Coach Jim Les' Future

[BradleyBrave]

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.

Better than Ruffin, Crouch, Maniscalco, Warren, Wilson, Salley in 07-08?

Respectfully disagree wholeheartedly.

[Braves4Life]

Better than Ruffin, Crouch, Maniscalco, Warren, Wilson, Salley in 07-08?

Respectfully disagree wholeheartedly.

If players like DSE, Jake, and Pross keep developing they have a chance to top that team, yes.

Here's how I hope it plays out:

Sammy = Ruff
TB = Wilson
DSE could = Warren (at that stage)
Jake or Milos could = Crouch (especially with Crouch as their mentor)
Pross and/or Egolf could = Salley (hopefully much better)

Plus, we may have a seasoned bench and some hyped newcomers. Time will tell...... I know I'm excited about next season's potential if Les stays.

[Bravesfan]

First, no offense to Sammy but he isn't even in the same league as Drew numbers wise...he will never rebound like Drew and while his shot may be a bit better with consistency, he's never gonna have a 30 point game like Drew or would do anything if he were double and triple teamed like Drew...

He is impossible to replace and that's why I just am not seeing what everyone else is...

And if we lose Taylor for good - game over! Taylor would be reason number 1 why we would jump up in the standings so much.

Finally, 18-12 and middle of the pack - goodbye Les, not even close to good enough at this point!

We don't know about Sammy numbers wise since he hasn't been completely healthy for a couple of years. If he comes back full strength, who knows. But we don't even need for him to put up numbers as great as Drew. We just need him to be healthy so he can run the point and be able to distribute the ball to people who can then go ahead and shoot it.

Losing Taylor, well yeah, I don't think we are a championship team without him, but I still think we have the players to at least finish in the middle of the pack, if not better. DSE and others have the potential to take up a lot of AW's scoring load. Again, I know this is not good enough for some, but we still should be more competitive even without TB regardless.

[Rusty 54]

If players like DSE, Jake, and Pross keep developing they have a chance to top that team, yes.

Here's how I hope it plays out:

Sammy = Ruff
TB = Wilson
DSE could = Warren (at that stage)
Jake or Milos could = Crouch (especially with Crouch as their mentor)
Pross and/or Egolf could = Salley (hopefully much better)

Plus, we may have a seasoned bench and some hyped newcomers. Time will tell...... I know I'm excited about next season's potential if Les stays.

Even with Crouch as a mentor, I think saying Milos or Jake = Crouch is selling Crouch short. He was one of, if not the best 3-point shooter in the country. I just dont see that from Eastman, and Milos has a good shot but needs to find a way to stay on the floor.

I go back and forth on Ruffin and Maniscasco. Ruffin was more dynamic, Maniscalco more dependable. Tough call, especially since they have very different styles. IMO Ruff is a little better, but Sam is still great

[BradleyBrave]

If players like DSE, Jake, and Pross keep developing they have a chance to top that team, yes.

Here's how I hope it plays out:

Sammy = Ruff
TB = Wilson
DSE could = Warren (at that stage)
Jake or Milos could = Crouch (especially with Crouch as their mentor)
Pross and/or Egolf could = Salley (hopefully much better)

Plus, we may have a seasoned bench and some hyped newcomers. Time will tell...... I know I'm excited about next season's potential if Les stays.

Are we talking about the same Jeremy Crouch? Per BUBraves.com -

Crouch was a four-year letterman for the Braves from 2004-08, setting school records for 3-point field goals made in a career (262), 3-point field goals made in a season (11 and single-season 3-point field goal percentage (.500). In fact, by knocking down 83-of-166 shots from behind the arc during his junior season in 2006-07, Crouch shared the national lead to become the fourth player in program history to lead the nation in a statistical category.

Crouch was a first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection as a senior in 2008 after enjoying one of the best all-around statistical seasons in league history: in addition to averaging 15.8 points per game, he became just the fifth player in Valley history to score at least 600 points (600), grab 100 rebounds (13, dish out 100 assists (122) and snare 50 steals (57) in a single season. He also was picked the 2008 CollegeInsider.com MVC Most Valuable Player and added first-team Valley Scholar-Athlete honors to his list of awards.

Jake and Milos, combined, on their best day, will never be as good as Jeremy Crouch. Talk about selling a guy short. Jeremy Crouch was one of the best guards in the last 20 years at Bradley.

Also, what 'seasoned' bench are you referring to? We have 4 freshmen coming in, and likely another newcomer or two. That's potentially 6 new guys, which is nearly half the roster. Not seeing that either.

[Bravesfan]

For one month yes, but I guarantee any player on that team would tell you they were good enough to win a Valley championship...


We finished 5th...

Why do we care? They made the Sweet Sixteen that year. Plus, Bradley did not need to win the Valley championship to make it there!

Now I understand that most years, yes, we have to win the Valley tourney to make the Big Dance, but that year the Valley had six NCAA Tournament quality teams. You take that year's Bradley team and have them play this year and they win the Valley regular season and most likely the tourney as well. So I don't know how the players from that 2006 team regret not winning a championship when a Sweet Sixteen appearance is ten times better!

Now from on out, yes, winning Valley championships are the goal because who knows how long it will be before the Valley is even as close to being as strong as it was in 2006. But to harp on what was a good enough finish that year to make the tournament is pretty unproductive IMO.

[Bravesfan]

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.

And you know this, how?

[Bravesfan]

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.

Maybe so, but even if it's 80% thinking he will be back, I still don't think the number favoring keeping Les is as far under 80% as you are making it out to be wily.

Also, of course a bad team is going to keep people from going to St. Louis. It doesn't mean there are fewer fans of Les and the team, it's just that they don't want to take a trip there if Bradley only has the potential of winning one early round game, which is exactly what happened. And the economy and gas prices do play in here as well because fans don't want to risk wasting a lot of gas money while knowing our team did not have a serious chance of advancing far in the tournament.

But again, that doesn't mean most of the no-shows are any less of fans of Bradley and Jim Les. I think most who did not show up know next year will be a LOT better if Les stays around. But this year was not their year, so why spend money on tickets that probably won't be used, and on gas that continues to skyrocket in cost.

[BSSFan#1]

Why do we care? They made the Sweet Sixteen that year. Plus, Bradley did not need to win the Valley championship to make it there!

Now I understand that most years, yes, we have to win the Valley tourney to make the Big Dance, but that year the Valley had six NCAA Tournament quality teams. You take that year's Bradley team and have them play this year and they win the Valley regular season and most likely the tourney as well. So I don't know how the players from that 2006 team regret not winning a championship when a Sweet Sixteen appearance is ten times better!

Now from on out, yes, winning Valley championships are the goal because who knows how long it will be before the Valley is even as close to being as strong as it was in 2006. But to harp on what was a good enough finish that year to make the tournament is pretty unproductive IMO.

I am betting they would love to have a MVC championship to go along with the Sweet 16. How about for the future - MVC titles and Final 4 appearance?

[Braves4Life]

Are we talking about the same Jeremy Crouch?
Jake and Milos, combined, on their best day, will never be as good as Jeremy Crouch. Talk about selling a guy short. Jeremy Crouch was one of the best guards in the last 20 years at Bradley.

Also, what 'seasoned' bench are you referring to? We have 4 freshmen coming in, and likely another newcomer or two. That's potentially 6 new guys, which is nearly half the roster. Not seeing that either.

You're probably right BB. I did sell Crouch short, but hopefully Jake or Milos can be a 3-point threat like Crouch.

As far as seasoned bench I'm hoping that AT comes back bigger and better, and that Walt will improve. Milos or Eastman will probably start on the bench so I'm hoping these 3 can give us a good 8-man rotation. Throw in AD (if he returns) and hope that one or two newcomers provide a pleasant surprise (Harris or Abel?) and I think we have the makings of a pretty good team. Sorry you see it different.

[pfunk880]

Even with Crouch as a mentor, I think saying Milos or Jake = Crouch is selling Crouch short. He was one of, if not the best 3-point shooter in the country. I just dont see that from Eastman, and Milos has a good shot but needs to find a way to stay on the floor.

I go back and forth on Ruffin and Maniscasco. Ruffin was more dynamic, Maniscalco more dependable. Tough call, especially since they have very different styles. IMO Ruff is a little better, but Sam is still great

I think the other three comparisons were apt, but I'd absolutely agree with you on those two.

[Bravesfan]

I am betting they would love to have a MVC championship to go along with the Sweet 16. How about for the future - MVC titles and Final 4 appearance?

Maybe, but I still think a Sweet 16 is far more prestigious than a conference championship. But I'm not knocking the significance of a conference championship, it's just a team has to be in a zone to make the Sweet 16 which is easier said than done.

And like I said, the Valley of the future demands conference championships to even make the tourney.

[ph]

Maybe, but I still think a Sweet 16 is far more prestigious than a conference championship. But I'm not knocking the significance of a conference championship, it's just a team has to be in a zone to make the Sweet 16 which is easier said than done.

And like I said, the Valley of the future demands conference championships to even make the tourney.

Agreed, S16 is better. For some reason, I don't think Gonzaga or Butler fan's pride and joy is the conference championships...

[Big Mike]

Maybe, but I still think a Sweet 16 is far more prestigious than a conference championship. But I'm not knocking the significance of a conference championship, it's just a team has to be in a zone to make the Sweet 16 which is easier said than done.

And like I said, the Valley of the future demands conference championships to even make the tourney.

I think the Sweet 16 pays about 3 million more...although it is split among the 10 MVC teams!

[BSSFan#1]

Maybe, but I still think a Sweet 16 is far more prestigious than a conference championship. But I'm not knocking the significance of a conference championship, it's just a team has to be in a zone to make the Sweet 16 which is easier said than done.

And like I said, the Valley of the future demands conference championships to even make the tourney.

Sweet 16 is indeed a big thing. But it's getting 2 wins at the right time which can be helped greatly by match ups, etc.

A conference championship (regular season) is achieved over a long, tough grind.

Would love to have both. Never being 1st (or 2nd or 3rd) is getting old.