Coach Les

[dogsrus]

There's no pushing it aside. It was the most successful season since '96, but let's call a spade a spade - it was a pretty frustrating 2/3 of the season, and a magical late season/postseason. However, each year we don't go back to the NCAA's it looks more and more like a fluke than the beginning of something special for this program. Even if you only look at the overall record, conference record, and conference finishes since the Sweet 16 on up to now, we're a slightly above-average team and program. Comparing us favorably to a program like Creighton, who regularly beats us, finishes above us, and has been to the tournament 6 more times in the last 11 years than we have is downright silly.

Hater.....

[dogsrus]

Classy. I'm not getting that fans hate him, just that they want more and 2006 showed that more can be obtained. I do not believe one has to be a "hater" to expect more from their program.

well stated.......

[BradleyBrave]

Hater.....

Well obviously....

[georgethedog]

I don't despise him. I don't hate him. I don't think he is a bad coach (I think he is a young coach still learning which has equated to inconsistency and mediocrity). I just have had higher expectations than what the results have been in the league. He stood up when he was hired and said he would bring BU basketball back to consistent national prominence (or something to that effect). The one Sweet 16 was great, but never finishing above 4th place in the league over 7 years seems to offset that in some way. National prominence was found and earned for 2 games and it was great (the season was actually quite a struggle), but it was quickly lost with 4th-6th place finishes and the "leftover" postseason tourneys.

I want him to succeed and I think he is set up to do so in the next few years (especially if we get Wilkins), but if the results are still 4th place finishes or worse then I would like to try someone else. Even if he does not succeed in the next 3 years, I will still not despise or hate him--that is just wrong. I will, however, consider him a mediocre coach, which is what he is in my opinion right now until proven otherwise. That's my stance. We'll see what happens.

[Braves4Life]

I don't despise him. I don't hate him. I don't think he is a bad coach (I think he is a young coach still learning which has equated to inconsistency and mediocrity). I just have had higher expectations than what the results have been in the league. He stood up when he was hired and said he would bring BU basketball back to consistent national prominence (or something to that effect). The one Sweet 16 was great, but never finishing above 4th place in the league over 7 years seems to offset that in some way. National prominence was found and earned for 2 games and it was great (the season was actually quite a struggle), but it was quickly lost with 4th-6th place finishes and the "leftover" postseason tourneys.

I want him to succeed and I think he is set up to do so in the next few years (especially if we get Wilkins), but if the results are still 4th place finishes or worse then I would like to try someone else. Even if he does not succeed in the next 3 years, I will still not despise or hate him--that is just wrong. I will, however, consider him a mediocre coach, which is what he is in my opinion right now until proven otherwise. That's my stance. We'll see what happens.

I respect your opinion george

[AZ BU Fan]

Some people get frustrated with JL cause when he got the job he pretty boldly said he'd get BU back on top...with the exception of the miracle run in the NCAA's, there hasn't been a lot to get real excited about...Every year every recruit is going to put BU back on top...This gets frustrating when this doesn't happen...It has nothing to do with the person, has everything to do with wanting success...

What is funny, is Mo was treated the same way as JL has been by some as JL's BU progress has stalled. My guess is some of JL faithful were calling for Mo to go, and, probably exhibited some of the same "hate" re Mo they are now claiming is being focused on JL...

Just win baby....Next two years should be the defining years for JL's BU program, no more excuses, no more waiting!

[MacabreMob]

To be "Politically Correct"... the venom in this thread is from what I call "Tornado-Hate"... But it is best to call it "Tornado-Dislike".

[SFP]

I for one liked Mo and thought we pulled the plug to early. He ran a clean respectful program. JL is much of the same with a bit more of an upside.

[FutureBrave2013]

I really think it's put up or shut up time for JL. I love the guy but there needs to be results over the next few years or a change should be made.

[SFP]

I really think it's put up or shut up time for JL. I love the guy but there needs to be results over the next few years or a change should be made.

Oh really! I believe as much as you think this I'm glad you do not have the capability to change or really influence what happens to JL after this season. There are some real fat cats along with Glasser that will determine if anything would be considered if this team tanked it. Have a little bit of respect. I'm glad BU is not an institution of what have you done for me now.

[Murph]

(for comparison, 7 season into his career as a head coach, Dana Altman had 104 wins. Even at the end of his 8th season, he still had fewer than Coach Les has now, just 119. Thus Jim Les has reached this point, 129 wins faster than any other coach in the Missouri Valley )

I see the winky but still the phrase Les isn't qualified and something about Altman's jockstrap comes to mind....

[Murph]

Hate is such a strong word and I can assure you its something I wouldn't even use for ISU fans, players or coaches.

Again....start at the threads begining and take the corresponding information in the context it is being used in.

No one in this thread HATES Jim Les. IF I hated the guy I wouldn't have the guts to shake his hand and wish him luck like I did at the Vegas send off party like I did the other nite.

I wouldn't follow his team from Illinois to California through Texas and back to Vegas like I (we) do.

We are simply saying this program under JL has been mostly mediocre to just above mediocre because of a terrific Sweet 16 run. Some simply want more, as far as Wins go, then middle of the Valley, Alphabet tourney's, etc.

We are pulling for him and the team to take that next step...I think he can do it but the proof will be in the puddding..... i.e., results.

Hate.....I don't think so. Its NOT in my vocabulary when it comes to things so realtively meaningless as sports.

Yes to that.

[Braves4Life]

I for one liked Mo and thought we pulled the plug to early. He ran a clean respectful program. JL is much of the same with a bit more of an upside.

I can agree with your respect for Coach Mo, however I think what really led to his departure (I don't like to say firing) was the fact the interest in BU basketball was beginning to decline significantly and attendance was declining. More importantly, pressure was being applied by the BU "fat cats" who gave money to BU that they wanted a change "or else".

Thus, the return of "the golden boy", the return of "the lost son", the "conquering hero". I don't think anyone can logically argue that the return of Jim Les did not play a SIGNIFICANT role in helping the university raise the money for all of their new athletic facilities...... "The House That Jim Built" .

Just like the Circle of Life, if interest (read: money) in BU basketball begins to decline under Les the "fat cats" will once again rear their ugly heads (just kidding for all of you PC'ers) and demand change. And, just like that Les will be gone and replaced by a new "chosen one". Right now, I think we've still got a few years before this even becomes a thought for "those in power".

[BRADLEY FAN 49]

I must say I agree with a few of the negitive post about JL, I don't agree with most. I think the valley as a whole has been better than when Mo was coach.I'm certainly not a fat cat but i really didn't like Mo as B.U. coach. Players never improved under him and my biggest dislike was his total inability to run any out of bounds plays. All we did on every out of bounds play was throw a pass to the top of the key.

I would really like to see B.U. give JL a minimum of 3 more years after this year. We will never find another coach as loyal to this university as JL.
If we do find a different coach somewhere in the future that has even the success JL has had I think they would be looking to move on to a bigger school.

[doug shank's crossover]

A couple of arbitrary and disparate points to add to this discussion: Coach Mo inherited an absolute trainwreck of a program and the first couple of years of his tenure were extremely difficult...and secondly, Coach Stowell coached in the Valley when it was an extremely tough conference. Teams like Louisville and Cincinnati were often among the best in the nation. Stowell's teams didn't have the luxury of playing in tertiary tournaments, adding gratuitous wins to his stat line, either.