New Wessler piece

[tornado]

all I am saying is that there were a lot of anti-JL opinions and a lot of people who wanted WM...
..and some of those sentiments have been brewing continuously since spring of 2002.
As for what the editors of the PJS thought -- each can draw their own conclusions...but I have seen enough and read enough to believe it was the prevailing opinion of the PJ Star sports editors, that they would have preferred to see WM selected and spent an inordinate amount of space and effort knocking JL and his experience level while also spending an inordinate amount defending and promoting WM.

[srw]

all I am saying is that there were a lot of anti-JL opinions and a lot of people who wanted WM...
..and some of those sentiments have been brewing continuously since spring of 2002.
As for what the editors of the PJS thought -- each can draw their own conclusions...but I have seen enough and read enough to believe it was the prevailing opinion of the PJ Star sports editors, that they would have preferred to see WM selected and spent an inordinate amount of space and effort knocking JL and his experience level while also spending an inordinate amount defending and promoting WM.

I am not sure who the "editors" in 2002 were. As someone who considers KW a quality writer, and a friend, I to this day, can't say he preferred WM, or JL.

I know for a fact I preferred James Jones, who has not done anything to prove me correct.

Jones apparently is still at Yale.

http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/jones_james00.html

One of JL's biggest backers, who is currently a BU employee told me

"Jones will leave in one year for a job in the Big east"

It seems like many here forgot who they preferred

[BradleyBrave]

I preferred Brian Gregory.

[amckillip]

I preferred Brian Gregory.

Didn't he withdraw himself from consideration?

[squirrelgotdead]

Didn't he withdraw himself from consideration?

That's precisely the point. It wasn't one-or-the-other when at the end most were not thrilled with either choice.

So those who say or imply that all anti-JL people were pro-WM people are lying.

[Buesch N Chips]

all will be well and good if Bradley competes for a conference championship.

There are some on here who would say if we do not finish above everyone, including Wichita State, Les should be fired. I'm sure those people loved the article.

I think the timing of it was terrible. We sit at a time where pretty much everyone is optimistic about where the roster sits and the new staff, we are a week from the opening of practice and the hoopla, and an incredibly negative article comes out. It's just such a downer.

[tornado]

Didn't he withdraw himself from consideration?

yes, he did....he was influenced by a WM supporter

and James Jones has done little to suggest he'd have been very effective at BU --he's recruited poorly (although I understand some of that's out of his hands),
and he's not proven to be all that good of coach from strategy & logistics standpoint...

Since 2002, he's 16 games under .500 and has yet to have a single season in those past eight where he's been more than a single game over .500, with zero post-season appearances.
Even in the relatively weak Ivy Conference, he's been above .500 only twice...
PLUS -- given that 20 of his opponents every year are over 300 RPI -- Yale has NOT beaten a single opponent whose RPI was better than 104 since 2005! (RPI 95 Louisiana Tech)..and they haven't beaten a team whose RPI was better than 80 since his interview at BU.
So he may be a very good coach, but nothing he's done since 2002 suggests he proved he's a huge miss on Bradley's end...


In the end I am not likely to sway those from their opinions, so all I can do is stay positive and enjoy the season as always...

[Chico]

That's precisely the point. It wasn't one-or-the-other when at the end most were not thrilled with either choice.

So those who say or imply that all anti-JL people were pro-WM people are lying.

Don't remember anyone saying all anti-JL people were pro-WM people. But it was obvious back then that the JS preferred WM. I would have supported the program no matter who the new coach was, just as I alwas have since I've been a Braves fan. The JS staff, IMO, can't say that.

[tornado]

... I would have supported the program no matter who the new coach was....

I am very glad to hear you say that..
it's exactly how I feel as well....I didn't want to see Dick Versace go, and strongly didn't want to see Jim Molinari go, but was still 100% supportive of whoever would be chosen as our coach....

[BradleyBrave]

I also would have supported BU regardless of who was hired, and will whenever a change occurs again.

[AZ BU Fan]

Hopefully all of the pro and con JL debate will receede into the distant past when BU wins big this year, and next year, and JL & Co. successfully use the new facilities and program progress to out recruit the rest of the Valley.

[patrick_o'brian]

And Notre Dame has fired and hired multiple coaches in an effort to get better. I think it will eventually work out.

Notre Dame has only had 3 different coaches since their most recent glory days. 4 if you count the O'Leary debacle. Davie, Willingham, Weis and now Kelly. Bradley has had the same. Albeck, Molinari, and now Les.

[Future Walk-On]

Notre Dame has only had 3 different coaches since their most recent glory days. 4 if you count the O'Leary debacle. Davie, Willingham, Weis and now Kelly. Bradley has had the same. Albeck, Molinari, and now Les.

I thinking more of in the last 8 years.......where ND has had 3 new coaches and we have had 1

[Braves4Life]

I would much rather be a good team with success and practice in a 600 year old dungeon.

Time will tell if 8 years of suck will be a worthy sacrifice for new facilities.

8 years of suck?!!!! Come on now FWO! I wouldn't call this 8 years of SUCK! It may not be great...... but it sure doesn't suck.

Head coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Bradley (Missouri Valley Conference) (2002??“present)
2002??“2003 Bradley 12??“18 8??“10 T??“5th
2003??“2004 Bradley 15??“16 7??“11 T??“6th
2004??“2005 Bradley 13??“15 6??“12 8th
2005??“2006 Bradley 22??“11 11??“7 T??“5th NCAA Sweet 16
2006??“2007 Bradley 22??“13 10??“8 4th NIT 2nd Round
2007??“2008 Bradley 21??“17 9??“9 T??“5th CBI Finals
2008??“2009 Bradley 21??“15 10??“8 4th CIT Finals
2009??“2010 Bradley 15??“14 9??“9 5th ??“??“
Bradley: 141??“119 70??“74
Total: 141??“119

[AZ BU Fan]

It would be so much easier if BU was real good or real bad. The "averageness" of the past several years is what is driving everyone crazy.....