I dont blame the coaching

[shaunguth]

I've stated there are 2 very basic schools of thought, and here they are:

1) Make the move now. You do this right, you might alienate a SMALL # of fans who are blinded by loyalty to the coach anyway, but you can bring in someone who can take advantage of some reasonable talent, contend for or win the league next year, and with a 96-team NCAA tournament threaten to win a couple games. You avoid any potential lame-duck messes in terms of losing valuable recruiting resources that go unspent, because there's no motivation. The right, winning hire brings that small # of fans back after a few years, too, BTW.

2) All eggs in one basket theory. You hold off because you believe the guy is the guy to get the job done and get the program rectified next year by winning the league and win an NCAA tourney game or two. If by midseason, these things don't seem likely, recruiting effectively stops.

I think it's clear if we hold off another year, and that if Wilkins goes elsewhere, we could be staring down the barrel of two terribly crippling recruiting years.

For some reason I thought there was another option.....

He's not the right guy for the job, but we'll give him another year.

That's the one that doesn't make much sense to me!

 

[shaunguth]

Maybe i missed something, is there a national power team in cedar falls ?
or is it just somebody having a good run, like we do from time to time,
or like most goo mid majors do from time to time

Agreed. Drake was really good a couple years ago and then what?

Some people think we should be more like Drake, because they won an MVC title. I'll repeat my opinion on this. I would rather be where we are every year than to EVER finish last in this crappy conference!

 

[shaunguth]

So now it would take a miracle to win at BU? Were Versace, Molinari, and Albeck miracle workers?

Tornado says we have as good of players as we have ever had. If so, why would it take a miracle worker to win?

Maybe not a "miracle", but would we be wrong to expect another Sweet 16 run by year 5?

 

[shaunguth]

I dont recall saying miserable, or no chance. I only said that we are a mid major and asked how we could expect a new coach to preform miracles. Jim Les in my opinion is a good coach.

His only major mistake that i have seen at this point has been not having a big inside player. If we had one that gave us 28 minutes, 14 pts and 8 rebounds by himself, I think we would be on top of the MVC and in the top 20

We need a BIG MAN !!!

I happen to agree with this and we had a big man that helped us to our most successful season in many years. I really do believe if POB stayed two more years, there would have been continued success and more than likely high-level recruits (including big men) coming in. However, he didn't stay and now our coach is terrible. Many believe POB leaving is just an excuse. I don't.

 

[Air Petey]

A: This is NOT a young team.
"seniors": 6th year, and one true senior CR
"juniors": AW of senior age, SM true junior
"sophomores": WE of junior age, AT of junior age, TB of junior age, and 2 true sophomores
freshmen: all are true freshmen

Notice our starting lineup ages are 3 juniors and 2 seniors. Hardly inexperienced or young. One of the first guys off the bench is a 6th year senior and the other yes is a freshmen but playing very well and cannot be made into an "excuse".


Young team in playing experience.

CR - 2nd year at BU.
AW - 3rd playing year - injury did set him back.
SM - 3rd year and very impressed.
TB - Soph and still learning.
WE - 2nd year because of injury.
SS - 6th year and still working hard to improve!!
Bench - We all know is young!

Young team in experience.

These players WILL be winners next year with JL...

 

[SFP]

I happen to agree with this and we had a big man that helped us to our most successful season in many years. I really do believe if POB stayed two more years, there would have been continued success and more than likely high-level recruits (including big men) coming in. However, he didn't stay and now our coach is terrible. Many believe POB leaving is just an excuse. I don't.

POB leaving early is what it is! Not recruiting a real 5, big man since then for whatever reason should not be excused IMO. POB leaving should not have effected us in that pursuit. We did pick up DC but he was not the answer and I'd have to think they were looking at AT to fill that gap. Since then, how many big men has the staff looked at? I have no idea. Every time I look at this board and recruits they seem to be wings or guards. IMO a true 5 is more important then a JW sighting on this campus. We have plenty coming back that can fill in the 1-4 position, but at the 5 there is a huge hole. Some say finding a true 5 is really hard for a school like BU. Well sometime you just have to out work everyone and find the diamond in the rough because you have to. We have to if we want to be a solid top 50 team. I'd have to think that every coach in college ball knows that you cannot win championships without a true big unless you have 2-3 solid NBA prospects that can shoot the ball and even then you better have a serviceable big that can hit the glass and dish out some punishment.

 

[shaunguth]

POB leaving early is what it is! Not recruiting a real 5, big man since then for whatever reason should not be excused IMO. POB leaving should not have effected us in that pursuit.

We'll just have to disagree. I still think POB leaving two years earlier than expected had a bigger impact than JL suddenly becoming a terrible coach.

 

[BradleyBrave]

Let's take a step back. It's clear that several folks on here think it's asking too much to contend for MVC titles because it's impossible to recruit to poor old Bradley in miserable little Peoria. Mind you no coach, not even the current one, has seemed to have a huge problem getting good players here, but clearly it's impossible and it's asking too much. Fine. But is it too much to ask to just win games at home? A 'yes' or 'no' answer is all I want, not excuses as to why things are the way they are. Is that really asking too much?

 

[BradleyBrave]

We'll just have to disagree. I still think POB leaving two years earlier than expected had a bigger impact than JL suddenly becoming a terrible coach.

If you're playing that card, then you have to say that it has just as much to do with him becoming a good one.

 

[shaunguth]

If you're playing that card, then you have to say that it has just as much to do with him becoming a good one.

Who was coach when he signed to play here? I thought the coach was responsible for the players. I guess those were all JL's recruits during the first three years, when the majority of his conference losses came. You know, the losses that get brought up all the time here.

I forgot, JL is only responsible when bad things happen. At least that's the way it seems around here most of the time.

I still believe my previous post that POB leaving had a bigger impact on the program than JL becoming a terrible coach. You obviously don't believe this. That's fine.

 

[SFP]

We'll just have to disagree. I still think POB leaving two years earlier than expected had a bigger impact than JL suddenly becoming a terrible coach.

POB leaving early had an effect on our win total for the next 2 years I will not disagree but recruiting another serviceable 5? Come on shaunguth. The guys manning the 5 even ZA who btw would have been a great back up 5 for POB has not been a bright spot for BU. ZA was also a 4 in reality IMO. It has been how many years and we are still using that as an excuse? We have been very average since then and the numbers for average have been supported numerous times. I am not blaming JL for his coaching abilities or the players we have recruited for their effort or abilities but on the lack of a man that loves the paint, can't hit the boards enough, loves to throw down a mean dunk and owns the paint. Recruiting bigs has been JL's only blemish IMO. That he can fix, but it needs to be a priority and going back to POB to me, just does not make sense. That was sweet history and it's sort of like Democrats still blaming Bush for everything. It does not hold water for anymore.

 

[Air Petey]

POB leaving early is what it is! Not recruiting a real 5, big man since then for whatever reason should not be excused IMO. POB leaving should not have effected us in that pursuit. We did pick up DC but he was not the answer and I'd have to think they were looking at AT to fill that gap. Since then, how many big men has the staff looked at? I have no idea. Every time I look at this board and recruits they seem to be wings or guards. IMO a true 5 is more important then a JW sighting on this campus. We have plenty coming back that can fill in the 1-4 position, but at the 5 there is a huge hole. Some say finding a true 5 is really hard for a school like BU. Well sometime you just have to out work everyone and find the diamond in the rough because you have to. We have to if we want to be a solid top 50 team. I'd have to think that every coach in college ball knows that you cannot win championships without a true big unless you have 2-3 solid NBA prospects that can shoot the ball and even then you better have a serviceable big that can hit the glass and dish out some punishment.

Be assured they are trying very hard to get a 5 man. I think everybody would agree - Recruiting a 5 is much tougher in a Mid-Major. The coaches know how important it is.... look at SS, and we all realize. I understand CU, WSU and UNI can do it..... but they are at a different level $$$ than we are. BU needs to step it up $$$ (it's a start with a new training facility) to compete on the same playing level.

 

[SFP]

Be assured they are trying very hard to get a 5 man. I think everybody would agree - Recruiting a 5 is much tougher in a Mid-Major. The coaches know how important it is.... look at SS, and we all realize. I understand CU, WSU and UNI can do it..... but they are at a different level $$$ than we are. BU needs to step it up $$$ (it's a start with a new training facility) to compete on the same playing level.

Well we have the facility taken care of! How much money does it cost to recruit a big compared to a guard??? Is it the ability for our coach to hop on a plane or maybe having a team of recruiters or paying off the AAU scum bags or all of the above? The fans need to know what the real process is so guys like me can understand and not harp on this we need a big man thing. What is BU's recruiting philosophy overall?

 

[shaunguth]

POB leaving early had an effect on our win total for the next 2 years I will not disagree but recruiting another serviceable 5? Come on shaunguth. The guys manning the 5 even ZA who btw would have been a great back up 5 for POB has not been a bright spot for BU. ZA was also a 4 in reality IMO. It has been how many years and we are still using that as an excuse? We have been very average since then and the numbers for average have been supported numerous times. I am not blaming JL for his coaching abilities or the players we have recruited for their effort or abilities but on the lack of a man that loves the paint, can't hit the boards enough, loves to throw down a mean dunk and owns the paint. Recruiting bigs has been JL's only blemish IMO. That he can fix, but it needs to be a priority and going back to POB to me, just does not make sense. That was sweet history and it's sort of like Democrats still blaming Bush for everything. It does not hold water for anymore.

But the 33 losses in JL's first three years holds water? Those losses seem to get brought up more than anything good JL has ever done.

 

[Beninator]

Well we have the facility taken care of! How much money does it cost to recruit a big compared to a guard??? Is it the ability for our coach to hop on a plane or maybe having a team of recruiters or paying off the AAU scum bags or all of the above? The fans need to know what the real process is so guys like me can understand and not harp on this we need a big man thing. What is BU's recruiting philosophy overall?

If you only consider the competition and time utilized to go after a big then the cost for going after a big is already more costly...

 

[SFP]

But the 33 losses in JL's first three years holds water? Those losses seem to get brought up more than anything good JL has ever done.

There are those that anything JL does regardless is not good enough and those are in the minority, who will twist any stat for their pleasure and discount the sweet 16 run. I'm not one of those but am pointing out that without a big we will be average and I believe this run of being average will not hold off the crowd from demanding change that much longer. I believe with one recruit and a bit of luck with players staying healthy JL can get this program back to where we all believe is our rightful place. We do not need a 5 star recruit but a serviceable big man! That to me is very achievable and if not..........there are others who may have better luck!

 

[Bradleyguy10]

A: This is NOT a young team.
"seniors": 6th year, and one true senior CR
"juniors": AW of senior age, SM true junior
"sophomores": WE of junior age, AT of junior age, TB of junior age, and 2 true sophomores
freshmen: all are true freshmen

Notice our starting lineup ages are 3 juniors and 2 seniors. Hardly inexperienced or young. One of the first guys off the bench is a 6th year senior and the other yes is a freshmen but playing very well and cannot be made into an "excuse".


Young team in playing experience.

CR - 2nd year at BU.
AW - 3rd playing year - injury did set him back.
SM - 3rd year and very impressed.
TB - Soph and still learning.
WE - 2nd year because of injury.
SS - 6th year and still working hard to improve!!
Bench - We all know is young!

Young team in experience.

These players WILL be winners next year with JL...

Experience is experience whether you are sitting on the bench or healed from a medical redshirt and practicing/working out. Plenty have had years of practicing basketball...we are not an inexperienced team. But I think you have a fair point and won't differ from it but I won't from mine either...I think this year will still qualify as "experience" for AT eventho he hasn't played so why shouldn't the redshirt years for everyone else..medical or otherwise?

 

[Future Walk-On]

I am a little late getting here...but I did skim all 14 pages....

This is what I got out of Air Petey's first post.

"You guys know nothing. You poor middle class fans are worthless. Have fun sitting in the "upper bowl." I bet you couldn't get into the chief's club because you are not good enough. Stop saying things on this board because no one cares. I am rich, therefore I mean more to the program than all of you."

I take this as offensive. I don't deserve to follow and actively enjoy or get frustrated with my universities basketball team because I don't donate $$$. That is ridiculous.

Someone interpret this differently.

PS I probably work for you Mr. Pete...but your tone does make you sound somewhat childish...so I can't determine your age.

I still think the team has potential. I want to talk about whatever is brought up on this board, whether JW is a no show or JL is our coach for the next 300 years.

 

[Braves2011]

I agree with the money part that the university needs more money to be successful. With more money means the possibility of gettting better assistant coaches. I think that we are in a sense recruiting the wrong guys or we just arent getting the full potential out of them.... My next thing is when you bring a high time recruit such as Iman Schumpet it would be nice to have a football team to help sell the school in aspect. If I were a recruit I would be looking for playing time, which you can get at Bradley but yet have a football team would help big time. I know a football may not be the #1 thing in helping get recruits but would you rather go to a lame soccer game or go to a football game which is alot more exciting than soccer. I know a football team may never happen at Bradley again.

Also I've also been wondering myself we did have a football team at one point. did we cut the program due to NCAA violations or lack of funding back then?????

 

[Da Coach]

....
Also I've also been wondering myself we did have a football team at one point. did we cut the program due to NCAA violations or lack of funding back then?????

Bradley abandoned football after the Fall, 1970 season. The last 10 years of football were at a very low level of competetion. Bradley played at the Peoria Stadium on War Memorial Drive. The average attendance for games in the last few years was often 100-200 or less.

The program was dropped for many reasons, mostly it was the cost, but lack of success and lack of interest also played a part. It was increasingly costly to equip the team with the rising cost of safe equipment, and travel costs were high. I suspect insurance costs were also increasing. Bradley did not have a stadium, and it was cost-prohibitive to build one. The Peoria Stadium was falling into disrepair, and not a suitable place to play. And Title IX was on the horizon (instituted in 1972) that would have made it impossible for BU to maintain a football team without cancelling other men's teams, or creating many new women's sports that nobody cared about. maybe others can recall other reasons, but it was the right thing to do at the time to insure that the basketball team could continue to play at the highest level.