Post-season anguish

[doug shank's crossover]

I caught myself worrying about BU's dimishing NCAA propsects the other day, and thinking that a win at Drake wouldn't be a big deal either way. Shame on me. There was a day when each BU game was an event for me and my family. I loved the games whether BU was good or bad...in fact some of my fondest BU basketball memories are from teams that weren't very good at all. Whether it was a rowdy sell out game against Louisville or an exhibition against Georgia State, BU games were a blast...the comradery in the old smoke filled lobby at the Fieldhouse, eating and drinking at a local establishment before and after the game...just supporting and loving the hometown team was good enough. Remember how exciting it was when they would dim the lights before introductions? Of course winning was/is more fun than losing...but I'm going to enjoy each game this year, regardless of potential post-season implications, as an individual event. I'm not excusing bad play, bad coaching or losing....I'm just going to start living in the moment and reminding many of you who have been around the program for a while of the simple fun that used to be associated with the games.

Still rooting for a good finish though!!!

[MacabreMob]

I like your post Shank. I'm with ya.

I think a lot of the pressure is from people wanting a Top 3 MVC finish and another NCAA run or the Coach must go. Some of them didn't want Les here to begin with. I can sense them salivating over the failures of this season.

But I'm with you Shank. I like enjoying the games. I like watching these young men grow over a season and over a career at Bradley. Yes - it helps to win more often than not.

[Normal Paul]

I agree totally. As a fan I focus on what Bradley is doing more than worrying about the rest of the basketball world, especially after some losses like we have recently experienced. The anguish of this season is that we appear to have a more complete team than usual and expect that to solve all the probelms. Coach Les has kept us competitive and I am looking forward to see how all of this turns out. That is the allure of spending my entertainment dollar on following the Braves is that unlike theater and movies I never quite know how it will end!

[Chico]

I caught myself worrying about BU's dimishing NCAA propsects the other day, and thinking that a win at Drake wouldn't be a big deal either way. Shame on me. There was a day when each BU game was an event for me and my family. I loved the games whether BU was good or bad...in fact some of my fondest BU basketball memories are from teams that weren't very good at all. Whether it was a rowdy sell out game against Louisville or an exhibition against Georgia State, BU games were a blast...the comradery in the old smoke filled lobby at the Fieldhouse, eating and drinking at a local establishment before and after the game...just supporting and loving the hometown team was good enough. Remember how exciting it was when they would dim the lights before introductions? Of course winning was/is more fun than losing...but I'm going to enjoy each game this year, regardless of potential post-season implications, as an individual event. I'm not excusing bad play, bad coaching or losing....I'm just going to start living in the moment and reminding many of you who have been around the program for a while of the simple fun that used to be associated with the games.

Still rooting for a good finish though!!!

Great post Shank. I don't think anyone is happy the way the season is starting out after the pre season hype, but as you say it's still the hometown team. IMO, I would like to go back to the dimming the lights and introducing each player as they run out to center court. Frank Bussone did a great job. Not a big fan of the videos before the introductions.

[Bravesfan]

I caught myself worrying about BU's dimishing NCAA propsects the other day, and thinking that a win at Drake wouldn't be a big deal either way. Shame on me. There was a day when each BU game was an event for me and my family. I loved the games whether BU was good or bad...in fact some of my fondest BU basketball memories are from teams that weren't very good at all. Whether it was a rowdy sell out game against Louisville or an exhibition against Georgia State, BU games were a blast...the comradery in the old smoke filled lobby at the Fieldhouse, eating and drinking at a local establishment before and after the game...just supporting and loving the hometown team was good enough. Remember how exciting it was when they would dim the lights before introductions? Of course winning was/is more fun than losing...but I'm going to enjoy each game this year, regardless of potential post-season implications, as an individual event. I'm not excusing bad play, bad coaching or losing....I'm just going to start living in the moment and reminding many of you who have been around the program for a while of the simple fun that used to be associated with the games.

Still rooting for a good finish though!!!

Oh I'm definitely rooting for a good finish too. And it starts with the Drake game on the 29th, one of the most winnable road games we will have next to N. Illinois. We can make this a successful season with a strong Valley finish. It will be tough with the likes of UNI, WSU, MSU and CU, but it is doable especially with our potential.

And yes, I too still enjoy each game at a time as well.

[srw]

I like your post Shank. I'm with ya.

I think a lot of the pressure is from people wanting a Top 3 MVC finish and another NCAA run or the Coach must go. Some of them didn't want Les here to begin with. I can sense them salivating over the failures of this season.

But I'm with you Shank. I like enjoying the games. I like watching these young men grow over a season and over a career at Bradley. Yes - it helps to win more often than not.

I guess you can certainly count me in your group

Jim Les was the coach I wanted at the bottom of the finalists, with Wayne being second to last ahead of him.

The issue we have today is precisely the problem.

You mention those great eras. Mine was the 90's, when we lost few, and almost never lost at home.

I would attest, that the exact reason we are mired in the situation we are in now, is because we did not learn from the past. It was extremely hard to fire a failing stan albeck.

JL is not failing, but hes getting a lot of c's and d's...

And the one real successful year, he was mediocre, and then hit a 34 on his ACT. Looked great at the end, but the process wasn't strong.

In the end, I probably don't want anything different than you, but I have a very different idea of what needs to be done to get there apparently.

[Bravesfan]

I guess you can certainly count me in your group

Jim Les was the coach I wanted at the bottom of the finalists, with Wayne being second to last ahead of him.

The issue we have today is precisely the problem.

You mention those great eras. Mine was the 90's, when we lost few, and almost never lost at home.

I would attest, that the exact reason we are mired in the situation we are in now, is because we did not learn from the past. It was extremely hard to fire a failing stan albeck.

JL is not failing, but hes getting a lot of c's and d's...

And the one real successful year, he was mediocre, and then hit a 34 on his ACT. Looked great at the end, but the process wasn't strong.

In the end, I probably don't want anything different than you, but I have a very different idea of what needs to be done to get there apparently.

I liked the 90's too, but Coach Mo only got us to the NCAA Tournament once as well. So if JL is getting a lot of C's & D's, then using that logic, you can say the same thing about Coach Mo as well.

[BradleyBrave]

I liked the 90's too, but Coach Mo only got us to the NCAA Tournament once as well. So if JL is getting a lot of C's & D's, then using that logic, you can say the same thing about Coach Mo as well.

Agreed. We've more or less been running in place since 1996. Pretty disappointing when you think that's spanned 3 university presidents, 2 coaches, 3 NBA players, and soon to be 2 athletic directors. Our conference record in that time period is 120-114. If that doesn't scream mediocrity I don't know what does.