I'm convinced...

[BradleyJD]

Yes.....so why is it seemingly wrong for people to question things such as style of play, effort, the starting lineup (which has only changed once and that was due to injury), etc.....?

As you say, this IS a rebuilding year and we have scholarship players just sitting on the bench!

Nevermind......we're not supposed to question this coach.....yet........

You can feel free to question decisions of the coach. I don't know why you can't. Now questioning the talent of players might not be as fair, only because this coach did not bring the majority of them in.

I think that is what will make this next offseason so interesting.

Much work is ahead.

[bigdaddystuck]

Did people expect GF to come in wave a magic wand and we were going to go from the worst team in the Valley to the best?!?
Did people think that the talent was there and that the last staff just didn't have the stuff to get the job done?
Did people think that we were picked too low in the preseason? That we were truly better than that?

I have no problem with people giving their opinions and even being critical, but I just don't get some of the statements I have read.

The truth is we don't have the talent on the roster plain and simple. GF is in his first year of rebuilding a program that had fallen into an abyss. IMO, the only thing we can expect and hope for this season...is to see the effort from everyone involved. We are not going to shock the valley world and turn this around and win the valley, we are not going to dominate anyone, and we are not going to win many games.

We were picked last for a reason...we are not that good. I understand this and I don't go into games thinking we are going to dominate that team. I do expect effort and want to see that...IMO that is what I have seen from the coaching staff on down through the players. They don't give up, they keep on fighting and I love how GF is very critical of himself and the team.

[Braveman]

Please, Braves start winning. Can't take much more of this.

Amen Chico... By the way, how is the golf game?

[shaunguth]

You can feel free to question decisions of the coach. I don't know why you can't.

For some reason I thought the coach was off limits because he's only playing the hand he was dealt. I just don't see that as a reason not to question the coach for another 2-3 years.

[BradleyJD]

For some reason I thought the coach was off limits because he's only playing the hand he was dealt. I just don't see that as a reason not to question the coach for another 2-3 years.

I don't think they are off limits. I think many, myself included, realize you don't rebuild anything in 1 year (without your own recruits). Many are probably cognizant of the fact that this is a marathon, not a sprint.

[shaunguth]

I don't think they are off limits. I think many, myself included, realize you don't rebuild anything in 1 year (without your own recruits). Many are probably cognizant of the fact that this is a marathon, not a sprint.

I agree with that and have said all along that I don't hold GF completely responsible for wins/losses until year 3, but there are people out there that seem to believe this coach should not be questioned at all because he's only playing the terrible hand he was dealt. To me, that just doesn't make sense!

[jrish12]

I agree with that and have said all along that I don't hold GF completely responsible for wins/losses until year 3, but there are people out there that seem to believe this coach should not be questioned at all because he's only playing the terrible hand he was dealt. To me, that just doesn't make sense!

I also think on the flip side of that, that it is crazy to think that a coach who was mired in mediocrity would make this better and people inferring that the loss of the previous coach and an injury prone point guard(who yes, could help this team in the short term, I will admit that) are the only reason we are this bad.

Any coach should be questioned, now the level of that questioning is what I dont agree with. A coach in year one should receive a little more slack on the line than someone who is 9 years in. People who dont realize this are either ignorant, naive, or both. And im not aiming that directly at you shaun, it was just an observation I had.

[BUBraves2006]

I realize I'm a bit more of a passive observer than active poster than I used to be, but I still read the boards a ton. I have no stake in bashing anyone past or present (what does that achieve?), but to say that the overall tone of the board hasn't changed in the past year (approximately) is just laughable.

I've grown so tired of the criticism of "fandom". Sorry, if you're taking the time to read and post on a message board, you're clearly a diehard fan and want the kids on the team to be successful. I think every one of the "regulars" on here loves Bradley and wants the best for it.

The overall framed perception I get from reading has gone from:

"Things might not be perfect, we're here to support the team as a board, no matter what."

to ...

"We're still here to always support the team, but don't blame us that BU is absolutely terrible this season. You get what you asked for with a coaching change."

It's always been about expectations. Some were content with winning records, 4-6 finishes in conference and very likable coach that was a star on one of the best BU teams ever. Others wanted a different voice because they cared more about winning conference championships, building the program to a higher level, etc.

The fact that is always under the surface but rarely gets said is that if you had a close bond to the old coach, you'd be much more likely to find a hundred reasons to want to keep him around. If you didn't know him personally or simply thought a change could be a shot in the arm, you'd be much more willing for a change.

Everyone falls into one of these two camps - and that isn't a bad thing, we all want to win. But please don't claim that things haven't changed.

[mrcoachdude]

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.

I am looking at much different posts...

"We all know Taylor isn't necessarily the sharpest knife in the drawer"

"it's hard not to find enough adjectives at how bad this team is at times"

"Amen...clean out this garbage roster."

" However, they aren't good basketball players" look familiar

I could go on, but you can find some positive posts, but the Majority is not such...and most of that boards action has taken to ridiculing this board...

[real fan]

For those of you that continue to compare Geno with Tom Crean you need to look at the huge difference between Indiana basketball and Bradley Basketball because it is a heck of a lot easier selling Indiana to a top of the line player then Bradley, Indiana has not been out of the championship picture even close to how long BU has and Crean came from a much larger school in Marquette .

[shaunguth]

I am looking at much different posts...

"We all know Taylor isn't necessarily the sharpest knife in the drawer"

"it's hard not to find enough adjectives at how bad this team is at times"

"Amen...clean out this garbage roster."

" However, they aren't good basketball players" look familiar

I could go on, but you can find some positive posts, but the Majority is not such...and most of that boards action has taken to ridiculing this board...

I'm still trying to figure out who exactly thinks Bradley would have been "great" this year if JL were still here.

[mrcoachdude]

I'm still trying to figure out who exactly thinks Bradley would have been "great" this year if JL were still here.

I have not met anyone that thinks that BU would be "great"...

[amettrick]

Nevermind......we're not supposed to question this coach.....yet........

I never said you shouldn't question the coach's decisions. I'm one of the many in the camp that thinks DSE should play the PG spot and Walt would be better served as the 2 guard.

What I said was that people shouldn't already be questioning if he should be the coach. Give the guy some time to build the program. Question his tactics all you like, just don't write him off before he's even had a chance to get started.

[amettrick]

I realize I'm a bit more of a passive observer than active poster than I used to be, but I still read the boards a ton. I have no stake in bashing anyone past or present (what does that achieve?), but to say that the overall tone of the board hasn't changed in the past year (approximately) is just laughable.

I've grown so tired of the criticism of "fandom". Sorry, if you're taking the time to read and post on a message board, you're clearly a diehard fan and want the kids on the team to be successful. I think every one of the "regulars" on here loves Bradley and wants the best for it.

The overall framed perception I get from reading has gone from:

"Things might not be perfect, we're here to support the team as a board, no matter what."

to ...

"We're still here to always support the team, but don't blame us that BU is absolutely terrible this season. You get what you asked for with a coaching change."

It's always been about expectations. Some were content with winning records, 4-6 finishes in conference and very likable coach that was a star on one of the best BU teams ever. Others wanted a different voice because they cared more about winning conference championships, building the program to a higher level, etc.

The fact that is always under the surface but rarely gets said is that if you had a close bond to the old coach, you'd be much more likely to find a hundred reasons to want to keep him around. If you didn't know him personally or simply thought a change could be a shot in the arm, you'd be much more willing for a change.

Everyone falls into one of these two camps - and that isn't a bad thing, we all want to win. But please don't claim that things haven't changed.

+1

[shaunguth]

I never said you shouldn't question the coach's decisions. I'm one of the many in the camp that thinks DSE should play the PG spot and Walt would be better served as the 2 guard.

What I said was that people shouldn't already be questioning if he should be the coach. Give the guy some time to build the program. Question his tactics all you like, just don't write him off before he's even had a chance to get started.

Not you.....but there seems to be people out there that think that way.