Coach Jim Les' Future

[SFP]

I don't doubt that that is the case. I was just stating that I have had enough of both sides of the discussion and just plain don't care anymore. I have gotten sick of both sides of the argument. We could have a sadistic murdering robot for a coach next year, and if he wins games, doesn't get the program hit with sanctions, and doesn't let his players act like him, I'll be happy.

I'd have to believe this is the sentiments of the vast majority of the posters.

[braveatheart]

I completely disagree with your synopsis of Sammy's scoring. He put up 31 against Creighton in the tourney last year and up til this season without him, I always wanted the ball in his hands in the guts of a game.

Yep. A point gaurd who is lights out on free throws really helps you close out games. A point gaurd who can score changes a game period. I thought DD and DSE did a great job filling in this year but SM would have made the team quite a bit better.

[SFP]

Yep. A point gaurd who is lights out on free throws really helps you close out games. A point gaurd who can score changes a game period. I thought DD and DSE did a great job filling in this year but SM would have made the team quite a bit better.

I hope that we keep DSE at point next year and SM takes the role of a 2 guard.

[Beninator]

I hope that we keep DSE at point next year and SM takes the role of a 2 guard.

Disagree. Unless DSE improves his point guard skills greatly over the summer. I am not comfortable with DSE running the point to bring the ball up the floor. Once past the half court line I am ok with DSE as a point. SM is a leader and I wouldn't mess with that by moving him to the 2 guard. jmho

[Big Mike]

For those who don't think SM would have changed tthe season.....his current stats..
....185- 3's
1210 pts with a full season remaining.....

SM being hurt took away a 2nd 3 pt threat which really hurt!

[braveatheart]

I hope that we keep DSE at point next year and SM takes the role of a 2 guard.

I bet they both start. I like Sammy at the point though.

I tell you though, DSE has really improved his FT shooting. He went from 64.4% last year to 73.8% this year. You couple that with his constant driving to the basket and he presents a real problem for other teams. Maybe he can get that up around 78 or 80% next year. Then other teams will have trouble figuring out who to foul at the end of games. Pick your poisen, SM (84.5% last year), TB (82.4% last year) or DSE.

I think we can close out games next year if it all works out that way.

[ER3]

Well, I gotta say it... it looks like the overwhelming majority of fans (almost 80%) here favor retaining Jim another year. We have had the fire-JL people telling us all year that it is the other way around, and that the majority of fans want him fired.

Completely false conclusion on your part, but if that makes you feel better about the world go with it.

The poll had nothing to do with what fans WANT to see happen next year. The poll was what do you THINK will happen.

There are many, many people that don't want to see Les return, but acknowledge that it might happen with the monetary and injury caveats.

[LG281]

I am another one here in Stl and voted.
The one complaint I have about last night was the lack of fan enthusiasm but blame part of that on the music the band played. I heard several say the music wasn't conducive to getting the crowd fired up and it didn't except a few times. A couple of times the cheerleaders didn't even get into the music. Then check out WSt and see how their fans respond to the music their band plays. They were constantly on their feet.
I have no idea who is responsible but something has to change to get the fans fired up which in return should help get the team fired up.

Just getting back to town right now and reading through BFans like I normally do and then I run up against this insane post.

To criticize the band is way off base dude...they were on the opposite end of the arena from us (a very big arena by the way). Ofcourse WSU is going to sound louder they were closer to us and out numbered us fans by what seemed like atleast 3 to 1. Not to mention their team was handily whooping our behinds.

None of that has ANYTHING to do with the band. I'm sure that Vroman is paid for his time...but I'm willing to bet that it is more a labor of love and we are lucky to have him.

As for our cheerleaders - not sure if you noticed (even though you were paying such close attention) - but they actually took the initiative to make sure they were in front of BU fans wherever they were sitting, what with our crowd being split between those few behind the bench and those of us in the upper 118 area.

They even came all the way down into hostile territory, probably 5-10ft from the WSU cheerleaders just to make sure they were in front of us. I thought that was pretty cool.

- - -

Maybe next time you aren't pleased with the enthusiasm around you could ask yourself if you are doing enough to get those around you excited. If you find yourself sitting there...why not get up and start yelling with the students and band.

[Joe O.]

Unfortunately the decision is not up to fans whether Les stays or goes. It is up to President Glasser. Based on her previous history with coaches that have ties to the previous athletic administration I think Les will be gone. If you think about it she got rid of:Bo Ryan (golf), Dave Beauchem (XC/track) the Volleyball Coach (can't think of his name), etc. So based on history I think Jim will be gone. However, not sure how Paula Buscher keeps on to see another season when she has had just as many bad or worse seasons than Jim.

Ultimately this month we will find out who stays and goes on the Hilltop.

[Big Mike]

Just getting back to town right now and reading through BFans like I normally do and then I run up against this insane post.

To criticize the band is way off base dude...they were on the opposite end of the arena from us (a very big arena by the way). Ofcourse WSU is going to sound louder they were closer to us and out numbered us fans by what seemed like atleast 3 to 1. Not to mention their team was handily whooping our behinds.

None of that has ANYTHING to do with the band. I'm sure that Vroman is paid for his time...but I'm willing to bet that it is more a labor of love and we are lucky to have him.

As for our cheerleaders - not sure if you noticed (even though you were paying such close attention) - but they actually took the initiative to make sure they were in front of BU fans wherever they were sitting, what with our crowd being split between those few behind the bench and those of us in the upper 118 area.

They even came all the way down into hostile territory, probably 5-10ft from the WSU cheerleaders just to make sure they were in front of us. I thought that was pretty cool.

- - -

Maybe next time you aren't pleased with the enthusiasm around you could ask yourself if you are doing enough to get those around you excited. If you find yourself sitting there...why not get up and start yelling with the students and band.

+1

[wily coyote]

Well, I gotta say it... it looks like the overwhelming majority of fans (almost 80%) here favor retaining Jim another year. We have had the fire-JL people telling us all year that it is the other way around, and that the majority of fans want him fired.

As a side note- there are hundreds of fans down here in St. Louis, including quite a lot of the "blue-hairs". I suspect most if not nearly all of these fans here in St. Louis do not have a laptop with them to vote in this poll. That means, in my estimation, that most people voting are the out-of-area fans, and the people who did not come to St. Louis. I have talked to numerous people down here, and I have not met anyone yet who wants Jim fired. So I believe that if these fans were added to the poll, it would be far more lopsided. The older fans don't tend to have computers or visit our site in great numbers anyway, and the huge majority of those older fans strongly support Jim Les.

So what I am saying, and others are free to disagree and I am sure there will be some who do, is that if this poll has any bias, IMO the bias strongly favors the fans who want Jim Les fired, since they tend to shout louder than the rest of us, and are more likely to stay home and not come to St. Louis. Even if you add a couple votes for the obnoxious, repeated rules-violating ones we have banned, it doesn't come close to equalling the hundreds of others who are down here in St. Louis and can't participate in the poll. I predict that by tomowwow, this poll will even more strongly favor retaining Jim, when those fans get home and vote.

DC I have made it quite obvious I will support whatever decision is made,but I do want to correct and make a point of another statement you made. 1.) It isn't 80% favoring keeping JL its 80% THINKING he will be retained. BIG difference. 2.) I believe you when you say EVERYONE you talked to in ST.L. were for no change.BUT that makes perfect sense to me that his supporters were there. Now how many all sessions tickets did we sell compared to years past. BIG drop and you weren't able to ask those people because THEY WEREN'T there. Maybe making another kind of statement. Just last week it was reported in your favorite paper that we had sold only 275 and we are usually between 600 and 1,000. Now whats that telling us. Oh I know,economy ,gas prices..... you be the judge.

[Braves4Life]

Disagree. Unless DSE improves his point guard skills greatly over the summer. I am not comfortable with DSE running the point to bring the ball up the floor. Once past the half court line I am ok with DSE as a point. SM is a leader and I wouldn't mess with that by moving him to the 2 guard. jmho

I agree. With Les back as coach and TB joining Sammy, Pross, DSE, Will, and the rest I think we will be putting our best team on the floor since 2006. It should be a VERY exciting season next year as long as Les is back (or it could deteriorate into bloody hel! if we don't win). Either way, it gives us something to look forward to over the summer.

[LittleBrave]

I agree. With Les back as coach and TB joining Sammy, Pross, DSE, Will, and the rest I think we will be putting our best team on the floor since 2006. It should be a VERY exciting season next year as long as Les is back (or it could deteriorate into bloody hel! if we don't win). Either way, it gives us something to look forward to over the summer.

I think we're missing a dominant big and don't have as many consistent 3-point shooters next season, as we did in 2006.

We do have 3 decent bigs next season if TB returns (WE, JP, TB) - maybe even SH? I know that TB is not really a BIG, but he plays bigger than 6'6" and is a major threat to score in many ways.

I believe that JE & DSE will improve on their 3 point shooting next season. They will put in the necessary work over the summer & get better.
Maybe it was just me, but quite a few of DSE's 3 balls looked good, but went in and came out. Jake just needs to shoot more. With Sammy back, I believe he matches AW as a 3-point threat.

All in all, we do have the most talent since 2007 - maybe even 2006...if Les stays.

[jrish12]

I still wish we could get someone who is a dead on 3 point shooter. We havent had a pure 3 point shooter since Crouch. Even with SM back, nobody really strikes fear in opponents saying "oh, I better not leave this guy open from behind the arc" Yes Sammy can shoot the 3 well, but if he is our only go to guy for a 3 that is a problem IMO.

Also, alot of this is speculation on TB returning. For all we know he could never play basketball again. A conference title isnt important if it means it puts TB in danger. A young mans life is more important than a basketball game.

[Big Mike]

I still wish we could get someone who is a dead on 3 point shooter. We havent had a pure 3 point shooter since Crouch. Even with SM back, nobody really strikes fear in opponents saying "oh, I better not leave this guy open from behind the arc" Yes Sammy can shoot the 3 well, but if he is our only go to guy for a 3 that is a problem IMO.

Also, alot of this is speculation on TB returning. For all we know he could never play basketball again. A conference title isnt important if it means it puts TB in danger. A young mans life is more important than a basketball game.

+1....nice post 12!