Wessler- Better days are not ahead

[wizard1]

Wessler-BetterDays-----

Coach---Thanks for the respnse. I certainly know what a loyal fan is and I have never doubted that you are one of the loyalist BU fans and want nothing but the best for them. I share this with you. I only wanted to "tweek"you position on the current situation and KW and aks that you give serious thought to this situation which I know you will do. Thanks again.

[Bradleyguy10]

He seems to dismiss the effects of the injuries to DD and DSE, as if they should have no effect.

He has a whole paragraph that acknowledges injuries and suspensions. Did you read the article?

I do think DD and DSE have affected us but we were playing good basketball w/out DD and DSE is a freshmen that was 7th or 8th off the bench at the time. That is not the reason for this season to spiral out of control...it's something else and it's something deeper.

[Out of Balance]

What did he say that was untrue? That better days are not ahead. How does he know that for sure? I've seen many bad seasons in college basketball turn on a dime over the years. Sometimes things just all of the sudden "click" for a team and they go on a run. Heck even during Coach Mo's second season in 1993, Bradley finished the season on a 5-2 run after starting 6-14. That propelled them to a 23-8 NIT season the following year, which was the first of three consectutive 20 win seasons.

So I don't know about anyone else, but I for one am certainly not ready to write off this season yet!

I'm not either BUT there has got to be a lot of changes with JL, the coach's and the player's NOW

[dogsrus]

Let's remember that as a columnist- KW is supposed to give his opinion- which he did...

My question to those blind loyalists would be- what did he say that was untrue or attacking the program?

I don't see any attacks- and before anyone says I am a fair-weathered fan only- I have close ties and a history with the program and have for many years..

It is what it is... and right now, it isn't very good- FACT

Braveman...I agree with what you say save for calling SOME "blind loyalists" (BL).....even if you didn't mean it in a deragatory fashion (which I'm sure you didn't) it doesn't seem fair.

I don't think we can call some a BL anymore then we want or should be called Les Haters or program attackers, etc.

[molar50]

Les staying on as a coach

Naturally, the natives are restless and the drums are beating for changes. I think our expectations were raised after the University of Illinois game. Unfortunately, that is the last game our team has good bb for 40 minutes. Several things have caused this team to the losses and I am not sure how much each has contributed to these losses. The mystery of Steve Merfeld leaving, the suspensions of Taylor Brown, the injuries to DD and DSE have hurt. Our team shoots free throws poorly and our offense often passes up open shots and dribbles the ball too long. I think you just have to hope Les will find some answers. I do think we will be much better next year, but I have doubts we will finish above 4th place again.

[bigdaddystuck]

I/we are reminded on here all the time that I/we are not experts, because we are not that involved with the program or coaches etc...

Before this season, many people who make their living, (and I am willing to say probably better judges than I am being a fan), writing/following college bball chose BU to finish 6th or lower in the Valley. Many on here ripped those writers. Maybe, just maybe, those people had a better handle on how good the team was/is. Maybe they questioned the abilities of the coaches to put it all together. Maybe we should have listened/ paid closer attention to these "experts". If we had maybe we wouldn't have had such high expectations for this team.

Not ready to give up on this team and coach. However, I do think that change has to happen and I don't know if it can wait until after the season. I am not saying fire the staff. What I am saying is scrap whatever is the plan because what we have is not working!

[BradleyJD]

Not ready to give up on this team and coach. However, I do think that change has to happen and I don't know if it can wait until after the season. I am not saying fire the staff. What I am saying is scrap whatever is the plan because what we have is not working!

Agreed.

Most of the people on here who have been worrying about Les and the BU program have the same thoughts.

We need to change stuff up. What we are doing right now is not working.

[Da Coach]

He has a whole paragraph that acknowledges injuries and suspensions. Did you read the article?

I do think DD and DSE have affected us but we were playing good basketball w/out DD and DSE is a freshmen that was 7th or 8th off the bench at the time. That is not the reason for this season to spiral out of control...it's something else and it's something deeper.

Here is KW's entire paragraph where you say he acknowledges the injuries-
Bradley is not the only Valley team with an injury or two, or a player suspension that cut down on the rotation.
Injuries happen. So do suspensions. So you play with a shorter bench than you’d like. And yes, over a 30-game regular season, even the best teams encounter nights when they don’t shoot well, or their legs are dead, or they get outhorsed and overwhelmed by a hot or superior opponent.

You may be the one who needs to re-read the article.
The intent of this only mention of injuries is not to acknowledge that they played a part, but to dismiss them as any possible cause for this team's underachieving.
IMO, things like injuries don't always even out as he suggests.

[peoriaillinois]

I actually think KW has been to easy on JL. The team lacks focus and intensity and the ability to maintain it. You can discuss this as a player issue or a team issue but it ultimately is a reflection of the coach. Bradley is playing below their potential and their inability to win games they have in hand will only drive recruits away. It is time for a change for this team JL was a great basketball player but he is not a great coach.

[lefty]

As one who has defended the Journal writers and as well as been critical of the "kool-aid" drinkers on this board....I did think the article while truthful was a little harsh as well.
I mean it's not like I'll never read the paper again but I thought he stated the obvious. I'm guessing JL knows they need to change something to be successful...

And while KW has pretty much declared the season over I will reserve judgement until the season is over. I don't see it turning around the way we have played the last several games but we still have to play the games to know for sure....and I know it's KW's opinion so it is what it is

[chitown fanatic]

Last night's SIU loss gives me hope that we can still avoid the abyss. get shellacked Tuesday and then start our annual mini-run shortly thereafter. There's a great thread that describes many of us(maybe most-including me unfortunately) on VT. funny stuff and worth a read. There will be better days ahead in the next month...just not Tuesday, no way, no how.

[Da Coach]

By the way- if injuries do even out, can someone name another team in the MVC the past couple years that has lost a key starter or contributor for the entire season, or for the entire MVC season (other than Jake Kelly-InSU)? In the last 2 years, Bradley has had 3 such key player losses.

I'm still waiting for these things to even out.

[Chico]

I think my biggest mistake is getting on this board during the off season and reading and also contributing to the hype about how good the Braves are going to be once the season starts. But I wouldn't miss it for anything. I hope next season the hype comes true.

[lefty]

By the way- if injuries do even out, can someone name another team in the MVC the past couple years that has lost a key starter or contributor for the entire season, or for the entire MVC season (other than Jake Kelly-InSU)? In the last 2 years, Bradley has had 3 such key player losses.

I'm still waiting for these things to even out.

I never go there DC. Too many ways for folks to justify their answers....Yes they have an impact. Let's look at the rest of the team and how we play as a team....

[Nacho]

Losing Bobby Hill has hurt ISU's depth in front court the last 2 years. He was a starter as a freshman so it's safe to assume he would have been a starter or significant contributor to the last two season's at ISU.