Report of Jim Les firing

[Da Coach]

The team next year will bear very little resemblance to anything we now see.

[Da Coach]

I hope 3 years from now were having a discussion about how the new coach doesn't deserve any credit for our 2013/14 Valley championship because Remy Abell (valley player of the year) was a Les recruit.

Oh, and don't forget, you can't use this MSU argument about hold over players as well as the one where all the players leave with the fired coach because those arguments contradict each other, and you wouldn't to do that, would you?

You are free to believe anything you want. But I believe my opinion is based on some pretty reliable information. If we are talking about Remy Abell being MVC POY in 3 years, I'll give you my season tickets.

[TheHeemyMonster]

dc- you also we pretty sure earlier this year that JL was going to be back next year....

i am pretty sure that the team will not change as much as u think

[budu]

just another thought........

I dont think this was a good "business" decision by the administration or JG, i believe this was a personal decision made by JG because of the relationship between Jim and JG. The 20 loss season just gave her the final reason and opened the door and i think she has full right to fire without input from the trustees. I also believe JG could care les about the money lost, she wanted jim lost. Plus, The money that will not be renewed next year will not be surprising let alone what they will have to pay Jim and the new coach. Just my opinion. We will see about season tickets, ticket maintenance, sponsorship revenue etc. next year, the money maker of the Dept is the Mens program period. Not to mention what this may do to the relationships of past players? Hawk? AP? and the list goes on.. Where will the loyalty lie and how long will that last? after JG leaves? If she wants to make it personal maybe others will do the same thing, just my opinion. By the way does anyone know what the average salary in Div 1 last year? i heard $900,000!? wow, interesting. What do you think the new coach will want??? 5 or les? ha ha. Anyone ready for the Princeton weave?

I sincerely hope I did not give out any personal info that has to be deleted, i mean that. I just need to get some of this off my chest because of how i really feel this went down.

[Rusty 54]

I kept going back and forth about this all year. Now it hurts a lot more then I imagined.

[abesimpson]

The team next year will bear very little resemblance to anything we now see.

After finishing tied for dead last (even with all the injuries), that might not be such a bad thing. Literally, there is no where to go but up.

It wasn't too long ago when people on this board were talking about conference expansion and change and dropping then bottom dwellers Indiana St. and Evansville, and look how those teams performed this year. BU will rebuild and come back, just going to take some time.

[CE Braves Fan]

The team next year will bear very little resemblance to anything we now see.

Will Egolf too, huh? I have a hard time believing they're all going to pack up and leave...they have a good chance to be really good next year.

The only reason I would think could happen is that something weird has occurred and it hasn't been reported yet.

I really hope that doesn't happen. Because if there is a mass exodus, BU basketball will be 3-5 years away from being competitive again.

[Braves4Life]

Not to mention what this may do to the relationships of past players? Hawk? AP? and the list goes on.. Where will the loyalty lie and how long will that last? after JG leaves? If she wants to make it personal maybe others will do the same thing, just my opinion.

I respect your opinion budu but BU has let other Bradley alums go and survived -- Stowell and Albeck. I think (and hope) BU will be OK again someday soon.

[Dub]

Tonight my family and I returned from our 17th consecutive MVC tournament. We have been very ardent Bradley fans for as long as I can remember, and we have only missed a handful of games in the last 12 years. Jim Les, as a player and then a coach, has led our team to the two highest peaks the program has seen in my lifetime. He is a childhood hero to me and many, and I will never forget the special memories he helped bring to life.

Having said that, Goodwill Industries is about to recieve a large donation of Bradley gear which I have already started sadly to box up. After the decision made today, to me this administration has transformed Bradley Basketball into something unrecognizable from the program I fell in love with.

It just isn't the same anymore.

I have enjoyed reading many of the thoughtful comments of the posters on this board, and enjoyed games with many of you at the arena and sports bars around the area. Moderators - thank you for your hard work as well.

[budu]

dc- you also we pretty sure earlier this year that JL was going to be back next year....

i am pretty sure that the team will not change as much as u think

Oh yes it will......sadly, they could be very good next year.....but.....

[Da Coach]

Will Egolf too, huh? I have a hard time believing they're all going to pack up and leave...they have a good chance to be really good next year.

The only reason I would think could happen is that something weird has occurred and it hasn't been reported yet.

I really hope that doesn't happen. Because if there is a mass exodus, BU basketball will be 3-5 years away from being competitive again.

I am willing to wait and see, but much of what I am hearing is coming from sources that should know what they are talking about.
Will should return for his senior year, since he burned his redshirt year, and it makes for few choices. Lets hope Will improves into the player he has occasionally shown the potential to be.

[jrish12]

Thank you Jim for your time, it is always hard to see someone lose their job in any field. I wish him well, and he can spend more time with his family and get the opportunity to watch his son compete at the Division I level out in sunny California.

[budu]

dc- you also we pretty sure earlier this year that JL was going to be back next year....

i am pretty sure that the team will not change as much as u think

Will Egolf too, huh? I have a hard time believing they're all going to pack up and leave...they have a good chance to be really good next year.

The only reason I would think could happen is that something weird has occurred and it hasn't been reported yet.

I really hope that doesn't happen. Because if there is a mass exodus, BU basketball will be 3-5 years away from being competitive again.

We will see how far loyalty goes......Will will be a senior and will have to go thru a year like Drew and Dodie did, too bad...Anthony will get his playing time as will Milos and DSE will be the leader....Stewart will be back up point guard. Then there is the Davis kid who hasn't played yet and the kid from Iowa and then it depends on what happens with the others....tough going in my eyes and i dont like it a bit. Its hard to stomach where good ol BU might be going.

But then again, we get a head coach that is a big ten head assist.??? like from Wisconsin???

[SaintLouBrave22]

I really hope that doesn't happen. Because if there is a mass exodus, BU basketball will be 3-5 years away from being competitive again.

Thing is, we weren't competitive this year, and we haven't finished in the top 3 in conference in 12 years or so...


I guess I am with the crowd that if guys just up and leave, so be it...we just have to blow things up completely...

Heck, look at what Indiana State has done in such a short time between McKenna and Lansing (better) and what Wichita has done with Marshall and Missouri State with Martin...heck, even Marty is getting Evansville to start competing better...Jacobsen has done more at UNI than Mac ever did and he was considered a God there...


A turnaround can happen...people just need to take a deep breath and realize we are going to be ok!

[Bravesfan]

Tonight my family and I returned from our 17th consecutive MVC tournament. We have been very ardent Bradley fans for as long as I can remember, and we have only missed a handful of games in the last 12 years. Jim Les, as a player and then a coach, has led our team to the two highest peaks the program has seen in my lifetime. He is a childhood hero to me and many, and I will never forget the special memories he helped bring to life.

Having said that, Goodwill Industries is about to recieve a large donation of Bradley gear which I have already started sadly to box up. After the decision made today, to me this administration has transformed Bradley Basketball into something unrecognizable from the program I fell in love with.

It just isn't the same anymore.

I have enjoyed reading many of the thoughtful comments of the posters on this board, and enjoyed games with many of you at the arena and sports bars around the area. Moderators - thank you for your hard work as well.

Well, I agree that the administration burned a lot of bridges today. But I think you could still support the team, that is the players and coaches, without having to support the administration.

I'd say wear your Bradley gear with pride, just don't donate a dime to the school. I know you give money to the school buying tickets, but why hurt the player's welfare by not showing up to games? You can still protest the decision while staying supportive to the team.