BU coaching candidates- where are they now?

[it's boogie time]

You're happy being mid pack every year?

Murph, this thread was dug up from the past. My post that you quoted was from last year. I think it was probably right after we had lost to SIU in St. Louis. Just for a frame of reference, Chuck Buescher was still on staff.

[Lakeview Brave]

Buescher has every right to share in the success BU had while he was there, and nobody is "belittling" him.
...but it is ridiculous to say he was THE reason they were good in those two seasons, and his absence singlehandedly explains why BU is down this year.
It is just a weak argument put forth by the Jim Les-bashers.

Well at leaset that is a reasonable assertion. Why dont you give us a reason since everyone elses argument is "weak". Please explain why over the last 6 years we have

Not had a winning conference record

Not finished in the top 3

Not won in St. Louis

All this despite Coach Les by all estimates being a good recruiter. So if he recurits great talent and they dont win is it bad coaching? Or is he not that great of a recruiter and gets as much as he can out of what he has to work with? Cant have it both ways.

I dont want a change by I do want results soon. I think Anthony Thomson is the best recruit we have got so far from the sweet 16 run. I hope he can contribute quickly and make next years team better than we will be picked.

[houstonbrave]

I guess I also get a bit defensive when someone starts to say Chuck was THE reason for our successs. Most of the time I see it as a "the success could not have been attributable to Jim-lets give the credit to someone else". I have great respect for Chuck, but it is hard for me to believe his departure is a "huge" reason for us to "fall off". If any assistant coach has ever left a program and maintained connection/influence it would have to be Chuck. He lives in town, broadcasts the games, I am sure he has been to a practice or two, his son is an assitant coach, he is quite close to Jim etc. It is not like he took his playbook and headed out of town never to be heard from again-he is not there every day but a very strong influence remains.

In the end I believe our expectations got ahead of us this year. 6 New players, a "redesign of our recruiting class very late in the game", 2 new assistants, a bunch of distractions(DR hurt, DR suspended, Theron), a really tough schedule,... I think we all became a bit enamored with our recruiting class and were a bit too optimistic that we had "improvised" better than we did-with the loss of Dwight Buycks, Jeremy Fears, Dearron Williams we simply lost too much. We did some good improvising (Theron Wilson in particular), but in the end we suffered. This team suffered from a lack of an inside game and poor defense.
The players we lost (Dwight, Jeremy, Dearron) probably would not have helped the inside game but would have given us more offensive options and more quickness defensively. We are still looking for the inside options-hopefully we have the answer in AT.

[beanocookschins]

I don't see where anyone is saying all the credit of the 05-06 and 06-07 seasons should go to Chuck B and none of it to Jim Les. It is of my opinion that the head coach gets the credit and blame for how things go. He calls the shots.

I do think people are pointing out the facts of the situation. Did Chuck B's influence help make BU a winner or was it coincedence? It is pretty tough to argue with the actual facts. What is up for debate is the validity of the argument that BU is better with Chuck B or without him.

The easiest way to solve this would be for Jim Les to smell some success without Chuck B on staff. So far that hasn't happened. I'm not sure stating this makes someone a "Jim Les-basher".

[Da Coach]

We have had 1 season without CB on the staff, and there are already people saying the team didn't perform as well because he's no longer with the team. This year's team would have easily won 22+ games if it had not been for freak injuries to Ruffin and Warren. Can that be blamed on Jim Les, and would it not have happened if CB was still an assistant? I don't think so. But people see what they want to see.

[BradleyBrave]

We have had 1 season without CB on the staff, and there are already people saying the team didn't perform as well because he's no longer with the team. This year's team would have easily won 22+ games if it had not been for freak injuries to Ruffin and Warren. Can that be blamed on Jim Les, and would it not have happened if CB was still an assistant? I don't think so. But people see what they want to see.

I just saw bad defense, regardless of who was or was not injured. I didn't want to see it, but I did. Injuries certainly played a part in our season unraveling, but there's no excuse not to play good defense. Defense is effort, position, and execution. We were lacking it far too often this season, for whatever reason. A little more defense and we have 20+ wins even with our injury issues. I know Chuck had a lot to do with our defense in the past, so I don't think it's far fetched to say that his absence may (operative word 'may') have affected the team a little bit.

[basketball nut]

I guess I also get a bit defensive when someone starts to say Chuck was THE reason for our successs. Most of the time I see it as a "the success could not have been attributable to Jim-lets give the credit to someone else". I have great respect for Chuck, but it is hard for me to believe his departure is a "huge" reason for us to "fall off". If any assistant coach has ever left a program and maintained connection/influence it would have to be Chuck. He lives in town, broadcasts the games, I am sure he has been to a practice or two, his son is an assitant coach, he is quite close to Jim etc. It is not like he took his playbook and headed out of town never to be heard from again-he is not there every day but a very strong influence remains.

In the end I believe our expectations got ahead of us this year. 6 New players, a "redesign of our recruiting class very late in the game", 2 new assistants, a bunch of distractions(DR hurt, DR suspended, Theron), a really tough schedule,... I think we all became a bit enamored with our recruiting class and were a bit too optimistic that we had "improvised" better than we did-with the loss of Dwight Buycks, Jeremy Fears, Dearron Williams we simply lost too much. We did some good improvising (Theron Wilson in particular), but in the end we suffered. This team suffered from a lack of an inside game and poor defense.
The players we lost (Dwight, Jeremy, Dearron) probably would not have helped the inside game but would have given us more offensive options and more quickness defensively. We are still looking for the inside options-hopefully we have the answer in AT.

Some great points Houston, I have read all these people sayiing that anything less then 1st place, mybe 2nd place, is unacceptable. My question to each of them is how can so many teams be in 1 st place because all these other teams are saying anything less then 1 place is unacceptable also. Was I disapopinted this year? Very much so as I was expecting a lot more out these new guys but then KW wrote an article about how many new guys fit in right away (this goes for any team) and how long it takes for a team to gel. As far as CB being the reason the team did good I am sure he had a lot to do w/ it. On the other hand as Houston pointed out CB was as involved in the team this year as he could be. I would think that he was at more practices then not and as close as JL and CB are I would assume that they talked everyday and after every game.
For myself, as much as I want to win and would love to go undefeated in the league, I am more concerned about how did the team play. Did they give 100% or did they give up? I heard so many people say how BU didn't play any defense last Sat and some of that may be true but then you have to also say that CU was just plain lucky because of that bad D to get that many open looks . Maybe some of those open looks was the way DA changed his offense to create that open look. I also saw 3, maybe 4 shots that went in just like DU on Sunday that were as much luck as they were good shots. I want a team to give 100% all the time. I seen some really good basketball games at BU this year and very few that I wish I had not seen. (NIU was one of them) Some people said BU gave up in the first halve agaisnt CU but then by that standard I guess ISU gave up in the first halve against DU also. My point is that a team can try as hard as they want and sometimes the ball is just not going in the hoop. Is there as answer as to why that happens? Sometimes it is how good of D the other team is playing and other times it is just plain a fluke. No one is perfect all the time but I get the feeling that some would think that if you wear the Red & White of BU you should be perfect all the time.
The coaches only give the plays to the team. They do not shoot the ball or defend the other team. Yes, sometimes the coach is to blame for not making the right moves or correcting what is wrong but other times the problem can be blamed on no one other then the players and sometimes it is just a fluke.

[beanocookschins]

But people see what they want to see.

You are right about this. That road goes both ways of course.

Some see BU's league record and finish over the years and wonder if things can be better while others see excuses and excuses as to why the record and results aren't better.

Bradley isn't the only team in America to have had injuries. Good coaches work through that stuff. Drake and ISU both had major starters miss time this season and both schools are looking at NCAA berths.

Injuries are tough and part of the deal. That's why when you recruit JUCO's they need to add the proper depth. Recruiting mistakes hurt this record moreso than the injuries. If BU hadn't messed up with Fears and Williams then the injuries would have been easier to deal with.

[Toyota12]

I think we all need to look at the coaching staff as a whole...All the successful programs in the MVC have one thing in common consistency!! We have not had any consistency in the coaching staff let alone any consistency in performance during JL tenure...So analyzing records and stats is going to drive us all crazy until we get some consistency on and off the court!!

[squirrel]

I want to know how one can measure success at School A as being directly relative to School B?

[Lakeview Brave]

We have had 1 season without CB on the staff, and there are already people saying the team didn't perform as well because he's no longer with the team. This year's team would have easily won 22+ games if it had not been for freak injuries to Ruffin and Warren. Can that be blamed on Jim Les, and would it not have happened if CB was still an assistant? I don't think so. But people see what they want to see.

We have had 4 seasons without CB on the staff

[Out of Balance]

Some great points Houston, I have read all these people sayiing that anything less then 1st place, mybe 2nd place, is unacceptable. My question to each of them is how can so many teams be in 1 st place because all these other teams are saying anything less then 1 place is unacceptable also. Was I disapopinted this year? Very much so as I was expecting a lot more out these new guys but then KW wrote an article about how many new guys fit in right away (this goes for any team) and how long it takes for a team to gel. As far as CB being the reason the team did good I am sure he had a lot to do w/ it. On the other hand as Houston pointed out CB was as involved in the team this year as he could be. I would think that he was at more practices then not and as close as JL and CB are I would assume that they talked everyday and after every game.
For myself, as much as I want to win and would love to go undefeated in the league, I am more concerned about how did the team play. Did they give 100% or did they give up? I heard so many people say how BU didn't play any defense last Sat and some of that may be true but then you have to also say that CU was just plain lucky because of that bad D to get that many open looks . Maybe some of those open looks was the way DA changed his offense to create that open look. I also saw 3, maybe 4 shots that went in just like DU on Sunday that were as much luck as they were good shots. I want a team to give 100% all the time. I seen some really good basketball games at BU this year and very few that I wish I had not seen. (NIU was one of them) Some people said BU gave up in the first halve agaisnt CU but then by that standard I guess ISU gave up in the first halve against DU also. My point is that a team can try as hard as they want and sometimes the ball is just not going in the hoop. Is there as answer as to why that happens? Sometimes it is how good of D the other team is playing and other times it is just plain a fluke. No one is perfect all the time but I get the feeling that some would think that if you wear the Red & White of BU you should be perfect all the time.
The coaches only give the plays to the team. They do not shoot the ball or defend the other team. Yes, sometimes the coach is to blame for not making the right moves or correcting what is wrong but other times the problem can be blamed on no one other then the players and sometimes it is just a fluke.

You have some good points.
You mentioned the CU game last Sat. I would like to make a few statements.
CU was on the court first for warmups a good 10 to 15 mins. before BU came out to start theirs. After 10-15 mins. of layups and a little shoot around BU departed again to the locker room. CU continued to shoot another 5 to 10 mins. I don't have the %'s in front of me (Maybe some could furish them) but as I recall they were like day and night. (BU Being NIGHT) The 1st half fore sure!!!!!!!!
When the teams came out to play CU looked ready and BU went through the motions.
Also I sat next to some long time CU Fans and they mention to one another, right before tip off that they never seen Dana with his coat off this early. He was ready and if anyone watched him, I'm sure they had to agree. He was in the entire game and he worked his bench (players), so when they entered the game they played and new just what the coach wanted of them.
That one play didn't win the game for them, it may of cost BU the win, but it was won before the game started and it all started hours after the Sat. before win over BU.
Not sure your player blame applys this time!! But JL looked good in his coat!

[tornado]

We have had 4 seasons without CB on the staff

it is obvious what he meant.
We have had one season since CB left the staff.

[Lakeview Brave]

it is obvious what he meant.
We have had one season since CB left the staff.

I forgot those other seasons dont count because Coach Les didnt have all his own players.

3 bad seasons in a row then CB arrives, 2 above average seasons with 1 great run of games, then CB leaves and another bad season. Cant spin that

[Da Coach]

So since Coach Les has near-unanimous support among fans and donors, do you think all that support is misguided? What should be done?