Let's make a successful season from last night's effort as a baseline

[peoriaspitfire]

I think if we can play with the effort shown last night we have a shot at going 6-1 at home and 2-3 on the road for the rest of the conference season. That leaves us 10-8 in the MVC.

If (and it is a big if) we can do that, I would call it a huge success.

Only if that's good for 3rd place or better, but based on what we have seen so far...yes I have to agree that's better than a lot of other possible outcomes...

[basketball nut]

At this point, we have a much better shot at playing on Thursday than not...at least at a 40% chance IMO.

And so do CU, DU, SIU, MSU, INST-I have not remembered this much parity in the Valley in a long time. Yes there are the top 3 but then everyone else except EU

[lefty]

We have played the toughest part of our Valley season with road games at UNI and Wichita St. over as those 2 teams are the no.1 and no. 2 teams , keep improving and playing defense and we will win a lot of games to finish out the season at 10-8 which should be good for 4th or 5th. I hope our best basketball is in front of us.
C.Buescher said something interesting last night about our players;
T.Brown is really playing in his 1st season as far as experience
A.Warren is coming back from not playing for a full season
W.Egolf is also playing in his 1st season as far as experience
C.Roberts is in only his 2nd season of D-1
S.Maniscalco is once again healthy and playing better because of it
DSE is playing in his 1st season and just came back from injury
These are not excuses to lose but more like reasons why we are or have not been consistent .
Something that I was not really thinking about until last night so hopefully we are getting closer to a much improved product and the game against MO.St. on saturday could go a long way toward building on this improvement.

and next year TB will only be in second season
AW has only one season since coming off injury
WE is only in his second season
Good Lord C-Rob? if we use this one we should never go after a juco

and so on.......I get tired of Chuck making excuses.....he says JL never uses them. JL doesn't have to.

I understand all the points but the problems we have aren't just rust and inexperience

[AZ BU Fan]

BUB Alum

I believe everyone wants and hopes more success for BU's tea and JL...

There is nothing personal in the posts suggesting BU replace JL. These posters haven't seen enough in JL's coaching, or his team's performance, or his recruiting, to justify BU continuing down this path. They are aware of the risks of bringing in a new coach but have decided the risks/rewards are worth it vs staying the course with more of the same.

I think lots of folks are thinking with their hearts and want badly to believe BU has turned the corner after playing some good minutes ofbasketball in the UNI loss. Lets set the bar lower....improved play, aggresssive play, smarter play, and playing for forty minutes.

I am not hoping for a miracle this season, no MVC Tourney, NCAA, NIT, CBI, or CIT. Just improvement in player development and intensity. Next year how can there be any more excuses? Either the coaching staff is able to get the program to the top of the Valley or the administration should try something else (if their goal is for the BU program to be on top of the Valley and in postseason). If no success next year, I just can't see how more years of JL would make a difference.

[BUBalum05]

BUB Alum

I believe everyone wants and hopes more success for BU's tea and JL...

There is nothing personal in the posts suggesting BU replace JL. These posters haven't seen enough in JL's coaching, or his team's performance, or his recruiting, to justify BU continuing down this path. They are aware of the risks of bringing in a new coach but have decided the risks/rewards are worth it vs staying the course with more of the same.

I think lots of folks are thinking with their hearts and want badly to believe BU has turned the corner after playing some good minutes ofbasketball in the UNI loss. Lets set the bar lower....improved play, aggresssive play, smarter play, and playing for forty minutes.

I am not hoping for a miracle this season, no MVC Tourney, NCAA, NIT, CBI, or CIT. Just improvement in player development and intensity. Next year how can there be any more excuses? Either the coaching staff is able to get the program to the top of the Valley or the administration should try something else (if their goal is for the BU program to be on top of the Valley and in postseason). If no success next year, I just can't see how more years of JL would make a difference.

AZ BU Fan - You missed the optimism of the post. This was how we can look at Monday's game to build on to turn the season around. This wasn't intended as how JL can save his job. I'm just putting a pitcher of Kool-aid out there to see if anyone is thirsty.

[AZ BU Fan]

Sorry,

I have a really bad Kool Aid Hangover today and wasn't thinking straight.

I vote for the .9% possibility BU runs off a lot in a row in the LH of the season.

BU could really use a vocal leader on the team who can fire this team up in the press and draw a line in the sand.

[BUBalum05]

Agreed on needing a leader. I think SM fits the bill, but needs to step up this season and be the stabilizer. He has the skills, runs the point which should be the leader position, has the pedigree, and JL should be able to groom him well.