Expectations...

[Braves2006]

I had my own expectations for Wardle after he was hired...win 5 in year one, 10 in year 2....15 in year 3 and 20 by year 4. I believe this is reasonable. It looked like we were surely going to win 10 this year. But now, can anyone see us winning 1 more game this year? At any rate, I need to see 14-15 wins next year. Period. What say ye?

[Da Coach]

If we use a similar standard that the majority of people said we should expect when past coaches were let go and new coaches were hired, this is what was said:
>Free pass the first year
>Show substantial improvement the 2nd year
>Achieve a winning record the 3rd year
>Have a solid roster and contend for the top of the league the 4th year

[MacabreMob]

Bradley will win 3 of .... Vs Drake, Vs Indy St, Vs E'ville, Vs Mo St, at Drake.

Heck, they might win all 5.

Likely not. But I see at least 3 wins out of that list of winnable games.

Then... maybe a win in Conf Tourney against maybe E'Ville or Indy St.

So I see 6 winnable games.

I am thinking we can get 3.

That will get us to 10.

[MacabreMob]

If we use a similar standard that the majority of people said we should expect when past coaches were let go and new coaches were hired, this is what was said:
>Free pass the first year
>Show substantial improvement the 2nd year
>Achieve a winning record the 3rd year
>Have a solid roster and contend for the top of the league the 4th year

I am not gonna consider this "consensus" of what to expect based on past coaching changes.

This coach was left with NOTHING for year one. Nothing. So this throws the scale off by at least a year. Then.... considering how oftentimes, changes in coaches have upperclassmen to use as teachers for underclassmen.... this coach really did not. So maybe go off by another year on your scale.

So....

Free pass 3 years.
Show substantial improvement in year 4.
Achieve a winning record in year 5.
Have a solid roster and contend for league title by year 6.

Hey.... this isn't what we want. We all want faster.

But let's put the blame on where we are at squarely on the past regime that got us here. The coach, AD and Prez. All of them are the blame. And so this is gonna be a long and slow process to get it done the RIGHT way.

We are in Year 2 and we should not expect too much for 2 more years. And even then... wait til Year 5 to see things get good.

[TNel]

Well said. Hope I'm still around to see it.

[Braves2006]

Lord...grant me the patience to endure. I can't see myself getting through 3 more years.

[lefty]

I am not gonna consider this "consensus" of what to expect based on past coaching changes.

This coach was left with NOTHING for year one. Nothing. So this throws the scale off by at least a year. Then.... considering how oftentimes, changes in coaches have upperclassmen to use as teachers for underclassmen.... this coach really did not. So maybe go off by another year on your scale.

So....

Free pass 3 years.
Show substantial improvement in year 4.
Achieve a winning record in year 5.
Have a solid roster and contend for league title by year 6.

Hey.... this isn't what we want. We all want faster.

But let's put the blame on where we are at squarely on the past regime that got us here. The coach, AD and Prez. All of them are the blame. And so this is gonna be a long and slow process to get it done the RIGHT way.

We are in Year 2 and we should not expect too much for 2 more years. And even then... wait til Year 5 to see things get good.

I'm in between you and DC....I think we should see some good things in year 4......now we all might have a difference in opinion regarding definition of "good things"

[Vent]

Hind sight is 20/20. To say he was left nothing is inaccurate. The talent he was left was equal to the talent in our current sophomore class, including those that have already fled the program. Now, the previous team had nowhere near the discipline of this team. If Wardle had kept three or four of the players, in addition to Bell and Thomas from the Ford era, our entire scholarship situation would be different. In fact, most of those holdover players would have only played one season under Wardle. That would have bought us an entire year to observe high school or junior college talent and not only utilize our scholarships better, but also spread the numbers out better. As a result, it appears to me, we are in a constant rebuilding mode. We were going to lose that first year anyway. Some will say he needed to change the culture (attitude) of the program. He certainly did, but he could have started changing the culture while at the same time preserving scholarships for year two and three. As a result, we have none for year three, that is unless the perpetual revolving door continues to move.

[pfcmsh]

Matriculation

I have a thought I wanted to share. We talk about talent and coaching a lot. I lack the coaching skills and experience that a lot of you have; however, I do know that a team with talent can fail. There is more to an effective team than the talent of each of its members. I remember the movie, “Miracle”, where the coach said, “I am not looking for the best players. I am looking for the right players."

Every team goes through a process to get accustomed to each other. Reflecting back on last year with new players from far and wide, we began to play better as the season went on. When a team is first put together, it has talented individual members. Each member only knows what he/she can do well and not what the others can do. Each member of the team is about his or her individual performance, and only after the teams plays together awhile, it becomes more about the whole of the team. Each one begins to understand what each of the other team members can do well. Effectiveness grows.

In year 2, Coach Wardle had the time to recruit better players. He was more successful. At times, we have started 4 freshmen this year. His first year, we started 5 freshman. This year, we lost that previous year of matriculation. Coach Wardle subs fast. Is he looking for who plays the best together? Is he searching for that intangible?

When each team member understands what the capabilities of his team mates are, then he can make better decisions. If a 3 pointer is needed and 2 of your team are in position to get a good shot, then you’re going to pass it to the best 3 point shooter of the 2 or take the shot yourself. We play better with Nate in the lineup. Sure, he could be a faster player. Perhaps he is not our best player, but I he might be the "right" player, who understands to a greater degree what each of his team mates can do.

Who was the most valuable Cub last year? Arrieta, Lester? We all want to name the best player and statistics drive that. I think it was Dexter Fowler. The team won when he played and lost when he didn't.

As we bring in better talent next year, we will again lose some matriculation. The talent and the team will slowly get better, but that intangible of understanding your team mates is always needed.

When we get the “right” players, the improvements could come very fast. Improvements may be sudden and, like some kind of magic, we’ll be winning.
Like I said, I am no coach and I know that the lack of fundamentals is very frustrating and precludes success.

If matriculation has anything to do with how we play, then I think we will have a better 2nd half in the MVC.

[Buesch N Chips]

I think it would be interesting to know how many players were encouraged to leave when Wardle got here. If it is more than one or two he has made his own bed.

[Chico]

You're right. He made his own bed. He had to. IMO, he wasn't even left a cot.

[carter]

You hear alot of rumors but I heard Wardle basically came in and said it's my way or the highway.I understand you have to inforce rules but maybe he should have given some of the players that left more of a chance.

[Braves2006]

You hear alot of rumors but I heard Wardle basically came in and said it's my way or the highway.I understand you have to inforce rules but maybe he should have given some of the players that left more of a chance.

I don't have a problem with "my way or the highway" as long as we have a winning season by year 3 or 4.

[Buesch N Chips]

You hear alot of rumors but I heard Wardle basically came in and said it's my way or the highway.I understand you have to inforce rules but maybe he should have given some of the players that left more of a chance.

I'm not talking about that. If that's the case the kids left on their own. I'm talking about moving specific kids out of the program intentionally, through words or actions. If he treated every player equally and just did his thing, that's on the players. If he made a point to get rid of some of them specifically, that's on him.

[Da Coach]

... If he made a point to get rid of some of them specifically, that's on him.

What about when a coach intentionally lets a kid languish on the bench and never gives him a chance to play in games, even though the team is geting blown out most games?