The State of the Program

[doug shank's crossover]

I'm going to stay away from the "fire the coach" theme and state that there's a bigger issue relative to BU basketball: No buzz. Forgive the slang, but those of you who've been a fan for a while know what I mean. Nevermind the loss against Eastern...pretend we won that game...there's still no buzz around the program in my opinion. Maybe it's the underwhelming "kick-off" programs every Oct...maybe it's the marketing...maybe it's the projection of a mediocre season...maybe it's the lack of student interest compared with other institutions...maybe it's an aging fan-base, or maybe it's just me. I don't have any definitive root cause; I just feel like we're evolving into Drake.

Of course, the good news is that "buzz" comes back quickly when you win - if losing is the only root cause for the lack of excitement.

[BradleyBrave]

Aside from a fluke month and a half in 2006, we haven't won consistently for over 10 years. I think that has a lot to do with it.

[Disturbed]

Aside from a fluke month and a half in 2006, we haven't won consistently for over 10 years. I think that has a lot to do with it.

I say this same thing all the time

[dogsrus]

Aside from a fluke month and a half in 2006, we haven't won consistently for over 10 years. I think that has a lot to do with it.

I wouldn't call that a fluke in the sense that those guys played it and earned it.....its a fluke in the bigger picture or relatively speaking as we haven't come close to that since...but calling it a fluke, while I understand you don't mean it, is a disservice to everyone involved IMO.

[dogsrus]

I'm going to stay away from the "fire the coach" theme and state that there's a bigger issue relative to BU basketball: No buzz. Forgive the slang, but those of you who've been a fan for a while know what I mean. Nevermind the loss against Eastern...pretend we won that game...there's still no buzz around the program in my opinion. Maybe it's the underwhelming "kick-off" programs every Oct...maybe it's the marketing...maybe it's the projection of a mediocre season...maybe it's the lack of student interest compared with other institutions...maybe it's an aging fan-base, or maybe it's just me. I don't have any definitive root cause; I just feel like we're evolving into Drake.

Of course, the good news is that "buzz" comes back quickly when you win - if losing is the only root cause for the lack of excitement.

MY concerns exactly...and have been saying it for 2-3 years. Taking alot of grief for it but holding true to how I believe. NOT a knee-jerk reaction based on individual losses like last nite. Things aren't right....things are broke......yeah nice new facilities and I'm proud of the graduation rates.....


But lets be realisitic......once you get past that stuff its ALL about the product ON the floor and the atmosphere/experience IN the stands. BOTH are taking HUGE hits and apathy is running wild.......

[bake]

I'm going to stay away from the "fire the coach" theme and state that there's a bigger issue relative to BU basketball: No buzz. Forgive the slang, but those of you who've been a fan for a while know what I mean. Nevermind the loss against Eastern...pretend we won that game...there's still no buzz around the program in my opinion. Maybe it's the underwhelming "kick-off" programs every Oct...maybe it's the marketing...maybe it's the projection of a mediocre season...maybe it's the lack of student interest compared with other institutions...maybe it's an aging fan-base, or maybe it's just me. I don't have any definitive root cause; I just feel like we're evolving into Drake.

Of course, the good news is that "buzz" comes back quickly when you win - if losing is the only root cause for the lack of excitement.

WELL SAID! IMO winning will get students and the buzz. The "kick-off" was not good at all, regardless of the reason. I am finding it difficult to think I will invest the time to make every game and, have only missed one home game in 9 years. I took the time to put the Illlini tv schedule in my blackberry!

[BU_EMT128]

Its apathy, plain and simple. Casual fans expect results, and for the last couple seasons the team has not given them any reason to be excited. And if they do give everyone a reason to be a bit excited about the program, it is quickly erased by mediocre play and effort.

Take for example the peak of last year, Bradley beating a then ranking Illinois. There was a buzz, excitement. You walk into the grocery store and hear people talking about it. Then, in a period of 3 weeks, the team wiped the excitement away by losses to the perennial basketball powerhouses of Western Carolina (at home), Loyola (at home), and a debacle at Iowa State.

To make it simple, winning is exciting. Nothing else. In order to begin to generate excitement, losses to teams like Quincy and Eastern are unacceptable. There is a lot of season left to generate excitement, but having hit our "lucky" streak so early in the season, I don't have alot of hope.

[daPAWW1]

This is a Great Thread!

Great post, I absolutely agree - hey alma mater take a cue from the Peoria Chiefs, they don't have a product like Bradley but they know how to market what they have. As a Chief's season ticket holder Rocky does everything possible to make us happy. I feel like for every dollar we invest in the Chiefs we get two back! Take a look Bradley!

As to Bradley basketball, here's what has happened to us, we had 4 seats in Section 4, we asked for an upgrade basically because we donate at a level, far higher than most seat fees in the arena and we heard - nothing! So last year I dropped two tickets and tried to retain the two middle seats just to get their attention - no attention! So this year I didn't renew any seats - their response - no response - who cares!

My response - keep the coach, play four guards, play five centers, play on campus, students come, students go, go DivII, I don't care, but I'm still contributing to the University and waiting for spring!

[real fan]

The state of the program is in worse shape now then it was when Les took over, was hoping with the new asst"s that I would see changes made in the offense like Illinois football, has not happened because Les controls everything and does not recognize the problems, the run to the Sweet 16 was great and it was more about having both an inside and outside game more then his coaching abilities as if he was a better coach that team should have finished 1st or at least one the tour., last nights game was the final straw for me as far as believing he can get the job done, I saw the same dis-organization, lack of fire and losing at home to a team that is just not very good , he once again made excuses about how poorly we warmed up before the game and could see we were not ready at the start, that is his job to have them ready so obviously he is not the person that should be in charge.

[theBUer]

Maybe someone can give me an answer, but does anybody know how long Les's contract is for? This gives me an idea of how much longer he has to ride the ship towards consistency.

I am for giving him a chance the rest of the season, seeing that a buyout would not be in the best financial interest of the university (especially at a time with a major fundraiser, where the deep pocket alums are already tied to that).

[bu fan 9]

He has 4 years left on his contract.

[theBUer]

He has 4 years left on his contract.

Thank you. I gotta imagine that the extension after the S-16 is tacked on there, or else he would have been gone a while ago.

I want results too, but I also understand that it would not be in the best interest of the school to divert resources to buy out his contract.

It may be unpopular, but if his contract is for four more years, I'd let him ride out and hope against hope that he can surprise me again.

[lefty]

You gotta see how the season plays out......if all goes decent(compete for a MVC title and run in MVC tourney) then all is ok for most people.

If the season is poor.......500 or worse then it's really a tough decision. Many give credit to JL for raising the $$ for campus facility.....how much allegiance does BU have for that effort?....I'm under the opinion JL is around next year regardless of the season....buyout and fundraising being the two things that stand in the way.

[Bravesfan]

I wouldn't call that a fluke in the sense that those guys played it and earned it.....its a fluke in the bigger picture or relatively speaking as we haven't come close to that since...but calling it a fluke, while I understand you don't mean it, is a disservice to everyone involved IMO.

Just to clarify, you know I have been one of Les's biggest defenders here the last few years, but I'm just as upset as how he prepared his team for last night as anyone else here, something he admitted to himself as well. Having said this, my question is if 2006 (and 2007 for that matter) wasn't a fluke, then what was it? Did the players play well in spite of Les, did Les coach well those years and all of the sudden he forgot how to coach the last couple of years, is it poor recruiting or a little of all these points? Or has Les done everything humanly possible so far this year but these players just don't care?

I'm interested to see what you and others who have been consistently critical of him (and I don't mean this in an offensive way as after last night's game I think we have some serious issues here) think about what exactly went right those two years compared to the rest of them.

[lefty]

Just to clarify, you know I have been one of Les's biggest defenders here the last few years, but I'm just as upset as how he prepared his team for last night as anyone else here, something he admitted to himself as well. Having said this, my question is if 2006 (and 2007 for that matter) wasn't a fluke, then what was it? Did the players play well in spite of Les, did Les coach well those years and all of the sudden he forgot how to coach the last couple of years, is it poor recruiting or a little of all these points? Or has Les done everything humanly possible so far this year but these players just don't care?

I'm interested to see what you and others who have been consistently critical of him (and I don't mean this in an offensive way as after last night's game I think we have some serious issues here) think about what exactly went right those two years compared to the rest of them.

Everything clicked in 06 at the right time. It was obvious we had the talent and wondering if it was ever going to reach potential. It all came together at the end of the season. I think many were concerned when Chuck left that the defense and toughness might leave too. Chuck was maybe the only asst. that JL seemed to listen to with any regularity

What I have a hard time understanding is JL was really a tough player and competitor, you would think getting these guys to understand that the effort has to be there regardless of who you play would be one of the easiest things to get across to these guys.