Alvin Brooks leaving Bradley staff

[Da Coach]

Alvin Brooks III says thanks to Jim Les, staff, Bradley and the fans-

http://twitter.com/Coach_AB3/status/13129763222

[ER3]

The better programs recruit all over! The top HS kids are playing away from home more and more. Do any of us know who else AB had looking at us down in TX. There's plenty of talent down there. There are a lot of you guys just speculating and if you are going negative wouldn't you want to know the whole picture before going there. AB3 seemed to have loved his job and I bet you the players really liked him. Of course there are those out there who like to roll everything in filth to be happy. You just have to take a stab.

I'm not implying that we should completely stop recruiting any kids that happen to be from somewhere other than a 5 state region in the Midwest...
I just think that the Midwest needs to be our overwhelming focus...and that we need to have as many people on our staff with as many connections in this region as posssible.
It just isn't realistic, IMO, to think that a small, private school from Peoria, IL was going to become a real factor in recruiting kids from Texas...kids that could truly play, anyway. I just never felt like we were ever going to get a decent return on our investment in recruiting that area as heavily as we did while AB III was here...and I just believe that a guy with more solid Midwest connections would have much, much more success in that role at BU than a guy with connections in Texas, Louisiana, Nevada, etc...

Not insulting AB III or the time he put in...I just think we'd be better served refocusing more of our efforts closer to home...not all of our efforts...just much more of them...

[amckillip]

Yes, playing time is #1, that goes without saying. But to think that kids are smart enough to know what they are getting into when they pick a school is naive. They all think they're going to play a lot and make a splash.

Just compare the transfers that BU has had and you can see that the majority are not guys from the midwest. Maybe there's a correlation there, I'm just sayin.....

Haha, your allowing an extremely small sample size to assume a trend. I'm going to look at SIU and say that players from the midwest are MORE likely to transfer, which would be true if I only look at that population.

[Future Walk-On]

Even though JC is a non-coaching position can't he still help at practices?

Yeah definitely. They stretch the duties of the Director of Basketball Operations to be like a 4th Assistant....without breaking the rules and him actually being called a 4th assistant.

[SaintLouBrave22]

First of all I thought Depaul played much better with Webster as head coach. I thought he did fine. I also think we have a top assistant already hired so we don't have to hit a home run.

But..... I think Tracy Webster is one of the most over rated assistants I can think of. He didn't do anything at Illinois, and after he left and Jerrance Howard took over Illinois started getting recruits. Then he went to UK coach was fired, went to Depaul coach was fired. I really don't think he is a good recruiter. I would rather have the lower ranked David Booth if we were getting someone from Depaul.

PS Sorry this hits a hot button for me. I am not a fan.

And I am sure just like Chuck had nothing to do with our Sweet 16 run, TWeb had nothing to do with their Final Four run...

[Jack Bauer]

If we bring Webster on board, we go from having one of the worst top-to-bottom staffs to arguably the best. I just don't understand why it took so long to give ourselves the best opportunity to win!

[Big Mike]

If we bring Webster on board, we go from having one of the worst top-to-bottom staffs to arguably the best. I just don't understand why it took so long to give ourselves the best opportunity to win!

Can we just be happy that it is improving by the day and leave it at that?

[Jack Bauer]

Can we just be happy that it is improving by the day and leave it at that?

Hey - I'm ecstatic with the new addition (Platt), and the potential of adding Webster. But I think the question needs to be asked to make sure we don't fall into the situation again of having a staff not qualified to coach at the high school level. When we go out and win 25 games next year with this new staff, it is really going to make one wonder why it took so long! Hopefully we're welcoming Webster to the Hilltop soon...

[shaunguth]

When we go out and win 25 games next year with this new staff, it is really going to make one wonder why it took so long!

And if we don't, it will be all JL's fault. However, if we do......it will be entirely because of the new staff.

[SFP]

Can we just be happy that it is improving by the day and leave it at that?

And if we don't, it will be all JL's fault. However, if we do......it will be entirely because of the new staff.

My sentiments exactly!

[BUfan14]

And if we don't, it will be all JL's fault. However, if we do......it will be entirely because of the new staff.

I agree with the point of your statement. If we have the great season I think we will, I hope the new staff gets their deserved credit, but I also hope JL gets his credit too because he built this team.

In team sports, it is a total effort from all coaches, all players, and all fans/others involved, so all involved deserve some credit. But if the head coach is going to take all the bashing and is ultimately in charge of the whole operation, he also deserves a good portion of the credit too. I think JL and his new staff together will have a great year!

[BUfan14]

Just a though....I know this isn't going to happen, but what about Vinny Del Negro to fill the assistant position? In all likelihood, although unfair and I don't like it, he is going to get fired. He has one year and I believe 2 million on his deal left.

He has head coaching experience, he is a classy guy, he has to have Chicago connections from being the Bulls head coach for 2 years. He also seems to be very good at developing young players in guys like Rose, Noah, Gibson. Plus he is a known hard worker who doesn't allow distractions, motivates young guys, and would bring instant recognition and a big name to the program.

Now he probably wouldn't even consider doing it, and it won't happen, but just a fun idea to toss out...

[Jack Bauer]

And if we don't, it will be all JL's fault. However, if we do......it will be entirely because of the new staff.

Well if you stink one year with a group of players, and bring in new coaches for those players and win, who should be credited? If management isn't meeting sales goals, and the board decides to replace management and they exceed sales goals, who gets credit? If we're good next year, are you going to give zero credit to our new coaches?

All we've done now is eliminate the 'staff' excuse. It was never said publicly, but the turnover speaks for itself. We've actually put ourselves at or above the rest of the MVC now...and that's a GOOD thing! So now we're eliminating reasons to lose. If we lose next year it won't be because of a weak staff. It seems according to your logic, a head coach can never be held accountable. I wonder why that is...or maybe it's only certain people...

[Jack Bauer]

Just a though....I know this isn't going to happen, but what about Vinny Del Negro to fill the assistant position? In all likelihood, although unfair and I don't like it, he is going to get fired. He has one year and I believe 2 million on his deal left.

He has head coaching experience, he is a classy guy, he has to have Chicago connections from being the Bulls head coach for 2 years. He also seems to be very good at developing young players in guys like Rose, Noah, Gibson. Plus he is a known hard worker who doesn't allow distractions, motivates young guys, and would bring instant recognition and a big name to the program.

Now he probably wouldn't even consider doing it, and it won't happen, but just a fun idea to toss out...

Yes...several million dollars a year for the Bulls to likely a five-figure, or low six-figure salary for a school he has nothing to do with. Or he could be an assistant or in the front office for an NBA team for probably close to what our top assistant or even head coach makes. Yes, I am sure Vinny will be interested!

[BUfan14]

Well if you stink one year with a group of players, and bring in new coaches for those players and win, who should be credited? If management isn't meeting sales goals, and the board decides to replace management and they exceed sales goals, who gets credit? If we're good next year, are you going to give zero credit to our new coaches?

All we've done now is eliminate the 'staff' excuse. It was never said publicly, but the turnover speaks for itself. We've actually put ourselves at or above the rest of the MVC now...and that's a GOOD thing! So now we're eliminating reasons to lose. If we lose next year it won't be because of a weak staff. It seems according to your logic, a head coach can never be held accountable. I wonder why that is...or maybe it's only certain people...

I don't think anyone said he shouldn't be held accountable. But like I said, the new staff will get their credit, but does that mean JL won't get his? That is not fair.

Also you say some won't give JL blame if we lose, but you just said you won't give these new assistants blame if we lose? "If we lose next year it won't be because of a weak staff." 2 way street isn't it? Everyone involved will take their share of responsibility good or bad, but the most always goes to the head coach. That means credit for good things too. If we do bad, although I think there is no way this happens, it will everyone's responsibility, that means JL and the whole staff.