Four More Years!

[tornado]

Four teams left.

Wichita, UNI, SIU, Bradley.
Wichita, the team that won the Valley
UNI, the preseason pick to win and top pick by the BracketBuster guys
SIU the winningest program over the past 5 years
Bradley, picked 6th and predicted maybe NIT at best.

Turgeon, McDermott, Lowery, Jim Les all doing a fine job.

Just like Altman and Turgeon, Jim Les has turned his teams progress in the right direction and just like Altman and Turgeon, by his 4th year he has got them in position to make some noise in the NCAA.

So why the hesitation? Jim Les deserves a contract extension.
No matter what happens now, I think he has silenced his doubters and brought back the excitement.

Time and time again, people from the other teams (Indiana State, Wichita, UNI, Creighton, etc.) came up to me and said things like, "you guys really have a good team" or "wow, Bradley is tough".

I loved Bradley basketball back in the 1990's, but I never heard those kind of words.

[BU Bill]

I agree with an extension.

The best way Bradley has of maintaining what we have going is to lock the coach up for a while.

[Big Mike]

I would have no problem with JL getting anxtension and I wonder if maybe it hasn't already happend and their just waiting for the proper time to let the public know? It's has to be hard to recruit with hand cuffs on when other coach's tell the same recruits " don't go to Bradley their coach may not be back next year" and trying to over-come that question! This would really boast the recruiting effort along with the fine season that shaping up to be a BANNER YEAR!

[bu fan 9]

I agree with you Tornado Jim has did a great job and it is fun to watch Bradley basketball again.

[tornado]

The subject of Jim Les' contract comes up in one of Dave Reynolds' reports this morning.
I get the idea from the article, that some conversation led to a talk between the reporter and Ken Kavanagh, and Mr. Reynolds caught wind that Jim might just already have signed a contract for extension, and the bigger issue then was to point out the secrecy stuff (just like they painted the selection committee).
(Title is "BU contract 'nobody's business'")

Can you blame Jim or Ken if they don't go public with their contract talks?
After all, they have not been treated fairly in the past!
I am prepared to believe the rumor from about 3-4 weeks ago that Jim may have already signed a contract extension.
The University would neither confirm nor deny, but I believe that's within their rights.
I suspect Jim will discuss it when he is ready.


Per Ken Kavanagh:

"I hope Jim's coaching his alma mater until his retirement and my retirement," Kavanagh said. "I hope we can continue to do things that make him feel like Bradley is where he wants to be. We are moving in the right direction."

Amen, and perhaps some day both men will enjoy the respect and admiration they deserve!!