If Les is less, then who is more?

[BradleyBrave]

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 Steve 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.

Any hire is a crapshoot, nothing is guaranteed whether you're hiring Jim Les or Roy Williams.

Not sure there's any evidence to support your theory since I would say about 99% of head coaches were assistants prior to becoming the head coach.

[peoriakid]

Wayne McClain is still out there. He should have some pretty strong recruiting connections by now.

[BradleyBrave]

Wayne McClain is still out there. He should have some pretty strong recruiting connections by now.

His connections are as strong now as they were 8 years ago. I don't think he leaves campus to recruit anywhere except Peoria. He won't be a candidate whenever the position opens.

[dogsrus]

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.

I agree it is wrong to label ANY fan that follows the Braves. I also think its wrong to suggest that IF some are unhappy they are "wallowing in misery". I can't even believe someone would suggest that some fans "enjoy it." That is ludicrous. The "misery" if there is any, is in the results or better yet, lack of results of the team. We want THAT to change.

I have often stated my hat goes off to those that can enjoy the results that we are experiencing currently. I only wish I could.

I'm not happy with the results but I'm FAR from wallowing in any misery. I, as what I feel are a majority, feel we could/can do better be it with Jim or someone else.

We voice our displeasure because we care.....plain and simple.

[dogsrus]

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.

I agree and it allready has started to wane and I too refuse to stand by idly and see it die. Watch the next home game....its going to be a ghost town compared to what it SHOULD be.

I wouldn't worry about those that speak up about how they feel...I'd worry about those that stay home and keep quiet.

[AZ BU Fan]

Wichita State found a big winner from freaking Winthrop

Drake found a Pac 10 Asst Coach

UNI brought in asst coach from North Dakota/N Dakota State who then became Head Coach (BTY UNI MBB had a 3.0 cumulative GPA last semester)

MSU brought in asst coach from Purdue

I can't believe the big boys on this Forum state no one can name/find a replacement for JL at a school with the 'assets' of the Bradley MBB Program, with all the talent you tell us we have back next year.

BU can't find a top assistant from top schools in the Pac 10, Big 12, ACC, or Big East looking to be a head coach in the Valley?

C'mon, enough of the 'scare' tactics.

[dogsrus]

Wichita State found a big winner from freaking Winthrop

Drake found a Pac 10 Asst Coach

UNI brought in asst coach from North Dakota/N Dakota State who then became Head Coach (BTY UNI MBB had a 3.0 cumulative GPA last semester)

MSU brought in asst coach from Purdue

I can't believe the big boys on this Forum state no one can name/find a replacement for JL at a school with the 'assets' of the Bradley MBB Program, with all the talent you tell us we have back next year.

BU can't find a top assistant from top schools in the Pac 10, Big 12, ACC, or Big East looking to be a head coach in the Valley?

C'mon, enough of the 'scare' tactics.

With all due resepct I don't think that any one of those coaches save for UNI has really proven themselves quite yet.

DU, nice little winning streak.....WSU has yet to go where we want JL to go and MSU is FAR from at the top.

[AZ BU Fan]

Would you agree all four of these coaches are doing better than BU in the Valley in their second-third seasons so far than JL in his 8th? Are any of these schools unhappy with their coaches/programs right now?

It is a crapshoot when you hire a successful assisstant coach. Just as it was hiring an ex player with NO COACHING/RECRUITING EXPERIENCE in HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE.

[BradleyBrave]

With all due resepct I don't think that any one of those coaches save for UNI has really proven themselves quite yet.

DU, nice little winning streak.....WSU has yet to go where we want JL to go and MSU is FAR from at the top.

Keno was an assistant and won the MVC. Phelps might not be the best example, but Drake has done something we haven't done in a long time, and they are ahead of us in the standings (for the time being).

But yes, enough of the 'scare' tactics is right. We hear time and again on this board how great BU is, how great the new facilities are going to be, and I think most of what is said in that regard is true. BU is a great place. So trying to spin that a program located in Peoria, IL (a hotbed of basketball talent in itself) just 3 hours from Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, that has over 100 years of nationally recognized tradition, in a top 10 conference, that has great local fan support couldn't draw a quality pool of candidates is pure BS, and hypocritical if that's what is truly believed.

[Grassman]

Keno was an assistant and won the MVC. Phelps might not be the best example, but Drake has done something we haven't done in a long time, and they are ahead of us in the standings (for the time being).

But yes, enough of the 'scare' tactics is right. We hear time and again on this board how great BU is, how great the new facilities are going to be, and I think most of what is said in that regard is true. BU is a great place. So trying to spin that a program located in Peoria, IL (a hotbed of basketball talent in itself) just 3 hours from Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, that has over 100 years of nationally recognized tradition, in a top 10 conference, that has great local fan support couldn't draw a quality pool of candidates is pure BS, and hypocritical if that's what is truly believed.

Yea, what he said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[electricmayhem]

Would you agree all four of these coaches are doing better than BU in the Valley in their second-third seasons so far than JL in his 8th? Are any of these schools unhappy with their coaches/programs right now?

It is a crapshoot when you hire a successful assisstant coach. Just as it was hiring an ex player with NO COACHING/RECRUITING EXPERIENCE in HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE.

I wouldn't agree with this entirely. Let's not be too quick to anoint Cuonzo Martin as a better coach than JL. They had a nice non-con season against a cupcake schedule, save for games against Tulsa and Auburn.

I think you need a few years before you can accurately give a comparison of coaches...

[Dallas Brave]

A properly run search would attract some great candidates. BU is an attractive program for a coach on his way up. There are some solid, young players for an incoming coach to build with, new facilities, fan support is tremendous, and the mid-west is talent rich for recruiting. If you are a top-notch assistant at a top 25 program which has a coach that will be there for a long time, why wouldn't you jump at a chance to go to Bradley for your first head coaching opportunity?

I'd give JL one more year to raise his coaching to the next level. The program has been in a holding pattern for 3 years and is actually backing up this year. But, if the new AD thought it best for the program to make a move after this season, I would not have much issue with that decision.

[electricmayhem]

A properly run search would attract some great candidates. BU is an attractive program for a coach on his way up. There are some solid, young players for an incoming coach to build with, new facilities, fan support is tremendous, and the mid-west is talent rich for recruiting. If you are a top-notch assistant at a top 25 program which has a coach that will be there for a long time, why wouldn't you jump at a chance to go to Bradley for your first head coaching opportunity?

I'd give JL one more year to raise his coaching to the next level. The program has been in a holding pattern for 3 years and is actually backing up this year. But, if the new AD thought it best for the program to make a move after this season, I would not have much issue with that decsion.

This pretty much says it all. Well done, Dallas -

[Dallas Brave]

This pretty much says it all. Well done, Dallas -

The timing of your article was spot on to generate a lot of postings. Did you write it before or after yesterday's game?

[squirrelgotdead]

Keno was an assistant and won the MVC. Phelps might not be the best example, but Drake has done something we haven't done in a long time, and they are ahead of us in the standings (for the time being).

But yes, enough of the 'scare' tactics is right. We hear time and again on this board how great BU is, how great the new facilities are going to be, and I think most of what is said in that regard is true. BU is a great place. So trying to spin that a program located in Peoria, IL (a hotbed of basketball talent in itself) just 3 hours from Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, that has over 100 years of nationally recognized tradition, in a top 10 conference, that has great local fan support couldn't draw a quality pool of candidates is pure BS, and hypocritical if that's what is truly believed.

Drake could finish ahead of BU two times in the last 3 years. That right there should be more than enough. I'd think a monkey with one eye and riding a bicycle could get better results at Bradley.