Wheres the Leadership

[Out of Bounce]

Sorry, but I can't agree. I don't think yesterday's game or any game this season would have been better by having a different set of team captains. Bradley just played a bad game, was hurt by having 2 of their key players out, and lost to a superior team.

Bad second half please! I am not just talking just yesterdays game. I am looking at the season. Maybe I miss understood but I think JL is calling out for leadership from his seasoned/veteran players and I agree! Yes we lost to a superior team but as JL and I agree with him its how we played (did not play) the second half and the lack of leadership we needed and no one stepped up. As for your hurt player song, save it please. I don't hear it coming from JL, the coach's or the players, their not looking for excuses! Like JL said this morning he is looking for leadership

But Sam S. had about the worst game of anyone yesterday, so what good would having him as a captain have done? The other 2 seniors, Collins and Wilson did step up and play well. IMO, they are about the only 2 that did.

I am not sure SS had the worst game of anyone yesterday, the other Sam did not do to good. I would say he had his worst game of the year! I do not point the finger at one player ( who played 11 mins.) with no points,3 rebounds, one block and one steal for yesterday's lost. Your getting off track anyway but blame SS if you want. I agree with Wilson playing well,but besides the points, DC was DC, (22 mins. 2 rebounds and NO D.) Bottom line is we did not come out the second half with the intensity that we showed in the first half and need for 40 mins. to stay with or win against a good team and coach like MS & Tom Izzo. I would hope you would agree with that

[Out of Bounce]

Sam Singh may not have had the best of games yesterday, but he was the only center that we had yesterday who could actually set a pick. DC had a decent game yesterday, but when it comes to setting a pick to help free a teammate, DC is clueless.. I used this example as I believe that Sam Singh has a presence on this team and this team would have benefited from his leadership. As we all know, Singh has been through the ups and downs with this program. SamM is a leader and I have no problem with him as a captain, but SamM and Dodie have not been through the trenches of division 1 basketball at Bradley to the degree that SS has experienced.... I also believe that SS has been a mentor to a couple of the younger players as well.

I totally agree Benni. The one guy SS has mentored and talked openly and highly of is WE. A quote from SS before the season started: WE is the MOST IMPROVED PLAYER on the team and is ready to play

[braves12]

I am not sure why the emphasis is on the captains this year. BU has had problems with intensity in various games for quite a few years now. During that time, BU has had many different captains. Maybe it is another reason.

[amckillip]

PRACTICE IS PRACTICE (as A.I. would say)


PRACTICE does not win you games AND as evident (w/ Collins), practice may not even make you a better player...



Please, play the players that SHOULD be playing...not the ones that turn it on just in practice to get minutes and then stink up the floor once they get into actual games...


Don't turn this into a Reggie Hall situation!


I've had about enough of watching those type of players earn minutes that they quickly squander in real games.


Taylor Brown plays little minutes in games, but fills the stat sheet, while David Collins at 7 feet tall can't even manage to get more than 2-3 rebounds...


Just please...stop using the "practice means everything" excuse...


I can't speak for everyone, but I know I have had enough of it!

I question whether you have ever been part of a successful team or group. Not a single one I have been a part of has just turned it on when we were in the spotlight and won. It has required lots of hard-work and dedication behind the scenes. Look at the great players throughout history, the Birds, the MJ's, etc. You never hear them say 'Practice is Practice' ask anyone who was spent the most time on the practice court at InSU when bird was there. The guy who needed it the most. Really quoting AI is about the worst thing you could do to add validity to your arguement. He is considered by many to be a team-killer, is a ball hog, and has won as many NBA championships as I have. Go find me a quote from anyone who has multiple rings (or even one really) that says 'Practice is Practice.'

Whats the point of practice if the person with the most natural skill gets put out on the court, rather than the one who is learning and working with the team? If that's what you want go watch the And1 Mix-tapes...

[real fan]

The 2 Sam"s just had bad games yesterday but have contributed a lot so far this season; I just don"t see how D.Collins gets so many minutes when the only thing he does is shoot the basketball.( his defense is horrible as is his rebounding) we need a better option if BU plans on winning the Valley.

[ph]

I am not sure why the emphasis is on the captains this year. BU has had problems with intensity in various games for quite a few years now. During that time, BU has had many different captains. Maybe it is another reason.

Great point!
"Stuck on a number" is also not a new call by Snell. Happens too much every year, even when we had "better" go to guys...

[Beninator]

The 2 Sam"s just had bad games yesterday but have contributed a lot so far this season; I just don"t see how D.Collins gets so many minutes when the only thing he does is shoot the basketball.( his defense is horrible as is his rebounding) we need a better option if BU plans on winning the Valley.

I have been a DC basher, but all things considered, I thought DC had a decent game yesterday. I could be wrong, but I see JL easing AT into the plan as far as minutes go which if so, I think is the right thing to do.

[numbr_9]

I thought DC played a solid game yesterday, too. He didnt' get the ball very much inside. Hard to score as a big man when the ball just gets woven around the perimeter. His defense wasn't great, but it wasn't as terrible as some here would lead us to believe. He's asked to do a lot, and when teams pass well aroudn him in the zone, its difficult for him - or anybody - to stop it.

I still want to see what Collins can do with another big man in. In games where we miss a dozen 3s in a row, id like to see the coaching staff mix it up a little more and maybe go with 2 traditional bigs, 1 "4" (although i consider TW a true 3) and a couple guards.

[thefish7]

I also thought DC played fine. He was very active, and his defense wasn't awful (nor was it great). His offense was pretty good, though I found myself wishing he went at the basket a couple of times when he instead played for a hook shot. I would also like to see him playing at the same time as another true big, and I would also like to see the guards looking inside a bit more when DC is in the game (though his hands are pretty suspect).

[BuBraves55]

Leadership doesn't just pertain to players....


It also pertains to the coaching staff....


After watching Thompson only play the last 3 minutes of the game, I feel like I was lied to...


After watching Collins, who has been nonexistent for quite awhile get a start and play loads of minutes, I feel like I was lied to....not only that, in his case, I feel like I was let down by the entire staff as this kid has no business getting the bulk of minutes, no matter how well he plays in practice...


Sam Maniscalco should have sat and watched for quite some time in the 2nd half given his play...


Sam Singh should have sat immediately after losing his man in the zone for a dunk...


Maybe Taylor Brown sits because he doesn't give effort 100% of the time the entire practice...


Where is the accountability in GAMES Coach Les?!


PRACTICE IS PRACTICE (as A.I. would say)


PRACTICE does not win you games AND as evident (w/ Collins), practice may not even make you a better player...



Please, play the players that SHOULD be playing...not the ones that turn it on just in practice to get minutes and then stink up the floor once they get into actual games...


Don't turn this into a Reggie Hall situation!


I've had about enough of watching those type of players earn minutes that they quickly squander in real games.


Taylor Brown plays little minutes in games, but fills the stat sheet, while David Collins at 7 feet tall can't even manage to get more than 2-3 rebounds...


Just please...stop using the "practice means everything" excuse...


I can't speak for everyone, but I know I have had enough of it!

i agree totally, practices are important don't get me wrong but it should be common sense that thompson and brown should be playing more with will out

[Da Coach]

Too much to reply to, but some of these criticisms are off base.
We could have these mental exercises after every game, break down every play, and nit-pick about every thing we can find wrong.

If anyone feels they have been visciously deceived by things that have been said about the players that you don't think are true, then I am sorry for you. But do you really believe there is a coach of any team, in any sport in the country that doesn't say these things? Don't take things so seriously! Make judgements for yourself based on observations, and you won't feel so deceived.

Sam Singh should have sat immediately after losing his man in the zone for a dunk...

All I can say is watch the tape. You will see that Sam was guarding his man at the right side of the lane, and the other player came in from the left for the pass and dunk. It was not Sam's man.

[houstontxbrave]

I thought DC played a solid game yesterday, too. He didnt' get the ball very much inside. Hard to score as a big man when the ball just gets woven around the perimeter. His defense wasn't great, but it wasn't as terrible as some here would lead us to believe. He's asked to do a lot, and when teams pass well aroudn him in the zone, its difficult for him - or anybody - to stop it.

I still want to see what Collins can do with another big man in. In games where we miss a dozen 3s in a row, id like to see the coaching staff mix it up a little more and maybe go with 2 traditional bigs, 1 "4" (although i consider TW a true 3) and a couple guards.

Every single time Collins got the ball in the interior of our offense he shot the ball, not one time did he pass it back out. Two things that means he didnt not get the ball very often on the block in our offense and secondly that was a big difference that Egolf gave is the ability, desire etc to pass the basketball to an open shooter.

Singh passes the basketball, he set solid screens and in our offense is better then DC in rolling to the basket.

[squirrel]

3 minutes for Thompson yesterday is inexcusable.

[Beninator]

3 minutes for Thompson yesterday is inexcusable.

I would have preferred 6-7 minutes, but there is no way you throw an inexperienced division 1 center against the Michigan State boys at MSU...
Ease Thompson into the lineup and adjust his minutes either way depending on the situation for future games.

[real fan]

Houston saw the same thing about Collins on offense as I did, everytime he got the ball he shot it , I could understand his mistakes if this was his 1st season but it isn"t and he does not play like a guy that lost his position a few games ago and has decided to not let that happen again.