Merfield leaves basketball program

[Braves4Life]

I have heard talk of the possibility of another Pekin native returning to assist with the program. He played in his college days at Northern Illinois before finishing his graduate studies at Bradley...

I just can't get over your name BabyMaker . LOVE IT!

[tornado]

My prediction, that we will have an assistant that can and will recruit well out east...or Chicago

[BradleyBrave]

No way KK would hire Merfeld unless he liked what he saw at Evansville.

Wrong on so many levels.

[BradleyBrave]

My prediction, that we will have an assistant that can and will recruit well out east...or Chicago

Well, that doesn't fit the Todd Peterson/Jeremy Crouch mold unless another assistant is moving on as well. I'm not going to speculate on who that might be at this point.

[mrcoachdude]

Best wishes to Steve and family. I met him at the Bradley team camp when he arrived. Talked local schools and such. Good coach and great guy. I can imagine the rigors of being a recruiter and having youngens at home make things pretty difficult.

Nice to have met you Steve, God Bless You and family...

[Braves4Life]

I think we were all pleasantly surprised at the unexpected hiring of an experienced big name like Merfeld. I predict we will be equally (and pleasantly) surprised at who Les brings in this time as well, and the positives they will bring our program.

[ph]

My prediction, that we will have an assistant that can and will recruit well out east...or Chicago

Someone who is currently logging a lot of (not bb related) miles in that area?

[BradleyBrave]

I think we were all pleasantly surprised at the unexpected hiring of an experienced big name like Merfeld. I predict we will be equally (and pleasantly) surprised at who Les brings in this time as well, and the positives they will bring our program.

I fully expect that to be the case. I just really, really don't like this kind of thing happening during the season at any point, let alone just prior to conference season.

[Dubl R 1]

Wow, did not know or see anything about this until 10 minutes ago when I logged in. Puzzling.

[houstontxbrave]

Often change ends up being good. Assistant coaches leaving in mid season in college basketball isnt real common but if a change is needed and best for the program, there is no reason to wait.

I would be surprised if Merfield leaving was a surprise to Les and the program and I would be equally surprised if he is scrambling to do any sort of replacing.

Regardless I wish him luck, but if a guy doesnt want to be somewhere then its best to cut ties immediately before an attitude, or whatever, gets into the blood stream of the staff or the program.

I wonder how the NCAA would react if we hired Wilkins dad to be the new coordinator of basketball operations?

[BradleyBrave]

I wonder how the NCAA would react if we hired Wilkins dad to be the new coordinator of basketball operations?

We would be slapped with the death penalty.

[thefish7]

We would be slapped with the death penalty.

I agree. Programs have been doing this for a while but the NCAA has declare it something they don't like. So if we did it, certain doom.

[romar]

Not sure why, but the conspiracy theorist in me wonders if there is some link between this and the Massive Mike Williams shooting?

I know the Les HATERS are everywhere and maybe one of them is trying to ruin this season and going after Les by taking out his friends and assistants first!!

BTW- Get well Massive Mike & best of luck in your future endeavors Coach Merf!

[Chico]

Can only hope you're kidding.

[romar]

Of course - that's why I added the BTW (for the serious side) - so others would realize I was just pulling some chains!