ESPN Radio from 2/19

[DeWigs]

ESPN Radio

Relative to SM, I think the issue of timing is still crucial. If the decision were/has been made not to bring Les back, he may wait to see who the new coach is. By the time that all plays out, how many roster openings would there be at other schools for 11/12?

I would tend to think that, even if a change were made, the new coach would value a guy with SM's experience.

[dogsrus]

Sam probably has a deadfast loyalty to JL unlike any other player...IF JL was let go I could see and would understand Sam saying, "I'm gone also."

A new coach would have to do QUITE the hard-sell like Albeck did to HH.

I could see Sam going somewhere closer to Chicago for one last year.....

[dogsrus]

After our loss to Illinois State I heard Dave say (not on the broadcast), in so many words, that the loss may have cost Jim Les his job.

Rumor / Knowledge / Columnist / Opinion / simple disappointment after a loss - you decide

joe friday

Say it ain't so Joe.....but I'd guess 4. Now the question is is HIS opinion rumor or an actual opinion.

[wily coyote]

I agree with Da Coach. I would think a new coach would want to build for the future and play Donivine more (assuming DS stayed) and Sammy could potentially be an after thought on a rebuilding team or the lone good player (see Andrew Warren, esp. if TB left).

Sammy would be in great demand by several Big 10 schools and would be able to finish his career on a bigger stage. All great players long to play against the best.

If Jim is not here ,Sammy probably won't be here either. If Sammy did stay for a new coach,I promise you he wouldn't be an after thought to Donivine. There abilities are worlds apart. DS is going to be alright down the road but to compare him to Sammy is CRAZY just plain CRAZY.

[BUSongwriter]

Should the coaching situation change, Sammy is free to do whatever he thinks is best for Sammy. But should that mean leaving for ANY other school in Illinois, as a BU fan I'd be as disappointed as a Cardinal fan if Pujols were to sign with the Cubs in 2012, or as Green Bay fans were when Favre signed with the Vikings in their own division. I'd still remember and appreciate the great moments Sam had for my team, but the memories would be seen through a totally different lens.

I totally agree with the poster who said it's "Bradley" on the jersey front. That means something....or should, and I know it has for Sam. I really, really hope to have the chance to stand and cheer for Sammy on a senior night NEXT YEAR before the final home game that's also celebrating an MVC championship -- and then head to St. Louis with thousands of others in red to finally see Bradley players, including Sam, hoist those black and white placards that say "Missouri Valley Champs."

Sam could -- and should -- be remembered as one of the best-loved Braves in BU history. I for one hope he sees that legacy all the way through to the end he deserves.

[wily coyote]

There has been alot of good debate going on on this subject. I will make just a few comments.
1.) On Sammy leaving if JL gone - bet on it and someone mentioned a BSC school down the road perfect fit.Bet on it.
2.) Alot of kids go to a school because of the coach so the name on front of the jersey does maybe mean less.
3.) Maybe "Once a Brave Always a Brave" doesn't mean what we think.
4.) I'm not getting into the fray calling for someones job,but if we do we will be starting over.There will be more players leaving and /or not coming then just SM. Another way to look at it though is we are 10th maybe 9th so we don't have far to fall. Just a major rebuilding. If JL is released you can bet this is where we'll be.
5.) DC thinks we can win the league next year and I'm not going to dispute his prediction because I would also like to think we could. But weren't we predicted 5th with these same players so maybe its wishful thinking.
6.) As I've said before I'm glad its not my decision. I have nothing against JL as a person but I 'm not happy with us not being in the title hunt year in and year out.

[srw]

There has been alot of good debate going on on this subject. I will make just a few comments.
1.) On Sammy leaving if JL gone - bet on it and someone mentioned a BSC school down the road perfect fit.Bet on it.
2.) Alot of kids go to a school because of the coach so the name on front of the jersey does maybe mean less.
3.) Maybe "Once a Brave Always a Brave" doesn't mean what we think.
4.) I'm not getting into the fray calling for someones job,but if we do we will be starting over.There will be more players leaving and /or not coming then just SM. Another way to look at it though is we are 10th maybe 9th so we don't have far to fall. Just a major rebuilding. If JL is released you can bet this is where we'll be.
5.) DC thinks we can win the league next year and I'm not going to dispute his prediction because I would also like to think we could. But weren't we predicted 5th with these same players so maybe its wishful thinking.
6.) As I've said before I'm glad its not my decision. I have nothing against JL as a person but I 'm not happy with us not being in the title hunt year in and year out.

Many good points..

Unfortunately..some always will pick you to win the league next year 9 years and counting we have been eliminated from the league race by Feb first. This year it was January first.

The sun will rise and fall with whomever is coach. I for one have no problem with a rebuilding couple of years. Because i feel like we have been in a perpetual rebuilding phase anyway..

[tornado]

BB -- if a new coach came in right now (or in 20 days as KW believes)..
then the one and only thing he would want and want right now is...

at least 3-4 open scholarships for each of the next TWO seasons...

well...guess how many he'd have immediately for 2011....answer -- not only none but he'd have -1 !

then, he'd have only three for 2012-2013 !!
...so
he'd have only three open scholarships for the next two seasons combined...

I'd have to agree with Da Coach on this one...if we get a new coach, he'd almost welcome several players leaving and opening up rides.....
Check what happened in the thread we're discussing about Dana Altman...he was more than happy that a few of the guys he didn't recruit, even tho they were 4 and 5-STAR guys like Dunnigan...left and cleared out some of the dead weight....

[Braves4Life]

If Jim is not here ,Sammy probably won't be here either. If Sammy did stay for a new coach,I promise you he wouldn't be an after thought to Donivine. There abilities are worlds apart. DS is going to be alright down the road but to compare him to Sammy is CRAZY just plain CRAZY.

I didn't mean Stewart was better than Sammy; I'm sure he's not even close.... yet. But I think a new coach would definitely design things around the guys that are his future rather than someone that is one and done. I'd expect a new style of play, as well as reduced minutes, numbers and (most importantly) fun.

[dogsrus]

Some think Sam would leave if Jim does but that Donivine would still come if Jim is gone.....don't get that one.

So many things can and might happen...think I'm just going to sit back and wait n see.

As usual never a dull moment on the Hilltop.

[Bravesfan]

Relative to SM, I think the issue of timing is still crucial. If the decision were/has been made not to bring Les back, he may wait to see who the new coach is. By the time that all plays out, how many roster openings would there be at other schools for 11/12?

I would tend to think that, even if a change were made, the new coach would value a guy with SM's experience.

I think most coaches would value SM's experience. However, I think we need to define value here. While most coaches would value his experience, some may use him to mentor the younger guys in a rebuilding project more from the bench than from a lot of playing time. Plus as has been stated, a lot of defections would shift the emphasis of the season from a possible NCAA Tournament appearance to one of a rebuilding job. And SM may not be inclined to spend a year relagated to this, unless they hire him as an assistant coach which would probably be of more value to him if he can't play for a contender.

[Bravesfan]

Sam probably has a deadfast loyalty to JL unlike any other player...IF JL was let go I could see and would understand Sam saying, "I'm gone also."

A new coach would have to do QUITE the hard-sell like Albeck did to HH.

I could see Sam going somewhere closer to Chicago for one last year.....

WHAT??? The last time I checked there's no team anywhere near Chicago outside of Notre Dame and Valparaiso that is even within a sniff of a winning season, let alone a postseason tournament!

No. If SM goes somewhere else to play next year (if Les is not brought back), then I'm sure he would travel as far as it would take to play on a contender. Somehow I don't see DePaul, Loyola, NIU, UIC or even Northwestern as one of those teams.

[canadian]

Look---when coaches leave for new jobs or get fired from the job other changes happen. It has always happened and always will happen. At Bradley and at every other school across America.

If the powers that be feel Jim Les needs to go, then you do not worry one bit about what players may leave or what recruits may decommit. Keeping a coach based on those reasons would be wildly irresponsible.

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?

If AD's/Presidents were worried about players leaving or recruits not coming because they fired the coach then no coach would ever get fired. If, and I emphasize if, Glasser want's to go in a different direction with the head MBB coach then you do it. If you lose a recruit or a player, so be it. That means you felt things weren't going right to begin with.

Re: Sammy. If Jim Les is gone Sammy will be back. I feel very, very strongly about this. I also personally think Taylor Brown has played his last game at Bradley one way or another.

EDIT: If Sammy even WANTED to leave, could he? Ok. This is his fourth year in the program. You generally get five years to play four. He is redshirting this season. Next year will be his fifth year. But if he transfers then he would need a SIXTH year of eligibility to play at the new school because he would be sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules.

SECOND EDIT: The Fish corrected me. 5th year seniors can leave without sitting out.

All that said, I still don't think he is going anywhere.

[BU RICK]

Should the coaching situation change, Sammy is free to do whatever he thinks is best for Sammy. But should that mean leaving for ANY other school in Illinois, as a BU fan I'd be as disappointed as a Cardinal fan if Pujols were to sign with the Cubs in 2012, or as Green Bay fans were when Favre signed with the Vikings in their own division. I'd still remember and appreciate the great moments Sam had for my team, but the memories would be seen through a totally different lens.

I totally agree with the poster who said it's "Bradley" on the jersey front. That means something....or should, and I know it has for Sam. I really, really hope to have the chance to stand and cheer for Sammy on a senior night NEXT YEAR before the final home game that's also celebrating an MVC championship -- and then head to St. Louis with thousands of others in red to finally see Bradley players, including Sam, hoist those black and white placards that say "Missouri Valley Champs."

Sam could -- and should -- be remembered as one of the best-loved Braves in BU history. I for one hope he sees that legacy all the way through to the end he deserves.

+1
If a coaching change happens, I wouldn't be surprised to see Sam being one of the ones to hold the team together. I cannot see him leaving, I just hope his ankles get better. The way the 3 HS seniors are playing and with SM & TB hopefully back with a base of JP, DSE, WL, JE and WE...I think if a coaching change happens, any new coach could convince this group to stick together

[thefish7]

5th year seniors can transfer without sitting a year.