Les's comments to reynolds

[Bravesfan]

Les gets all the credit in the world for 2006. But one year doesn't make a career, nor does it mean what we're watching right now is OK. Dana has won 6 MVC Tournament titles and 3 MVC regular season titles. They've dance 8 times in his tenure, and been in the NIT 4 other times. I would trade 1 Sweet 16 for 8 NCAA Tournaments in a heartbeat, and take an NIT in a down year over the CBI or CIT. Dana has a .654 winning percentage overall at CU, and a .631 conference winning percentage...so please...enough with the Dana comparisons. They're flat-out ignorant.

We're near the bottom of the league in coaching experience (talking about assistants here), and it's showing every game. Heck, fix that in the offseason and we just might get back to where we can and should be.

Well of course I wasn't downplaying the accomplishments of Altman, just saying he's not the best postseason coach. But of course I would rather see Bradley accomplish what he has, but it's easier said then done sometimes.

The assistant coaching issue is definitely something that needs to be addressed in the off season even with Les most likely sticking around for the foreseeable future.

[Bravesfan]

Bravesfan you might be closer to the problem then you think. I will not elaborate any farther just you might rethink your vendetta quote.

Whatever! I don't even know how to respond to your comment. All I know is that the media does not run the world, and they should not demand someone speak to them if they don't feel like doing so.

I know, I know. My personal "vendetta" of protecting Les is rubbing some people the wrong way, but what can I say?!

[BradleyBrave]

The assistant coaching issue is definitely something that needs to be addressed in the off season even with Les most likely sticking around for the foreseeable future.

Unless we finish 8th or 9th, I think you are right. I also think that if Jim Les had the experienced staff that most of the other schools in the league had, we would be able to get to where we could and should be. With C Buescher, L Forrester, and E Buescher, we had two very good (not great, but very good) seasons. Imagine what we could with 2 other guys with the experience of a Chuck and a Lennox? I have no doubts this thing could work. But it can't and won't work with the staff we have now, and I am not overly optimistic we'll end up with staff of that caliber under this regime.

[Future Walk-On]

maybe JE's dad would be interested...

[BradleyBrave]

maybe JE's dad would be interested...

I'd say there's a better chance of the Bears winning the Super Bowl this year than Kevin Eastman leaving the Celtics bench to be an assistant coach in the MVC.

[ManMythLegend]

I'd say there's a better chance of the Bears winning the Super Bowl this year than Kevin Eastman leaving the Celtics bench to be an assistant coach in the MVC.

Maybe he wasn't referring to an assistant coach position?

Kidding...I just wanted to stir the pot again. This thread got too mellow!

[ph]

I'd say there's a better chance of the Bears winning the Super Bowl this year than Kevin Eastman leaving the Celtics bench to be an assistant coach in the MVC.

Professionally there would be no reason to ever consider such a move. (NBA assistant to MVC assistant)
Personally, there may be a desire for a father to spend more time with his son despite professional goals. But realistically, the chance of that happening is near or exactly zero.

[That Guy]

By the way- am I the only person who thinks all this negative hysteria is exactly like it was in January and early February of 2006, just before Bradley went on to the Sweet 16?
There were threads and posts saying the exact same things as now, and others calling for Jim Les to be fired, and discussing who we should replace him with.
I even recall some here (I won't mention names) who were at least man enough after the 2006 season, to admit they were wrong and congratulate the staff for their success. Others never have.

The team in 2006 did a great job, and I loved the run; it was amazing. Everyone deserves praise for that run.

With that being said, that teams is not this team. That team didn't collapse in three consecutive home games. That team played with heart and toughness. This season in no way compares to that season. We were also a much more talented team then:

Ruff, Tony, Cellus, Zach, JJ, Boogie, Danny, Will, JC, and POB would absolutely wipe the floor with our team now. It's not even a contest.

[BUfan14]

While this may not be that team, I still think it very talented. I have had a good feeling about this year all along, i have been really disappointed of late, but I still think it will turn out good, just a feeling I have. Hopefully the Braves will prove me right!

[Da Coach]

The team in 2006 did a great job, and I loved the run; it was amazing. Everyone deserves praise for that run.

With that being said, that teams is not this team. That team didn't collapse in three consecutive home games. That team played with heart and toughness. This season in no way compares to that season. We were also a much more talented team then:

Ruff, Tony, Cellus, Zach, JJ, Boogie, Danny, Will, JC, and POB would absolutely wipe the floor with our team now. It's not even a contest.

That fair enough- but it's even more reason to wonder about the agenda of some of the most vocal critics of Jim Les. I acknowledge that many of the people posting are good Bradley fans who just think it may be time to go in another direction, and though I disagree, that's a valid opinion.
But there are some posters who have been strong opponents of Jim Les since day 1, have attacked every move he's made, and jumped on every incident, no matter how insignificant to make a big deal out of.
I wasn't trying to imply that this team has the pieces to make a Sweet 16 run, but that there was similar attacks on JL in early 2006, just a month before they went to the NCAA tournament. What does that tell us?
It tells me there are still some bitter anti-JL people out there who will never give up their mission.

[BradleyBrave]

It tells me there are still some bitter anti-JL people out there who will never give up their mission.

There are, no doubt. But there were also people like that when Molinari was around. At the U of I game Saturday I heard things worse about Weber than anything that's ever been said to me at Carver or on the board about JL. I think those folks just kind of exist everywhere. I'm sure it's worse some places than others, and with some coaches more than others.

[houstontxbrave]

To keep 06 in a little perspective.

On Jan 18 we were 2-5 in conference.

On Feb 8th we were 7-7 in conference and coming off of 2 straight road losses the last by 12 at ISU blue. Overall at on that date we were 14-9, including a road loss to Loyola.

We had one exactly one road conference game to that point (by 3 at Eville) and lost one home conference game. The Evansville win to that point was our only road win, and the conference home loss was our only home loss of the year.

After Feb 8th the 06 team went 4-0 in conference (5-0 overall) including wins at ISU red and at UNI and 2-1 in the Valley tourney. 7-1 down the stretch. 20-10 overall.

Point is... you can get real hot real quick and make something happen. That team was talented but it did not put anything of note together until Feb.

This team has very good talent also, other then in my opinion at the guard positions. I would love to have had no issues or injuries but that isnt going to happen, but there still is lots of time for something good to happen. Often one game, maybe even one play sparks something. 06 took playing JJ and stuffing some attitudes for this team to move forward. Maybe doing something drastic is what needs to be done to spark this team.

Regardless, there is time to do something good. It is time to get hot.

[LG281]

What Versace said...

People...we're getting all bent out of shape here...I was really encouraged by something that Versace said during the Drake game in the first half (while we were struggling a little bit)...

He said something to the effect of, "teams take time to gel, people forget that the year that we won the NIT we had 10 losses".

That team also lost three in a row.

Lets all take a chill pill and see how things play out.

[tornado]

... posts by you and tornado resemble the radio team's voice ...

hmmm.....you know...I am a big time BU fan and have been for 40+ years,
lots of my time and $$ go to BU, and lots of people including the BU basketball coaching staff and players tell me they appreciate it...
I consider myself a good fan......and so do a few of the people at BU that I admire like the Prez, the Athletic Dept, and the coaches...but even if I never got thanked one time, I still feel I would support the program, it's what I want to do and I know for a fact that all universities covet MORE fans of this description rather than more fans who whine and grumble every time things don't go the way they want....

and I guess I have to wonder where do you get off criticizing my fandom...
am I supposed to become like you, or trash Bradley in order to win your respect as a proper fan?
Am I supposed to get petty on this win-lose stuff and withhold my personal and financial support until I get things my way??
I don't deny I am unconditionally a BU fan and the team doesn't have to jump through the hoops I concoct before I will show any satisfaction......
and this is and always has been a "Kool-aid" kind of pro BU forum, so if it troubles you and you don't like it, then why come here and expect everyone to change and be more like you?
But to actually hint that part of the BLAME for what bothers you is because of the way I am and the type of fan I am, then I think you are trying a little too hard to find a scapegoat or an excuse to rip on the team you claim to be a fan of.

[Da Coach]

... posts by you and tornado resemble the radio team's voice ...

Despite the loud shouting of a few BU bashers here, the overwhelming majority of fans are more like tornado, and me (since you brought this up).
Most fans are very supportive of Bradley and Jim Les, and very few want a coaching change. Bradley saw their largest crowd of the season against SIU, and there hasn't been any fans asking for refunds of their season tickets. And I guarantee there won't be many, if any, who don't renew their seats.

So apparently, to some of the "sky is falling" crowd, there is something sinister and wrong with those of us who support the coach and the team?
That's ludicrous.

If you have criticisms, feel free to post them. But any further attacks directed toward the good fans here on this forum will be deleted, and offenders will lose their posting priviledges.