Again???????!

[canadian]

Yes.....they should have fired the coach after his first season since the team underperformed.

I'm not sure what you want to hear that hasn't been said here before. JL has a losing record (most of which was with another coaches' players), CB is responsible for the most successful Bradley season in many years, JL is the reason for all of the losses, and the players/assistant coaches were great in the wins.

By the way....what exactly is underperforming when you lose two of your three best players?

Boy shaun you sure do post alot about what other people supposedly think

To answer your question, last place under any circumstances is underperforming. Injuries or not.

[shaunguth]

Last place in the conference this year.

A 16-15 record last year with 3 guys that were pre-season All-conference selections this season.

Are you happy with either of these results? I'll hang up and listen.

No. I don't recall ever saying that. If so, please point me in that direction.

[Lakeview Brave]

I don't think this is true. If internet message boards existed the last few years of the Stowell era, there would have been every bit as much dissension related to whether to stay with a coaching legend who had never won anything, or make a change. You may have been too young to know this, but there was a lot of dissension, and many people were very upset (and remain so today) about the firing of Joe Stowell.
There was significant dissension in 1986 with the way Dick Versace was treated. He was given a 1 year contract, and told it would not be renewed beyond that under any circumstances. That was the most ludicrous decision I can think of in the history of college basketball. How is a coach supposed to recruit or even coach when everyone knows he will be gone the next year?
And even the dismissal of Jim Molinari was contentious, and there remain a number of solid BU supporters who have never return to Bradley games in protest over the firsing of Jim.

You are right I cant speak to the end of the Joe Stowell era or even the end of the Verace, I do know there was debate at the end of the Molinari era but by the time he left almost everyone agreed it was the right time. However from the moment Jim Les got hired he was very divisive, has any other coach had a Board of Trustee and former player resign in protest over his hire? Did the local news papers blast the hiring of any of those guys? Has the univeristy every hired someone with les of a coach resume?

NONE of this is Jim Les's fault, I dont blame him one bit for applying for the job but once he go it there was a huge s** storm. I think if you combine that with even just the last few seasons and dont count his first 4 my statement is correct.

[Lakeview Brave]

That's at least twice I've seen you say this Lakeview. I'm curious as to why you think this. It seems Les was quite the "uniter" during and after the year BU went to the Sweet 16. IMO, Dick Versace may have been the most divisive coach in BU history.

See my last post but I stand by that from beginning to end my statement is accurate. If he is gone after this season it will be even more accurate.

[BUFanatic]

Jim Les could be the subject of a "Come on Man!" marathon! haha. Playing N. Iowa again with Ahelegbah got me thinking... didn't his National Team ask him to play for them? Anyone know what Nation asked him to and what he ended up doing?

[Da Coach]

Indiana St went 9-9 last year with more injuries than BU has this year. Do you think we're a 3-13 team? We have the league's leading scorer you know.

Jack, it's funny how myths grow. But this is not even close to being true.
Sam Maniscalco has now missed the last 20 games, and will miss at least 4 more for a minimum of 24 games missed this season. Taylor Brown has missed all 27 of Bradley's games, and will end up missing at least 31 games this season. That is a total of 55 games missed just between those 2, and there were others who have missed games, too.

Last season Jake Kelly missed 20 games for Indiana State, and Dwayne Lathan missed 12, and Harry Marshall missed 7, and not all of those were due to injury. But the total missed games by their 3 players was significantly less than SM and TB will miss this year. And it's not as if Indiana State was able to overcome those injuries and have a great year. They finished 17-15 overall, and 9-9 in the MVC, and out of the postseason tournaments. To some Bradley fans, that would be a highly disappointing season.

[shaunguth]

Boy shaun you sure do post alot about what other people supposedly think

To answer your question, last place under any circumstances is underperforming. Injuries or not.

Supposedly? I'm sure I've seen those things posted on this very site.

I'm going to guess the guy down the street should be fired since his team could very well finish in last place (with a full roster of players he recruited).

[ph]

It happens every year

Exactly.

TB and SM "defended" guys that got career highs, too. This is a game we loose full-strength because we were not offensively challenged this game.

[Jack Bauer]

Jack, it's funny how myths grow. But this is not even close to being true.
Sam Maniscalco has now missed the last 20 games, and will miss at least 4 more for a minimum of 24 games missed this season. Taylor Brown has missed all 27 of Bradley's games, and will end up missing at least 31 games this season. That is a total of 55 games missed just between those 2, and there were others who have missed games, too.

Last season Jake Kelly missed 20 games for Indiana State, and Dwayne Lathan missed 12, and Harry Marshall missed 7, and not all of those were due to injury. But the total missed games by their 3 players was significantly less than SM and TB will miss this year. And it's not as if Indiana State was able to overcome those injuries and have a great year. They finished 17-15 overall, and 9-9 in the MVC, and out of the postseason tournaments. To some Bradley fans, that would be a highly disappointing season.

Seems pretty close to me. How many of those games missed were league games?

Did Indiana St have anyone else as good as Andrew Warren, or even Dodie Dunson on the roster last year?

Do you think this is a 3-13 team?

[Da Coach]

...has any other coach had a Board of Trustee and former player resign in protest over his hire? Did the local news papers blast the hiring of any of those guys? Has the univeristy every hired someone with les of a coach resume?

NONE of this is Jim Les's fault, I dont blame him one bit for applying for the job but once he go it there was a huge s** storm. I think if you combine that with even just the last few seasons and dont count his first 4 my statement is correct.

The resignation of the Trustee was also not Jim Les' fault. It had more to do with that Trustee not getting his way as he admitted his agenda was to get Wayne McClain hired regardless of the quality or qualifications of other candidates.

[Lakeview Brave]

The resignation of the Trustee was also not Jim Les' fault. It had more to do with that Trustee not getting his way as he admitted his agenda was to get Wayne McClain hired regardless of the quality or qualifications of other candidates.

I completely agree it was not his fault but it still happend. His intiall hire was very divisive in the community it was played out on the boards and in the papers at the time. When you combine that with everything that happend until the later part of the sweet 16 season and everything that happend in the last 3 seasons I think my point is made. In addtion he hasnt left yet or been asked to leave and IF that were to happen after this season there would be allot more debate about it then when coach Mo left further proving my point.

[Da Coach]

So what is your point. That the controversy itself is a reason to change coaches? So if a group of fans want a change and raise controversy, that in itself constitutes enough reason to fire the coach?
I would disagree, and would hope the people in charge look at the more important issues.

[Lakeview Brave]

The president is going to make a decsion based on a variety of factors I would imagine. I think one of those factors is the opinons of alumni more importantly the alumni who make large contributions to the university and athletic department. Despite what some on here would lead you (maybe not you but others) to believe there is division within the BSS and other very prominent alumni about this issue, I know this for a 100% fact. Now if the big money is split and the average fan wants a change that seems pretty important to consider.

[wily coyote]

So what is your point. That the controversy itself is a reason to change coaches? So if a group of fans want a change and raise controversy, that in itself constitutes enough reason to fire the coach?
I would disagree, and would hope the people in charge look at the more important issues.

Here is the bottom line. There are 300 plus D1 schools. We are the only one that would have given JL an interview for a head coaching position with his experience or non experience whichever you prefer. We deserve what we got. We will know his fate in several weeks and lets back whatever decision the mucky mucks make.

[Braves4Life]

Do you think this is a 3-13 team?

I know I have always felt (and stated) that this team (with the injuries) should at least be a .500 team that finishes middle of the pack in the MVC. There is enough talent on this team for that level of success. I know I would have been happy with that and looking forward to next year. Now, unfortunately and sadly, I'm ready for a change at the top.