Bradley Q&A with Kirk Wessler on MVCfans.com

[MVCfans]

We conducted interviews with each of the MVC beat writers to preview the conference season. Today, we posted Kirk Wessler's Q&A on the site.

Wessler's Bradley Q&A on MVCfans.com

We'd appreciate any thoughts you might have and hope that you will take a moment to register and contribute to the discussion. Thanks and enjoy the MVC season!

[srw]

Kirk is a columnist and anti-Bradley so you are 0 for 2.

Seriously, I look forward to reading this.

[Double D]

Really good interview. Kirk was very detailed in his answers to the questions. I think his take on the situation is very fair and well thought out. I think all will enjoy the read.

[Da Coach]

Since the interviews were with the beat writers for all the other schools, why did you choose to interview KW for Bradley? He is not the beat writer. Why not interview Dave Reynolds? I am sure he was available. All the other interviews are a lot more informative about the other teams, and don't dwell on everything the writers feel is wrong with the programs. Instead, we get the same old negative drone from KW that we've seen already many times. It just seems strange to me. If I wanted another hit piece, I could have just gone back and read all his old columns.

[real fan]

I have no problem with what he said about Bradley, things only get better by winning so lets win tonight and win again sat. night and more people will come.

[MacabreMob]

I don't know why any informed Bradley fan would care to read/hear what KW has to say about Bradley. Period.

[tornado]

Pretty much the stuff we've seen already.........
but also -- he says..
"except for that Eastern game, the Braves generally have improved game to game."

Hmmm...he doesn't say that in his columns....
After the very next couple games, he tore into Bradley as inconsistent, confused, chaotic, ugly, no effort, not enough talent, and nothing "positive"...

and agree that in contrast to all the other interviews MVCFans has done -- the rest all talked about the team, the players and the upcoming Valley season..
this talked more about shortfalls, Les on the Hot Seat, and all the intangibles & shortfalls...but he did find time to lick up to Duke and praise them a bit...

[lefty]

Looks to me like he answered the questions that he was asked and did a decent job at it.

But seriously...don't you get the feeling someone told MVCfans to post it to BF board and watch how many pages in response

[tornado]

... he answered the questions that he was asked ..

hmm..even Kirk himself appears to me to disagree with you...suggesting in his own PJS column that he chose not to answer the way he perceived they wanted him to answer..or how the others answered...but instead to use the questions as...
(in his own words..)

"... an opportunity to draw on several columns I’ve written over time to present one answer.
Rather than the focus being on one game, or one aspect of a game, or one player, the bigger picture comes into fuller view."

[Bravesfan]

Since the interviews were with the beat writers for all the other schools, why did you choose to interview KW for Bradley? He is not the beat writer. Why not interview Dave Reynolds? I am sure he was available. All the other interviews are a lot more informative about the other teams, and don't dwell on everything the writers feel is wrong with the programs. Instead, we get the same old negative drone from KW that we've seen already many times. It just seems strange to me. If I wanted another hit piece, I could have just gone back and read all his old columns.

I don't think he did a bad job evaulating where the program is now, and unfortunately some of that analysis has draw upon previous experiences to show where the program with a coach in his ninth season is at. Kudos to KW for admitting that injuries will effect the win/loss record as well.

That said though, I disagree with him on two points. First Les has done a fine job dealing with the disiplinary actions of players who have had off the court issues. I personally think that program about 80 miles to the southeast has had a LOT worse to deal with over the past few years, and that program has not dealt with them as efficiently as we have. I think it's almost a non-issue with our athletic department anyway.

Secondly I disagree that our program has "fallen apart" following these injuries. We probably have the best six or seven year average win total of almost anyone in the Valley. And while everyone agrees we would all like to see more Valley championships, the fact that we have finished out of the play-in round all these years says loads into how well our coaches prepare this team. I do agree though that we have to give it our all every night, and also agree that KW could have spent more time previewing the Valley portion of our season than rehashing the same stuff.

[chitown fanatic]

I found Kirk's interview to be one of his best. His answers were honest and reflect the true state of the program, both now and over Les's tenure. Any follower of this team knows rebounding and defense have been our bugaboos each of the past 8 seasons. He acknowledges the injuries and the associated lowered expectations, but like most fans, expects to see improvemnt with the cast we have left. This team should still finish out of Thursday with the players we have left. The Valley is incredibly weak this year. It needs to start tonight where we're 6 point dogs. Pound the braves in Vegas! Road wins go a long way to avoid Thursday, especially with your toughest home test of the season waiting for you three days from now. 0-2 is not a good place to be

[lefty]

hmm..even Kirk himself appears to me to disagree with you...suggesting in his own PJS column that he chose not to answer the way he perceived they wanted him to answer..or how the others answered...but instead to use the questions as...
(in his own words..)

"... an opportunity to draw on several columns I??™ve written over time to present one answer.
Rather than the focus being on one game, or one aspect of a game, or one player, the bigger picture comes into fuller view."

you and I will always see this different T....he answered what was asked...

[tornado]

..
like a politician he did...he even admits he already had his prepared answers from his recent columns
(many of which were distinctly negative about BU)
and he "took the opportunity" to use those prepared words regardless of what the questions were...
I really can't see how you can read his own admission any other way...

[Buesch N Chips]

He certainly didn't give the responses a responsible beat writer would. I would have preferred to see DR with a little more vanilla and diplomacy in a national interview. KW was just doing KW schtick, although it really wasn't the place for it.

[MVCfans]

Since the interviews were with the beat writers for all the other schools, why did you choose to interview KW for Bradley? He is not the beat writer. Why not interview Dave Reynolds? I am sure he was available. All the other interviews are a lot more informative about the other teams, and don't dwell on everything the writers feel is wrong with the programs. Instead, we get the same old negative drone from KW that we've seen already many times. It just seems strange to me. If I wanted another hit piece, I could have just gone back and read all his old columns.

Just an FYI - I contacted both Wessler and Reynolds on December 10. Kirk indicated that he would be on vacation until the 19th, but would be happy to do so after that time. I never got a response from Reynolds.

As far as content, the questions for each team were from the perspective of what I thought MVC fans would like to know. Thus, for Bradley I thought discussing the Duke game, Taylor and Sam being unavailable, Les' situation, Warren/Dunson, and expectations for the team seemed reasonable enough. The goal was to get a little more information on the team and the program and I think Wessler was thorough in his answers.