2 Months ago vs Now....

[matt714gd]

Okay....so I don't know what I think. I don't want to believe this...I want to believe that this year will be okay....but I can't help but wonder if we are going to be as good as we projected 2 months ago when we thought we might have Fears, Williams, and possibly Coley. I am interested to see what you guys TRULY think. Ignore the fact that we are all DIE HARD BRADLEY FANS! WOOOHOOOO! Do you all think we will be as good as we thought two months ago (with Fears, Coley, DW) compared to Present time (without Fears, Coley, DW, but the addition of Austin, Theron, etc) This brings up a true discussion...Are we still bound for greatness? Yes or know and why!

[Chico]

I don't see why not. We lost 2 guys who had scholarships given to them, but evidently didn't want to play for the Braves. The more I think about it the more I think they didn't want to be a role player for a good team, possibly a very good team. So good riddance.
As for CC, it looks like Austin has just as good credentials. Jimmy and his staff are doing a great job. Lose one guy, sign another right off the bat.

[MikeCash]

The main reason why I think BU will be OK is what they have returning. With a ton of turnover and great players graduating in the Valley, the Braves instantly look like a top-tier team just by returning Ruffin and Crouch (both top ten scorers). I know Franklin and Tauai are particularly tough losses, but the Valley is going to look VERY different next year--and not just coaching-wise. Bradley seems to be in better shape than most teams--not even taking into consideration the additions of Cole Scott, Brown, Collins, Austin, and Wilson...

[flipper]

funny how when we sign these players we brag how good they are and how much they are going to help us, but when they leave we say we aren't going to miss them and they were selfish players. seems a bit contradictory.

[mexicobufan]

I will take Austin over Coley and day. The kid has the size and build we need considering our schedule next year. This is a step up for us and Austin wants to be at BU. I was looking forward to seeing Fears play but he would not have taken Ruffs spot at the point and we have Scott as a bachup there. At th two we have Crouch the number one returning three point shooter in the country and if Ray Brown is as good as we are being told we will be fine there. I have to admit I have been worried about DW and his impact on the team, I think we have learned over the last two years that we win when the kids play together.

We may have a little less talent but we may have a much better team. We still will have the best guards combo in the MVC and now we have size that can rebound, score and play D.

We are ready for a run at the top!!!!!!!!

[chitownBUB]

funny how when we sign these players we brag how good they are and how much they are going to help us, but when they leave we say we aren't going to miss them and they were selfish players. seems a bit contradictory.

Come on flipper, for the whole past year there have been doubts about both Williams and Fears in regards to their attitude and their willingness to work hard in Jim Les's system.
Williams was going to be at his 3rd college since leaving high school,
and Fears had committed to Ohio, then played the field again, then committed to Iowa State, then played the field again, then committed to Bradley.
Then in the year each has been right there in Central Illinois where you guys could see them, even more serious doubts arose about chemistry and committments to the team.
Of the 13 players remaining on the roster, tell me which have been suspended for not going to practice, which have been disciplined for selfish play by their coaches, and which have hopped around to multiple colleges?
Not one, as those players are now gone, and the people who see that are not being hypocritical, they are realizing that the team and the fans had built up a lot of hope of seeing those kids play for BU, but are now willing to pass on them because of their own actions.

[Beninator]

Well, we gave players with obvious talent such as Fears and Williams a shot to play here. For various reasons, they didn't pan out. But what we did was replace these players with talanted players. We don't land Coley, but we get Austin. I can live with that. As of now, I really think that we are in the top 3 in the Valley. and... we have a chance to do something special if JL can get these players to mesh as a TEAM.

[georgethedog]

funny how when we sign these players we brag how good they are and how much they are going to help us, but when they leave we say we aren't going to miss them and they were selfish players. seems a bit contradictory.

Try not to cast such a wide net on this one Flippi. There were a number of us who doubted the impact of either player for numerous reasons. I am happy the way it worked out. Two players who apparently really did not want to be at BU are not, and two players that want to be here are. It is too hard to compare Austin to Fears because they are different players, but apparently Wilson appears to play the same position and may be better than DW. Not only that, it has been pretty exciting lately!

[flipper]

why did we recruit these players with so much baggage in the first place? i also don't like the trend of so many transfers. let's get more players to be at bu for 4 or 5 years.

[Lakeview Brave]

I agree I would rather have a team built with 4 year guys and I think we do. We have Thompsom, Egolf, Sam M as freshman and Warren as a very good Sophomore. I think with this being Ruff and JCs senior year we needed to get the most ready to play talent as possible to make a run this year so getting JUCOs makes sense.

[dogsrus]

Look at any program in the MVC....name me ONE that hasn't had issues with Juco's, 4 year players, coaches.....to me its the nature of the beast. Sign of the times.

Once the dust has settled it appears BU has a great group.

I think JL has shown an ability to learn and adapt. I suspect he will e taking less chances on questionable recruits. I don't blame him with EITHER JF or DW.

Even the most solid recruits can develop or cause problems though the risk is considerably less.

I like our team. JL had what appears good backup plans. Lose two late and get two solid to replace...almost unheard of.

[Da Coach]

4 year players are nice, but they don't give as much help right away. I am for getting whatever players will give Bradley the talent and depth to win. Recall some of the losses from last year like Illinois, UNI and WSU at home, and the blowout at Mississippi State. The problem was obvious in those games. Bradley didn't have depth at the inside position to counter foul proiblems, and they didn't have size and bulk to stop the bigger inside players.
I like the array of size, skills, and talents that this recruiting class brings. I think these kids fill every need Bradley had. Instead of criticizing the job Jim Les has done, IMO we should be congratulating Jim Les for a fantastic and successful job of recruiting.

[tornado]

Bradley lost four players to graduation (Bennett, Boogie, Cellus, Heemskerk) a year ago and is set to lose four more now (Adams, Franklin, Tauai, Andrews) and then also lost a couple who didn't graduate (O'Bryant, Jassey).
Then there was the expected loss of playing time due to factors with Ray Brown and injuries to Singh, Ruffin, Crouch, and of course the loss of Williams and Fears who never even suited up.

That's 12 players lost in a little over a year, and some extra playing time lost from injuries and other factors, and yet BU has still won 22 games and played in the postseason both years.

The point is, that Jim Les has a huge job of replacing all those lost players, and three of the incoming kids ARE (4-year) freshmen, while he has had to go the juco route to get Collins, Cole-Scott, Austin, & Wilson.

Give the guy a little props, fellas....
Jim Les has done an incredible job replacing all the lost talent.
I don't see any reason for worry....we still have a scholarship or two for next year and several for the year beyond.

[flipper]

my point is we, as a basketball program, can do better. sometimes when i read this board i feel no matter what happens someone comes on and posts that it is good. to the point where it is not real. i agree, few programs have zero problems or make zero mistakes. just seems to me that we try to color everything good when we know that is not the case.

i hope for great things for bu basketball, which would include winning the regular season conference championship and/or conference tournament, and/or going to the ncca tourney on a consistent basis.

let's hope we start doing those things next season. we are better than a middle-of-the pack valley program that goes to the ncaa tourney once every ten years.

[Da Coach]

How can Bradley do better? If you have the answer, you should be emailing Jim Les.

The last 2 years have seen unprecendented successes and I believe things will get even better. I doubt anyone could have taken over at Bradley and done a better job than Jim Les has done here.

Yes, there are optimists here, I am one of them. But I would challenge you to show any optimistic thought or prediction that hasn't been met.

On the other hand, there are the sky-is-falling, naysayers who see everything as doom-and-gloom. They are ones who have been wrong about nearly everything they have predicted the past 4 or 5 years. Bradley fans all want what you describe. I just happen to think we are on the right course to get there.