If Les is less, then who is more?

[Bravesfan]

I think LES has years left on his contract and there is no way he will be bought out because BU needs all the money it can get to pay for all the new facilities that are or have been built.
We need to look back at what transpired when the last coaching change was made, we ended up losing Tucker, Tisby and eventually Granger which put this program back a good 4 years , how many players would we lose this time and are there any better candidates for the job this time?

Yes we did, which is again why a team with upside potential like Bradley would NEVER fire a coach mid-season! This would be a train wreck for this current group if we did that unless we bring in a Bill Self type, and even then some players would leave because they don't agree with his coaching philosophy!

[Bravesfan]

I've heard about all the wait until next year I can take. It aint gonna get any better, its as good as its gonna get. Its hard for me to understand how many loosers there are on this board, people who accept loosing without wanting to put up a fight and get it taken care of. I will not accept it under any circumstance. Its just not part of my program. We need a major change and I have a feeling JG is on board.

That's not true and you know it! The people backing Les are not losers (learn how to spell loser, btw), and no, they don't accept losing either! They are fans just like any other. It's just they are willing to give Les more time to show how good this team can be next year with mostly all experienced players coming back. I find it difficult to believe we will not be a better team next year and will learn from our mistakes of this year. If you don't believe that then obviously you missed the 2006 and 2007 seasons which certainly showed Les's coaching capabilities.

[Bravesfan]

There are plenty of very good coaches and assistant coaches across the the country who would jump at the opportunity to coach at Bradley. If you don't believe that then you are really selling BU short.

Yeah, but are these assistant coaches proven coaches? Just ask the Chicago Bears. They have hired coordinator after coordinator and look what happens. Not that they have been bad coaches, but none of them have been very consistent.

And of course one of them (Dave Wannstedt) goes back to the college ranks and is having a very good run at Pittsburgh, coming one big game short from a BCS appearance.

My point is you don't know anything about assistants until you see them in action for a few years. The Gonzaga pipeline of assistants and until recently the SIU pipeline of assistants have been the exception to the rule.

[Bravesfan]

I'd have to agree that there will be pressure on JL but I'd have to think they will give him another year. JG will do what is in the best interest of the University and number one is the ability to raise our endowment which allows us to recruit and retain top notch professors, second is the ability to recruit the best HS students we can. She knows that a well ran top notch basketball program gives her the ability to achieve her goals more easily.

I agree with coach here. There are tons of alumni who give money to the school where the basketball program is not a reason they donate. They like to hear that the program is doing great but trust me they do not follow the team like the bunch on this site. I know quite a few of them and btw..they are the ones that are probably the most successful professionally speaking.

Excellent points SFP! I think most people forget that the actual mission of a university is to educate people, not to recruit people that can only shoot a ball into a hoop! And JL gets high marks on recruiting good people who have the potential for a good future outside of basketball. Yes, there has been a couple blemishes on that front, but no more than most coaches have to deal with.

Now if it came down to keeping Les or hiring a coach like say Calvin Sampson, well of course you know which one I'd take in a heartbeat! I'd gladly keep Les and sacrifice the potential for 8 straight NCAA appearances (not that Les can't possibly do that one day! ) in exchange for a jerk of a person like Sampson, who would ultimately wreck our program for decades while bringing in criminals to play on our team! How well did that work out for you Indiana?!

No, I'm willing to stick with Les for at least another year to show us how good this team can be. I think next year will pleasantly surprise a lot of people around here!

[BradleyBrave]

Yeah, but are these assistant coaches proven coaches? Just ask the Chicago Bears. They have hired coordinator after coordinator and look what happens. Not that they have been bad coaches, but none of them have been very consistent.

And of course one of them (Dave Wannstedt) goes back to the college ranks and is having a very good run at Pittsburgh, coming one big game short from a BCS appearance.

My point is you don't know anything about assistants until you see them in action for a few years. The Gonzaga pipeline of assistants and until recently the SIU pipeline of assistants have been the exception to the rule.

Give me a break. We hired a guy who was a stock broker last time.

[BradleyBrave]

I like the thought of Montgomery. Does anyone think Chris Collins is ready?

Some goof on my site said we should hire Bobby Knight! OUT!

I don't think Chris Collins would have any interest in coaching in the MVC. He'll sit at the right hand of Coach K until a BCS program comes knocking, or Coach K retires.

[BradleyBrave]

Oustanding list BB!! These are all great choices but I'm confident McCaffery and Robinson would never come to BU. Donahue and Mihalich would be logical candidates due to their East Coast roots; I'm quite sure new AD Cross knows Donahue. I would not want them since I question their ability to recruit in the Midwest.

My rankings of your great choices would be:

1) Montgomery -- Hopefully, he got a taste of just great BU is when MSU visited a few years ago. One of the top assistants in the country. I'd love to have him!

2) Sutton -- Consistent excellence at ORU could even make him a #1 choice. I'm thinking he'd want bigger than Bradley though.

3) Giacolletti -- A natural choice due to his local roots. Love his mid-major pedigree at Gonzaga. I'd choose him over Rice strictly for recruiting reasons.

4) Gard -- Another assistant to a great coach with a mid-major and Midwest background.

5) Jirsa -- Probably learned a lot from Tubby through the years, but not a Midwest guy.

Not sure a guy being from the midwest should have any influence on a hiring. If you can coach, you can coach, and if you can recruit, you can recruit. We have players from all over the country, not just Illinois or the midwest. Recruiting players to BU has never been a problem.

[afan]

afan, this is not true- if anything, what's proven is that the majority of people who are not unhappy with a situation are usually silent. It is much more likely that if someone is displeased, he will voice that displeasure.

I can also speak as the administrator here, that I get many PMs from members who don't post, or emails from guests on this board and the overwhelming majority are not the angry, unhappy fans you think they are. They generally condemn all the negativity here, and ask us to keep things more positive.
Nobody likes losing, and before the negative posters try to spin my words and suggest I am saying that these fans are happy to support mediocrity, that's not at all the case. But there are a lot more fans who will continue their support of Bradley that you think. And as long as there is solid support of the current coach, don't expect to see a change.

Coach.. 7out 0f 10 complaints are never heard from. JL is my first choice for coach! The fact is that he is just not getting the job done, or is he even coming close. I have no agenda. Read every post that I have ever written. I support JL. I just feel that after 8 years there should have been more accomplished. There is no agenda on my part......Simply stating a fact!

[afan]

3 or 4?

This would be my list for after next year dogs. I like JL and prefer to keep him but if next year is not a top 3 or 4 year then.......

Braves4life...you are already settleing for a 3 or4 finish for next year? Noooooooooooo!!

[chitown fanatic]

afan, this is not true- if anything, what's proven is that the majority of people who are not unhappy with a situation are usually silent. It is much more likely that if someone is displeased, he will voice that displeasure.

I can also speak as the administrator here, that I get many PMs from members who don't post, or emails from guests on this board and the overwhelming majority are not the angry, unhappy fans you think they are. They generally condemn all the negativity here, and ask us to keep things more positive.
Nobody likes losing, and before the negative posters try to spin my words and suggest I am saying that these fans are happy to support mediocrity, that's not at all the case. But there are a lot more fans who will continue their support of Bradley that you think. And as long as there is solid support of the current coach, don't expect to see a change.

DC, you tend to make mention of these "mystery" fans who send you PM's and other guests, but the ones who sit idly by and watch are akin to lemmings in my book. They haven't the guts or knowledge necessary to make their own decisions so they write private posts to people who they know share their viewpoints...how sad and a perfect example of how the status quo will continue to be the rule at BU if true. Change only happens when enough people realize they must speak out and be heard(or not speak and not show up at Carver ) Indifference is next and that is worse than either of the above. That exists at In st, Evansville, Drake, and even Mo st to some extent. if we go there, we're really in trouble. We need to win the next three games and turn this around. The talent has been there, play with the desire and effort they have shown at times this season, and we will get it done. Come out either half expecting to have it given to you and we will lose and lose badly. If Les isn't the guy who can at least get them ready to play each night, I'll take anybody who can. Look at Drake. They switch to a 3 guard offense and go 6-1! It's the Drake, for crying out loud! This is your dad's old Drake, the Drake who is terrible, perennial play-in Drake(not the drake of a few years ago), the drake who chucks 3's and prays...and yet, it is this Drake that is ahead of us in the standings. It's time to show some stones and thrash the bulldogs Tuesday night...no mercy sensay! Get the sweep and move on. The Drake!!!!! C'mon!!!!!!!!!!

[Da Coach]

You are free to have your perspective.
But not all fans like to wallow in the misery that some do.
There are many who enjoy the games and will continue to go and support the team regardless of what happens. Rather than to label them lemmings and suggest they are stupid, I prefer to think of them as solid fans who's loyalty has built and distinguished this program. Every school would like to have this kind of support.


And there is no mystery- just check the traffic on this site- all day today there have been 80+ people online despite the loss yesterday. Most of them are solid fans who support the Braves.
I just checked and ISU's board currently has 6 people on it.

[chitown fanatic]

You are free to have your perspective.
But not all fans like to wallow in the misery that some do.
There are many who enjoy the games and will continue to go and support the team regardless of what happens. Rather than to label them lemmings and suggest they are stupid, I prefer to think of them as solid fans who's loyalty has built and distinguished this program. Every school would like to have this kind of support.

Believe me, I don't enjoy feeling this way about the school I graduated from and of which I support with routine 300 mile roundtrips to watch games. But sooner or later, support(vocal or not) will wane and that is something that those of us who speak up can't tolerate. It's not in our nature to watch something die without a fight.

[Bravesfan]

Give me a break. We hired a guy who was a stock broker last time.

I understand that. But that does not mean having experience as an assistant coach is the same as having experience as a head coach.

[BradleyBrave]

I understand that. But that does not mean having experience as an assistant coach is the same as having experience as a head coach.

Not sure what point you're trying to make here.

[Bravesfan]

And your point is what?

That hiring an assistant coach is a crapshoot more often than not. It can work sometimes or it could be a failure other times. If Bradley ever wanted to fire Les, they should at least go for a good young head coach from a low or mid-major school that has already proven themselves at that level.

A coach like Scott Sutton at ORU would be an example of a good hire because he has that team in contention every year, though again he is an awful conference, but you get what I mean. Any other assistant hired will not necessarily be any better than who we have now.

And again, this is all a moot point anyway since it is doubtful Les is going anywhere anytime soon.