The Sky Is NOT Falling

[BradleyJD]

I beg to differ strongly...

...and then we understand why candidates like Jeter - who first came begging to get out of his current situation, then turned 180 degrees when he learned more..

Well we disagree. I know JG and Cross knew some would be unhappy.

Secondly, Jeter has every right to be happy with his current situation and not want to start over building something.

I love how a guy not taking the job has somehow equated into Bradley being a terrible choice for coaches.

I know many people who have turned down job offers at other places. You listen to the offer, but you don't take it if you like what you have more.

Pretty simple.

[Da Coach]

He just turned down $700K for 5 years to stay at a lesser-level job that pays much less. That's all anyone needs to know to realize there are some serious issues going on. And he isn't the only one to turn down the Bradley job.

[LittleBrave]

Well we disagree. I know JG and Cross knew some would be unhappy.

Secondly, Jeter has every right to be happy with his current situation and not want to start over building something.

I love how a guy not taking the job has somehow equated into Bradley being a terrible choice for coaches.

I know many people who have turned down job offers at other places. You listen to the offer, but you don't take it if you like what you have more.

Pretty simple.

Good points JD. I don't take Jeter not interested as a slam. He' on the upswing at UW-Milwaukee. Not sure if I'd be interested in going from a 1st place team to a last place team between conferences that faired pretty evenly this past season. He apparently has a strong connection with his student-athletes too.

[Da Coach]

Maybe it could look that way on the surface. But there were much deeper reasons a guy turns down that kind of money at a supposedly better job. And others have done so as well, even when it would have meant moving from an assistant job to a head coaching job.

[shaunguth]

Well we disagree. I know JG and Cross knew some would be unhappy.

Secondly, Jeter has every right to be happy with his current situation and not want to start over building something.

I love how a guy not taking the job has somehow equated into Bradley being a terrible choice for coaches.

I know many people who have turned down job offers at other places. You listen to the offer, but you don't take it if you like what you have more.

Pretty simple.

Hopefully, not too many more of our top choices are happy with their current situation and not wanting to start over.

[tornado]

... Jeter.. on the upswing at UW-Milwaukee....

there are plenty who differ on this...
The facilities are decaying, and some want to build and move onto campus and others think that's too costly and will alienate the community folks, their biggest bet on getting more attendance.....there's endless bickering on what to do about it and the recent AD just got fired over it, the fan base is tanking despite sitting in the middle of a basketball rabid city of about ONE MILLION people..
there just isn't a reason in the world why these guys can't outdraw - say - Creighton, yet despite a season where they win the conference, have the CONFERENCE Coach of the Year...they still draw barely 4000 per game, only about 1/4 of what Creighton draws!!!
Remember -- Jeter is under .500 over th epast four years, and lots of fans ( I gave links) want to be rid of him -- he's hangin right where Coach JL has been the past 3-4 years where lots are UNHAPPY...


BTW -- if you removed their one home game vs. Marquette which does NOT happen every year -- then their season average home attendance was a mere 3940 -- with games UNDER 2000!!
This is the FIRST year in FIVE years that the attendande went up as they were 2883 last year - WITH EVEN SOME CONFERENCE GAMES DRAWING UNDER 2000...proving their season ticket base is about 2000 only!

They play in a nice, downtown arena, US Cellular Arena, which seats 12,000 - so how do you think 1800 sound when they play those games?

All you will have to do is wait a few months, maybe even just days or weeks and you will eat your words..
as Jeter will jump to the first open job of any significance like Marquette ..

[SFP]

I have to agree. I think the President knew full-well what was going to happen in the post-JL era. As did Dr. Cross.

If you have ever had to remove/fire someone, you know there is always fallout afterwards.

Knowing that there will be a fall out and having contingency plans in place to react quickly and decisive is another. All Along I have said if the Admin pulls the string they better move fast and have a person in mind where at least a conversation or a phone call was made to see if the deal could be made. JG knew she was going to fire JL early on unless JL pulled a miracle down in St Louis. So her plan was to get a recruiter in place? She should have had a short list on March 1st!

[SFP]

As the days go by and without even an indication of who the next coach will be I have to believe that the Admins are way over their heads right now and had no idea what they were getting into. Imagine that?

[BradleyJD]

as Jeter will jump to the first open job of any significance like Marquette ..

Marquette is a way better job than BU. I would jump at that too.

[tornado]

bird in the hand....JD -- the Marq job is a non-existent possibility over a solid BU job -- and even if the Marquette job opened, he could still take it even if he took the BU job...others have gone that route......

[BradleyJD]

bird in the hand....JD -- the Marq job is a non-existent possibility over a solid BU job -- and even if the Marquette job opened, he could still take it even if he took the BU job...others have gone that route......

Don't disagree with that. I was just saying IF he takes that job, it doesn't make me think less of BU.

[tornado]

def. agree..

[afan]

Folks, I understand that people want a coach - I want one too - but let's take a deep breath here. The situation is not dire.

Let's look on the bright side:

1. There is no indication that three of our core players - TB, Lemon or Prosser - are considering a transfer. It looks like DSE, the other core guy, is out but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Transfers often happen when coaching changes are made. If we can keep several core players, I'll consider it good news.

2. The administration apparently offered 700k for a coach! 700k! This is HUGE! And this after many on this board insisted that President Glasser wouldn't pay anyone more than she is making. Kudos to her for authorizing this kind of offer. If that 700k figure gets out, we'll suddenly have a number of other candidates come out of the woodwork.

3. There are still quality coaches interested in BU. I've got no problem going with an assistant from a big-time program. No problem at all.

4. ISU still stinks!

No...the sky is not falling...that may be a little strong..However, I believe there are several issues that are extremely uncomfortable.

1. There is a bad taste in almost everyones mouth as to how JL was fired. Hardly a plus for Cross and Glasser.

2. Key playes are leaving and have expressed an interest in looking elswhere.

3. There is definitely uncertainty regarding our recruits. They may not be coming.

4. There seems to be at least some rejection from the coaching ranks as far as the Bradley opening. There may not be as many quality coaches interested in the Bradley job as you may think there are. Money alone is not the big attraction.

5. If, in fact, we do lose some recruits and key players it will be years before we become competitive.

6. ISU does still stink.

I do believe that there is a lot of reason for concern re: Bradley basketball.

[tornado]

No...the sky is not falling......

of course not -- and I never for once ever thought it was...
if it were I'd be outta here..instead I am leading the charge for a GOOD and successful coaching search and hire, I want the best guy available, and I want him right now without interference from any source.
I am a 40+ year Bradley basketball fan, 30+ year season ticket holder, and pour a lot into Bradley basketball...
I am one of the best fans that JD spoke of and have even MADE new fans of several others ()
.........and I have no apologies saying so even in down years..
I have my red on right now with the BU logo and am proud to show it to anyone and support my team.

[damasa]

there are plenty who differ on this...
The facilities are decaying, and some want to build and move onto campus and others think that's too costly and will alienate the community folks, their biggest bet on getting more attendance.....there's endless bickering on what to do about it and the recent AD just got fired over it, the fan base is tanking despite sitting in the middle of a basketball rabid city of about ONE MILLION people..
there just isn't a reason in the world why these guys can't outdraw - say - Creighton, yet despite a season where they win the conference, have the CONFERENCE Coach of the Year...they still draw barely 4000 per game, only about 1/4 of what Creighton draws!!!
Remember -- Jeter is under .500 over th epast four years, and lots of fans ( I gave links) want to be rid of him -- he's hangin right where Coach JL has been the past 3-4 years where lots are UNHAPPY...


BTW -- if you removed their one home game vs. Marquette which does NOT happen every year -- then their season average home attendance was a mere 3940 -- with games UNDER 2000!!
This is the FIRST year in FIVE years that the attendande went up as they were 2883 last year - WITH EVEN SOME CONFERENCE GAMES DRAWING UNDER 2000...proving their season ticket base is about 2000 only!

They play in a nice, downtown arena, US Cellular Arena, which seats 12,000 - so how do you think 1800 sound when they play those games?

All you will have to do is wait a few months, maybe even just days or weeks and you will eat your words..
as Jeter will jump to the first open job of any significance like Marquette ..

I actually think plenty of people differ with your view on this. Yes, Milwaukee needs to update facilities because they're lacking but they're not horrible either. The "move to campus or stay at the Cell is a large debate" and I'm not sure where I stand. The program fell hard after Pearl left and Jeter has been doing one heck of a job trying to rebulid from the ground up. Keep in mind Milwaukee has only been playing basketball in D1 for 21 years and it's a program that is continually building. Probably another reason why facilities are lacking because Milwaukee probably jumped to D1 a little too soon. They don't have that base of fans that go back 30/40/50 years like other schools. That's also a big reason why average attendance at games is down.

Which brings me to my next couple of points; Milwaukee is not a basketball rabid city and anyone who thinks so is seriously mistaken. The population of Milwaukee is not "one million" but closer to 570,000 which is a huge difference. The greater Milwaukee area pop is over one million but that area includes suburbs that are 20 or more miles out. Basketball games in the city aren't a big pull for those people. This has been a hot topic given the continued decline in Milwaukee's (city) population.

Given everything above, Milwaukee still plays behind the Bucks and Marquette and there's a large number of Badger fans located in the city who just don't support Milwaukee but hopefully will one day. Milwaukee's program crashed after 2006 and enough time has passed to allow a strengthened base decay. Hopefully after this season Jeter & Co. can continue to improve the program and bring in larger crowds.

I think Buzz will stay at MU and Jeter going to MU (or the possibility of such) will be a moot point. Anyway, thank you for allowing me to join the board!