Tuesday 1/8 PJ Star

[Da Coach]

From Dave Reynolds--

Picked to win league, Salukis are below .500; but so is Bradley, which was picked 2nd

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/010808/BRA_BFED2HMI.071.php

[Braves4Life]

Sounds like Lowery is the problem. Wonder if the SIU "faithful" are calling for his head, too?

Oh well, just like our "excuse" this year is Ruffin's injury, I guess Lowery is using 'the schedule"

[BradleyBrave]

Sounds like Lowery is the problem. Wonder if the SIU "faithful" are calling for his head, too?

Oh well, just like our "excuse" this year is Ruffin's injury, I guess Lowery is using 'the schedule"

I bet if Lowery had it all to do over again, he wouldn't have scheduled that difficult. Same with BU. I know I would feel a lot better at 9-6 instead of 7-8, but that's what happens when you schedule the way we did with 7 newcomers. Oh well, lesson learned. Let's win tonight.

[BUBraves2006]

Most important part of the article is Coach Les saying:

"We're not making any wholesale changes or making any drastic changes in philosophy."

Getting embarrassed by losing four in a row at home and, after starting the season rebounding well, getting murdered on the glass every night ... that isn't reason for at least some change? I'd like a "drastic" change in everyone WANTING to rebound.

Tonight should be good for that, as we aren't going to fast break much against SIU, so why not have all five guys crashing the glass?

[Da Coach]

Wonder if the SIU "faithful" are calling for his head, too?

I know you were joking, but I do not believe anyone has suggested firing Chris Lowery.

But recall that SIU gave Chris Lowery a long extension at a massive $750,000 a year. That makes for pretty good job assurance. There is no way he will be let go with them owing him that much money. The school is having trouble raising enough money to even pay Lowery's salary (as much as 2/3 is to come from private donations), so they can't afford to let him go and hire someone new.

[BradleyBrave]

Hopefully no one is suggesting firing Jim Les either. I may be critical of our play right now, but that's not what I am suggesting at all. We just need to get better, that's all there is to it.

[basketball nut]

Most important part of the article is Coach Les saying:

"We're not making any wholesale changes or making any drastic changes in philosophy."

Getting embarrassed by losing four in a row at home and, after starting the season rebounding well, getting murdered on the glass every night ... that isn't reason for at least some change? I'd like a "drastic" change in everyone WANTING to rebound.

Tonight should be good for that, as we aren't going to fast break much against SIU, so why not have all five guys crashing the glass?

Great point about rebounding but I have one question. When was the last time BU had a strong rebounding team? I asked the people sitting around me and they couldn't remember. Yes we have had some for a game or two but not for a whole season not even w/ OB in house. It seems like we do not push the rebounding like we should. We need to crash the boards and go from there. I would love to see a NIU or SIU or MSU type rebounding team and we do not have that and I really can't remember having that for along time.
It is like we do not teach rebounding or following shots which is another of my pet peaves. It is something I always taught my players is to follow your shot as it may very well get you another oppurtunity and the players that bought into that concept found out how second chances get you points that you would not have gotten otherwise.
These are fundamentals that it seems like are not being taught @ BU right now.
Before someone says I am ripping JL I would like to say that I am not ripping JL but observing some things that might help us as a team.

[BUBraves2006]

Question for the older crew? Did Jim Les know (want, care, etc.) how to rebound when he played for Bradley? Not having seen him play makes me wonder if he was never asked to rebound much being a point guard, so he doesn't think about stressing that aspect of the game. I'd be willing to bet also that there would some kind of argument that because we take SO many threes, that we should expect long rebounds and therefore not have too many guys crashing inside. I'm not defending this attitude, but it might be something that is discussed? This wouldn't explain the defensive side of the ball, but certainly the offensive one.

[real fan]

I just wish coach Les would ask for some outside help from coach Versace and coach C.Buescher if he has not already as they may have some different ideas which could only help everyone ; lets face it we need to start playing better defense and rebound a whole lot better if we expect to start winning any games.

[ph]

Great point about rebounding but I have one question. When was the last time BU had a strong rebounding team? I asked the people sitting around me and they couldn't remember. Yes we have had some for a game or two but not for a whole season not even w/ OB in house. It seems like we do not push the rebounding like we should.

Rebounding is one factor in increasing offensive and defensive efficiency.
The past 2 years, we have been athletic enough to minimize defensive rebounding deficiencies and made such a high % of shots last year that O rebounding was not necessary to win games.

I do not mind that philosophy when you have the personel to pull it off. Unfortunatley, we do not have the players, and the coaches have not adjusted.

[BradleyBrave]

I just wish coach Les would ask for some outside help from coach Versace and coach C.Buescher if he has not already as they may have some different ideas which could only help everyone ; lets face it we need to start playing better defense and rebound a whole lot better if we expect to start winning any games.

I am sure Jim talks to Dick and Chuck daily about the team, and I am sure Chuck watches his fair share of practices.