Lets try this again

[BradleyFan07]

So my last post got deleted because I apparently ripped specific users so here it goes again without naming people....
I've been reading all these comments from some constantly bashing the Bradley administration. It seems some have an agenda against them and will not stop. Bradley needed a change and brought in Geno ford to take over a team that was already in big trouble. Now I agree the results the past few seasons are not acceptable but anyone who thought everything would get better instantly is kidding themselves. I liken it to certain cubs fans who seem blind to the fact of their rebuilding. It takes time. Instead of trying to be positive and talking about how we just had one of the better recruiting classes in recent memory, people are slamming the attendance, scheduling, etc. Just an fyi here is Jim Les non-conf schedule at home his last 3 years:
Tx Am kingsville
NIU
Loyola Marymount
EIU
Utah
Jackson St
Detroit

Idaho St
Wofford
Presbyterian
Western Carolina
Loyola

UIC
E.Tennessee St
Butler
SEMO
SIUE

Of those Utah was given to us by the MWC challenge and Butler who during the Les era, we seemed to lose grasp of that series. So the great Jim Les didn't have a great non-conf schedule but I don't seem to remember anyone complaining then. Look Bradley had a good run with him for awhile, but the wins were inflated by end of season tournaments and we only made 1 NCAA appearance and 1 NIT. That's not really that great. We never finished higher then 4th for crying out loud! There was a time on here where all negativity towards the program was not allowed. Certain posters were kicked and run off because they didn't agree with certain posters. Now all some do is bash Bradley at every chance. I have always read posts on this website and rarely posted myself but I am done. I know others on this board feel the same way. If you guys are tired of the constant little school girl complaining there is another board that talks basketball without the complaining. I have no problem with criticism when needed but its all that some do now. Yes attendance is down, but if the team was winning it will be packed again. Everything that happens is not your stupid "fallout" talk. It seems as if some really want Bradley to fail so they can say "I told you this would happen" I know Bradley will be good again(probably soon) and when it happens I cant wait to see you guys jump on the bandwagon again.

[amettrick]

So my last post got deleted because I apparently ripped specific users so here it goes again without naming people....
I've been reading all these comments from some constantly bashing the Bradley administration. It seems some have an agenda against them and will not stop. Bradley needed a change and brought in Geno ford to take over a team that was already in big trouble. Now I agree the results the past few seasons are not acceptable but anyone who thought everything would get better instantly is kidding themselves. I liken it to certain cubs fans who seem blind to the fact of their rebuilding. It takes time. Instead of trying to be positive and talking about how we just had one of the better recruiting classes in recent memory, people are slamming the attendance, scheduling, etc. Just an fyi here is Jim Les non-conf schedule at home his last 3 years:
Tx Am kingsville
NIU
Loyola Marymount
EIU
Utah
Jackson St
Detroit

Idaho St
Wofford
Presbyterian
Western Carolina
Loyola

UIC
E.Tennessee St
Butler
SEMO
SIUE

Of those Utah was given to us by the MWC challenge and Butler who during the Les era, we seemed to lose grasp of that series. So the great Jim Les didn't have a great non-conf schedule but I don't seem to remember anyone complaining then. Look Bradley had a good run with him for awhile, but the wins were inflated by end of season tournaments and we only made 1 NCAA appearance and 1 NIT. That's not really that great. We never finished higher then 4th for crying out loud! There was a time on here where all negativity towards the program was not allowed. Certain posters were kicked and run off because they didn't agree with certain posters. Now all some do is bash Bradley at every chance. I have always read posts on this website and rarely posted myself but I am done. I know others on this board feel the same way. If you guys are tired of the constant little school girl complaining their is another board that talks basketball without the complaining. I have no problem with criticism when needed but its all that some do now. Yes attendance is down, but if the team was winning it will be packed again. Everything that happens is not your stupid "fallout" talk. It seems as if some really want Bradley to fail so they can say "I told you this would happen" I know Bradley will be good again(probably soon) and when it happens I cant wait to see you guys jump on the bandwagon again.

+1

[Da Coach]

You are welcome to see things any way you would like.
But there are some undeniable facts.

Bradley has lost 62 games in the last 3 years- that easily is the most losses in a 3-year span under any coach anytime in the 111 year history of Bradley.

These 62 losses have come in a stretch with the weakest schedules Bradley has ever had. Bradley's Non-Conference Strength of Schedule in the last 2 years was 333 and 302- by far the worst 2 SOS's in the history of Bradley.

The 2 worst RPI's in Bradley history have occurred in the last 3 years.

Never in Bradley's history under any coach have they played in the play-in round for 3 straight years, let alone lost in the play-in game for 3 straight years.

There has been more roster turnover in these last few years than at any time previously.

And attendance is at all time lows since the days that Bradley played at the Armory, and it keeps dropping every year. Season ticket renewals and donations also have been dropping faster than at any time in Bradley's history.

I find it funny that the same people who think we are doing so well now were demanding that Bradley do better than 21-22 wins and 4th place just a few years ago. All you have to do is go back 3 years on this or any message board, and the same people who denied that there would be any "fallout" or drop-off in the status of Bradley basketball were predicting that by year 3 we would see a winning program, and that by year 4 we would be competing for championships. Funny how their tune has changed.

If anyone predicted 3 years ago we would still be rebuilding in year 4 and struggling to get out of the Thursday games, and playing in front of thousands fewer fans, and scheduling D3 regular season games, and recording losing records with RPI's in the high 200's and non-conference SOS's well over 300, nobody would have believed them.

As I said, it is not just a couple posters here who see things as they are, there are thousands of fans who have given up, dropped their tickets, stopped coming to games, and stopped donating to Bradley. That is the legacy and fallout I see happening.

[saluki762]

You can put me in the camp that was extremely satisfied with JL's final 3 years and super happy with Geno's record so far.

[tornado]

but what might be more important is the broader perception fans have of both quality of product & desire to keep coming..

Right now - numbers are looking awfully bleak - someone in charge has to take responsibility for the loss of close to half the long time fan base and tons of revenue..

Hard to defend when we are sitting in historically worst situations all the way around..

[mexicobufan]

I am thrilled with our recruiting class and hope for better days going forward. Jim is gone and Geno is here so I support him and wish Jim well. I dont spend any time thinking about what would be if Jim had stayed because he is gone. I dont post negative comments on this or any other board because I follow Bradley basketball for fun and being negative would suck the fun out of it. I am as passionate about Bradley basketball as anyone but Bradley basketball having a few bad years doesnt compare to the 100's of people who are finding out today that they or someone they love has cancer.

Lastly, I dont hire or fire anyone at Bradley basketball so I have zero control over who is or isnt leading the team. In my life I try to focus on things I am responsible for or things I can control.

I am very focused on the positive things that have happened to Bradley basketball in the last few months i.e. Josh and know that when (not if) we start winning again the games will be sold out, we will be able to get better teams to come to Peoria and money will flow back into the University.

Just win!!

[tornado]

we can agree on that - we want more winning

[mexicobufan]

Its my philosophy on life including Bradley basketball so I am not looking for anyone to tell me its right or wrong. Its the way I am and it works for me.

[wily coyote]

You are welcome to see things any way you would like.
But there are some undeniable facts.

Bradley has lost 62 games in the last 3 years- that easily is the most losses in a 3-year span under any coach anytime in the 111 year history of Bradley.

These 62 losses have come in a stretch with the weakest schedules Bradley has ever had. Bradley's Non-Conference Strength of Schedule in the last 2 years was 333 and 302- by far the worst 2 SOS's in the history of Bradley.

The 2 worst RPI's in Bradley history have occurred in the last 3 years.

Never in Bradley's history under any coach have they played in the play-in round for 3 straight years, let alone lost in the play-in game for 3 straight years.

There has been more roster turnover in these last few years than at any time previously.

And attendance is at all time lows since the days that Bradley played at the Armory, and it keeps dropping every year. Season ticket renewals and donations also have been dropping faster than at any time in Bradley's history.

I find it funny that the same people who think we are doing so well now were demanding that Bradley do better than 21-22 wins and 4th place just a few years ago. All you have to do is go back 3 years on this or any message board, and the same people who denied that there would be any "fallout" or drop-off in the status of Bradley basketball were predicting that by year 3 we would see a winning program, and that by year 4 we would be competing for championships. Funny how their tune has changed.

If anyone predicted 3 years ago we would still be rebuilding in year 4 and struggling to get out of the Thursday games, and playing in front of thousands fewer fans, and scheduling D3 regular season games, and recording losing records with RPI's in the high 200's and non-conference SOS's well over 300, nobody would have believed them.

As I said, it is not just a couple posters here who see things as they are, there are thousands of fans who have given up, dropped their tickets, stopped coming to games, and stopped donating to Bradley. That is the legacy and fallout I see happening.

Yes DC we can agree things are not where we want it to be but this is like riding a dead horse. So tired of it. Most of what your saying is correct but getting rid of the past regime is not the reason for todays problems. Keeping them for so long is the reason. It's obvious we have not gotten to where we want to be but is that a reason to be so negative about every little issue. Mexicobu fan has the right mindset. Winning will put butts back in the seats and Money in the coffers. And hopefully better teams on the schedule. Let me go on record I'm really dissatisfied with Eureka on our schedule. Another poster also posted some past foes that we scheduled during the JL regime and some of those also stunk. If my memory serves correct , even Quincy was able to defeat us in the RC. I will also go on record and say I haven't been happy with Geno's recruiting but hopefully we will see the pieces come together and we will see the improvement we've all been waiting for. Geno is our coach and I will back him 100% until a change is made. Just as I did Jim, but it was time for him to go and I was in total agreement with our administration's decision to pull the trigger.

[molar50]

Let's try to move on. We can only beat this dead horse for so long. I personally thought Les should have been given one more year. But, I cannot change that and I did think we would suffer in performance and support for a few years. I think this year will be better. It will take some work to get the fans (and students) back. I am hopeful there will be some changes in marketing this year.

[Skut Farcus]

Nobody has said; "I support Geno 100%" for quite a while.

[Da Coach]

....It seems some have an agenda against them and will not stop.....Everything that happens is not your stupid "fallout" talk. It seems as if some really want Bradley to fail so they can say "I told you this would happen" I know Bradley will be good again(probably soon) and when it happens I cant wait to see you guys jump on the bandwagon again.

This is another example of reductio ad absurdum used by a few who want to accuse others of "wanting Bradley to fail". That is the most absurd thing anyone has said, and you lose all credibility suggesting this. Nobody wants Bradley to fail. Even the most ardent critics of the moves made these last few years want to see Bradley succeed. They just don't see that those moves are accomplishing what they should be, and the items listed above are clear and indisputable facts showing that things are not going well with the changes (thus fallout), and the fans are not fooled by the false claims and cheerleading by the press.
The very people you have accused of wanting Bradley to fail have probably donated more of their own time and resources to follow and support the Bradley program than 99% of the posters on this board or the other board.
I hope things do turn around, and I'd expect people will join the bandwagon if they do, because winning and success is what all Bradley fans want. Unfortunately, if it doesn't happen soon, there won't be many fans left.

[wily coyote]

Nobody has said; "I support Geno 100%" for quite a while.

Can't say that now.

[AZ BU Fan]

Winning is super critical for BU now more than before re local fan support. More and more students from outside Central IL who don't have deep rooted interest in BU MBB. Fewer and fewer graduates living in Central IL post graduation. Rapidly aging and shrinking local alumni base. Few, if any, MBB alumni staying in the area working keeping local interest. Many more alternatives for entertsinment $.

Need to improve the experience st the game re non bb entertainment and food/drink in the arena. The big thing now is to move away from national food service providers and get local restaurants/bars to operate in the arena on game days.

Tribute bands post game? Theme nights?

BU needs to create more of an entertainment experience at home games to draw in casual fans/families. Kids shoot FT's on court before/after games? Kind of like the State Tournament Fan Experience - its more than just a BU MBB game..