I'm convinced...

[Missouri Brave]

I think it's way to early to be wondering in Geno was a bad move. Les didn't prove he was a good move until his 4th season.

This year's team reminds me of Les' 04-05 team. A bad season with lots of newcomers. Lots of guys taking bad shots or just driving because they had the ball. Not very much team play on offense or defense. But the next season we went to the Sweet 16.

The experience now will pay off in the future for the new guys just like it did for Les' 05-06 and 06-07 teams, which were his best. Although Les didn't lose any key guys that year and Geno will lose TB, so it will probably be a bit more difficult for Geno.

+1

[lefty]

+1

What are we...15 games into the season, and I am still trying to figure out if Geno is worth his contract. I noticed some changes on offense tonight that I thought were beneficial though, but our defense certainly has declined.

Why worry if he's worth the contract this season at all?....we need to give it a few years....just like we did for JL.

[wily coyote]

Do they see improvment? Where?

I think we need to be realistic and its hard when we see what Geno has been left with. Its very apparrent why we were picked last for two years in a row. There is alot of work to do and thats why schools that force a change are in that position. With what Geno was left with its not gonna be a quick change. I think we are looking at 2-3-years at least.If we are still struggling after all of JLs players are gone then maybe we hired in error.This is hard to watch but thats what Geno stepped into. It's gonna get better but not for several years.I hope

[amettrick]

I find it a little crazy that some are already questioning if GF was a good choice when he's only halfway into his first season.

If any of you were expecting a miracle turnaround in year one, you're delusional. Give the man time to do his job.

[Da Coach]

Though some with an agenda would try to twist the comments of fans to suggest that, I do not see anyone "questioning if GF was a good choice".
What I see is people who want to see Bradley win.

[CubbieBear]

Well....my Bears football season ended bad...and now my interest in the BU basketball season has all but ended...good thing the Cubbie Caravan will be here a week from today to give me something to look forward to --at least till April

[mrcoachdude]

TOB is actually quite positive right now. A lot of people applauding the hard work, realizing BU is out-manned, and still hoping that the work turns into W's.

I would hardly call that positive over there...calling for all the players to leave...or at least 4 or 5 players...I will have to work harder in finding the applauding area...

[TylerDurden]

Positive spins ... negative spins ... old coaches ... new coaches ... here's the depressing fact:

Bradley has lost 30 of its last 43 games.

That's just really sad as a fan. Is this what it's like to root for Evansville?

Evansville is 23-22 during its last 45 games

[BradleyJD]

I would hardly call that positive over there...calling for all the players to leave...or at least 4 or 5 players...I will have to work harder in finding the applauding area...

I found all of these in less than 1 minute:

"I applaud the effort of our team."

"I am not panicked because I had zero expectations other than effort. The play hard, they jump high, they give maximum physical effort."

"I applaud everyone who is involved with the program. Through all these challenges, they have stuck together and not been a problem off the floor, either."

"Tom Crean

Year 1 -- 6 wins, 25 losses; 1-17 in Big 10
Year 2 -- 10-21; 4-14 in B10
Year 3 -- 12-20; 3-15 in B10
Year 4 -- 13-1; 1-1 in Big10... Ranked #12 in Country... so far.

Patience Bradley Nation. "

Talking about Coach Ford

"Utmost respect to Bradley's tradition, fans & administration

-With absolute practicality. He is honest about where the program is, where it needs to be, what needs to happen for it to get there, and his role in all of that

-Button-down demeanor

-Consummate professional-he is the coach's coach. He mentioned on his program yesterday, he rarely eats on game day because he is focusing on too many things to get ready for the game"




"I don't think BU or Peoria will ever be embarrassed by having Geno Ford as its coach. He is funny, polite, well-spoken, classy, and doesn't take himself too seriously."

"I like everything SO FAR. Xs & Os, responsibility, and candidness. BUT, it's still waaay too early. We know almost nothing about his ability to recruit talent to the Hilltop




I will agree that it's not 100% positive. I also think it is ok and fair to judge whether or not players are up to the level of play that is required to win. That has been discussed here as well.

I always hope BU upgrades its talent. Even if we had 2 or 3 all-conference guys, I would always hope to get even more talented guys.

Does anyone want to get players that aren't talented????

I don't understand how it's bad to hope we get in guys that can run what Geno would like to run.

[Da Coach]

BTW...here is today's Wessler piece.

http://www.pjstar.com/bradleyhoops/x1819711500/Wessler-Braves-still-trying-to-find-themselves

He hits BU many many times. Lack of offense, poor defense, no true point guard, possible lack of foundational building. I don't see much of what you claim here.

Really?- if you want to see hit pieces, please go back and read just about any column from last season. Today's column is a puff piece by comparison.

The title alone suggests the team is making progress, when most fans I talk to don't see it.
"Braves still trying to find themselves"
really? You call that "hitting BU?"

And these are direct clips from KW's column- no twisting here-
they??™re nice guys and they play hard.

They really play hard.

And, um ... did I tell you they play hard?

Against the nonconference schedule, the Braves did establish that they??™ll play hard, and they??™ll fight and scrap.

Right now, beyond playing hard, I??™m not sure what that is.


And this quote from the coach that goes unquestioned by KW-
???It??™s been a resilient group that comes to practice every day and worked and gotten better. The improvement is obvious in several areas. Unfortunately, we??™ve struggled with consistency and being able to hang our hat on something.???


And here are about the hardest hitting comments-
Other than playing hard? Sadly, no, the Braves have no discernible identity

Beyond that, though, it can be hard to figure out what they??™re trying to do.

The Bradley program, unfortunately, is not a quick fix. It needs an identity. Right now, beyond playing hard, I??™m not sure what that is.

Then he tries to make excuses for the poor performance. Funny, but I don't seem to ever recall Kirk making excuses for the previous coaches?-
When a program has so many shortcomings ??” no true point guard ready to play Division I ball, an undersized post, poor perimeter shooters, little experience, less depth (just a few things to get the discussion going) ??” it??™s going to be difficult, if not impossible, to get everything working correctly.

But if you spend all your time sticking fingers in leaks, you might never get around to the foundation.


But now after reading this, I feel a lot better.

[Beninator]

"I like everything SO FAR. Xs & Os

I shortened you quote on purpose which does not give the true meaning of your post.

but....

Whomever posted this, needs to provide me with what they have been smoking!

[BradleyJD]

Really?- if you want to see hit pieces, please go back and read just about any column from last season. Today's column is a puff piece by comparison.

The title alone suggests the team is making progress, when most fans I talk to don't see it.
"Braves still trying to find themselves"
really? You call that "hitting BU?"

Two things.

1. I want to read about what is happening at BU. That's what this article did. Whether it's a "hit piece" or not, I don't know. It was sure to point out where BU is lacking.

2. At most papers the writers do not make the headlines.

And these are direct clips from KW's column- no twisting here-
they??™re nice guys and they play hard.

They really play hard.

And, um ... did I tell you they play hard?

Against the nonconference schedule, the Braves did establish that they??™ll play hard, and they??™ll fight and scrap.

Right now, beyond playing hard, I??™m not sure what that is.


And this quote from the coach that goes unquestioned by KW-
???It??™s been a resilient group that comes to practice every day and worked and gotten better. The improvement is obvious in several areas. Unfortunately, we??™ve struggled with consistency and being able to hang our hat on something.???


And here are about the hardest hitting comments-
Other than playing hard? Sadly, no, the Braves have no discernible identity

Beyond that, though, it can be hard to figure out what they??™re trying to do.

The Bradley program, unfortunately, is not a quick fix. It needs an identity. Right now, beyond playing hard, I??™m not sure what that is.

I can't disagree with any of that. I think you even said last night it was ugly and not going to be a quick fix this season.

Do you think the players aren't working hard?

Do you think the players are not resilient?

I think they are both.

When a program has so many shortcomings ??” no true point guard ready to play Division I ball, an undersized post, poor perimeter shooters, little experience, less depth (just a few things to get the discussion going) ??” it??™s going to be difficult, if not impossible, to get everything working correctly.

But if you spend all your time sticking fingers in leaks, you might never get around to the foundation.

Again, hard to argue with him. Even you have discussed the lack of SM at point. It's no secret BU is hurting some in that area.

Depth was a problem last year, with all the injuries. It continues to be so this season. Dave Snell even discussed that last night.


I guess I am missing where he said anything that was not true.

[lefty]

DC...it's easy to pick out things based on how we feel......some here don't like KW or PJS so they take what they feel defends their position and quote it.

If the team keeps playing this way then the articles will be less rosy as they go...particularly in the next couple of years

[Da Coach]

I have no personal feelings for KW, so please don't make this about me. I like his coverage of the Bears and Cardinals. It was a glossy puff piece, and a complete opposite of what we saw from the same author for the past 4 years. But that's fine. I understand his reasons. And no, I did not think the team "played hard".

I think most fans expected better, and yet can you deny that things are much worse? I guess we don't really need to play well or win, because we are just building for 2 or 3 years from now. Unfortunately, fans are paying good money now to watch this.

[Beninator]

Again, hard to argue with him. Even you have discussed the lack of SM at point. It's no secret BU is hurting some in that area.

Leaving SM out of this... At what point should we make a change at the PG position to move DSE there? I think that has been long overdue. Last night, Walt was the only player with a negative assist to turnover ratio. (3-5)
Not trying to pick on Walt, but I have thought that the staff has played him out of position since game 1.
ytd
Walt 32-45
DSE 50-44