Eli Childs?

[wizard1]

Whats going on between EC and the coach? Does anyone know anything? Typical non-transparency from our coach....Leave the fans in the dark at the most important time of the season

[Bradley3342]

Don’t understand it either. Just know we’re going to need him in St.Louis if we are going to make any kind of run in the tournament!

[lb071964]

I remember the other day when you had problems with your boss and he went on the radio and told everyone about it. He did it because it was more important to him that everyone knew it was your fault and not his. Get the point? Coach had an issue with Eli and he is handling it with Eli instead of demonstrating his power over Eli by broadcasting it all over town. He wants Eli’s maximum effort at all times and he wants him to follow the game plan. Making you more aware about what he is doing is not his priority, his relationship with Eli and the team is!

[tornado]

Brian Wardle was asked and gave his answer
I am happy with it and I think it would be far worse if the topic was publicly discussed on the front pages

[Chibearsfan10125]

Let’s say Eli was benched for a bad attitude or maybe for comments he made at halftime. No one knows for sure, but regardless, what’s better? A coach publicly blasting his player or handling the matter internally? I get wanting information. No ones likes being in the dark, but I’d rather our coach not publicly throw one of our best players under the bus. Handle the matter and move on.

[wizard1]

I'm not suggesting that the coach "blast" Eli or go into great detail publicly about the specifics of the problem. But I also believe the coach can provide some kind of reasonable statement and reassurance to the fans that the situation has been handled and Eli and he are ok . The short curt statement he gave out could mean almost anything is going on including a possible major problem. The benching of Eli in this important and nationally televised game was seen by almost all BU fans. Some kind of reasonable statement of reassurance to the fans would be more than appropriate.
Wizard

[lb071964]

He said after the game that he played the guys that gave effort and played with a purpose, maybe he made a bad assumption most people could figure it out.

[bradleyfan124]

I agree with Wardle. That is between the coach and the player. It is not for the court of public opinion. He has to manage and motivate these players..not us...

[patrick_o'brian]

I agree that this should not be made public. However, if this spills over into Arch Madness, our season will be over by Dinner time Friday.

[Da Coach]

I am 100% supportive of Coach Wardle, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything. I disagree that the Elijah Childs issue was handled the best way. I actually think it humiliated the player more than any post-game comment could have.
In fact, if I really wanted to embarrass and humiliate a player, especially one of my best and most productive players, I would bench him in a crucial, nation-wide television broadcasted game for the entire 2nd half, make him sit there and never get his warmup off, and then refuse to give any explanation afterward, other than "coach's decision". By doing that, everyone saw it and assumed the worst.
There are other ways to discipline or send a message to a player like making them run extra laps in practice, extra weight sessions, or many other ways, including depriving him of a sandwich on the bus trip home as long as he isn't hypoglycemic (ok, that last one was a joke).

[PistolP]

I agree that we need Childs to play significant minutes on Friday. Speaking of effort, Henry has impressed me more than any recent newcomer. Whether he starts or not, he should be playing more minutes at this time of the year. He can create match-up challenges and really gives us the toughness that we need on the floor.

[Bradleyfan1]

Im optimistic. The message was sent and received. We won the 2nd half without him. Henrys mins are good. Looks to be ready to step right in for DLO and start next year. Im fine with Wardles post game. I wouldn't have benched EC tho. I did think he was getting owned by Cam tho. I was hoping he was going to drive him. We need the bigs. Bar EC Luuuuuuk. Playing well Friday. Lets go out on a high note. Holding my breathe till we win Friday then Friday night will be so much fun. Rematch with the ramblers or someone from Thursday night would be ideal Sat. Go BU.

[bigjimmy]

I think this was as good of a teachable moment that Wardle could get to make his point about effort and execution. Hopefully the message was received and will be fully implemented on Friday at 2:35.

[AZ BU Fan]

These aren't grade school basketball players, these are young men who are accorded benefits for their physical abilities almost all of us will never see in our lives. They are mature beyond their years given the experiences they have a had due to their physical talents. Seems to me, should be pretty easy after 25 plus games for a player to understand what is being asked if him by his coach, and, know how to deliver it.

I am so tired of coddling players at the major college level. Ohh, don"t embarrass him... Ohh, don't hurt his feelings.... Ohh, saying anything in the media about him will destroy him...

It's a cruel world and these athletes need to be ready to face it after they are done playing college ball. No one will give a rat's butt about their feelings if they can"t perform in the real world after college.

If they lose sight of what is expected of them by their coaches, and have been educated as to what is expected, sit em down until they get that they are not more important than the team. Quit worrying about feelings and egos, make them grow up.

[wizard1]

Big Jimmy.....I disagree! This was a terrible "teachable moment. One of his very best players had to sit on the bench in warm ups for the full 2nd half of our only nationally televised game on the road against the MVCs final 4 team from last year. He then drew the transparency curtain across the incident with a very curt response that really said nothing, further embarassed a top player and a very nice kid, and left the BU fans who have supported him all year in the dark and worried about what the outcome of this might be.
Much better to let the kid play and then handle the discipline and response later when the team gets home and the heat of the moment has calmed down.
Wizard