"Cupboard was bare". Actually not

[Bravesfanchicago]

In watching this game tonight.......and watching the utter lack of talent or coached talent......I laugh out loud when I think of the apologists trying to suggest that the Les recruited remaining talent was lacking.

The Les talent was far superior to this mess.....and geno just can't improve anyone.

[Da Coach]

I appreciate there are some who didn't like Walt Lemon, but IMO he would easily be the best player on this current team, and IMO, he would make them a lot better by providing scoring when it is needed, and a defensive presence we haven't seen since he left.
But when you consider guys like Will Egolf, Dyricus, Taylor Brown, even Prosser and Eastman, though they disappointed us some, they were better and more consistent players than we have now.

[tornado]

Kirk Wessler's column this morning adds a little entertainment...
he basically says we have few players on the roster who are DI caliber and that's why we get embarrassed by a good team like UNI

I find this amazing since he & DR have just spent the past 3.5 years telling us repeatedly that 3 of these guys are "difference-makers" and three others are "go-to guys" and there are three "Top 100 recruits" and on top of that several times we were told as a group they are among the best players brought in since the Versace era, and that they are the toughest, deepest, most talented group we've seen in years...
They've totally run out of different accolades they can use to claim these players are better than what we had and now all of a sudden he realizes he was 100% wrong for 3.5 years!

One problem, though, he still fails to point out the real problem that needs changing - you can't just keep blaming your soldiers when your entire war strategy is horrible

[wily coyote]

I appreciate there are some who didn't like Walt Lemon, but IMO he would easily be the best player on this current team, and IMO, he would make them a lot better by providing scoring when it is needed, and a defensive presence we haven't seen since he left.
But when you consider guys like Will Egolf, Dyricus, Taylor Brown, even Prosser and Eastman, though they disappointed us some, they were better and more consistent players than we have now.

I have changed my thinking in regards to the talent we had when Jim was let go. As you know I did not feel we had the talent to compete for Championships during Jim's last few year and still don't. However I am man enough to say they are a hell of a lot more talented than what we put on the floor today. What we put on the floor today is just plain awful and I don't see it getting any better. When does Drake come to town. Might be our last win of the season and I wouldn't bet on that. Just NEVER thought we'd EVER be in this position.

[Da Coach]

I find this amazing since he & DR have just spent the past 3.5 years telling us repeatedly that 3 of these guys are "difference-makers" and three others are "go-to guys" and there are three "Top 100 recruits" and on top of that several times we were told as a group they are among the best players brought in since the Versace era, and that they are the toughest, deepest, most talented group we've seen in years...
They've totally run out of different accolades they can use to claim these players are better than what we had and now all of a sudden he realizes he was 100% wrong for 3.5 years!

Yes, it is getting old- the PJ Star people overhype every incoming player as if they will all be Player of the Year candidates, then they are either run out of the program quickly, or when they prove to be far inferior to all their accolades, then they turn on them and blame them for everything.
Some of those many old articles are no longer available- apparently removed from the PJ Star database.
But some are still searchable. Here are a few of those old articles that now in retrospect are quite funny-

May 15, 2013
Will history repeat itself with “stellar” BU recruiting class?

http://blogs.pjstar.com/pressrow/2013/05/15/will-history-repeat-itself-with-stellar-bu-recruiting-class/

In my 23 years on the Bradley basketball beat, there have been only two classes that rivaled this one...

I’ve seen them all play before arriving at BU and will vouch for their abilities. They’re all solid players who will seriously upgrade the program’s talent level. Wins usually follow that formula.
My prediction? The good times will soon be rolling again on the Hilltop.


May 15, 2013
Morgan park's Xzavier Taylor...

http://www.pjstar.com/x438180205/Morgan-Park-product-Xzavier-Taylor-s-letter-of-intent-arrives-at-BU

All five spring recruits are 6-6 and above: 6-6 Jordan Swopshire, 6-7 Chris Blake, 6-7 Auston Barnes, 6-8 transfer sit-out Mike Shaw and 6-9 Xzavier Taylor. Stefan Zecevic, a 6-5 guard, signed in the fall.
“We’ve added a class with a lot of size, athleticism and good shooting. Now it’s about us developing them and making them better. I think we’ve addressed needs and filled significant holes.”


March 16, 2013
Swopshire another big piece in Braves puzzle

http://blogs.pjstar.com/pressrow/2013/03/16/swopshire-another-big-piece-in-braves-puzzle/

Geno Ford added another piece Saturday to what is looking more and more like a bright future for the Bradley Braves with the commitment of 6-foot-6 small forward Jordan Swopshire....
Swopshire will join fellow incoming BU freshman 6-7 Mike Tucker and 6-5 Stefan Zecevic...Add in the pair of Division I transfers — point guard Anthony Fields and swingman Omari Grier...and the Braves’ perimeter looks deep and talented for next season.
Swopshire and Tucker, in particular, are the kind of players Bradley usually doesn’t get. ...It markedly improves the Braves at the 3 position, bringing size, skill, athleticism and depth.
Add to that list DeShawn Delaney, the 6-6 wing from Vincennes College, which is now playing at the junior college nationals in Kansas. Delaney has expressed strong interest in Bradley.
It’s no secret that the Braves still need help inside. Chris Blake, a strong and relentless 6-6 power forward...is probably the most likely guy to claim the last officially available scholarship.
Other bigs are being recruited, most notably 6-9 Thomas Hamilton, the former Whitney Young star now at IMG Academy. Hamilton has told BU he’s going to visit, too....it seems likely a spot will be open for Hamilton (and/or Delaney) should they decide on BU.


October 13, 2012
A defining moment for Bradley program?

http://blogs.pjstar.com/pressrow/2012/10/13/a-defining-moment-for-bradley-program/

In the 23 years I've covered Bradley men's basketball as a beat, what I saw Friday night at Renaissance Coliseum was unprecedented.
The phenomenon is obviously no coincidence. Bradley's new assistant coach, Ronald "Chin" Coleman has vast Chicago connections....elite recruits
The end result can only be a positive one for the Bradley men's basketball program....
Remember this day, Bradley fans. It may take some time. But it may well be a moment that ushers in a return to glory for the Braves.


May 3, 2014
Wessler: New recruits bring fresh optimism for Braves

http://www.pjstar.com/article/20140503/SPORTS/140509714/10962/SPORTS

The first time this spring Bradley basketball coach Geno Ford oversaw a 6 a.m. punishment run, he knew team leadership issues that haunted last season were history.
Great floor leadership can help any team overachieve.
Ford knew one thing, even before the Braves’ ugly exit from the play-in round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. “This can’t happen again.”

Recruiting analysts took to Twitter to hail the signing of Cunningham and the quality and depth of the six-man recruiting class.
“Great recruiting coup for Bradley.”
“Josh Cunningham is a signature recruit.”
“Bradley got a SQUAD now … Might be the best D1 team in Illinois in the next few years.”

...there is a lot to like about the potential of this group, largely because of the emphasis Ford and his staff placed on traits beyond sheer talent.
Mental toughness is such a generic term and hard to define, but that’s the kind of kid we’re looking for, and we believe those are the kind of guys we got.”
But it has been a decade since Bradley had such a promising collection of new talent. In their second season together, that group — Daniel Ruffin, Patrick O’Bryant, Boogie Wright, Tony Bennett, Jeremy Crouch — wound up in the NCAA Sweet 16.
Dare we dream so big again?

There are many more articles filled with these kinds of hyperbolic predictions and vastly overhyping of recruits, which has been a phenomenon seen only in these last 3 1/2 years, but maybe I'll save more of them for future enjoyment.
Prior to 3 1/2 years ago, I do not recall ever seeing the PJ Star hype recruits like this or make bold optimistic proclamations and predictions of grandiose success. I can't understand why it suddenly has became the norm for the PJS staff?

However, if they keep hyping recruits, and making these grand predictions for overwhelming success, maybe some day they might be close to being right about one of their predictions. But as far as I can see, so far, they have been wrong about every one of them!

[tornado]

part of the problem is that the kids like seeing great things said about them even before they've put an ounce of effort into their DI careers...
So there's really not enough incentive to bust their a**es and get better...so everyone's just going thru the motions...

I saw a game many years ago when Kentucky was playing in the NCAA Tournament --
the first half, head coach Joe B. Hall felt the starters weren't giving enough effort - so he STARTED the 2nd half with a bunch of deep bench players & walk-ons...and he left them in for a full 10 minutes - sending a POWERFUL signal to those blue-chipper starters - so that when he finally put his top players back in they played harder than ever and ended up winning the game.

Joe B. Hall talks about that game and that strategy here -- and how it worked to motivate his All Americans
You gotta read this story - this is what we need to do - start Jackson Kane, Nate Wells, Anthony Fields, etc...bench the "go-to" guys who ain't getting it done..

http://kykernel.com/2012/11/15/hall-earns-fame-in-own-right/

[wily coyote]

part of the problem is that the kids like seeing great things said about them even before they've put an ounce of effort into their DI careers...
So there's really not enough incentive to bust their a**es and get better...so everyone's just going thru the motions...

I saw a game many years ago when Kentucky was playing in the NCAA Tournament --
the first half, head coach Joe B. Hall felt the starters weren't giving enough effort - so he STARTED the 2nd half with a bunch of deep bench players & walk-ons...and he left them in for a full 10 minutes - sending a POWERFUL signal to those blue-chipper starters - so that when he finally put his top players back in they played harder than ever and ended up winning the game.

Joe B. Hall talks about that game and that strategy here -- and how it worked to motivate his All Americans
You gotta read this story - this is what we need to do - start Jackson Kane, Nate Wells, Anthony Fields, etc...bench the "go-to" guys who ain't getting it done..
http://kykernel.com/2012/11/15/hall-...-in-own-right/

I am all for your last paragraph. I'd do it in a heartbeat. By the way did Thomas play last night? If not why?

[tornado]

very little - 4 minutes total playing time....
looked like he mighta been in the doghouse - no action early on then thrown in there desperately when nobody else could hit anything

[Vent]

part of the problem is that the kids like seeing great things said about them even before they've put an ounce of effort into their DI careers...
So there's really not enough incentive to bust their a**es and get better...so everyone's just going thru the motions...

I saw a game many years ago when Kentucky was playing in the NCAA Tournament --
the first half, head coach Joe B. Hall felt the starters weren't giving enough effort - so he STARTED the 2nd half with a bunch of deep bench players & walk-ons...and he left them in for a full 10 minutes - sending a POWERFUL signal to those blue-chipper starters - so that when he finally put his top players back in they played harder than ever and ended up winning the game.

Joe B. Hall talks about that game and that strategy here -- and how it worked to motivate his All Americans
You gotta read this story - this is what we need to do - start Jackson Kane, Nate Wells, Anthony Fields, etc...bench the "go-to" guys who ain't getting it done..
http://kykernel.com/2012/11/15/hall-...-in-own-right/

I believe most players do want to bust their tails and I think the BU players are no different. It is part of the satisfaction you get from playing at a competitive level. These kids at BU are all competitors. Busting your tail and being good are two different things. The problem as I see it is, there is no discipline from the coaching staff. As a player, when you bust your tail and see another player that doesn't bust theirs, and there are no consequences, it spreads like a cancer. I believe that is the problem with this program.