ESPN Radio from 2/19

[lake Camelot]

If a change were to happen, I would be more worried about Remmy Abell than Sam or Taylor. They would be nice to have back, but a new coach probably doesn't care if any of them show up. It would just give him more chances to bring in players that fit his style.

I wouldn't worry about it it either. Whatever happens is going to happen, you can't let it influence what you think is the right decision. Not that they think change is the right decision. I have no idea what they think. I just know what I think.

[canadian]

5th year seniors can transfer without sitting a year.

Thanks fish. But only if they have graduated correct? I have re edited my post

[lake Camelot]

By the way, I assume the coaches think someone isn't coming back. They are after the kid from Lincoln aren't they?

I have not been following that closely lately since I have given up. Is Anthony Thompson hurt or is that a coaches decision?

Wow post number 666- I should have posted something worse than that.

[Bravesfan]

Of course if you fire a coach you need to rebuild. Isn't that kind of the reason you are in the position to begin with? This isn't new. It's kind of expected. If you finish 9th or 10th how much lower are you going to go?

I personally think that we would be much better in the short term if Les stays. Now even if Les guides Bradley to a top 3 finish next year, we don't know how well they would play in two years, but they do have the makings of good team for the foreseeable future with the recruits he has coming in.

Obviously we agree that a rebuilding job would be in order should a new coach be hired. As usual though, the question will come down to whether a new coach would accomplish more in the longer term than Les. But I think it's obvious that Bradley will do much better in the short term if Les comes back and we avoid the injury bug. Whether that "much better" equates to finishing 5th or 3rd and higher with this group will not be known until the season plays out next year. But I can guarantee a couple of Thursday night St. Louis tournament games over the next couple of years under a new coach. So I guess it will come down to what the adminstration thinks would be best for this program.

[lake Camelot]

I will go along with you on this as a -probably. You are probably correct. Sometimes a new coach can inspire a team to step it up though. I am very impressed with the turn around at St. Johns this year. Either way that wouldn't influence my decision.

[shaunguth]

Nice first post joe. NOT! The kid will graduate. He's done. He fulfilled his part in the deal. If he loses his coach (and probably several teammates) he has every right to maximize his opportunities. His other option would be to get a job. Something all graduates strive for.

Gimme a break! Come on man!

Exactly right! I didn't understand that comment at all!

[shaunguth]

Da Coach said Bradley is an NCAA team next year if Les returns. If that happens we have everybody back. If Les is fired he has said that we would not be an NCAA tournament team and that is because SM and possibly TB and Les' recruits would be gone, as well.

That's how I read it as well. I'm not sure where the confusion was.

[shaunguth]

To me it just wouldn't make much sense to leave here just because JL is gone. What ever happened to once a brave always a brave? If he left when the going got tough I would lose all respect for him and would be ashamed to call him our team's leader the last 2 years.

Why wouldn't it make sense to leave when you've graduated? I'm not sure that's what "Once a Brave, Always a Brave" is really about.

I most definitely would never lose respect for someone who has been at Bradley four years, considered a team leader, and left once he had graduated (even if his coach did return). That's HIS decision. I believe WE and AT will graduate as well and I would not lose respect for either of them if they decide to move on with their lives.

[shaunguth]

Should the coaching situation change, Sammy is free to do whatever he thinks is best for Sammy.

I believe that's also true if there is no coaching change. Why aren't these kids (SM, WE, AT) free to do whatever they think is best for them after they graduate?

[AZ BU Fan]

There is no contradiction in what I predicted. I believe if this team returns intact, which would require the coaching staff also return, Bradley is as good as any other team in the sorry MVC. Of the other 9 teams, only WSU, on paper, looks like a legitimate NCAA possibility in 2011-2012, and even they lose some significant talent. Bradley will be a favorite to win the league. But if there is a coaching change, the team would likely not return intact, and IMO major players would leave. In addition, I believe this scenario would also lead to 3 or 4 recruits asking out of LOIs. It is what almost always happens when there is a coaching change. The result is several years of rebuilding. Feel free not to believe any of this if you don't want to.

Warning! Do Not Read If You TOTALLY BELIEVE THE ABOVE POST!

Assuming SM and TB come back, why would BU be favorite to win the league next year without AW and DD, when they were only picked to finish 5th this year with AW, DD, SM, and TB?

Will the MVC really suc* that much more next year?

For all those who predict significant leaps in individual player results next year I present the opposition argument: MS, SS, DA, DC, WE, AT, MK...there is no sure thing players will have significant leaps in ability with time ...

I really enjoy the doomsday predictions with a potential coaching change. If BU hires another former player who has never coached a day in his life, probably. If BU hires a dynamic up and comer, with a proven track record, and the support of all the fans who will back BU's AD/Prez decisions all the time, why would any of the players/recruits leave BU?

Particularly if BU is a favorite to win the MVC next year and a legitimate NCAA team

Coaches don't win/lose games, only players right?

Did it ever occur to anyone the reason some BU players and recruits left after Mo may have been because they were shocked/dismayed with the selection of someone who had never coached/recruited in his life?

Continue with the current staff and the result is (or said more accurately, could be) more 4th place finishes in the MVC.

Feel free to continue to Drink The Kool Aid if you want to.

[BradleyBrave]

There's zero evidence to suggest we would contend for a league title next year if the entire staff and players returned, and 9 years of evidence to suggest that we wouldn't.

[canadian]

I personally think that we would be much better in the short term if Les stays. Now even if Les guides Bradley to a top 3 finish next year, we don't know how well they would play in two years, but they do have the makings of good team for the foreseeable future with the recruits he has coming in.

Obviously we agree that a rebuilding job would be in order should a new coach be hired. As usual though, the question will come down to whether a new coach would accomplish more in the longer term than Les. But I think it's obvious that Bradley will do much better in the short term if Les comes back and we avoid the injury bug. Whether that "much better" equates to finishing 5th or 3rd and higher with this group will not be known until the season plays out next year. But I can guarantee a couple of Thursday night St. Louis tournament games over the next couple of years under a new coach. So I guess it will come down to what the adminstration thinks would be best for this program.

This is a long-term question and answer. No way do you look at next year hypotheticals when making a decision of this magnitude. If the powers that be feel the long-term future of the program is best in Jim Les' hands then that is fine. But don't make a decision based on what may or may not happen next season.

[canadian]

There's zero evidence to suggest we would contend for a league title next year if the entire staff and players returned, and 9 years of evidence to suggest that we wouldn't.

I would have to agree. You are losing Andrew and Dodie and, hypothetically, adding Sam and Taylor to the mix. I just don't see that as enough to take a team from 9th to 1st.

[Da Coach]

Warning! Do Not Read If You TOTALLY BELIEVE THE ABOVE POST!

Assuming SM and TB come back, why would BU be favorite to win the league next year without AW and DD, when they were only picked to finish 5th this year with AW, DD, SM, and TB?

Will the MVC really suc* that much more next year?

For all those who predict significant leaps in individual player results next year I present the opposition argument: MS, SS, DA, DC, WE, AT, MK...there is no sure thing players will have significant leaps in ability with time ...

I really enjoy the doomsday predictions with a potential coaching change. If BU hires another former player who has never coached a day in his life, probably. If BU hires a dynamic up and comer, with a proven track record, and the support of all the fans who will back BU's AD/Prez decisions all the time, why would any of the players/recruits leave if BU?

Particularly if BU is a lock to win the MVC next year and reach the NCAA's?

Coaches don't win/lose games, only players right?

Did it ever occur to anyone the reason some BU players and recruits left after Mo was because they were shocked/dismayed with the selection of someone who had never coached/recruited in his life?

Continue with the current staff and the result is (or said more accurately, could be) more 4th place finishes in the MVC.

Feel free to continue to Drink The Kool Aid if you want to.

Nobody said BU would be the favorite to win the MVC. I said I thought they could win the MVC next year, not that they would be picked #1 or the favorite. Where do you think they would be picked? A lot of people on this board thought 5th was way too low this year.
You seem to diminish the team's chances based mainly on losing AW and DD. But teams lose players every year. And to count on no player getting better next season is illogical. I expect much greater contributions next year from JP, WL, JE, MK, DSE, even WE. Add a healthy SM and TB to that, and I don't see many teams any better or more experienced in the MVC. Plus there will be an infusion of new talent.
And we can all dream that every player will stay, but it almost never happens. I'll take anyone's bet in the event we have a new coach, that multiple players who have started will leave, as well as most of the recruits.

In the case we do have a coaching change, I would also bet we finish no higher than 9th for the next couple years. Long-term enough?

[canadian]

In the case we do have a coaching change, I would also bet we finish no higher than 9th for the next couple years. Long-term enough?

I would take this bet. What's the wager?

Every single time Bradley has fired a coach or made a change the new coach improved by his second year. To think the new guy (if there is one) wouldn't be any good and wouldn't win his first two-three seasons seems like a rather doom and gloom scenario and not based on any fact.

Obviously its your opinion but I would wager you on that.

So I'm square--you are predicting 1st place if Jim Les coaches next year, 9th or worse if someone else does?