10 questions surrounding the team this year

[squirrelgotdead]

One regular season title doesn't make the guy a success either.

It's the body of work that's involved.

He's had basically 4 below average years capped with one outstanding accomplishment and 3 average-to-slightly-above average years capped with an NIT win over Providence in the first year (which is at best a marginally tangible accomplishment).

Both are passable. However at some point, we either need consistency at being above average which, by law of averages, will lead to more tangible accomplishments or just start winning championships. BU is long overdue with the latter.

After 7 years, I've seen enough to be happy with but lacking confidence in where the program's at and that we can get to a championship level. I understand there's those who are convinced inch by inch we're getting there. Both sides are potentially wrong.

The verdict is still out.

[tribecalledquest]

I don't think Jim Les is on the hot seat. However, he isn't Joanne Glasser's "guy" and I understand President's often want their own guys in those jobs. For better or worse, that's how it is.

My opinion is this--20 wins doesn't mean anything to me. It's a watered down number. So are "postseason appearances" and "postseason wins" outside of the NCAA and maybe the NIT.

There is one constant for coaches that is solid every year. It is the 18-game, round robin MVC regular season schedule. And then the league tournament. The other nine teams in the MVC are BU's peers. They are the ones that matter. You can schedule like ISU to get to "20 wins". Big deal.

For me, the league is where its at. Jim Les has struggled there. He is still under .500 for his career against his direct peers in the MVC. You would be hard-pressed to find coaches at high profile schools who get to hang around with losing league records after seven or eight seasons.

If other people like hanging their hats on CBI and CIT wins thats fine. Or "20 win" seasons thats fine. To me its best to look at the thing that never changes--the MVC games/opponents, etc. Bradley has been average at best there in the last 7-10 years.

I think its OK to expect improvement there.

[squirrelgotdead]

OK......so just how many Valley coaches have taken their team to the Sweet 16 in their first four years of coaching? By that measure, no Valley coach has done anything to "crow about". I'm not sure how any of them keep their jobs at this rate.

In the last 15 years:

Tubby Smith did 2 times in 4 years at Tulsa.
Steve Alford did in year 4 at MSU (then SMS).
Bruce Weber did in year 4 at SIU.

Pretty exclusive company, but not unique.

[squirrelgotdead]

I don't think Jim Les is on the hot seat. However, he isn't Joanne Glasser's "guy" and I understand President's often want their own guys in those jobs. For better or worse, that's how it is.

My opinion is this--20 wins doesn't mean anything to me. It's a watered down number. So are "postseason appearances" and "postseason wins" outside of the NCAA and maybe the NIT.

There is one constant for coaches that is solid every year. It is the 18-game, round robin MVC regular season schedule. And then the league tournament. The other nine teams in the MVC are BU's peers. They are the ones that matter. You can schedule like ISU to get to "20 wins". Big deal.

For me, the league is where its at. Jim Les has struggled there. He is still under .500 for his career against his direct peers in the MVC. You would be hard-pressed to find coaches at high profile schools who get to hang around with losing league records after seven or eight seasons.

If other people like hanging their hats on CBI and CIT wins thats fine. Or "20 win" seasons thats fine. To me its best to look at the thing that never changes--the MVC games/opponents, etc. Bradley has been average at best there in the last 7-10 years.

I think its OK to expect improvement there.

Excellent points. Right now, we need to be able to start winning more consistently against UNI, CU, and ISU. They are arguably the top 3 teams in the league the last two years, and the reason for that is because UNI has owned us, the fourth place regular.

IMO, up until the last two years, we had dominated ISU. They have been 2nd place two years running and now we've split with them.

UNI we have been better than and just continue to get beat (without looking it up we've lost 6 of 8 or something to them).

CU we go back and forth on who may be on paper better, but two years ago, we were clearly the superior team between the two and got beat 2 out of 3.

Is that the coaching? I don't truthfully know, but until a light turns on against those 3 I don't see anything changing in our standing against our peers.

[tornado]

You would be hard-pressed to find coaches at high profile schools who get to hang around with losing league records after seven or eight seasons.....

First, Jim Les has not had a losing Valley record since 2004-2005..

and..

Depends on what you call high profile...I am not hard pressed to find 'em...
Maryland - Gary Williams 62-64 over past SEVEN seasons vs. ACC opponents
Northwestern - Bill Carmody - never once in 9 years has he had a winning league record or NCAA appearance
UIC - Jimmy Collins...hasn't had a winning league record since 2004 and only 4 of his 13 seasons had BOTH a winning overall record and a winning league record...but has stayed there for 13 years!!

[jeffsu]

In the last 15 years:

Tubby Smith did 2 times in 4 years at Tulsa.
Steve Alford did in year 4 at MSU (then SMS).
Bruce Weber did in year 4 at SIU.

Pretty exclusive company, but not unique.

And wouldn't you love to have a coach like one of those guys for the most part?? They're generally great coaches (in the grand scheme of things) and I'm proud that Jim Les is on that list. GOOD WORK JIM!

[squirrelgotdead]

(music playing) One of these kids is doing his own thing. . . (end music)

Yes, I would LOVE to have a coach like one of those other guys on the list because they have in addition to that accomplishment:

1) Repeated the task of getting to the Sweet 16 or even further
2) Won a conference championship

JL has neither.

[tornado]

Note to Joe (mayhem..)
I have been told there was some suggestion that you were "told" not to post your stuff on "other boards".
Would you please clarify that you have never been told any such thing by anyone on this board and that you don't post where the atmosphere seems unwelcoming...

[SFP]

This JL thing has much to do about nothing. He's our guy like it or not. I'm not sure we could anyone better. There are a bunch of the grass is always greener on this site.

[shaunguth]

This JL thing has much to do about nothing. He's our guy like it or not. I'm not sure we could anyone better. There are a bunch of the grass is always greener on this site.

Oh....that's silly......of course someone else would've had multiple conference/tournament titles as well as a Sweet 16 run. I'm sure they also would have gotten to the Elite 8 and further by now, as to not "decline" after the Sweet 16 run.

[MacabreMob]

Oh....that's silly......of course someone else would've had multiple conference/tournament titles as well as a Sweet 16 run. I'm sure they also would have gotten to the Elite 8 and further by now, as to not "decline" after the Sweet 16 run.

LOL! That's Classic.

And That Someone Else would not have had ANY injuries to deal with over any/all those seasons that woulda had an impact on the team's overall success. And OBVIOUSLY NO off-the-court-problems.

LOL!

Just priceless Shaunguth.

[tribecalledquest]

First, Jim Les has not had a losing Valley record since 2004-2005..

and..

Depends on what you call high profile...I am not hard pressed to find 'em...
Maryland - Gary Williams 62-64 over past SEVEN seasons vs. ACC opponents
Northwestern - Bill Carmody - never once in 9 years has he had a winning league record or NCAA appearance
UIC - Jimmy Collins...hasn't had a winning league record since 2004 and only 4 of his 13 seasons had BOTH a winning overall record and a winning league record...but has stayed there for 13 years!!

Jim Les has a losing MVC record since he took over as head coach. That much is true unfortunately. I personally wouldn't call UIC high profile but that is splitting hairs. Either way, Jimmy Collins is 64-53 in the Horizon League since 2002-03. That is the most recent seven year period.

Gary Williams correct. Bill Carmody at Northwestern? Has Northwestern ever been over .500 in the Big Ten?

[tribecalledquest]

Oh....that's silly......of course someone else would've had multiple conference/tournament titles as well as a Sweet 16 run. I'm sure they also would have gotten to the Elite 8 and further by now, as to not "decline" after the Sweet 16 run.

Is it not ok for some fans to expect/hope that Bradley do better in the league and progress as a program and not regress? Or is that being unrealistic.

If we just kept everything status quo and had no expectations then why was Jim Molinari fired?

Everybody looks at different things. Some are fine with a great two week run as the standard for success while others look at the big picture and what has happened over time versus league opponents.

Is one way wrong and the other right?

[dogsrus]

Is it not ok for some fans to expect/hope that Bradley do better in the league and progress as a program and not regress? Or is that being unrealistic.

If we just kept everything status quo and had no expectations then why was Jim Molinari fired?

Everybody looks at different things. Some are fine with a great two week run as the standard for success while others look at the big picture and what has happened over time versus league opponents.

Is one way wrong and the other right?

I'm with ya tribe....I love BU and really like what Jimmy is doing but I want more.
For some reason though, when you say that, your "fandom" is questioned which baffles me.

Thing is is I bet JL wants more also...he's no fan.....

[mrcoachdude]

Dru..hope things are great! I agree with you.....

You bet JL wants more and that is what gives him the shot....as a fan I want a season with all our players healthy does that happen??