Practice....

[ER3]

Does this team really practice? If so, what exactly do they do in practice? Play Xbox and take turns giving each other haircuts?

Because I was under the impression that the coaching staff of a quality Div I program would watch film from the previous game(s)...identify the areas, offensive/defensive sets, etc. that we are having problems with...and then spend the time in practice emphasizing those areas and making the necessary personnel and/or game plan adjustments to assure those same deficiencies would not be on display in the next game.

Instead, it appears that this coaching staff chooses to watch the film...ignore everything they see...place no priority on rebounding fundamentals...make zero personnel adjustments...tell everyone that will listen that we are 'Redefining Brave'...and then run the same 7 man rotation out there in the next game and just cross their fingers that we will magically play better defense and rebound the basketball.

It's like paying $8 to watch "Dude, Where's My Car" once and then renting it again 4 days later and expecting it to not suck. It's still the same horrible movie...just a different day.

[Beninator]

It's like paying $8 to watch "Dude, Where's My Car" once and then renting it again 4 days later and expecting it to not suck. It's still the same horrible movie...just a different day.

Amen ER3.... Sad but very true.

[CrouchsCrusaders]

Does this team really practice? If so, what exactly do they do in practice? Play Xbox and take turns giving each other haircuts?

Because I was under the impression that the coaching staff of a quality Div I program would watch film from the previous game(s)...identify the areas, offensive/defensive sets, etc. that we are having problems with...and then spend the time in practice emphasizing those areas and making the necessary personnel and/or game plan adjustments to assure those same deficiencies would not be on display in the next game.

Instead, it appears that this coaching staff chooses to watch the film...ignore everything they see...place no priority on rebounding fundamentals...make zero personnel adjustments...tell everyone that will listen that we are 'Redefining Brave'...and then run the same 7 man rotation out there in the next game and just cross their fingers that we will magically play better defense and rebound the basketball.

It's like paying $8 to watch "Dude, Where's My Car" once and then renting it again 4 days later and expecting it to not suck. It's still the same horrible movie...just a different day.

You my friend are a beast!

[BradleyBrave]

Is this the least talented team Jim has had in his tenure at BU? If the answer is 'no', then one MUST ask the questions that need to be asked...I personally think this is not the most talented group, but one of the better groups. I know that the staff would have killed for this many bigs in Jim's 1st and 2nd year. Whether or not the results would have been the same is anyone's guess.

[real fan]

ER 3 I totally agree and Bradley Brave we were told by Coach Les at the start of the season that this was the most talented team he has ever had; i also heard this all summer long about how good we were going to be; the coaching staff needs to take the blame as these players are lost when it comes to help defense as opposing teams use layup drills on us and have been for quite some time; I guess when we lost Chuck B. we lost our defensive coach; also whomever is teaching rebounding you get an f for a grade; please get coach Versaces advice on this as his teams were always good rebounders and years ago I saw him do a clinic on this .

[Fyrebyrd]

didnt help that lennox forrester left, he was the go to guy for teaching the big guys. We could sure use him now

[bu fan 9]

I think 7 new players and 2 new coaches is just to much turn over from last year.

[real fan]

7 new players is the reason why I do not believe in recruiting a bunch of jr. college players ; I think you need to build it with 3 new incoming freshmen a season and then if you have a need to fill in with 1 and no more then 2 jr. college players as it is hard to have so much turnover and keep the program going and it gives your players more of a chance to learn the system in their 1st season and have 3 years to contribute ; with what we have now there is going to be another huge turnover again.

[numbr_9]

I've been saying since the R/W scrimmage ... playing 2 or even 3 bigs at once will solve a lot of problems.

The 4 guard offense was great last year, because we had no other choice. But coach Les, please, please, please play to your team's strengths!! don't let so much size rot on the bench!

Can we do worse? Sadly, we may find out. :-( I love my Braves, and won't bail on this team now or ever, but its getting really painful.

[wily coyote]

Guys...I know we are frustrated but shouldn't we refrain from the "______ sucks" comments. These guys haven't quit. Sure maybe they don't have the talent we want but they are giving us what we have. Besides this isn't about ONE player.....this is an entire team falling apart.

With that said....its tough to watch. Can ONE player really make THIS much difference?

I saw this team look pretty good..in fact REAL good against a team that is playing very well right now Vandy.

Most of us saw a pretty good team battle another VERY good team in MSU.

This isn't fun but lets hope the team remains positive and keeps working hard.

Dogs, I agree we should NEVER use "____ sucks." That shows no class at all. Our program is much better than that. I know we are frustrated but that doesn't cut it in my book. Now your comment about one player shouldn't make this much difference is right on target. If 1 player does than we didn't do a very good job in practice, recruiting and game prep. I'm behind JL all the way but he is the one responsible for getting this figured out and turned around. He has no small task , but it can be done just maybe not with our current rotation and / or starters. Lets get it done??

[shaunguth]

I've been saying since the R/W scrimmage ... playing 2 or even 3 bigs at once will solve a lot of problems.

The 4 guard offense was great last year, because we had no other choice. But coach Les, please, please, please play to your team's strengths!! don't let so much size rot on the bench!

Can we do worse? Sadly, we may find out. :-( I love my Braves, and won't bail on this team now or ever, but its getting really painful.

I believe this pretty much sums it up!

[Dallas Brave]

I am a huge JL fan, but I put a lot of the current team woes squarely on the shoulders of him and the coaching staff. I find it unbelievable that this coaching staff has not developed and played David Collins. He is an athletic 7 footer ... something very few teams have and no team in the MVC has ... DC is, quite simply, the key to this team's success.

I have been running some numbers on how the "team" plays when DC logs minutes and how the "team" plays when he doesn't. The numbers may not show up in his individual stats, but they show up in the team stats and the numbers support the obvious ... If you have an athletic 7 footer, you play him ... you don't sit him. I don't care what lineup the other team puts out there, you play David Collins!!!!

I love Bradley basketball ... I want JL to be the coach at BU for the next 20 years ... but this year's coaching staff has not performed.

Please play DC ... please. He needs playing time and the team will be much better for it ... especially when DR returns

[squirrel]

I know that the staff would have killed for this many bigs in Jim's 1st and 2nd year. .

The 2002-03 roster wasn't a bunch of Tiny Tim's:

7'1" Heemskerk
6'9" Marcetic
6'8" Granger
6'7" Faulknor
6'7" Stewart
6'6" Suggs
6'6" Battle
6'4" Adams
6'4" Gillingham
6'3" Gilbert
6'3" Paul

Les had the opportunity to have a 6'8" Tisby and 6'5" Tucker on that squad as well.

[Da Coach]

Dogs, I agree we should NEVER use "____ sucks." That shows no class at all. Our program is much better than that. I know we are frustrated but that doesn't cut it in my book....

I know that term is commonly used by younger people, but it is still considered quite offensive by many. So we will not allow such language.

This is not a new decision. Note that in the Rules for Posting, the first example of unacceptable language specifically states--

Posts should not contain any of the following content:
- Profanity or vulgarities- we will decide what is profane or vulgar, but you know what it is. Consider that there people of all ages that visit this board. So even terms like "sucks" are considered inappropriate.

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4909

Also not allowed are verbal assaults aimed at specific players. It's OK to criticize their performance on the court, but avoid personal attacks.

[shaunguth]

I find it unbelievable that this coaching staff has not developed and played David Collins. He is an athletic 7 footer ... something very few teams have and no team in the MVC has ... DC is, quite simply, the key to this team's success.

If you have an athletic 7 footer, you play him ... you don't sit him. I don't care what lineup the other team puts out there, you play David Collins!!!!

Please play DC ... please. He needs playing time and the team will be much better for it ... especially when DR returns

And he's played a total of 8 minutes in conference play, all coming in the opener, before being benched the last two games! I just don't get it!