Blame Game

[afan]

I just listened to the post game interview with Coach Les. He blamed everything on his players and did not accept one iota of responsibility. I think that the responsibility can be spread around to include the coach as well. And... would they please stop saying how good Iowa State is. They are a good team and that is all. Not a great team... not even close.

[FutureBrave2013]

I just listened to the post game interview with Coach Les. He blamed everything on his players and did not accept one iota of responsibility. I think that the responsibility can be spread around to include the coach as well. And... would they please stop saying how good Iowa State is. They are a good team and that is all. Not a great team... not even close.

I'm pretty new to the program (as far as following day to day) but I've listened to Les' post game comments after disappointing losses three times. Today, the Loyola game Wednesday, and last year's blow out loss to Butler and in not one of those games did Les take any responsibility.

That's a problem.

[chitown fanatic]

Actually I did hear him say this one's on me. At the very end before signing off he said something to that effect, and I have to say that anytime some of his upperclassmen feel like getting off the bus ready to play, it would be a first since Vegas. Taylor Brown and Maniscalco have had back to back flat out dreadful games.

[Dallas Brave]

Did he say anything about a need to get back to the basics

[AZ BU Fan]

How much "cleaning up" did JL mention post game?

I guess not a game to "hang his hat on"..

[BradleyBrave]

Isn't the place where you hang your hat usually in the corner or in a closet where you don't have to see it or acknowledge it? That's the way we treat defense, rebounding, and post play. So in that case, saying we 'hang our hat' on those things is pretty accurate!

[SFP]

I'd like us to put players in the position that they are made for. That means we play SS and AT at the 5, WE at the 4, TB,MK at the 3 AW,JE, CR at the 2 and SM, EM at the 1! Then just maybe we will have the size and muscle to play hard. Our D is soft and teams are keying on SM especially when he is playing the 2. They are pounding the boards because our 4-5 are too small to handle theirs. This is D1 basketball and flaws are exposed and are hard to hide within a game let alone from one game to another. We are missing a true 5 and a 4 that can clean the boards.

Now is that the players fault that they are not a few inches taller and 25 lbs bigger. ODU and Oakland had those players, why not us?

[srw]

Actually I did hear him say this one's on me. At the very end before signing off he said something to that effect, and I have to say that anytime some of his upperclassmen feel like getting off the bus ready to play, it would be a first since Vegas. Taylor Brown and Maniscalco have had back to back flat out dreadful games.

He did say that...But then went right back to saying something about going after the players.

[bigdaddystuck]

I understand where this thread is coming from.

In the end it has to be a little of both. The players did not play well, execute the game plan, etc.... Perhaps coaching decisions did not put them in the proper position to excel...I think the blame is on everyones shoulders.

All I can hope for is that good things will come out of this....I know, I know what some are thinking....but the conference season has always been my focus point. Do well there and I don't think this will matter.

[lefty]

Ultimately this is on the coach's shoulders. If you have one or two players who play poorly then you can blame players but when you have the whole team play like this the last couple of games it has to go back to the coach.

A new season starts in the conference and we'll see how it goes.

[Bravesfan]

I just listened to the post game interview with Coach Les. He blamed everything on his players and did not accept one iota of responsibility. I think that the responsibility can be spread around to include the coach as well. And... would they please stop saying how good Iowa State is. They are a good team and that is all. Not a great team... not even close.

I'm sure in the past I have heard him numerous times take responsibility. I don't know recently, but he has before. Sooner or later the players need to as well.

Even if some believe his coaching system is flawed, players should have enough experience to adjust during the course of a game. Eventually the players need to take responsibility for shoddy defense, errant shots and general lack of intensity. A coach can scream that all the time but if the players don't except responsibility, I don't know what else can be said.

[BradleyBrave]

As much as the h-ll, fire, and brimstone approach seems appropriate at the moment, that approach won't work all week, and won't have a long-lasting effect on the players. Things should be difficult this week, but this team has zero confidence and zero swagger right now. The 'back to basics' approach is the right one - make them work their tails off, reward the ones that do, simplify things, and build their confidence going into the Drake game. It's a new beginning for everyone - coaches and players alike. We harp on JL and his bad conference record, well, he can shut people up by getting this team to play good basketball and overachieve in the conference season.

[lefty]

I'm sure in the past I have heard him numerous times take responsibility. I don't know recently, but he has before. Sooner or later the players need to as well.

Even if some believe his coaching system is flawed, players should have enough experience to adjust during the course of a game. Eventually the players need to take responsibility for shoddy defense, errant shots and general lack of intensity. A coach can scream that all the time but if the players don't except responsibility, I don't know what else can be said.

Responsibility does go to the coach and players both but ultimately it's the coach. He chooses the players he recruits, the staff and the style of play.

[Bravesfan]

As much as the h-ll, fire, and brimstone approach seems appropriate at the moment, that approach won't work all week, and won't have a long-lasting effect on the players. Things should be difficult this week, but this team has zero confidence and zero swagger right now. The 'back to basics' approach is the right one - make them work their tails off, reward the ones that do, simplify things, and build their confidence going into the Drake game. It's a new beginning for everyone - coaches and players alike. We harp on JL and his bad conference record, well, he can shut people up by getting this team to play good basketball and overachieve in the conference season.

Here, here! I agree! I think they will surprise us, and in a positive way.

[Bravesfan]

Responsibility does go to the coach and players both but ultimately it's the coach. He chooses the players he recruits, the staff and the style of play.

True, but again, it doesn't matter what scheme a team runs. You either have defensive intensity and energy or you don't. The ones who don't show up in practice will be the ones sitting next week at Drake.