Sweet Sixteen Window of Opportunity Closing?

[BU ICEMAN]

OK, not enough time at work to put my responses down yet, but I just saw this article on the front page of ESPN.com I swear I didn't know it was coming.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney08/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=3293539

It's right on topic....

[Beninator]

You dont have to concentrate on the final four as this article has done. All you need to do is to check out teams that made it to the sweet 16 in lets say the past 15-20 years.... Some build on the success some dont... That is why I favor a long term approach to our program on this as things dont automatically improve overnight with a good run into the NCAAA's.

[basketball nut]

It only lasts a few years DC...it's not like we are now on the national map...every year we don't go to the NCAA it will get worse...we are so familiar with ourslves we think everyone should be. If Davidson doesn't get back to NCAA they will get forgotten a few years down the road.
I admit I don't know where many of those schools are from until you talk about them in the tourney....and around the country in circles they don't talk about BU's Sweet Sixteen near as much as they did then...we need to be like the Gonzaga's of the world to get there IMO

I know everyone wants ot make the NCAA, but getting to play in the CBI hasn't been all bad. It has provided us w/ 3 more home games and we have been on TV a lot (even though not everyone gets that station). Lets face it DU was 1 and done and how may are remembering them right now. The only way the NCAA becomes valuable to a "MId-Major" is if you are a Davidson or a Xavior or like we were 2 years ago and happen to make it to the sweet 16. In order for the NCAA tourn to do a team any good they have to win at least 1 and if a mid major they must make it to the sweet 16 for that tourn to be of any benefit in recruiting.
sure everyone wants to be in the NCAA but any post season tourn and a 20 plus win season is successful-not as successful as we would have liked but not alwasy does everything come together like one wants and this was one of those years.

[BUconnorD]

I know everyone wants ot make the NCAA, but getting to play in the CBI hasn't been all bad. It has provided us w/ 3 more home games and we have been on TV a lot (even though not everyone gets that station). Lets face it DU was 1 and done and how may are remembering them right now. The only way the NCAA becomes valuable to a "MId-Major" is if you are a Davidson or a Xavior or like we were 2 years ago and happen to make it to the sweet 16. In order for the NCAA tourn to do a team any good they have to win at least 1 and if a mid major they must make it to the sweet 16 for that tourn to be of any benefit in recruiting.
sure everyone wants to be in the NCAA but any post season tourn and a 20 plus win season is successful-not as successful as we would have liked but not alwasy does everything come together like one wants and this was one of those years.

that's a good call,

playing the CBI may seem like not too big of a deal to other teams, or the media. But so far we're 4/5, and our only loss was to the other Final team! Not to mention each of these games had RIDICULOUS comebacks and were solid games. Making it to the final is not the best thing to happen to BU by any stretch of the imagination, but it doesn't hurt our track record.

[lefty]

I know everyone wants ot make the NCAA, but getting to play in the CBI hasn't been all bad. It has provided us w/ 3 more home games and we have been on TV a lot (even though not everyone gets that station). Lets face it DU was 1 and done and how may are remembering them right now. The only way the NCAA becomes valuable to a "MId-Major" is if you are a Davidson or a Xavior or like we were 2 years ago and happen to make it to the sweet 16. In order for the NCAA tourn to do a team any good they have to win at least 1 and if a mid major they must make it to the sweet 16 for that tourn to be of any benefit in recruiting.
sure everyone wants to be in the NCAA but any post season tourn and a 20 plus win season is successful-not as successful as we would have liked but not alwasy does everything come together like one wants and this was one of those years.

well if i had to choose between 4 out of 5 NCAA and out in the first game or one CBI championship the NCAA would be a much greater value.

I think we made the most out of the season we could given how everything played out during the year.

I don't thinkI'd compare Xavier to Drake or Davidson...Xavier is more well thought of in the b-ball world than the other two.

[BU ICEMAN]

Well, I think there's too many posts to re-quote, but I have to mostly agree with TAS's, bradleyguy's, and lefty's posts. I guess when I say window of opportunity, it's a window of opportunity to keep the program in the national spotlight/awareness; to keep building on the success, rather than being a flash in the pan every 5 or 6 or 7 years.

The longer we go without getting back to the NCAAs, the more likely it is we'll be starting from scratch again, right back where we started before the S16 run.

[Stryker]

I disagree. I don't think there ever was a real "window of opportunity" , at least by some of your definitions. Our S16 run was a flash in a pan, a S16 run doesn't launch a program to another level. I really agree with SanfransicoPete here, a S16 run will help with recruiting, and I believe it has, with Warren and a few others coming here, it possibly affected Sam M. decision as well, but I think he would have come regardless. I tournament run affects recruiting. Les is a pretty good recruiter, and I expect him to continue to improve in the future. This year would have been a great one, but with everything that happened, including losing 3 players last offseason, really determined the outcome.

Look at Illinois after their championship run in 2005. They were not able to act on their "window" because they really had none. I think in order to have a window you have to have a couple things. 1) Good established national name recognition, 2) Facilities to recruit with, 3) A coach that knows how to build on success. Weber should have been signing impact freshmen with lots of talent in 05-06, but did not, whether he just doesn't have the recruiting prowess or if he just picked some kids that didn't pan out to expectations.

Now, as far as Bradley getting a real "Window of Opportunity". We need to do several things-

1) Finish our facilities - In my opinion this has hurt our recruiting efforts many times, especially in Les' era, players keep wanting the best of the best. A programs success is a direct result of recruiting in the majority of teams (exclude Drake's team this year here, although they have some great players)

2) Solid recruiting by Les - not so many JUCO's anymore, real programs are built on 4 year players. 2-3 Juco's a year is fine, but not 5.

3) Make some real noise in the MVC

4) Get back to the NCAA's consistently. Like SIU consistency over the past 8 years.

If we can complete these steps, a true "window of opportunity" will open, and then the program may have the ability to get to the next "level".

[Beninator]

Now, as far as Bradley getting a real "Window of Opportunity". We need to do several things-

1) Finish our facilities - In my opinion this has hurt our recruiting efforts many times, especially in Les' era, players keep wanting the best of the best. A programs success is a direct result of recruiting in the majority of teams (exclude Drake's team this year here, although they have some great players)

2) Solid recruiting by Les - not so many JUCO's anymore, real programs are built on 4 year players. 2-3 Juco's a year is fine, but not 5.

3) Make some real noise in the MVC

4) Get back to the NCAA's consistently. Like SIU consistency over the past 8 years.

If we can complete these steps, a true "window of opportunity" will open, and then the program may have the ability to get to the next "level".

All these goals are very attainable.imo On point 2, I dont mind us getting JUCO's, but to go with your point, we should not be "JUCO heavy" with our roster for any 1 class.

[Bravesfan]

I know everyone wants ot make the NCAA, but getting to play in the CBI hasn't been all bad. It has provided us w/ 3 more home games and we have been on TV a lot (even though not everyone gets that station). Lets face it DU was 1 and done and how may are remembering them right now. The only way the NCAA becomes valuable to a "MId-Major" is if you are a Davidson or a Xavior or like we were 2 years ago and happen to make it to the sweet 16. In order for the NCAA tourn to do a team any good they have to win at least 1 and if a mid major they must make it to the sweet 16 for that tourn to be of any benefit in recruiting.
sure everyone wants to be in the NCAA but any post season tourn and a 20 plus win season is successful-not as successful as we would have liked but not alwasy does everything come together like one wants and this was one of those years.

Very well said! I don't know what it is with some people sometimes. Some don't want anything to do with the CBI because it's not as good as the NCAA tournament. And some say our season is a failure because while we had a winning record and nice run in a "third-rate" tournament, it's not good enough.

I say let's just enjoy the ride and use this to build onto an even better season next year! I believe we hold a significant advantage over the rest of the Valley next season due to all of the extra playing time we are receiving. And if we win a championship in the process, even better!

[Bravesfan]

All these goals are very attainable.imo On point 2, I dont mind us getting JUCO's, but to go with your point, we should not be "JUCO heavy" with our roster for any 1 class.

I think one or two JUCO's tops. The biggest factor for our struggles beyond injuries has been too many new faces and personalities. It takes time for all of these new players to mesh, and by that time it was too late for an NCAA run this year. But all of the adversity we went through this year makes us much stronger next year, even without Ruffin, Crouch and Salley. We just need some players to step up into leadership roles next year, and need to develop more of those 4 year players like SM and AW.

[ph]

Look at Illinois after their championship run in 2005. They were not able to act on their "window" because they really had one.

It almost seems that Illinois window opened up 4+ years down the road. By the time a 4-5 star recruit reaches High School, they already set their "dream school(s)", and most 4-5 star recruits get eventually offered by one of their dream schools/conferences, thus the Illini started missing every top recruit they went after. They now appear to be doing a better job of getting kids that were pre-high school before the Illini's run..

[squirrel]

Tradition is your last bad performance.

[dogsrus]

Haven't read all the posts so sorry if this was discussed. I was talking with a BU fan the other nite and we talked about POB leaving. While neither of us blamed him we both agreed that BU most likey would have been to 3 straight NCAA's in our opinion with Pat not to mention top of the MVC finishes in his final two years.


I know this has been discussed alot and its water under the bridge but JL really was building something special. Lets hope AT can develop like POB did and yet stay at BU all 4 years.

NOT trying to put pressure on him (like some poster has that ability anyway) just thinking out loud.


I mention AT becuase I think he's the ONLY recruit that the sweet 16 got us that we couldn't get or wouldn't have got without that run/exposure. Now the moment I say that I stop and think..."we got POB without the sweet 16 run"...so..........hmmmmmmmmmm

[ph]

Haven't read all the posts so sorry if this was discussed. I was talking with a BU fan the other nite and we talked about POB leaving. While neither of us blamed him we both agreed that BU most likey would have been to 3 straight NCAA's in our opinion with Pat not to mention top of the MVC finishes in his final two years.


I know this has been discussed alot and its water under the bridge but JL really was building something special. Lets hope AT can develop like POB did and yet stay at BU all 4 years.

NOT trying to put pressure on him (like some poster has that ability anyway) just thinking out loud.


I mention AT becuase I think he's the ONLY recruit that the sweet 16 got us that we couldn't get or wouldn't have got without that run/exposure. Now the moment I say that I stop and think..."we got POB without the sweet 16 run"...so..........hmmmmmmmmmm

I was thinking that, too. The S16 run left us with no POB.

While possibly not better, I believe that AT was more highly rated than POB?

[tornado]

Tradition is your last bad performance.

what does that mean, I can't figure it out..

are you saying that since Ruffin and Crouch had a bad performance in their final game, that it defines their tradition?

Both have been fine players and crowd favorites at BU and will be sorely missed.
You recall how many people predicted Crouch wasn't D-I material -- he proved them wrong.
And there were plenty of people who disputed that Ruffin was a D1 player...and he has turned out to also be a fine PG.
And as for bad predictions, I think we all have made a few.