Coach Les's Comments After the Game

[doug shank's crossover]

Coach was very direct and angry in his post game comments with Dave Snell. I've never heard him so frustrated. Paraphrasing, Coach Les said that he needed players who would compete....that he'd start 2 Frosh. and Ryan Phillips if that's what it takes. He also said that the University treats them (the players) too well for "this kind of performance". Words like embarrassed and humiliated were used.

As the Valley season begins we may very well see either new energy from the regular starters, or new starters altogether.

[real fan]

The only thing I have to say is we need a point guard that will perform above average, McCain has played better but he still needs to be able to knock down outside shots because they are giving him wide open looks, Maniscalco cannot continue to play like he has been or we are in for a long season.

[JoetheBelly]

Coach was very direct and angry in his post game comments with Dave Snell. I've never heard him so frustrated. Paraphrasing, Coach Les said that he needed players who would compete....that he'd start 2 Frosh. and Ryan Phillips if that's what it takes. He also said that the University treats them (the players) too well for "this kind of performance". Words like embarrassed and humiliated were used.

As the Valley season begins we may very well see either new energy from the regular starters, or new starters altogether.

I would have to add that the university treats Les too well for his performance. He's pulling down hundreds of thousands of dollars a year with a only a BS degree. He better look closely in the mirror.

[BradleyBrave]

I agree with Les to a degree. However, it is his job to get the team ready mentally to play and compete. I know he doesn't shoot the ball or rebound or any of that, but having a team prepared to play each and every game is his and the staff's job. Long story short, there's plenty of blame to go around for yet another December of Discontent.

And don't even get me started on the scheduling. 4 games in 27 days? How is any team supposed to get prepared for conference season with 4 games in 27 days? Seriously, someone please answer that question...

[bigdaddystuck]

And don't even get me started on the scheduling. 4 games in 27 days? How is any team supposed to get prepared for conference season with 4 games in 27 days? Seriously, someone please answer that question...

Agree, very hard to keep up the intensity and focus needed to compete. Then when you throw in the 2 home loses, and the way they were lost, hard to correct that with long lay offs!!

Was working and missed the first half. Saw a little spirit in the second half and liked what I saw out of Eastman, but also wonder why use him and lose the RS in a game like this?!?

[SFP]

I agree with Les to a degree. However, it is his job to get the team ready mentally to play and compete. I know he doesn't shoot the ball or rebound or any of that, but having a team prepared to play each and every game is his and the staff's job. Long story short, there's plenty of blame to go around for yet another December of Discontent.

And don't even get me started on the scheduling. 4 games in 27 days? How is any team supposed to get prepared for conference season with 4 games in 27 days? Seriously, someone please answer that question...

JL looked for an opponent for the 23rd and could not find one! I know because I tried to find one here in the SF Bay area without success. St. Mary's wanted to play us but they are heading to Hawaii for a Tourney. You have to also remember that we never schedule games during finals, never!

[dogsrus]

Eastman, but also wonder why use him and lose the RS in a game like this?!?

Careful.....don't question every little move he makes. Just sit back, be quiet and let the season unfold. At seasons end THEN you have a small window of opportunity to go over what went wrong.....but then its on to the new recruits and all the potential.

[BUconnorD]

I would have to add that the university treats Les too well for his performance. He's pulling down hundreds of thousands of dollars a year with a only a BS degree. He better look closely in the mirror.

well said. Who is JL "blaming"? He says the university is treating them too well, and that they are playing poorly.
most good leaders will front some of the blame...not just pawn it off.

Sending it out there, who is it who took away the teams jerseys and they had to earn them....it very well could be a movie, haha

JL should start the tough love mentality at bradley. Take away the guys' cell phones and such

[BradleyBrave]

JL should start the tough love mentality at bradley. Take away the guys' cell phones and such

Last time he tried that, a future NBA all-star left and called him a racist.

[BUconnorD]

Last time he tried that, a future NBA all-star left and called him a racist.

shouldn't do that then
good point

[SFP]

I believe the guys down in Gainesville heard similar language after the championship year and see how that went down. Players are very pampered and quite possibly JL forgot to recruit a guy with a junkyard dog mentality, take no prisoners, get in your teammates face type of guy. Believe it or not JL was that guy on his team and Massive MIke enforced it while HH made everyone look good.

[BradleyBrave]

I believe the guys down in Gainesville heard similar language after the championship year and see how that went down. Players are very pampered and quite possibly JL forgot to recruit a guy with a junkyard dog mentality, take no prisoners, get in your teammates face type of guy. Believe it or not JL was that guy on his team and Massive MIke enforced it while HH made everyone look good.

While I agree that we DO NOT have that guy, we've been told time and again that Sam Maniscalco was that guy. Clearly he isn't.

[Buesch N Chips]

Saw a little spirit in the second half and liked what I saw out of Eastman, but also wonder why use him and lose the RS in a game like this?!?

So he has a little bit of game experience when he has to play in a conference game?

[AZ BU Fan]

The last couple weeks with the BU program have been surreal...Incredible we go from the all time high of BU vs Illini to this.....An ugly three game losing streak, coaching staff shake up, and the head coach publicly calling out his veteran players right before the MVC season starts for the second straight game. Not exactly a receipe for success.

Its hard to understand this happening with a coach in his 8th season, vs a coach in transition coaching other's recruits.

Unfortunately I think we have heard this kind of disappointing discussion from the BU coach before with some of his other teams.

I don't know if this BU team has the athletic/basketball ability the NCAA team did when it turned around quickly after a terrible start in the MVC in 2005-06.
If the problem is ability, this will not change that much once the season gets underway, particularly since BU will be playing teams who know all about BU and JL's coaching system/style.

This could be the fourth year in a row I had great expectations for BU success, based on the head coach's very public statements of his player's abilities, his recruiting successes, his team's experience, and his team's coming together. This is what really hurts as a BU backer. I put all sorts of trust in the comments from the head coach, and feel I am being fed a fantasy story as the seasons unfold. Fool me once.....

Oh well, lets hope these BU players go in a new direction in the Valley this year, or, that next season JL will figure out how to get his players to consistently perform to his, their, and our exceptations.

[Buesch N Chips]

I'll be quite honest, I don't have the energy to complain for two weeks in a row. I hope the Valley season goes better than the non-con.