Hot Seat

[tornado]

Right... out of the 343 (ish?) D-I programs... BRADLEY is in danger of becoming D-II? Wade through the garbage posts, folks... Theres arguably 200-250 other groups that would become D-II first.

Unbelievable that any of this is even any bit of discussion... disappoints me that some people can't think slightly logically. Respect level = down.

And yes, I know some of you are just reporting what you saw on the PJStar board... but some of you buy into that post's hype.

BU is top 50-100 all time in wins, attendance, and post season appearances
...add to that a very, very large, strong and LOYAL fan base...

They won't be DII anytime soon...much to the dismay of the guy who started that thread...

[thefish7]

I'm not advocating a firing, and quite frankly think any talk of that is stupid. However, the more schools that take home conference titles and make NCAA appearances before we do will make that drum beat louder. If we haven't won the league or the conference tournament by the time Andrew Warren graduates, we may need to assess where this program is heading. Right now, I think the arrow is pointing up, I really do.

That would be my take also. Warren's unfortunate injury does decrease program turnover a little, and with the recruits we have on the way it seems like the arrow is very much "up." If it turns out it's not, then we need to take stock. Before then, though, as far as I'm concerned Les' seat is cold. Given the adversity of this season, I believe this has been his best year so far. If he can keep it up for the next two seasons we should have a strong enough roster to make some real noise (or his recruiting needs to be evaluated anyway).

[thefish7]

I DO worry about the NCAA requiring football or something like that for D1 status at some point down the road. That would mess us up pretty good (though I think we'd put together a bad football program to stay in D1), but I think the NCAA would really be shooting itself in the foot. A fair amount of attention is given to March Madness just because of the presence of cinderellas and the like... And I think they'd lose at least some portion of their audience and the interest in the brackets each season as a result.

To take this off in a different direction:
I am one of the conspiracy theorists that believes that the MVC could reshuffle and create two strong basketball conferences (one of state -- these guys playing football -- and one of private schools) with a few key members of other (possibly oversized) conferences.

[BradleyBrave]

BU is top 50-100 all time in wins, attendance, and post season appearances
...add to that a very, very large, strong and LOYAL fan base...

They won't be DII anytime soon...much to the dismay of the guy who started that thread...

I would agree. The split would probably be the top 10-15 conferences in DI, and then the rest would be the I-AA equivalent IMO. That wouldn't bother me one bit actually. I don't think BU would be in any jeopardy of being sent down to a lower division. If they are, then so are a host of other private, non-football schools.

[thefish7]

BTW, just read the original thread at PJ Star forums, and for those who don't pay a lot of attention to that board (like me), it's an interesting thread and the KW posts in there are very well written and contain good information.

[amettrick]

Just for the record, just having a strong basketball program (which I believe we do) wouldn't be enough to save Bradley from reclassification as a Div. II school when the NCAA decides to redefine the guidelines for being a Div. I school. The classifications are based on a number of things, but the primary qualification is the number of varsity sports the school offers.

As is stands now, Bradley sponsors 13 varsity sports (6 men's and 7 women's). I'm not sure what the minimum is right now, but If the NCAA decided to raise the standards to require a minimum of 14 varsity sports, Bradley would have to either add a sport or be reclassified. And of course, I wouldn't be as simple as just adding one sport, because if they were to add a men's sport they would have to add at least one more women's sport to comply with Title IX.

Now I would assume when the time comes and Div. I is redefined, Bradley will take the necessary steps to comply with any new requirements, but the fact is, just being one of the better basketball school means nothing when it comes to reclassification.

[MacabreMob]

I don't go that board anymore cause you wind up with flame threads with flame posts on a flame board.

Ba-bye flamers.

[southpaw nothin]

I would say CU, SIU, DU (under Davis & Son), and UNI were all more stable programs than BU over the past 5 seasons.

[Disturbed]

BU is top 50-100 all time in wins, attendance, and post season appearances
...add to that a very, very large, strong and LOYAL fan base...

They won't be DII anytime soon...much to the dismay of the guy who started that thread...

First of all, I started the thread, and while I don't post a lot, most of the regulars around here know I've been posting on here for the last three years. Secondly, absolutely nowhere did I even mention D2, nor the fact that I think JL should go. I simply stated what his record was, and that it would not be good enough at alot of high profile programs. For what it's worth, I think he's done OK.

I later posted that head coach at BU is a plum job, and stated my case why this is so.

[BradleyBrave]

First of all, I started the thread, and while I don't post a lot, most of the regulars around here know I've been posting on here for the last three years. Secondly, absolutely nowhere did I even mention D2, nor the fact that I think JL should go. I simply stated what his record was, and that it would not be good enough at alot of high profile programs. For what it's worth, I think he's done OK.

I later posted that head coach at BU is a plum job, and stated my case why this is so.

You are right. A .500 record, sub .500 conference record, 0 conference titles and 1 NCAA appearance in 7 years would be grounds for dismissal for a lot of schools. At the very least, it would be grounds for a very hot seat. It all depends on what your standard of success is. BU's used to be pretty high. Now I think it's mediocre. It is what it is. Let's win Arch Madness and maybe the discussion changes.

[Beninator]

I don't go that board anymore cause you wind up with flame threads with flame posts on a flame board.

Ba-bye flamers.

LOL... I usually dont go to that board but it is a slow day so I checked it out... yep there are some flame posts... But, as much as I bash KW and the PJS, I have to say that KW's post was good.

as for some of the other posts...c ya flamers..wouldn't want to be ya.

[MacabreMob]

I would say CU, SIU, DU (under Davis & Son), and UNI were all more stable programs than BU over the past 5 seasons.

DU
15-3
6-12
5-13
7-11
7-11

BU
9-9
10-8
11-7
6-12
7-11

No, no... you're right.

[Beninator]

You are right. A .500 record, sub .500 conference record, 0 conference titles and 1 NCAA appearance in 7 years would be grounds for dismissal for a lot of schools. At the very least, it would be grounds for a very hot seat. It all depends on what your standard of success is. BU's used to be pretty high. Now I think it's mediocre. It is what it is. Let's win Arch Madness and maybe the discussion changes.

You can say it is mediocre, but I would prefer improving... The facilities and a continued commitment from the administration are the next steps.

[southpaw nothin]

Just for the record, just having a strong basketball program (which I believe we do) wouldn't be enough to save Bradley from reclassification as a Div. II school when the NCAA decides to redefine the guidelines for being a Div. I school. The classifications are based on a number of things, but the primary qualification is the number of varsity sports the school offers.

As is stands now, Bradley sponsors 13 varsity sports (6 men's and 7 women's). I'm not sure what the minimum is right now, but If the NCAA decided to raise the standards to require a minimum of 14 varsity sports, Bradley would have to either add a sport or be reclassified. And of course, I wouldn't be as simple as just adding one sport, because if they were to add a men's sport they would have to add at least one more women's sport to comply with Title IX.

Now I would assume when the time comes and Div. I is redefined, Bradley will take the necessary steps to comply with any new requirements, but the fact is, just being one of the better basketball school means nothing when it comes to reclassification.

This has been my biggest concern. I don't think BU would be forced to go to D-II. . .in all likelihood they would jump at the opportunity to create a 2nd tier for DI, like FBS/FCS or the "college" division from the 50's and 60's.

I would hope fellow MVC members that do play football have contingency plans for that very possibility.

That said, over the past six months, I've started to warm to the idea of playing something like I-AA basketball. MVC members would be competing for national championships in multiple sports.

[thefish7]

I think BU would be pretty resistant to going out of the top basketball competition. The administration has stated a few times at least that they've found a direct correlation to improved basketball exposure being the school's very best form of advertising outside of the local area.

Competing for a sort of "also-ran" championship wouldn't help you here. While I liked the CBI and would consider an NIT appearance to be a big win for the program this year, you get the exposure by playing in the big dance.