Donivine Stewart: "I meant it!"

[it's boogie time]

I'm glad Donivine Stewart is on board. However, some scholarships need to open up to give the new coach a chance to bring in his players.

[AE Braves Fan]

Between the ones I talked to, their tweets and private communications, and what others who are close to the players have told me I can say there is not a single member of the team that isn't very upset and disappointed this move was made.
But I believe they will get past it and the new coach appears to be a big step in the right direction.

No pjstar link = cannot be true. All those players came to Bradley and most have been here for several years despite hating Jim Les and thinking he was a terrible coach. How could they possibly be disappointed Les is gone?

(Sarcasm)

[tornado]

No pjstar link = cannot be true. All those players came to Bradley and most have been here for several years despite hating Jim Les and thinking he was a terrible coach. How could they possibly be disappointed Les is gone?

(Sarcasm)

Through personal communication I can testify that all the players are very upset and saddened by the loss of their coach....
one so much so - that he never had a single thought of staying aorund and has already left.....
..for anyone to even question that or deny it simply doesn't have a clue how close a team grows to their coach in that kind of setting...they would have given anything for Coach Les to remain...
but as Da Coach said..they all want to look at their current options, and for many staying here is an attractive choice with the hiring of Coach Ford.

[AE Braves Fan]

Through personal communication I can testify that all the players are very upset and saddened by the loss of their coach....
one so much so - that he never had a single thought of staying aorund and has already left.....
..for anyone to even question that or deny it simply doesn't have a clue how close a team grows to their coach in that kind of setting...they would have given anything for Coach Les to remain...
but as Da Coach said..they all want to look at their current options, and for many staying here is an attractive choice with the hiring of Coach Ford.

I don't doubt any of this for one second. Silly that some here would question it.

[Buesch N Chips]

I don't doubt any of this for one second. Silly that some here would question it.

Some people question everything T says, just out of sport. I tend to look at what is said, not who said it.

[BradleyJD]

...and Coach Ford somewhat mentioned returning players today on 1470. He said they need kids who WANT to be here.

Losing your coach is hard, no doubt about it. I suspect most of the team will be back. Those who aren't, aren't.

Coach Ford has to work with who is on hand.

[BradleyBrave]

I don't doubt any of this for one second. Silly that some here would question it.

Cancelled your tickets yet? I need 2 more. Let me know when I can call.

[RedSeaElite1]

I agree, all the players loved coach Les, but I have heard that WE is 100% staying next year as well.

[LittleBrave]

Little Brave simply not true about DS not playing hard. I saw him for 4 years and he gave it his all. The problem was he and his Rocket teammates didn't play any defense. Make that zero defense. What DS will probably struggle with when he gets to the hilltop is on the defensive end of the court. Limestone played strickly zone once the other team got the ball across half court. Bottom line its not fair to say he didn't play hard all the time. Just not true.

It may not be fair - but don't shoot the messenger, man. I was just expressing that other posters have brought this up - I've never seen the kid play.
But then you mentioned above that HE and his teammates didn't play any defense, so what does that tell me? I can't make the connection between that statement and , "he gave it his all".

I appreciate you clarifying this so that I get your view on DS, as you personally saw him play. I won't make any speculations about him until I see him on the court in a BU uni.

[Stryker]

I agree, all the players loved coach Les, but I have heard that WE is 100% staying next year as well.

I don't think anyone was much worried about Will leaving. It makes sense for hime to stay.

[AZ BU Fan]

Glad to have you still aboard DS! You will not regret it for a day!

Wonder if DSE is worried about future PT and where he would fit in if DS and RA are on the roster, as well as any new recruits GF can bring in next year...

Or, possibly waiting to see if new BU offensive scheme suits him

Or, possibly waiting to see if BU will have enough quality bigs next year and during his senior year to compete for championships/NCAA in the MVC...

I didn't mean to imply DSE has to worry about #1,2...but these are the things I would want to find out about before committing to return to BU.
#3 may be the key.

Can fully understand players' disappointment/anger with JL being let go. He wasn't let go because he abused the players or was a bad person.....I would imagine he is a guy that one would want to be with/look up to.

My guess is JL was almost a father/step father figure to SM...To the others, JL was a great person and did win over the kids and their parents when recruiting them....Loyalty would be expected with the character of the kids BU recruits...

Successfully dealing with change/disappointment/uncertainty in their future lives is also a key trait BU students and graduates need to develop...I am sure we can all relate to change/disappointment/uncertainty in our post college lives/careers!

[tornado]

There has been sound evidence previously presented that Donivine has an amazing love for Peoria and has numerous reasons why he'd strongly want to play here, near family and friends, etc...

[BradleyBrave]

There has been sound evidence previously presented that Donivine has an amazing love for Peoria and has numerous reasons why he'd strongly want to play here, near family and friends, etc...

So he wasn't lying as some insinuated when he said he was staying 'no matter what' a month or so ago?

[Buesch N Chips]

So he wasn't lying as some insinuated when he said he was staying 'no matter what' a month or so ago?

Here we go again.....

[tornado]

I do not recall anyone saying he was lying --he had always wanted to play in Peoria --
but did you ever consider the possible scenario that if JL was fired, the new guy would or could say he didn't want DS?? It's been known to happen where an incoming coach even sends a recruit under a LOI packing...
Calipari did it at Kentucky........even Mac did it at Creighton and said no to one of Dana's guys and released him...