrust into roles and forced to play heavy minutes on the fly. And boy, they responded. That's bright for our future".
I agree that Sammy getting to play alot this year will help us next year but I dont think that Austin and Wilson were thrust into roles and forced to play minutes. If anything I thought Austin would have played more this year then he did. If Austin and Wilson werent supposed to play those minutes who was?
"To me, a lot of things were built. I look at the development of Sammy Maniscalco, Theron Wilson and Rashad Austin. They were thrust into roles and forced to play heavy minutes on the fly. And boy, they responded. That's bright for our future".
I agree that Sammy getting to play alot this year will help us next year but I dont think that Austin and Wilson were thrust into roles and forced to play minutes. If anything I thought Austin would have played more this year then he did. If Austin and Wilson werent supposed to play those minutes who was?
BradleyBrave
New member
I agree with Jim on the development of Sammy, and AW being one of the top sophomores in a league with some great sophomores. I find the comment about TW and RA a litte curious though. Our JUCO's were recruited to be immediate contributors and supplement our core of JC, DR, and AW. Perhaps Jim was referring to guys like TW and RA having to shoulder a bigger load early on in conference because DR was hurt.
I'm setting the bar high for next year, and from Jim's comments, it sounds like he is too.
I'd love to see BU get the chance to participate in this too. All the reasons Les gave in the article are spot on. More experience will make this team that much better next year. And we certainly are capable of making a run in this tourney if we get some home games and some good matchups.
Now to the two morons who posted below the article that Les should be replaced next year, I only have one thing to ask: What are you two smoking?! I guess that means Chris Lowery and Dana Altman should be replaced because they failed to live up to expectations. This shows that no team has a God given right to the NCAA Tournament unless they win enough games. And while it was a down year for the traditional powers in the Valley, two other teams stepped up and did what they needed to do to earn at-large bids, as Drake and ISU are expected to irregardless of the outcome of today's championship game.
But I guess Les, Altman and Lowery now have all of the sudden forgotten how to coach. And the last type of "fans" I expected to act like this are so-called Bradley "fans" like these two "Einsteins"! Unbelievable!
Lakeview Brave
New member
While I DONT think Les should be replaced you cant be serious in comparing him to Dana and Lowery. This is a down year for both of them and they still did better than us. Altman and to a lesser extent Lowery have earned an off year from the NCAA while thier programs reload playing in the NIT. A few years ago people were posting Altmans record after 1 year then 2 years and 3 years and comparing it to Les. Anyone want to do that after 6 years?
I agree and if we had POB the last 2 years we would be singing a different tune. One player can make a big difference.
I never said Les has accomplished what Altman and Lowery have. I'm just saying that you don't fire a coach two years removed from a Sweet Sixteen appearance. I was just using Altman and Lowery to emphasize my point.
I agree if Bradley has a couple more seasons like this one, THEN maybe you could justify possibly looking into bringing someone else here. But even then, all options would have to be weighed as to whether all available candidates would be better than what we have, and if it would be worth Bradley going through another extended rebuilding period, AGAIN.
And besides, you can't fault Les for what happened this year with all of the injuries and distractions. He did what he could with what he had, and the only thing I can say is for Les to try to secure better recruits, while hoping he will have some better luck than he did last year. Unfortunately, it is sometimes out of the hands of the coach as to where potential recruits ultimately end up. And that adds up to a year of bad luck like we just had.
Hopefully things will be better next year.
Lakeview Brave
New member
Not having a true post player since POB is the problem not that fact that he left. Would you have given up the sweet 16 for him to stay 1 more year or maybe 2?
I thought about that so that is an excellent question and maybe deserving a thread to itself. Yes we have been missing a true strong post player the last two years and if POB stayed (the only way that happens is no Sweet 16) than I'd have to say 50-50 because with him this year and last we'd have made a run for the top 10 and greater national recognition which could help us bring in better recruits. Who really knows??????
BradleyBrave
New member
We can play the 'if' game until the cows come home. If people got credit for 'ifs', Barry Hinson would still have a job.
The Les v Altman/Lowery thing is just stupid. Jim's record pales in comparison to both of theirs, and there's no if's, and's, or but's about it. SIU had stud recruits bail on them last-minute in the past, and Altman had an all-american miss an entire season, and a top recruit miss an entire season. They both sustained greater offseason losses than we did, yet still finished ahead of us. I'm not advocating a coaching change, but fans have every right to complain about a disappointing season that saw as many off-the-court problems as on-the-court problems.
Lakeview Brave
New member
For the long term of the program it may have been better for us to beat Kansas and lose to Pitt. Had Aaron Gray outplayed POB that night then POB might not have been a lottery pick and he might have stayed. Last years team would have been ranked nationaly and top recruits especially guards wanted to play with POB. If POB stays then we wouldnt have gone to the sweet 16..Its a Paradox
Okay, we'll agree to disagree.
Again, it was not the record I was talking about. It was the fact that some are calling for his job just two years removed from the Sweet Sixteen. Obviously if we have another season or two like this, we debate whether to start the "Fire Les" thread to replace the "Fire Hinson" thread.
But let's remember this. It is not easy for a program to send teams to the tournament almost every year the way Creighton, SIU, Winthrop and Gonzaga do, especially when there are only so many slots within a conference for teams to do just that. I agree this could have been a year in which Bradley overtook SIU and/or Creighton, but it didn't happen. We had more bad luck than anything else, and even the best coaches go through years like this. We'll be back, and it may be sooner than many think it will happen. Let's just give Les a chance to show what he can do, and in the long run if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. That's life!
This is a situation that usually does not occur at this level, but it did to us, and just chalk it up to bad luck.
The next time a POB type player plays for us, Bradley will make sure to develop him much slower!
Lakeview Brave
New member
Okay, we'll agree to disagree.
Again, it was not the record I was talking about. It was the fact that some are calling for his job just two years removed from the Sweet Sixteen. Obviously if we have another season or two like this, we debate whether to start the "Fire Les" thread to replace the "Fire Hinson" thread.
But let's remember this. It is not easy for a program to send teams to the tournament almost every year the way Creighton, SIU, Winthrop and Gonzaga do, especially when there are only so many slots within a conference for teams to do just that. I agree this could have been a year in which Bradley overtook SIU and/or Creighton, but it didn't happen. We had more bad luck than anything else, and even the best coaches go through years like this. We'll be back, and it may be sooner than many think it will happen. Let's just give Les a chance to show what he can do, and in the long run if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. That's life!
I just wonder how long "the long run" is? Even the sweet 16 season was not a great one. Yes we snuck into the tournament and had two amazing wins but that team (the real most talented team in the last 20 years) only finished 5th in conference. How many seasons of finishing outside the top 3 is acceptable? If we finish top three every year and in the good years win the valley and/or the Arch Madness then in the off years finish 4 (Like Creighton/SIU) then thats a great mid major program regardless of NCAA wins.
BradleyBrave
New member
Okay, we'll agree to disagree.
Again, it was not the record I was talking about. It was the fact that some are calling for his job just two years removed from the Sweet Sixteen. Obviously if we have another season or two like this, we debate whether to start the "Fire Les" thread to replace the "Fire Hinson" thread.
But let's remember this. It is not easy for a program to send teams to the tournament almost every year the way Creighton, SIU, Winthrop and Gonzaga do, especially when there are only so many slots within a conference for teams to do just that. I agree this could have been a year in which Bradley overtook SIU and/or Creighton, but it didn't happen. We had more bad luck than anything else, and even the best coaches go through years like this. We'll be back, and it may be sooner than many think it will happen. Let's just give Les a chance to show what he can do, and in the long run if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. That's life!
While the 2006 run was great, it's hard for me to say that 2 NCAA wins in 6 seasons make up for 6 games under .500 in-conference, and 3-6 in the conference tournament in 6 seasons. I don't expect an NCAA appearance every year, but I do expect a program with our tradition and support to contend for a league title every 2-3 years, which in turn should have us in contention for an NCAA bid as well.
Next year is a big year for this program under this leadership. 20+ wins and conference title contention and this thing is heading upward. Another .500 year in conference and it isn't. We'll be 3 years removed from Sweet 16 run and on the cusp of a large roster turnover (TCS, Collins, Austin, Singh, Wilson). If BU isn't contending next year in a depleted MVC, I think it's time reassess the program as a whole.
Rocky Mountain Thunder
New member
For those who think Jim Les should be dismissed...you are nuts. Does anyone remember Molinari? Our program was barely an after thought under his direction. How long did we stick with him as a coach of a proud basketball tradition?
We have a coach today who is deeply attached to Bradley and will work diligently to take us back to the top. JL is a smart guy and knows how to win as an under dog. He has done so his entire life. Do not forget...we are upgrading our basketball facilities at the expense of the Field House. This too will draw more quality recruits.
Noting the "turnstyle" of coachs who have traveled through the MVC in recent years; I am glad JL is our guy.
BradleyBrave
New member
I haven't seen one person suggest that JL be replaced. They're just saying his record isn't that good compared to his peers, and they'd like it to be better. If it doesn't get better, eventually he will be replaced.
FWIW - That 'afterthought' of a program under Jim Molinari won more conference titles, had better conference finishes, won more COY awards, won more conference tournament games, had more postseason apperances, and won more postseason games than this one has through 6 years. It also had recruited 2 all-conference players and an NBA player (Danny Granger) when that era was brought to an end. I'm not quite sure we were an 'afterthought'.
VeveJones007
New member
I like Les and I think he's a good coach. I just want him to get his players to buy into defense more. I think sometimes the players get so focused on scoring the basketball in our offense that they forget that the other end is just as important. I felt our run to the Sweet 16 was a lot about our guys really settling in defensively more than anything else.