Wessler: Will Bradley players buy-in this season?

[Bravesfan]

I'm not pro or anti firing any coach. That's not MY concern. I'll leave that up to those that wield the sword.

With that said though its the coaches team be that JL, Weber or coach K and THAT person is responsible for all that goes on.

The coach recruited these guys...teaches them....hands out punishment......if guys aren't buying in its on the coach.

Well you just defeated your own argument dogsrus. If the coach did what he was supposed to do, that is teach them and handed out punishment, and the players didn't buy it, then how is that the coach's fault? It means that maybe he has a team of players that will just not get it no matter how hard he tries to teach and punish. It might make Les look bad on the recruiting end of things, rightfully or not, but sometimes players just don't pan out at the next level, and/or some just don't mature until after college.

But again, last year may just have been a team that was learning how to gel after coming off a year or two of injuries and many new players thrown into the mix. I obviously expect a lot more from this group this year and if things don't pan out, then these arguments can most certainly be revisited at a later time. But I'm getting way ahead of myself now. Let's get this season going so we can see how good this team can be!

 

[Bravesfan]

Haha, no, DR reports... KW does 'creative extrapolation.' I'm not saying it didn't happen, at all, but the only quote he gives is mild to say the least, and it's from a player who struggled last year(the stats were there, but the desire and intensity wasn't) and it is rumored he didn't like being outshined by SM and TB. He couldn't talk to any more players? In my high-school newspaper, I was sports editor and couldn't get away with that kind of speculation based on a single quote.

I'll give some credit to KW in regards to obtaining and elaborating on what AW said. It may not be the whole story, but at least we now know at least partially why this team played so erratically throughout last season.

Having said that though, yes, KW has to follow this up by talking to other players to get their take on what went on. And guess what? Many may have had completely different assessments of the team than AW had. So basically KW broke one of the cardinal rules that most in the media unfortunately do these days. He failed to obtain all sides[\i] of the story.

Perhaps there were some internal struggles, but maybe no more than any other team experiences, and maybe nothing that was that big of a deal. But we don't know that because KW stopped after obtaining perhaps the most negative comment from a player and running with it like it was fact! Maybe he even did talk to others and did not even bother to state what they said because there was nothing as "newsworthy" as AW stated. Of course we'll never know unless KW does run an objective follow-up piece in the future, which I highly doubt.

Ahhh, the art of media spin. You gotta love it!

 

[SFP]

Cut AW some slack guys! I like it that he called his team out. What's wrong with a guy stating what he feels. I bet they have talked about this face to face. If a player can't handle the truth then why bother. He did not call out any one player. Get this out of the way now and cut the cancer if there is one. Read the book From Good to Great. It say to be a great team you are either on the bus or off! There is no in between. The UNI team last year had everyone on their bus.

 

[AZ BU Fan]

AMC - perhaps you should submit your resume to the PJS? I heard KW is on the hot seat! :lol::lol:

Why is it every year I get fired up for BU basketball and then something screws it up!

To wit,
1. Several key players from last year are rumored to not start or even play in opening exhibition.....more injuries, discipline, or lack of effort already?

2. Top player airs dirty laundry to the media about teammates' efforts and lack of team work last year....why discuss this now instead of at the end of last year?

I am bummed out already and the season hasn't started yet. Fifth again? :badgrin:

 

[romar]

I actually think this is a good thing. Now the fans know we had a few selfish individuals on our team who, as I stated above, hopefully will be a lot more mature this year.

I think whether AW was right or wrong in making this statement in public, it probably takes a bit of pressure off of Les while he tries to accomplish what he is setting out to do this year, that is lead our team to a strong finish in the Valley. Whether some still believe that all of the responsibility for last year's performance falls on him is irrelevant at this point. Les still has a job whether people like it or not, and with a veteran team this year, now is the time to root him on towards a great season, not tear him apart. Hopefully everyone from the coaches on down to the players have learned from their past mistakes and have grown as a team. That's all that matters at this point.

Another interesting thought is that JL opted out of "rewarding" last years team with post season games in one of the alphabet soup tourneys because they were playing with their own agendas. If the scenario set out in this article is accurate, then JL was a stand up guy in taking the blame for the "mediocre" season last year and vowed to make this year different.

 

[ser_solace]

I think a lot of folks are reading too much into what Andrew said. There's nothing wrong with it in my opinion.

 

[lefty]

Cut AW some slack guys! I like it that he called his team out. What's wrong with a guy stating what he feels. I bet they have talked about this face to face. If a player can't handle the truth then why bother. He did not call out any one player. Get this out of the way now and cut the cancer if there is one. Read the book From Good to Great. It say to be a great team you are either on the bus or off! There is no in between. The UNI team last year had everyone on their bus.

actually the book says you get the wrong people off the bus and the right people on it.....which I think would be up to the coach....and if the coach is the issue then it's up to the AD and if the AD is the problem it's up to the Prez.
Now it's been a couple of years since reading the book so correct me here if I'm wrong Pete. I think this being brought up by AW should make the rest of the team sit up and take notice if the haven't already.

 

[Buesch N Chips]

I am bummed out already and the season hasn't started yet. Fifth again? :badgrin:

Unfortunately, I blame KW for the timing of both the "hot seat" article and this one. Things for this season are very optimistic, and this is twice now that KW has tried to poop on that parade with an article that is negative, or at least tends negative towards Les and his program. I'm not saying the articles aren't valid, but a better time to write about the hot seat would be the beginning of the off season, and a better time to write about team chemistry issues might be in that season, and not at the start of the next. Just my opinion.

 

[thefish7]

I guess for me I focused on AW's direct quote, which was him echoing what the coach is always saying-- they missed out some last year because they didn't play as a team. That's all AW is quoted as saying. KW said all the rest on his own, extrapolating the same things we all discuss here. In my way of thinking, KW ultimately spun the article to the positive by couching it in fix the "not a team" problem and this could be a very good team.

I don't think there's anything at all wrong with what AW said. Having re-read it a couple of times, KW did "get a lot out" of that quote in an editorial blog. I happen to agree with a lot of his conclusions, so the article didn't bother me...

 

[Buesch N Chips]

I guess for me I focused on AW's direct quote, which was him echoing what the coach is always saying-- they missed out some last year because they didn't play as a team. That's all AW is quoted as saying. KW said all the rest on his own, extrapolating the same things we all discuss here. In my way of thinking, KW ultimately spun the article to the positive by couching it in fix the "not a team" problem and this could be a very good team.

I don't think there's anything at all wrong with what AW said. Having re-read it a couple of times, KW did "get a lot out" of that quote in an editorial blog. I happen to agree with a lot of his conclusions, so the article didn't bother me...

I didn't disagree with anything said, just the timing of rehashing last year again as we sit on the precipice of a potentially special season.

 

[amckillip]

AMC - perhaps you should submit your resume to the PJS? I heard KW is on the hot seat! :lol::lol:

I had options... I almost went to Vanderbilt on a Sports Journalism scholarship, though they don't offer journalism... Point being, basic journalistic integrity would have demanded more of KW in his research.

 

[amckillip]

Cut AW some slack guys! I like it that he called his team out. What's wrong with a guy stating what he feels. I bet they have talked about this face to face. If a player can't handle the truth then why bother. He did not call out any one player. Get this out of the way now and cut the cancer if there is one. Read the book From Good to Great. It say to be a great team you are either on the bus or off! There is no in between. The UNI team last year had everyone on their bus.

I think the reason we're on AW (though we're really not to tough on him) is because from what I understand it is the pot calling the kettle black...

 

[amckillip]

2. Top player airs dirty laundry to the media about teammates' efforts and lack of team work last year....why discuss this now instead of at the end of last year?

I don't think he meant it to really 'air dirty laundry' but KW has a way of as I say 'extrapolating' things and making them larger than they are...

He gets away with it because it grows from a fact or quote, but look how much he fills in on every article.

 

[dogsrus]

Unfortunately, I blame KW for the timing of both the "hot seat" article and this one. Things for this season are very optimistic, and this is twice now that KW has tried to poop on that parade with an article that is negative, or at least tends negative towards Les and his program. I'm not saying the articles aren't valid, but a better time to write about the hot seat would be the beginning of the off season, and a better time to write about team chemistry issues might be in that season, and not at the start of the next. Just my opinion.

I don't think there is ever really a "good" time for articles like this.......no matter when you divulge this stuff its going to hurt some. The truth often does hurt. Besides if he JUST got the story/info how could the timing be bad....it is what it is. AGain KW as he said, is doing a piece on AW....this info gets divulged and its fairly significant and as a fan I'm sad about it but glad its out there.

I'm guesing/hoping the team has allready addressed this.....now as fans we decide how we feel about it and now we hope its behind them and this year will be different.

 

[dogsrus]

I had options... I almost went to Vanderbilt on a Sports Journalism scholarship, though they don't offer journalism... Point being, basic journalistic integrity would have demanded more of KW in his research.

Perhaps but can you imagine the outrage from the KW haters/anti PJStar crowd if he would have gone digging deeper?

He's doing a piece on AW. There is this "gem" of info that REALLY tells us alot about last years failures.

Now we take that info and decide.

 

[tornado]

I am confused -- we've been told for years that the players are off-limits and that the journalists do not have access to them
that's the excuse we've been hearing for years and years to cover the total lack of coverage..now we seem to have a 5th year senior undercutting his own team by revealing hot, secret info...
something just does not add up........could the reporter just have run with something that was drawn up, scripted and given to him?

 

[dogsrus]

I don't think he meant it to really 'air dirty laundry' but KW has a way of as I say 'extrapolating' things and making them larger than they are...

He gets away with it because it grows from a fact or quote, but look how much he fills in on every article.

But his "extrapolation" is basically exactly what everyone thinks/hopes for or assumes allready......IF everyone gets on board this team can be good. This team coulda have been good/better last year.

I'm glad I now know part of the reason and while ticked off about it excited that the potential to do better is there IF guys get on board.

 

[dogsrus]

I am confused -- ?

I don't think anyone will be surprised by that.....



The TEAM $crewed up....NOT KW.....place "blame" where it belongs and stop finding a scapegoat in the messenger.

He got a juicy tidbit...it hurts that our beloved Braves had some issues. They ain't perfect saints and now we just MIGHT have the answer to last years struggles. I wouldn't be surprised if this goes on at MOST Universities. Look at SIU...at least we didn't get all the defections.

And like another poster stated, it becomes possibly a little clearer why we didn't accept an EIEIO bid when many were trying to spin that reason last year.

In light of this info I think JL dropped the hammer and placed it directly on the teams back.

Now lets see who these guys are or can be...its on them.

Go BU.....

 

[DUBrave5]

actually the book says you get the wrong people off the bus and the right people on it.....which I think would be up to the coach....and if the coach is the issue then it's up to the AD and if the AD is the problem it's up to the Prez.
Now it's been a couple of years since reading the book so correct me here if I'm wrong Pete. I think this being brought up by AW should make the rest of the team sit up and take notice if the haven't already.

I loved that book but I think what it was really talking about was not only getting the wrong people off the bus and the right people on the bus, but also getting the right people in the right seats on the bus or in this case, every player knowing what their role is on the team in order to be successful.

I need to watch what I say, but I think everyone is reading too much into this article and it is not worth getting upset already about this upcoming season. Last year is last year, this year is this year. It is like the Jonathon Toews commercial, "Last season I won an Olympic Gold Medal, the Conn-Smythe MVP trophy, and a Stanley Cup...that was last season."

I don't know about you guys but I am still pumped for this upcoming season. Go Braves!

 

[MacabreMob]

First of all... I actually CLICKED the link and READ the article. :-o And I didn't really have a problem with any of it. :-o :-o :-o

How's that for all you jack-wagons? :lol:

But for filling in the missing names, I'll play along:

"When one guy (McCain?) won??™t commit to playing defense, and another (Roberts?) is worried about how many points he scores, and another (Taylor Brown?) starts thinking he doesn??™t have to abide by all the rules because he??™s irreplaceable, and another guy (Milos?) sits the bench wondering how the hell these talented slackers stay on the floor in front of him..."