Les's comments to reynolds

[Bravesfan]

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.

The funny thing about the Weber bashers is that being in a conference that's good for at least five to six NCAA bids per year, Illinois merely needs to go 11-7 in the Big Ten, maybe even as little as 9-9 to earn an NCAA bid. And once in, there's a good chance for any team outside of the #15 & #16 seeds to make a significant run in the tournament. So how dare those so-called Illinois "fans" rip Weber like this with the seaosn not even half over yet!

And you are correct about it being worse in some places than other. Kentucky fans (not all, but a good number) are notorious for ripping the coaches for anything worse than a Final Four showing! Thankfully, things are pretty "tepid" around here compared to other teams.

[Bravesfan]

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.

Excellent points houston. Unfortunately our tepid 5-5 non-conference record will keep us out of the at-large talk this year. But a strong conference showing could still propel us to a Valley tourney championship, or at the very least an NIT bid. It will take a lot even for that, but at the very least I would like to see us finish the year strong and get to any sort of postseason if we can't get into the NCAA Tourney or NIT.

[longtimelistener]

[SFP]

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.

I believe this is also a good post except I believe we have good guards, especially when DSE gets back to the lineup. Where we could use a horse is at the 5! After WE, who is a real 4 IMO, there seems to be a huge drop-off in production on both sides of the floor. EM's game is starting to come around and on D he is spectacular. SM needs to be a bit more patient and stop forcing the situation and let the game come to him when he plays point. I hope his defensive deficiencies are due to his injuries though. I have a lot more faith the EM and SM will adjust their games then SS and AT becoming a force at the 5.

[houstontxbrave]

I believe this is also a good post except I believe we have good guards, especially when DSE gets back to the lineup. Where we could use a horse is at the 5! After WE, who is a real 4 IMO, there seems to be a huge drop-off in production on both sides of the floor. EM's game is starting to come around and on D he is spectacular. SM needs to be a bit more patient and stop forcing the situation and let the game come to him when he plays point. I hope his defensive deficiencies are due to his injuries though. I have a lot more faith the EM and SM will adjust their games then SS and AT becoming a force at the 5.

I think the most glaring differences between this squad and 06 is Sommerville and the coaching staff. POB other then his emergence in the Valley tourney was not incredible prior to that, the guards were all decent and I would take Ruffin, Franklin and Bennett over SM, EM DSE and Warren its not by a lot... well other then they could shoot where EM cant.

But you are right SFP, the presence at the 5 is bigtime, but the production overall is not huge between what we get on the stat sheet, the intimdation of shots and the length of POB is glaringly missing.

But we could have a Sommerville in Brown, Sommerville came into his own is when he stopped jacking up 18+ ft jumpers and got on the block and went to work. I think Brown can do that but who knows where his head is. Brown is capable of carrying this team, and with the scoring of Warren, and the athletic skills of Roberts this team has components needed to be successful. Where though is the minds is anyone guess.

The assistants is where we really are missing a huge piece and I think that is a large part of the mental part of our team that is missing.

[oilerpimp]

the overwhelming majority of fans are more like tornado, and me

I thought personal attacks on other posters was forbidden?...Please don't speak for me or other posters.

[ER3]

I thought personal attacks on other posters was forbidden?...Please don't speak for me or other posters.

Ha! Classic!

[Da Coach]

Please- where is there any personal attack?
No names were mentioned- so it can't be considered personal (unlike the comments directed specifically at da coach and tornado)
And also, there is no attack-
And finally, nowhere is any of this directed at you- so how can you or anyone perceive that I am speaking for you?

Opinions, however, are allowed and encouraged. That's all my post was. And I am entitled to my opinon as much as the negative posters.

[wizard1]

Les's comments to Reynolds

IMO JL would be well advised to be a little more transparent. His old coach DV was quite open and JL could learn from his example. Not discussing game plans and starting lineups is fine. However, JL doesn't really reveal much in his shows or otherwise and uses the same old phrases over and over when he is interviewed. Another comment,WHY DOES JL INSIST ON CLOSED PRACTICES?

Bradley coaches from Stowell thru Molinari have had open practices except
for certain occasions where strategy, games plans, or new offenses were involved.

This served to really bring fans and contributor much closer to the program.

Good public relations is a necessary ingredient in coaching.