Hot Seat

[tornado]

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

I am surprised to see Drake in that mix...
they drew poorly, were way, way under .500, couldn't recruit, and even had their own fans grumbling mightily.
Now their own players are even grumbling and reportedly don't like playing under the new system.

One good season (in 2007-2008 ) using kids who happened to develop from walk ons to solid players does NOT make a program a better program....in fact it is more the anomaly than the pattern...
Drake is again headed for obscurity and the talents of Cox & Young are waning...and with the dearth of talent coming in, it'll be a few years before Drake is again above .500.

[southpaw nothin]

Dearth of talent coming in? Drake commit Ben Simons of Cadillac, MI is widely believed to be the leading candidate for Michigan Mr. Basketball.

[BradleyBrave]

Dearth of talent coming in? Drake commit Ben Simons of Cadillac, MI is widely believed to be the leading candidate for Michigan Mr. Basketball.

Some on this board declared Mr. Basketball of Illinois as an inferior talent the last week, so expect more of the same.

[tornado]

Some on this board declared Mr. Basketball of Illinois as an inferior talent the last week, so expect more of the same.

can you cite where anyone called him an inferior talent?
I know it wasn't me as I stated that he WAS talented and a pretty good player.
In fact, I reiterated in several different posts that the kid was talented and was one of the better freshman point guards in the Valley.

[georgethedog]

I don't think Les is anywhere near a hot seat... yet. With the talent coming in the next couple of years, along with what is already here, should give him a chance for bigger and better things and I think most people's expectations will be rising. If his teams don't produce during the next 3 years, he will be on the hot seat and rightly so. For now, no, too many good excuses (injuries, graduations, etc.).

[Da Coach]

Dearth of talent coming in? Drake commit Ben Simons of Cadillac, MI is widely believed to be the leading candidate for Michigan Mr. Basketball.

Ben Simons- 2-star recruit by Scout.com--

http://hsmichigan.scout.com/a.z?s=207&p=9&c=2&cid=688106&nid=3142684&fhn=1

3-stars by Rivals--

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=73739

Simons is talented, but he is putting up big numbers against weak competetion in Northern Michigan. He may win Mr. Basketball in Michigan, but I would be surprised if he is able to make the adjustment to D1 basketball immediately.

This also an off year for talent in Michigan, which is usually loaded with Big Ten talent, but not this year.--

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090209/OPINION03/902090334

[lake Camelot]

OK, I guess it's my day to make stupid satements. I can't believe there are Division one basketball players from Cadillac. I lived in the Traverse City area very near Cadillac and it was not in the same universe as around here. I guess it would be equal to Will Egolf coming here from Alaska. I didn't know people made it to division one from Cadillac. Overall Michigan plays a good brand of basketball, but not up there.

[Out of Balance]

southpaw nothing I'm not sure what you are trying to really prove and your motivation because your rational is a bit off IMO.

On the NCAA changing the scenery, I'd bet that they would not try too curtail the number of members, to share the revenue, that the BXS boys believe is theirs rightfully. The one difference in basketball is that the little guy does have a chance to compete and the vast number of the basketball fan population would be outraged if their teams were left off the ability to go to the dance. The outrage would be so big that I believe there would be a huge financial backlash. Now if they are smart and do this piece by piece (over a decade) then most of the population would not know it is happening. The problem just like the rest of our society they are thinking about immediate financial gains and I believe they will not have the will power to change the status quo. Sounds like our congress!

JUL is not on the hot seat and if the team does what I think they are capable the next two years then BU will be on the hot seat in retaining him.

I agree with you SPF. If the NCAA changes anything from what it is today, it is just putting a gun to their heads. They have a great thing going now, make a lot of $ and it still isn't good enough for the the greedy Basters. I for one hated it when the IHSA changed to the two tournaments. Now there is no one champion in ILL. Of course there were other reasons for the change than just $ but those so called reasons just took away from what was once considered as the best HS tournament in the country. The true Cinderellas like the year the Cobbin Apple Knockers (a school of 46 in 1964) beat John Theil and his #3 Galseburg Silver Streaks in the elite 8 and went on to get third in the state that year. There were many more Cinderellas through the years. If the NCAA wants to change anything find a way to change the way they pick a national champion in football If change is not for the better of all and if there is NO Need for it other then to feed the BCS's, then it well destroy the very meaning to why the NCAA was formed in the first place. Just what we don't need a tournament of last place (lower half) BCS conf. teams trying to become cinderellas. Don't we already have that in the Conf. Tournaments
Don't do it you greedy Basters

[Biff]

So you would rather have 2 NCAA appearances in the last 17 years as opposed to 9 in the last 17 years like SIU has had?

This argument all depends on what time frame you are looking through. If you are only considering the last 10 years+, then SIU looks much better than Bradley.
If you only look at last year, Drake has the best program.
But if you are considering the entire body of work, No, I wouldn't trade the history of success Bradley has had in my lifetime (the last 60 years), for the decade of success SIU has had. Bradley basketball is something special, and most of their fans appreciate what we have. Even with all the recent successes in Carbondale, they have trouble building and keeping a fan base. Note that SIU drew just 4,563 for their last home game against Indiana State (Feb 18 ). Even UIC drew more than that (4895) when SIU played there Saturday.
Id bet the people at SIU would love to have what Bradley has.

[Bravesfan]

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

Whoa! How do you day DU was one of the most stable programs over BU? They have had one, ONE winning season over that time. They may have their second this year, but probably only good enough for the new CIT tournament, IF they are lucky!

[Da Coach]

I agree with your point, but this year will actually be their 3rd consecutive winning season, after something like 20 losing seasons in a row.
2006-2007- 17-15
2007-2008- 28-5
2008-2009- 17-12 so far

[MacabreMob]

I agree with your point, but this year will actually be their 3rd consecutive winning season, after something like 20 losing seasons in a row.
2006-2007- 17-15
2007-2008- 28-5
2008-2009- 17-12 so far

That was the HUGE indicator DC. That year showed to everyone they were rebuilding for the past couple seasons and how the 07-08 season was to be the big one.

Anyone who didn't know it are clueless.

[Bravesfan]

I agree with your point, but this year will actually be their 3rd consecutive winning season, after something like 20 losing seasons in a row.
2006-2007- 17-15
2007-2008- 28-5
2008-2009- 17-12 so far

Ahh, forgot about their 06-07 season. Well they won't be 28-5 this year, but three winning years in a row is a good foundation to build upon in the future.

[Bravesfan]

That was the HUGE indicator DC. That year showed to everyone they were rebuilding for the past couple seasons and how the 07-08 season was to be the big one.

Anyone who didn't know it are clueless.

Well that means with our 16-12 record this year, we will be on pace for at least 27 wins next year!

[Long-Hair's Lunatics]

I know this is a bit off topic, but I'll ask anyway.


Does anyone know how our last Mr. BBall is doing? Ray Brown?