An Honest Question

[ph]

Unfortunately Jim Les needs to go. The State of the Program is not in good shape.

Hasn't JL had his 3 to 4 years + that the administration is following now of improve the program or ELSE remove yourself or get FIRED.

TIME TO REBUILD BU BASKETBALL. FOR THAT MATTER, FOR THE OTHER BU SPORTS AS WELL. HOLD ALL ACCOUNTABLE.

See, now I support Jim Les more after reading your post.

That comment was uncalled for in this thread, as you never indicated that you ever supported JL. It sounds like you had that opinion from day one and are now just pushing out talking points at every opportunity.
I don't want to be a part of a movement that operates that way.

[Air Petey]

I support JL 100% for these reasons:

1. He knows the game very well. His college and NBA experience is worth tons. He bleeds Bradley red (everybody must know this is killing him more than anyone one of us). He is not looking for another job like the other 9 Valley coaches (cupcake schedules so they can pad their wins).

2. He still has not had the opportunity to recruit from this awesome facility that he helped build. How many of the current players saw these facilities (and not a picture or drawing). He spent many hours above and beyond his job description raising dollars for the buiilding.

3. He does not cheat with his recruits (We ALL know it happens). That is very important. Nobody, and I mean nobody, better say that we want to cheat to win.

4. His players are getting awesome grades in school. Tell me that means NOTHING?

5. Don't tell me losing two of the valleys top 5 or 6 players is no big deal. What would the early 80's been without JJ and David? What about losing JL and Hawk in the mid 80's and on and on.

6. Remember we are a Valley mid-major. The grass is not always greener on the other side. Who do we get if we pay Jim his last two years on his contract.

7. - All of you must be above "What have you done for me lately" in your lives. 14 months ago -We beat Illinois! I understand not much on the positive side has happened since, but come on!

I type this reply, not just because Jim is a friend of mine, but because it is the right thing to do. He deserves 2 more years (you MUST give him next year).

Everybody have a great year and GO BRAVES!!

[TNel]

By now, Jim knows where he stands. I'm sure he also knows what needs to be done next year to continue as head coach. He never gave up when he was wearing the red and white and, given the unbelievable circumstances of this year, I don't think we should give up on him. One more year.

[FlyingSpaghettiMonster]

I give JL one more year to turn this around and if he doesnt he is gone. This gives him a season with TB and SM back and gets his recruiting class on campus. I think RA is going to be a great player in the MVC as as DS. If he doesnt get it done next year Bradley can say they gave him every opportunity to get it done. You let him go this year and the question will always be did he get fired due to injuries. One more year.....

What if TB and SM can't come back next year? Would you still feel the same way?

[mexicobufan]

Yes I still give him one more year. As I said it gets this recruiting class on campus. Also if they dont come back he has time to make whatever adjustments need to be made to be successful next year. This year he lost SM and TB late and had no time to prepare for it. One more year.

[ER3]

I give JL one more year to turn this around and if he doesnt he is gone. This gives him a season with TB and SM back and gets his recruiting class on campus. I think RA is going to be a great player in the MVC as as DS. If he doesnt get it done next year Bradley can say they gave him every opportunity to get it done. You let him go this year and the question will always be did he get fired due to injuries. One more year.....

He already had a season with Taylor, Sammy, and Andrew healthy and playing together....and we went 16-15. Why does anyone assume that giving him another season with SM and TB (and without Warren) would result in anything significantly better than what we've seen over the last 4 years?

[LittleBrave]

What if, for arguments sake, this team goes on to win only 2 or 3 games in the MVC this year. Leaving us at something like 9-21 for the year. Would you continue to support JL then? Is there any level of ineptitude this team can reach that would make you stop and say, "OK, enough is enough."?

I think we'll have a real good chance to find out. We will probably only win 2-3 games, so we may get more responses from JL supporters who are second-guessing when that reality hits.

[ER3]

I support JL 100% for these reasons:

5. Don't tell me losing two of the valleys top 5 or 6 players is no big deal. What would the early 80's been without JJ and David? What about losing JL and Hawk in the mid 80's and on and on.

I don't think anyone has said that losing Sam and Taylor is "no big deal"...but please don't try and compare them to JJ and Thirdkill or Hersey and Les...that isn't even in the vicinity of being an apples-to-apples comparison.

[lake Camelot]

5. Don't tell me losing two of the valleys top 5 or 6 players is no big deal. What would the early 80's been without JJ and David? What about losing JL and Hawk in the mid 80's and on and on.

I hate to pick on one part of a post. Or even pick on one person. If I was giving you a grade on your comparison it would be an F on this. Sorry not even close.

[Buesch N Chips]

please don't try and compare them to JJ and Thirdkill or Hersey and Les...that isn't even in the vicinity of being an apples-to-apples comparison.

Why not?

[ER3]

Why not?

Oh, come on. Hawkins, JJ, Thirdkill, and Les were among the best to ever play at BU...they set records here, they all went on to play in the NBA...
Maniscalco and Brown are good players, but they are miles away from being the type of players you are talking about when you talk about Hawkins, JJ, Thirdkill, and Les. Put it this way, if we were designing a "Mount Rushmore of BU Hoops", I'm betting at least a couple of those four guys would end up on it and the other 2 would at least be in the conversation until the end...Sammy and Taylor? Nice players, but doubtful they would even be mentioned in this type of conversation at all. That's why it's not apples to apples.

[mrcoachdude]

I don't think anyone has said that losing Sam and Taylor is "no big deal"...but please don't try and compare them to JJ and Thirdkill or Hersey and Les...that isn't even in the vicinity of being an apples-to-apples comparison.

who were the two best players for each of those teams? Although I would say JJ and Willie..it is apples to apples..but some folks would not want to see it that way...

take the best player and the point guard...obviously JJ and Hawk were more talented, but losing them would, to their team be equal to losing TB and SM to this team...

[ph]

He already had a season with Taylor, Sammy, and Andrew healthy and playing together....and we went 16-15. Why does anyone assume that giving him another season with SM and TB (and without Warren) would result in anything significantly better than what we've seen over the last 4 years?

JP
Our greatest weakness the previous 3 years has been the lack of a consistent post player. I now think JP is a big improvement to past years post presence. (Although not the big time post player I'd hope to get, JP seems to be at least a decent quality player)

[mrcoachdude]

He already had a season with Taylor, Sammy, and Andrew healthy and playing together....and we went 16-15. Why does anyone assume that giving him another season with SM and TB (and without Warren) would result in anything significantly better than what we've seen over the last 4 years?

Chemistry.....but I am not assuming it...just hoping..

[JMM28]

He already had a season with Taylor, Sammy, and Andrew healthy and playing together....and we went 16-15. Why does anyone assume that giving him another season with SM and TB (and without Warren) would result in anything significantly better than what we've seen over the last 4 years?

Last year it was said that its not a fair judge of the team because AW was coming off a major injury and wasn't in game shape, or whatever.

Wouldn't the same caveat apply to next year as well? Sam and TB are coming off probably more serious things than AW had. TB has to work his way back from apparently 0 athletic activity, and I doubt SM will be able to do much in the basketball department if his ankles are bad.

I wish Jim had been brought in here as an assistant head coach/lead recruiter type and able to learn to coach under an older and soon retired coach, grooming him as the eventual successor. Perhaps things would have worked out better. And regardless of anything this year or next, I think most will remember his tenure in a positive light from the Sweet 16 to the new facilities. When he does leave (again), the program will be better (again) because of him.