BU at a Crossroads

[wizard1]

Clearly, the BB program is at a crossroads unlike anything I have seen in well over 50 years.

If significant changes are not made at the end of this season, the program will lose a major part of its fan base, support from the community will drop, interest in BU will be far less, our ability to recruit talented players will be greatly diminished, our past traditions will fade, and we could very well be relegated to a year-in, year-out low level Division 1 program, at best.

In many ways, I feel sorry for the fine young men on our team. While they work and try hard, they are obviously overmatched, disorganized, discouraged, leaderless, and (except for AW) are simply not talented enough to be competitive.

As for coaching, without going into the pros & cons of specific areas, I will simply say that overall something is obviously very wrong. Our mediocre record the past 8 or 9 years clearly bears this out. Even if we had TB and SM, our current year would still be mediocre (4th or 5th in the MVC).

IMO, BU must make some tough and difficult decisions at the end of this season that will result in the kind of major changes needed to turn our floundering program around.

[BradleyBrave]

Maybe killing the fan base is their master plan. If they get regular attendees down in the 4,000's, Cross can realize his dream and move the team into the Renaissance Coliseum. Looks like they're right on track!

[real fan]

Maybe killing the fan base is their master plan. If they get regular attendees down in the 4,000's, Cross can realize his dream and move the team into the Renaissance Coliseum. Looks like they're right on track!

If that happens the next step would be d-2 , BU needs to have a good basketball program going in order to fund the other sports plus A.D. would not be getting the salary he is receiving in a smaller program.

[Braves4Life]

Maybe killing the fan base is their master plan. If they get regular attendees down in the 4,000's, Cross can realize his dream and move the team into the Renaissance Coliseum. Looks like they're right on track!

That makes absolutely NO sense BradleyBrave. Why in the world would BU want to do this?

[Braves4Life]

IMO, BU must make some tough and difficult decisions at the end of this season that will result in the kind of major changes needed to turn our floundering program around.

I agree wizard..... and I'm now finally on board. Wish I wasn't.

[BradleyBrave]

If that happens the next step would be d-2 , BU needs to have a good basketball program going in order to fund the other sports plus A.D. would not be getting the salary he is receiving in a smaller program.

From what I have heard, Cross was shocked at the outrage people had by saying regular season games were going to be held in an arena about 1/3 the size of Carver. That tells me he has a different idea of what Bradley Basketball has been and is going to be. I agree 100% - If we want to play on campus at Renaissance Coliseum, we might as well drop down to DIII and start a 'War on 74' with Wesleyan.

I don't think BU is Cross's destination job either, but I digress. My post was a tongue-in-cheek shot at people thinking playing on campus is viable; as Wizard stated we have some real problems that need to be addressed sooner than later.

[SFP]

Maybe killing the fan base is their master plan. If they get regular attendees down in the 4,000's, Cross can realize his dream and move the team into the Renaissance Coliseum. Looks like they're right on track!

I would find it quite ironic or baseless that an AD would commit him or herself to destroying a program. Imagine their resume going forward. I also believe that JG understands the revenue stream that BU basketball brings to the school and if anything she wants that stream to be bigger and more consistent. She does though remind me of The Orioles meddling owner, great intentions, but please leave the experts to run the day to day program.

I said it before TB and SM went down, if we do not get quality tough minutes from our bigs we were going to play in the 4-5 game. I do like what I have seen from JP but the rest of our bigs are just not getting the job done and with the current makeup that means play in game! I'll make up my mind about the state of the program after the season but if the season was to conclude today I would not be too happy. After the Detroit game, I guess I foolishly expected a bit more!

[BradleyBrave]

I would find it quite ironic or baseless that an AD would commit him or herself to destroying a program. Imagine their resume going forward. I also believe that JG understands the revenue stream that BU basketball brings to the school and if anything she wants that stream to be bigger and more consistent. She does though remind me of The Orioles meddling owner, great intentions, but please leave the experts to run the day to day program.

I said it before TB and SM went down, if we do not get quality tough minutes from our bigs we were going to play in the 4-5 game. I do like what I have seen from JP but the rest of our bigs are just not getting the job done and with the current makeup that means play in game! I'll make up my mind about the state of the program after the season but if the season was to conclude today I would not be too happy. After the Detroit game, I guess I foolishly expected a bit more!

It was tongue-in-cheek. I don't think destroying the program is their plan. We'll find out in March whether they're going to stand by and let it continue.

[houstontxbrave]

Losing games, losing interest, becoming very irrelavant and simply not being very good.

Losing 2 players is a factor but it is highly unlikely that those two would provide enough to compete with the likes of WSU in the MVC.

Going from the national spot light 5 years ago to people in your own city not caring enough to go to games.

It is time to make a complete overhaul to the program.

The program has become dull, boring and not real interesting. As I have said before, this season feels just like Mo's last year. I think it ends up pretty much like it also.

[Buesch N Chips]

Clearly, the BB program is at a crossroads unlike anything I have seen in well over 50 years.

If significant changes are not made at the end of this season, the program will lose a major part of its fan base, support from the community will drop, interest in BU will be far less, our ability to recruit talented players will be greatly diminished, our past traditions will fade, and we could very well be relegated to a year-in, year-out low level Division 1 program, at best.

In many ways, I feel sorry for the fine young men on our team. While they work and try hard, they are obviously overmatched, disorganized, discouraged, leaderless, and (except for AW) are simply not talented enough to be competitive.

As for coaching, without going into the pros & cons of specific areas, I will simply say that overall something is obviously very wrong. Our mediocre record the past 8 or 9 years clearly bears this out. Even if we had TB and SM, our current year would still be mediocre (4th or 5th in the MVC).

IMO, BU must make some tough and difficult decisions at the end of this season that will result in the kind of major changes needed to turn our floundering program around.

The drama-meter is pretty high in this post, but I'm sure a lot of fans agree with you, especially the loquacious ones around here today. Your statement-as-fact that at full strength we would still be mediocre is a bit of a stretch, considering it is pure speculation on your part. I have no problem addressing concerns and issues, but let's stay with fact. I agree that tough decisions need to be made, but I am going to give them the season to see where they go from here. If they continue to crumble, then let the chips fall.

What I don't understand is why people continue to be surprised when we struggle. Didn't we all see this coming?

Another thing I don't understand, SM has bad ankles, everyone knows that, and we apparently had no plan B at point guard. Why?

[BradleyBrave]

Your statement-as-fact that at full strength we would still be mediocre is a bit of a stretch, considering it is pure speculation on your part.

Agree that it's speculation, but there's plenty of evidence to suggest it's more than just a shot in the dark.

Another thing I don't understand, SM has bad ankles, everyone knows that, and we apparently had no plan B at point guard. Why?

Great question.

[SaintLouBrave22]

Another thing I don't understand, SM has bad ankles, everyone knows that, and we apparently had no plan B at point guard. Why?

Well, originally I recall Les stating that Lemon could come in and play the point as well as Dyricus, yet there Dodie is front and center still.


Also, did you expect any different from someone who had no backup plan for Taylor? By far he is the biggest loss IMO...


Finally I said this yesterday and will again bc no one says anything about him but losing Edge kills us on the defensive end simply because we have no one that pressured on the ball like he did...

[mrcoachdude]

"Even if we had TB and SM, our current year would still be mediocre (4th or 5th in the MVC)."

Not sure I would agree...but like it was stated already..speculation...

Plan "B" at point was DSE...not sure they thought it would be with Sam out for the season...but DSE struggled early and then hurt his knee...I think he will be fine...

[BradleyJD]

I really debated on posting about BU and the state of the program. In fact, I have stayed away completely from posting for quite a while because I did not want to dwell on the negatives.

I found it interesting reading Dave's article in the paper today, which basically showed his own struggle with reporting and discussing the negative state of things at Bradley.

My thoughts, for what they are worth:

I have a really difficult time watching the product that Bradley is putting on the floor.

I do not know how I could be any more of a "Bradley" guy. I grew with a parent who worked at Bradley. I am one of 7 children who attended Bradley. I worked at Bradley before I was in college, while I was in college, and even after I graduated from college. I've gone to 95% of the home games since I was old enough to remember them. I have gone to the Valley tournament almost every year it's been in St. Louis. I even went several times before it was in St. Louis.

That said, I am absolutely, 100%, concerned about where this program is headed. To me, we are beyond the crossroad and headed downhill, without breaks.

I realize we have had injuries. I know we didn't have the best facilities for many years. I realize that being a smaller, private school with "limited" resources plays some part in limiting our capabilities.

However, I also believe in accountability. I believe that, at some point, you have to WIN games. I believe there has to be considerable, noticeable, concrete signs of improvement and development.

I have struggled to find any signs of growth. Any signs of hope.

Where is the development of players? Why do we seemingly have no offense? Why do Bradley players not know how to set screens? Seriously, watch BU's screens for an entire game...they never set a quality screen to open a teammate.

To me, we are way past the crossroads. This is closer to an end-game, IMO.

I wish and hope that I am wrong, but it's not looking good.

[SaintLouBrave22]

"Even if we had TB and SM, our current year would still be mediocre (4th or 5th in the MVC)."

Not sure I would agree...but like it was stated already..speculation...

Plan "B" at point was DSE...not sure they thought it would be with Sam out for the season...but DSE struggled early and then hurt his knee...I think he will be fine...

You're telling me that we would best our usual "Jim Les 4/5 Invitational Game"?

DSE looks fine...so why is Dodie still running point then?