Where are the hypocrites?

[Da Coach]

I know some people do not like me reminding them that I predicted all this fallout 3 1/2 years ago, so I apologize if this offends you. Please stop reading if it does.

But it was obvious that we were headed in the wrong direction, and those in charge were clueless how to build a successful, winning program.
Here we are at the start of year 4 of their so-called "rebuild", and things are worse than ever. We saw the smallest Civic Center crowd last night in the history of Carver Arena, except for the infamous "snow game" Jan. 31, 2011.
Fan support is at an all time low. Revenues are dropping like a lead balloon. The games aren't on TV any more, and the once massive, loyal, and generous fan base has been squandered.

Recall that over 8 years ago, some "fans" started this thread-

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=57

And note that was in year 4 of the previous coach, with a team loaded with talent that would go on to a 22-win season (playing a far stronger schedule), a Top 40 RPI, and a Sweet 16, and one of the most successful seasons in Bradley history. Now we are mired in a stretch of 3 straight seasons of playing and losing on Thursday in St. Louis, and a team that is projected for another 9th place finish, if we're lucky, and unable to beat or even compete with a D3 team that would finish 11th in the MVC. Funny that we don't see any of the same demands for change now. That's called hypocrisy.

So the question is obvious- is this program on the right track? Is it time for some wholesale changes? Do we keep going and expect things to suddenly get better? How many more fans will bail out?

[Fyrebyrd]

While I don't necessarily disagree, doesn't the title of this thread, directly or indirectly, violate board rules? Hypocrites as a word that is routinely used as a derogatory term for a person. Which in my opinion, would constitute as flaming and/or "posts that mock other posters."

Just saying.

[bradleyfan124]

Board of Trustees: I hope you see how bad this program has fallen. You know what needs to be done and that is the only way this team, program, and university can be fixed. Starting at the top down. The house needs to be cleaned. It is not to late.

[wily coyote]

While I don't necessarily disagree, doesn't the title of this thread, directly or indirectly, violate board rules? Hypocrites as a word that is routinely used as a derogatory term for a person. Which in my opinion, would constitute as flaming and/or "posts that mock other posters."

Just saying.

I agree with both posts. maybe we'll have to ban him to the other board??? LOL

[bu fan 9]

I agree with you Da Coach. Some people might not like it because it's the truth.

[TheAsianSensation]

Given how bad things seem now, I just can't imagine how worse it would be if we didn't make that move back in 2011.

[saluki762]

I knew this place would be awesome today.

[tornado]

Given how bad things seem now, I just can't imagine how worse it would be if we didn't make that move back in 2011.

this is funny - you can't be serious -- you almost sound like you are happy we are at this point instead of playing in the post-season and winning games against lowly DIII's.
Just how much worse could it possibly be - we've already been thru three of the worst seasons anyone alive has ever seen with horrible & embarrassing losses, a non-stop string of Thursday night appearances and early exits, plummeting fan support & attendance - and you expect anyone to believe it would have been worse had we NOT made all these moves?
You think the same about the moves in baseball, volleyball, etc??

There were only about 2000 people there last night - and there'll be even fewer next week since about 200-300 of the people there last night were Augustana alumni who had rented a room and had an alumni event.

Everyone said if we just give GF enough time to run out all the old players and get his own guys in here - we'd be competing for championships.
Well - with each departure of an "old player" we get even more inept.
Deep into the game last night, we were still making the same bad mistakes and turnovers - driving down to the baseline, getting caught, turning it over, throwing sloppy lob passes that even the cheerleaders could have stolen, and giving up wide open layups - even the UNMOLESTED dribble-drive right to the basket for an UNCONTESTED slam dunk to start the game - anyone who saw that realized how inept our defense is. BUT - then the next four baskets were likewise wide open, easy layups...
They had a good coach, who got them prepared, had a decent game plan and beat us.

Holy cow - just how many times last night did one of our big, 6-9 athletic guys go up for a shot or layup and get the ball stuffed back in his face, pinned against the backboard, or blocked/get a jump ball called - with the opposing player being a skinny 6-5 unathletic guy who never got a basketball scholarship offer from anyone?
I guess if the truth hasn't hit you between the eyes by now then it's no use talking - just wait 'til the Board of Trustees members see enough of this, and enough of the vast empty seats, then perhaps the necessary changes will get made.

I will still be here, I'll have my season tickets just as I had done for 40 years, but will there be anyone else left? Strange that it took so long - four years for some to see the obvious ..but now I see some pretty interesting comments coming from those very fans who wanted all these changes.

[TheAsianSensation]

I'm not happy. A season of results like this and changes need to be made, good recruiting class be darned. And for the first time, I think similar thoughts are being vocalized by others. This might be a tipping point.

And I'm sure as heck not happy - because this gives the people I disagree with more ammo

And also for the record, yes I think we'd be even worse. That above .500 season? Wouldn't have been.

[tornado]

that "above .500 season" was only the result of very soft scheduling, the strong junior & senior group that was a complete gift to GF cuz they stayed after JL left, and the purchase of a few extra low level post-season home games to pad the win total.
Keep in mind, during that "above .500 season" we still didn't beat our combined opponents in any statistic, and we got blown out by 20, and even more than 30 on plenty of occasions.

[Da Coach]

Given how bad things seem now, I just can't imagine how worse it would be if we didn't make that move back in 2011.

The previous coach had 5 straight winning seasons, and over 100 wins in those 5 straight seasons, compared to the unprecedented number of losses the last 3 years. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but IMO, you are wrong. There is nothing in the years previous to the coaching change to suggest we couldn't have returned to winning seasons and respectability, as was the case 5 of those last 6 seasons.

The only losing season in the 6 seasons prior to the coaching change was when the team was without 2 All-MVC players. Even our administration admitted that the coach could not be held responsible for that unsuccessful season.

Oh, and by the way, even in that 2010-2011 season with Taylor Brown and Sam Maniscalco out, the RPI was still not a bad as it was last year, and likely will be this year as well.

If the only defense the apologists can muster now is "Well we'd still be worse off if we didn't make a change", then that shows how pathetic their argument is. This athletic department has spent millions of donors dollars to hire a new coaching staff, millions more on massive increases in recruiting budgets and promotion, and marketing, and it is a total failure and an embarrassment.
We were promised by our Athletic Director that we would be competing for championships every year. Now all we have is weak excuses.
No wonder thousands of fans were AWOL last night, and most of them are not likely to return. This program is in the worst state in the last 70 years, and without major changes, it will not get better.
And people can differ in their opinion, but again, sorry to remind, but I have been right almost 100% about what I have predicted, and most people know I am right about this. Tell me where there is even a glimmer of a reason to think they know how to build a winning and successful program?

[lefty]

Geno may not work out at BU(it doesn't look good now for sure)


But it's all hypothetical to say letting go of Les was a mistake.....it's not a question if we would be worse or better off with JL....


BU wanted better and thought they could achieve it....kind of looks like it might not be with Geno, we'll see how the season goes.....


If BU would happen to improve and finish better than it looks now(meaning 4th or better 20 wins etc) than this game doesn't mean all that much...now if this season ends up as another disaster then the writing should be on the wall IMO.....

[tornado]

I don't see a single person saying we must bring back JL - just that the moves made over the past 3.5 -4 years clearly have yet to benefit us
In fact - in many sports, the moves that have been made over the past 5-6 years have not benefited us and have somewhat severely hurt us as all our premier team sports have become bottom dwellers.
There needs to be some accountability at the top instead of always blaming someone at the bottom

[lefty]

I don't see a single person saying we must bring back JL - just that the moves made over the past 3.5 -4 years clearly have yet to benefit us
In fact - in many sports, the moves that have been made over the past 5-6 years have not benefited us and have somewhat severely hurt us as all our premier team sports have become bottom dwellers.
There needs to be some accountability at the top instead of always blaming someone at the bottom

I was responding to DC's post....


and I agree with your last line

[ihatetea]

Geno may not work out at BU(it doesn't look good now for sure)


But it's all hypothetical to say letting go of Les was a mistake.....it's not a question if we would be worse or better off with JL....


BU wanted better and thought they could achieve it....kind of looks like it might not be with Geno, we'll see how the season goes.....


If BU would happen to improve and finish better than it looks now(meaning 4th or better 20 wins etc) than this game doesn't mean all that much...now if this season ends up as another disaster then the writing should be on the wall IMO.....

I couldn't agree more with this statement.

Like all of the professional sports, playing great at the beginning of the season doesn't mean much, you just have to get hot at the right time. The 06 team was hot down the stretch and it led to a sweet 16 run. Not saying this team is as good as that team, just that this loss isn't the end of the world as we know it.

And if Geno bombs out once more, I would vote him off the island, so to speak. I don't know if our financial issues would make a buyout untenable, but he wouldn't deserve any more years. Our finances might make a lame duck year out of him as our only option, but it wouldn't be the best basketball option. I am still holding out hope for this year. It's not like every player was the worst last night. There is talent here, we just need to apply it correctly.