BU failure

[AZ BU Fan]

COACH 1
Year .......... Overall ............. Con ......... Place ..... Home
2002-3 ....... 12-18 .............. 8-10 ........ 5th ....... 7-7
2003-4 ....... 15-16 .............. 7-11 ........ 6th ....... 11-4
2004-5 ....... 13-15 .............. 6-12 ........ 8th ....... 12-3
2005-6 ....... 22-11 .............. 11-7 ........ 5th ....... 13-1
2006-7 ....... 22-13 .............. 10-8 ........ 4th ....... 14-3
2007-8 ....... 21-17 ............... 9-9 ......... 5th ....... 13-6
2008-9 ....... 21-15 ............... 10-8 ........ 4th ....... 14-4
2009-10 ..... 16-15 ............... 9-9 ......... 5th ....... 10-5
2010-11 ..... 11-20 ............... 4-14 ........ 8th ....... 8-8
AVG ........... 17-16 ............... 8-10 ....... 6th ........ 11-5


COACH 2
Year .......... Overall ............. Con ......... Place ..... Home
2011-12 ...... 7-25 ................ 2-16 ....... 10th ...... 2-16
2012-13 ...... 18-17 .............. 7-11 ....... 7th ......... 14-4

I'd say BU MBB is on the right track and has a bright future. Aside one bright and shining moment, BU had been AVERAGE most of the 2000's....

I was, and still am, happy BU tried something new to get to a higher level with MBB.

Seems to me if Coach 2 can continue the improvement in his BU Program's Overall and MVC records in Year 3, BU will be in good shape. Coach 2 would also have an even more impressive start at BU than Coach 1 did...

If BU continues to improve, and with an improving economy, attendance should increase even while the # of local younger BU alumni continues to decline as does the # of elderly BU alumni in the area. They need to be replaced with local non BU grads/families to grow attendance.

[Mikovio]

But there is a big difference between playing other decent mid-majors and playing really bad, 300+ RPI bottom dwelling teams. I don't want to hear how hard it is, how we couldn't have anticipated how bad these teams would be, and how we have no choice. 338 other teams played better non-conference schedules last year than Bradley did, and I will bet this year's non-conference SOS will be just as bad. Also, Bradley never stooped this low until last year and this year.

We had a top-100 SOS in 2008 and 2009, but we also had 3 and 2 fewer home games, respectively. Isn't this what we as Bradley fans should want? More home games? Or are we willing to give that up for cheaper season tickets and better computer numbers?

That's how it is. It's a trade-off. If we got "other decent mid-majors" on the schedule, it would not be for buy games, which means we would have one fewer home game every other year. Get a halfway decent opponent this year, but be forced to play a game on the road next year.

Bradley is in a unique place. We have the fanbase to be able to schedule a multitude of home games, but we can't outbid Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky or the like for the best of the teams willing to go on the road with no return. So if your goal is to get as many home games as possible, the SOS will be low.

Because this noncon schedule can cost us tiebreakers in the Valley standings and tournament, I do think it's a highly questionable tactic. I also definitely think there's something to be said for bringing in a DePaul or USC every other year. They can be exciting to read about or watch. But you make a sacrifice.

[Da Coach]

I am sure there are some season ticket holders who count the number of home games and like getting more games for their money. But most fans I know want to see quality opponents. You can see the difference in attendance between quality opponents, and the 300+ RPI teams we played. And I predict we'll see the difference even more this year.

[Buesch N Chips]

I am sure there are some season ticket holders who count the number of home games and like getting more games for their money.

Me.

[tornado]

....but we also had 3 and 2 fewer home games, respectively. Isn't this what we as Bradley fans should want? More home games? ....

..you have got to be kidding....right?? ...Maybe you were never around for those home games where BU hosted Cincy, Louisville, Illinois, even Michigan State...or years where we had
virtually none of the 340+ RPI fodder coming in....
Since when did your standards drop so incredibly low...

we have gone from actually BEING a great team and getting NATIONAL ATTENTION on the front page of Sports Illustrated...
...to just believing the promises made by our people that we can compete for CHAMPIONSHIPS..
...to merely wanting to be higher than 4th...
...to wanting only to just show some improvement and be "headed in the right direction"
...to now just wanting more home games??? Maybe drawing 4900 for a home win over Grand Canyon State?

This is incredible...people are being asked to pony up to $10K for courtside seats to see 345 RPI teams???
..unfortunately this is kinda all we're getting - more home games against the likes of Chicago State, Alabama State, & Mississippi Valley State

[kds]

+2000

..you have got to be kidding....right?? ...maybe you were never around for those home games where bu hosted cincy, louisville, illinois, even michigan state...or years where we had
virtually none of the 340+ rpi fodder coming in....
Since when did your standards drop so incredibly low...

We have gone from actually being a great team and getting national attention on the front page of sports illustrated...
...to just believing the promises made by our people that we can compete for championships..
...to merely wanting to be higher than 4th...
...to wanting only to just show some improvement and be "headed in the right direction"
...to now just wanting more home games??? Maybe drawing 4900 for a home win over grand canyon state?

This is incredible...people are being asked to pony up to $10k for courtside seats to see 345 rpi teams???
..unfortunately this is kinda all we're getting - more home games against the likes of chicago state, alabama state, & mississippi valley state

[bradleyfan20]

Before everyone gets their panties in a bunch, can we wait for the actual schedule to come out???? I have good authority that the remaining games unannounced are high quality teams.

And to say that realizing South Florida was a bad home and home is simply revisionist history. They were coming off of an NCAA tournament round of 32 and were in the Big East. That was a marquee game to get into our building.

You have to WIN before you can get players, before you can get better opponents. Check out Butler's non conference schedule in the early 2000's at home...

2001 home:
Radford
Indiana State
Birmingham Southern
Evansville
Northern Iowa

@ Delaware
@ Purdue
@ Lipscomb
@ Mt Saint Mary's
@ Ball State
@ Samford

Their schedule was pretty ho hum until they started winning, and could increase the competition, ect...

We were coming off of a 7 win year...what do you expect? Also, having Virginia Tech, South Florida, Michigan turned out worse than originally thought because Va Tech and S Florida struggled mightily.

[Bradleyfan1]

Before everyone gets their panties in a bunch, can we wait for the actual schedule to come out???? I have good authority that the remaining games unannounced are high quality teams.

And to say that realizing South Florida was a bad home and home is simply revisionist history. They were coming off of an NCAA tournament round of 32 and were in the Big East. That was a marquee game to get into our building.

You have to WIN before you can get players, before you can get better opponents. Check out Butler's non conference schedule in the early 2000's at home...

2001 home:
Radford
Indiana State
Birmingham Southern
Evansville
Northern Iowa

@ Delaware
@ Purdue
@ Lipscomb
@ Mt Saint Mary's
@ Ball State
@ Samford

Their schedule was pretty ho hum until they started winning, and could increase the competition, ect...

We were coming off of a 7 win year...what do you expect? Also, having Virginia Tech, South Florida, Michigan turned out worse than originally thought because Va Tech and S Florida struggled mightily.

Bam! "like"

[BradleyJD]

I like the idea of more home games. I'd love to see top 50 teams more often too. Of course, I'd also like to be 6'5 and a billionaire.

Listen, it's a long way up when you're coming from nowhere. I love the way Geno and Co are rebuilding the program. I think giving young players more winnable games is smart.

Bottom line though is we have to start competing for Valley titles. How can it be that Bradley has only won two freaking MVC tourney titles. That is shockingly bad given our history.

I think we are heading in the right direction. I applaud The coaches, players, and staff for their great work!

[Bradleyfan1]

i like the idea of more home games. I'd love to see top 50 teams more often too. Of course, i'd also like to be 6'5 and a billionaire.

Listen, it's a long way up when you're coming from nowhere. I love the way geno and co are rebuilding the program. I think giving young players more winnable games is smart.

Bottom line though is we have to start competing for valley titles. How can it be that bradley has only won two freaking mvc tourney titles. That is shockingly bad given our history.

I think we are heading in the right direction. I applaud the coaches, players, and staff for their great work!

like

[bravetime33]

COACH 1
Year .......... Overall ............. Con ......... Place ..... Home
2002-3 ....... 12-18 .............. 8-10 ........ 5th ....... 7-7
2003-4 ....... 15-16 .............. 7-11 ........ 6th ....... 11-4
2004-5 ....... 13-15 .............. 6-12 ........ 8th ....... 12-3
2005-6 ....... 22-11 .............. 11-7 ........ 5th ....... 13-1
2006-7 ....... 22-13 .............. 10-8 ........ 4th ....... 14-3
2007-8 ....... 21-17 ............... 9-9 ......... 5th ....... 13-6
2008-9 ....... 21-15 ............... 10-8 ........ 4th ....... 14-4
2009-10 ..... 16-15 ............... 9-9 ......... 5th ....... 10-5
2010-11 ..... 11-20 ............... 4-14 ........ 8th ....... 8-8
AVG ........... 17-16 ............... 8-10 ....... 6th ........ 11-5


COACH 2
Year .......... Overall ............. Con ......... Place ..... Home
2011-12 ...... 7-25 ................ 2-16 ....... 10th ...... 2-16
2012-13 ...... 18-17 .............. 7-11 ....... 7th ......... 14-4

I'd say BU MBB is on the right track and has a bright future. Aside one bright and shining moment, BU had been AVERAGE most of the 2000's....

I was, and still am, happy BU tried something new to get to a higher level with MBB.

Seems to me if Coach 2 can continue the improvement in his BU Program's Overall and MVC records in Year 3, BU will be in good shape. Coach 2 would also have an even more impressive start at BU than Coach 1 did...

If BU continues to improve, and with an improving economy, attendance should increase even while the # of local younger BU alumni continues to decline as does the # of elderly BU alumni in the area. They need to be replaced with local non BU grads/families to grow attendance.

Can not dispute,deny, or spin this Numbers are numbers. I have felt this way all along at the very best average I am fully committed to reevaluate the program after 4 years in which Geno will have 100% of his players on board

[Mikovio]

..you have got to be kidding....right?? ...Maybe you were never around for those home games where BU hosted Cincy, Louisville, Illinois, even Michigan State...or years where we had
virtually none of the 340+ RPI fodder coming in....
Since when did your standards drop so incredibly low...

we have gone from actually BEING a great team and getting NATIONAL ATTENTION on the front page of Sports Illustrated...
...to just believing the promises made by our people that we can compete for CHAMPIONSHIPS..
...to merely wanting to be higher than 4th...
...to wanting only to just show some improvement and be "headed in the right direction"
...to now just wanting more home games??? Maybe drawing 4900 for a home win over Grand Canyon State?

This is incredible...people are being asked to pony up to $10K for courtside seats to see 345 RPI teams???
..unfortunately this is kinda all we're getting - more home games against the likes of Chicago State, Alabama State, & Mississippi Valley State

I'm probably in the minority but I will watch a Bradley game no matter the opponent. I bought my first round CIT tickets before even knowing the opponent. Ideally I'd like as many home games as possible, with one or maybe two name opponents that require a road trip.

I remember the Illinois and Michigan State games (not the Cincy game unless you're talking CBI) and while those were great fun, they required playing on the road twice in exchange for that one home game. Is that a fair trade? Chicago State, Alabama State and Mississippi Valley State in exchange for Nothing, Nothing and Michigan State? I'm not sure it is.

It is better than buy games, though, which appears to be what we're doing in this round robin tournament. If BU goes on the road, it should be to pay a price to bring in a high caliber team the next year.

Regarding all that other stuff, I think all coaches deserve 4 years. If Geno isn't competing for championships by then I'll reassess my support.