The good news with SM's injury.

[BradleyJD]

Obviously, this seriously damages the chances of BU to win the MVC or Arch Madness.

However, their is good news to come out of this as well.

1. The very young team that is left will have an outstanding opportunity to learn on the job, without a ton of pressure. I say this about the pressure because no one will expect BU to win much now.

2. Jim gets a chance to coach. Not that he hasn't in the past. But Jim will have to coach better than he ever has to make this team even competitive. I think you will get a good picture of his coaching ability with this team.

[BradleyBrave]

I think you will get a good picture of his coaching ability with this team.

We haven't gotten that the other 9 seasons? I see what you're saying, but I think we know what we're getting at this point.

[BradleyJD]

We haven't gotten that the other 9 seasons? I see what you're saying, but I think we know what we're getting at this point.

Maybe. But coaching a team like this can be different. It can change the way you do things. It can also change the psychology of a team.

To win, this team is going to have to dig deeper and try harder. They may have to do things they have never done before.

[SaintLouBrave22]

Obviously, this seriously damages the chances of BU to win the MVC or Arch Madness.

However, their is good news to come out of this as well.

1. The very young team that is left will have an outstanding opportunity to learn on the job, without a ton of pressure. I say this about the pressure because no one will expect BU to win much now.

2. Jim gets a chance to coach. Not that he hasn't in the past. But Jim will have to coach better than he ever has to make this team even competitive. I think you will get a good picture of his coaching ability with this team.

It's good news to me...

I'm now no longer close to the fence about going to certain games in poor weather or going to the Valley tournament...

Money is tight and I'm just gonna go ahead and pocket it

[Beninator]

We haven't gotten that the other 9 seasons? I see what you're saying, but I think we know what we're getting at this point.

What about the NIT team after POB went to the NBA? I think that was one of JL's best coaching seasons. He implemented a totally new system to cater the the team's strength. If we bash JL, which I have done at times, then we have to give him some credit where it is due.

[ER3]

What about the NIT team after POB went to the NBA? I think that was one of JL's best coaching seasons. He implemented a totally new system to cater the the team's strength. If we bash JL, which I have done at times, then we have to give him some credit where it is due.

I always have thought that the NIT team was JL's best coaching job, by far...He does deserve a lot of credit for revamping the offense after losing POB and the others from the Sweet 16 team.

There aren't too many positives that can be said about the job he's done since then, IMO...unfortunately.

[SaintLouBrave22]

What about the NIT team after POB went to the NBA? I think that was one of JL's best coaching seasons. He implemented a totally new system to cater the the team's strength. If we bash JL, which I have done at times, then we have to give him some credit where it is due.

I'll wait and see on that...

I have no real expectations on this season now and feel like if we win 7 games in conference it's a plus...

If we finish the year close to .500 now it's a plus...

But yeah, I'll wait to near the end of the season to praise him for a job well done...

I just don't see it given the current talent left and how they're used

[LittleBrave]

I don't think AW will get any time on the bench unless he fouls out. I hope it doesn't mean he will be taking 15 shots (of which almost all are contested) per game whether he's feelin' it or not.

The good? I think we'll see DSE get out of his funk, more minutes for Walt.
The bad? I think we continue to play small, get outrebounded, and our guards get gassed with lack of depth. Our expectations of this team's finish just dropped...again. I'm just prayin' for a winning season now.

[chitown fanatic]

Thursday night is all but assured at this point...what a colossal disappointment...at least it was early enough in the season and not after a successful 25 games or so. And the future doesnt look bright either once Warren and Dodie are gone...still no capable big and a coach who doesnt even try to use them the right way. oh well, time to just see what the kids can do. more weave! yay!

[thefish7]

It just doesn't seen possible to play small to me anymore... Dse aw dd and we will continue to start I think.

On the bench that leaves:
WL
JP
AT
JE
MK
AD

whether or not an AD red shirt is still feasible you can't support a 4 guard lineup with 2 reserve guards.

[LittleBrave]

Thursday night is all but assured at this point...what a colossal disappointment...at least it was early enough in the season and not after a successful 25 games or so. And the future doesnt look bright either once Warren and Dodie are gone...still no capable big and a coach who doesnt even try to use them the right way. oh well, time to just see what the kids can do. more weave! yay!

I don't expect a 7-10th place finish. No way that should happen - we are still more talented than half the league teams even with our losses. I EXPECT Coach Les to find a way to at least finish top 5 - anything less is a disappointment in my eyes. Once our offense starts to roll a bit, we'll be alright. I can't see WE and DSE playing the way they've played all season. Is this ridiculous to think this way?

[wily coyote]

I don't expect a 7-10th place finish. No way that should happen - we are still more talented than half the league teams even with our losses. I EXPECT Coach Les to find a way to at least finish top 5 - anything less is a disappointment in my eyes. Once our offense starts to roll a bit, we'll be alright. I can't see WE and DSE playing the way they've played all season. Is this ridiculous to think this way?

Don't see where we are more talented then half the league teams. I hope you are right with your expectatons but I don't see it that way. I think we are a lock for Thur. night in St.Louis. I also don't think we can be anywhere near .500 for the season. I would love to wrong but don't see it happening. Go Braves prove me WRONG.

[Beninator]

I always have thought that the NIT team was JL's best coaching job, by far...He does deserve a lot of credit for revamping the offense after losing POB and the others from the Sweet 16 team.

There aren't too many positives that can be said about the job he's done since then, IMO...unfortunately.

One negative is that I think that JL fell in love with the three guard offense....

[Buesch N Chips]

I don't expect a 7-10th place finish. No way that should happen - we are still more talented than half the league teams even with our losses. I EXPECT Coach Les to find a way to at least finish top 5 - anything less is a disappointment in my eyes. Once our offense starts to roll a bit, we'll be alright. I can't see WE and DSE playing the way they've played all season. Is this ridiculous to think this way?

Someone's been sucking back on grandma's old cough medicine. To see that happen would be great, and it could possibly happen if the planets align, but to say that is the expectation is really not fair to anyone involved.

Artificially raising expectations so there is virtually no chance of exceeding them is an age-old trap.

[Beninator]

Maybe. But coaching a team like this can be different. It can change the way you do things. It can also change the psychology of a team.

To win, this team is going to have to dig deeper and try harder. They may have to do things they have never done before.

I have very much agreed with your posts on this thread. It is my hope that we experiment with different lineups and plays for the remainder of the year.