Coach's Report Card

[Braves4Life]

That seems to say a lot. I bet the coaches at those schools have changed during those years... I think the job is Les' until he doesn't want it because he is the "golden boy" and too many rich alum with power will make sure he stays. Just an opinion.

Where is this "national prominence" he promised 8 years ago when he "wowed" the committee with his sales pitch? Never finishing in the top three in seven years (probably will be eight) and making it a habit to lose at home to teams like Loyola and Western Carolina is hardly getting BU to national prominence. Just look at the strides that Butler has made since Les took over. I always considered Butler a lower basketball school than Bradley, but they are light years ahead now.

I may be new here, but I have had tickets since the fieldhouse days in the 70's and I am getting pretty tired of the same old thing the last few years. Play lots of guards and be mediocre. Jump the passing lanes (and over-play on defense) and leave KNOWN 3 point shooters open (i.e. Western Carolina game and others). I've seen several coaches at BU and I give him a C-. I would give him an D- if I compared him to what he sold the committee versus what he has done. I pretty sick of this act.

Hi JoeDaBelly. Welcome (back) to the board. Seems I've heard your criticism before under a different name though

[CABUFan]

NCAA appearances and wins are the most important thing to me, but as exciting as the 2006 run was, it is not a very satisfying response to our lack of consistency or success in our conference at this point. It's also worth remembering that that run almost didn't happen because the team played so far below its potential for the first half of the season (we were probably the last team to get a bid). I still generally think we're moving in the right direction (though it sure hasn't felt that way the last week and a half), but we need to see some results this year or next.

[SFP]

Of course I have hopes for this team and with DD down there is a lack of taking responsibility/maturity from this team. I have always felt it is next years team that should shine but if they do not display a spark by season's end I may recalibrate. Until then the glass is half full.

[JoetheBelly]

Hi JoeDaBelly. Welcome (back) to the board. Seems I've heard your criticism before under a different name though

I've heard that same criticism since I've been reading the board the last couple months. There have been a few people who really dislike all the guards. But, personally, more than that I don't like the defense. We jump too many passing lanes leaving people open and don't play enough "straight up" defense. Our defense seems to gamble and lose a lot. Do we get scouting reports? Doesn't seem like it because so many times the other teams hot 3 point shooters get open and kill us. UNI, Butler and others last year, and well, we know about this year...

[ph]

WSU? SIUC?

I think the difference is that some here are looking for more consistency from the team. More like a Creighton or (from those stats) an SIUC when they were good. Yes BU won those 2 games but you can't help but think games like that have a lot to do with luck and good fortune. Yes the talent was there definitely and they started to play together, but the real question should be, if they were really that talented, where was that the rest of the season? Where was the coaching staff on that one? Those 2 games were important but winning a regular season and a few tournament championships would show consistency...2 games in the NCAA over the course of 8 years does not show that.

The S16 team was hugely talented, they started 5 future pros and had another 5 on the bench. There was also little question that the first Kansas game happened to be a matchup of 2 of the nation's hottest teams. Bradley was on a roll and played well for a stretch of 13 games, not just 2. (most fans never recognized the first 5 or so because of the hole the team was digging out of)
Unfortunately not all players were available for the non-con in that season. Still, the coaching staff should of received more early season results, but in the end, they got the job done.

[Chico]

More than one person on this board has stated that we're not supposed to care about what the other schools are doing. Maybe I misunderstood that and we're only supposed to take notice when they're doing well and can be compared favorably to Bradley. I guess that makes perfect sense when someone is trying to show how bad our basketball program is.

I'm one of those who don't care to see nit-picking of ISU, as much as I dislike them, or Creighton, etc. How is that trying to show how bad our basketball program is? Show me where I said that.

[tornado]

seems that talk of how good or how bad just about any program is doing...especially Valley programs ...is all fair game here

[AZ BU Fan]

seems that talk of how good or how bad just about any program is doing...especially Valley programs ...is all fair game here

Sooo true T

(and unfortunately BU just isn't very good right now)

[tornado]

you're preaching to the choir

[Southside]

Grade

I haven't seen nearly as many BU games as you guys. Each year, I make it to 1 or 2 and see another 3 or 4 on tv. But I come to this board multiple times a day and read all the box scores. So my opinion may not have as much merit as others, but here is what I have seen:

1. BU has no identity! What do we hang our hat on? What do we do well?
2. It seems like Les has a system he learned and he will play it no matter what, which usually means playing players out of position. I know it's the MVC, but when was the last time we put out a true 1,2,3,4 and 5? Every BU team usually has multiple players not playing their best position.
3. Either we don't develop talent, our recruits are not as good as we think, or we are constantly being outplayed by less talent, one of those must be true.
4. The help defense is very, very bad.
5. Rebounding is very, very bad.
6. The long dry spells on offense.

For a moment, take away that amazing 3-4 week stretch in 2006. It's been a miserable 8 year stretch. Like someone said earlier, that run almost never happened due to how bad the team underperformed earlier in the season. Personally, I have nothing against Les, I want him to succeed because then BU will succeed and I am willing to give him some more time, but nothing that has happened in the last 8 years gives me hope for the future.

[basketball nut]

I haven't seen nearly as many BU games as you guys. Each year, I make it to 1 or 2 and see another 3 or 4 on tv. But I come to this board multiple times a day and read all the box scores. So my opinion may not have as much merit as others, but here is what I have seen:


3. Either we don't develop talent, our recruits are not as good as we think, or we are constantly being outplayed by less talent, one of those must be true.
4. The help defense is very, very bad.
5. Rebounding is very, very bad.
6. The long dry spells on offense.

.

I do go to all of the home games so may I may see things differently then you do. Our recruits are good but then so are the teams we are playing, other then Loyola (which had less talent but a lot more heart and were not willing to quit). We have played some very quality teams in the non valley part of our schedule and these teams had just as much or more talent then we had. Our D has been suspect at times but then I have seen shots go in where a player threw up a shot to beat the buzzer and that has nothing to do w/ us playing bad D. We do need to play better then what we have been.
Rebounding has always been an area that I have said we are weak in. Even the POB days we were not a real good rebounding team. In fact it has been so long since we have had a strong rebounding team that I can't remember it. (may have to go back to the massive "Big Mike" days to find someone that really wants to rebound)
The scoring droughts this year have been a real concern and we don't try players that are on the bench to shake things up. Now we will see if JL does what he said and play some of these players. Maybe JE wants to prove he shouldn't have been redshirted this year or just that he has some BB IQ that some of these others don't have.
Only time will tell if JL can figure this out but he better do it real soon. As JM found out when he was here the fans are not beyond letting the team, the coach and the "Prez." know when they have had enough.

[TNel]

I haven't seen nearly as many BU games as you guys. Each year, I make it to 1 or 2 and see another 3 or 4 on tv. But I come to this board multiple times a day and read all the box scores. So my opinion may not have as much merit as others, but here is what I have seen:

1. BU has no identity! What do we hang our hat on? What do we do well?
2. It seems like Les has a system he learned and he will play it no matter what, which usually means playing players out of position. I know it's the MVC, but when was the last time we put out a true 1,2,3,4 and 5? Every BU team usually has multiple players not playing their best position.
3. Either we don't develop talent, our recruits are not as good as we think, or we are constantly being outplayed by less talent, one of those must be true.
4. The help defense is very, very bad.
5. Rebounding is very, very bad.
6. The long dry spells on offense.

For a moment, take away that amazing 3-4 week stretch in 2006. It's been a miserable 8 year stretch. Like someone said earlier, that run almost never happened due to how bad the team underperformed earlier in the season. Personally, I have nothing against Les, I want him to succeed because then BU will succeed and I am willing to give him some more time, but nothing that has happened in the last 8 years gives me hope for the future.

Agree. It's like a bad dream over and over and over again. Two not-so-big point guards dribbling and dribblling and dribbling, then driving the lane off of a not-so-effective screen, looking to dish off to no one there, then either forcing up a shot, throwing it away, travelling ... you get the picture.

Watched the Kansas game Sat. saw them spread the floor and make crisp passes (with a minimum of dribbling) and wind up with quality shots consistently. Sure would like to see us at least try to change up our offense once in a while.

On defense, we continue to double team our hearts out, but either aren't quick enough or motivated enough to recover before someone gets an open look for a 3 or a bunny.

I don't have the answer, but I do know what I'm seeing ... over and over and over again.

[real fan]

I have to give him a C- as he seems to be able to get good recruits but he wants to run the same system on offense and defense and you need to be able to change your system and play according to your talent.
3 guards and 2 forwards will not beat many good teams and let"s face it we really have no true center nor have we had one since Pat, Old Dominion exposed our lack of size last year and it wasn"t even a marquee tour.
We are also struggling badly at the point guard position which really make no sense because our coach was a great point guard, changes need to be made if BU expects to finish in the top 4 as this system is failing .

PS. I want Jim to stay and win championships period .

[Chico]

seems that talk of how good or how bad just about any program is doing...especially Valley programs ...is all fair game here

And it usually is fair game, but how is not caring about what other teams are doing, putting down the Bradley program? Everything can't be 100% positive 100% of the time. Wish it could be.

[thefish7]

And it usually is fair game, but how is not caring about what other teams are doing, putting down the Bradley program? Everything can't be 100% positive 100% of the time. Wish it could be.

Amen. We all want to get to that point where it is all positive. The perfect season where we win the NCAA by a margin of 36, and didn't lose a game by less then 20.