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What do you need next season out of JL?

E

electricmayhem

New member
I know that some of you just want JL gone, but for those of us willing to give him one more year, what are your expectations?

http://www.examiner.com/x-7020-Brad...1-What-are-Bradley-fans-looking-for-next-year

Like I say in the article, we are returning a very good core group of players, and with a little development over the summer by DSE, JP, MK, and JE, this could be a fantastic team on paper. They still have to play the games...

For me, I'd like to see the team finish top-3 in the league and be in the NIT at a minimum, with serious bubble-speak for the dance. That would be a successful season.

Thoughts?
 
No offense, and I enjoy your articles, but hasn't this been discussed already ad nauseum in a myriad of other threads?
 
We have the talent to go to the NCAA tournament I think. But I'll be nice and say I'd be satisfied with just improvement rather than playing up to our level. NIT bid minimum and win one game, and to cancel out this season we need to not lose a single home game.
 
A whole new crew of assistants and a 1st or 2nd place finish...

IF we were to finish 3rd and get a NCAA bid I would let it slide one more year...


A middling finish coupled with an early exit in STL and some cr*ptastic postseason tournament bid and hey, there's the door....
 
(1) Hire experienced assistant coaches
(2) Finish 1 or 2 in the league (3rd acceptable if we get an NCAA bid)
(3) NIT bid at minimum

I would LOVE to see an MVC championship (conference or tourney, preferably both), but lets take it one step at a time here.

I'd also like to add that I don't think these expectations are too far fetched.
 
Not much!

Not much!

I don't think we need too much more out of JL but I do think we need a group of student athletes who are motivated enough to execute the basic game plan! When repeatedly reminded we seem to execute well but then somebody revs up the microwave and we p#ss our pants and forget who the h#ll we are for about 10 minutes!

So I'd say JL needs some help getting a better product on the court, and that's not a shot at any current students - cause generally JL kids are good kids! Maybe we need a hypnotist or motivation expert on staff! I also think the MVC is getting better top to bottom which requires successful teams to work for 40 mins to get a win - I don't think we're getting that kind of consistant focus!
 
Either a regular season championship or NCAA bid. 2nd place probably good enough for the latter. 3rd may even be stretching it. If it's no NCAA and 4th or below, he's gone, and it's not even close.
 
I know a lot of people say the solution here is to keep Les for one more year as long as we make sure to do a major overhaul of his coaching staff...
I don't see any way that this could possibly happen for next year...unless someone like Chuck B. or Dick V. decides to come out of retirement and help Les out...
Young, up-and-coming, talented assistant coaches from other schools simply would have zero interest in uprooting their families to come here and serve as an assistant under a guy that may basically have an ultimatum hanging over his head to produce significantly better results next year or hit the bricks. That is a horribly unattractive job offer, and no coach who is truly qualified and talented would consider leaving their current job for one as uncertain as this one would be.
So, if you decide to keep Les around for another year...I think you have to resign yourself to the fact that you will not see any real upgrades to this underqualified staff of assistants that we currently have...again, unless some local retiree comes to Jim's aid.
If you want a truly qualified, talented coaching staff from top-to-bottom next year, I don't see how it can happen unless you bring in a new coach and give him a fresh start and a few years to establish his program.
 
IF Jim Les is brought back......

I would want either a Conference Title or MVC Tourney title, 25 wins, and at least second round of the NCAA's.

It is a lot to ask, but IF he is getting another year, he would have to produce IMO.
 
ER3 said:
I know a lot of people say the solution here is to keep Les for one more year as long as we make sure to do a major overhaul of his coaching staff......Young, up-and-coming, talented assistant coaches from other schools simply would have zero interest in uprooting their families to come here and serve as an assistant under a guy that may basically have an ultimatum hanging over his head to produce significantly better results next year or hit the bricks. That is a horribly unattractive job offer, and no coach who is truly qualified and talented would consider leaving their current job for one as uncertain as this one would be.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I don't agree. A top assistant would be perfectly positioned to be a leading candidate for Les' job should he be fired.


BradleyJD said:
IF Jim Les is brought back......

I would want either a Conference Title or MVC Tourney title, 25 wins, and at least second round of the NCAA's.

It is a lot to ask, but IF he is getting another year, he would have to produce IMO.
Click to expand...

You're funny. :lol: Unreasonable, but funny. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
IF JL returns for one more year, my expectations would be the following:

1) Hire a competent assistants staff

2) Compile the nation's #1 recruiting class

3) Win the MVC regular season and tournament titles

4) #1 NCAA Tournament seed

5) Final Four and NCAA Championship
 
Braves4Life said:
Sorry, I don't agree. A top assistant would be perfectly positioned to be a leading candidate for Les' job should he be fired.
Click to expand...

Yes, and the only way you get said assistant in is by telling him that if Les falls on his face, he is out and you are in...


Problem I have with this is Les would see the writing on the wall (if he hasn't already) AND the word "sabotage" comes to mind...
 
Braves4Life said:
Sorry, I don't agree. A top assistant would be perfectly positioned to be a leading candidate for Les' job should he be fired.
Click to expand...

Jim Les is not a dumb guy, and wasn't born yesterday. There's absolutely zero chance he would bring someone on who might possibly replace him. And I wouldn't want him to. That's not productive. If we add a guy in the offseason, I want a qualified (key word) guy that JL can trust. It's the only way this thing has a chance to work.
 
BradleyBrave said:
Jim Les is not a dumb guy, and wasn't born yesterday. There's absolutely zero chance he would bring someone on who might possibly replace him. And I wouldn't want him to. That's not productive. If we add a guy in the offseason, I want a qualified (key word) guy that JL can trust. It's the only way this thing has a chance to work.
Click to expand...

The real question is, will Jim Les be picking the assistants, or will this be a Ron Zook type deal where the AD is picking and choosing for what he believes is the benefit of the program?

I agree that it may work better if Les can coexist with said assistants, BUT I question his ability to recruit talented coaches to the staff...just look at them now...
 
Expectations with the current guys coming back would be a bit better only because I expect to see UNI go down a peg and ISU also. Otherwise we still have that huge hole in the paint. There is not one guy right now on this team that can truly address this need. I could pray that AT gains 30-40 lbs of muscle and WE grows a few inches and also gains 20 lbs. If you do not mind perhaps a top 3 finish in the Valley but with no real chance to do much after, then all should be OK. My expectations right now for next year unless one of our 2-3 guys steps up over the summer to improve their game dramatically will be a 3-4 finish. Will that cut it? For me probably, but will I renew my BU.tv. No! If JL finds a real 5 then my expectations will be huge. JL to me is a great coach for BU and with the right assistant he could great overall. The problem has been not being able to recruit or find the necessary bigs. Something will have to change. In short JL needs to find or develop a big or hopefully have one of the current players step it up big time. 4-5 just will not cut it and a 3rd place finish will be probably just be enough if the recruiting steps up. The new facility will forever change any excuse of why we cannot recruit.

I have a business partner and he is not against hiring family but he is the first guy to say if they are not cutting it their gone. You need to be able to separate business from family.
 
SFP said:
Expectations with the current guys coming back would be a bit better only because I expect to see UNI go down a peg and ISU also. Otherwise we still have that huge hole in the paint. There is not one guy right now on this team that can truly address this need. I could pray that AT gains 30-40 lbs of muscle and WE grows a few inches and also gains 20 lbs. If you do not mind perhaps a top 3 finish in the Valley but with no real chance to do much after, then all should be OK. My expectations right now for next year unless one of our 2-3 guys steps up over the summer to improve their game dramatically will be a 3-4 finish. Will that cut it? For me probably, but will I renew my BU.tv. No! If JL finds a real 5 then my expectations will be huge. JL to me is a great coach for BU and with the right assistant he could great overall. The problem has been not being able to recruit or find the necessary bigs. Something will have to change. In short JL needs to find or develop a big or hopefully have one of the current players step it up big time. 4-5 just will not cut it and a 3rd place finish will be probably just be enough if the recruiting steps up. The new facility will forever change any excuse of why we cannot recruit.
Click to expand...


I can tell you flat out Will won't get better in this current offensive system, nor will AT.

Heck, Kenny Lawson and Dinma Odiakosa wouldn't be good in this system. It doesn't allow for much production from our bigs OR allow them to get enough touches to make a difference.


First and foremost going into next year, whoever Les brings on needs to work on implementing a new system that spreads the ball around and finds the strengths of the roster, most notably, Taylor, Will, and Andrew. Whatever they build can then be relayed to Sammy and Dyricus, and say here, this is what we want you to run. I have confidence that both of those guys can run whatever system is put in place...its the others that need to be built around as both the PG's are very good at improvising.
 
I want JL to be the coach next year. I would like to see...

1. A change in strategy...get away from this 3-4 guard line-up and go back to a more conventional line-up of a center and two forwards. Use the 2006 team as your blueprint. Recruit with this style in mind.

2. A qualified assistant that JL will actually listen to and consider their ideas or opinions. An assistant that can teach and develop our big men to become an inside threat. (Something that we haven't had much of this year.)

3. Recruit a strong rebounder this off season. 6'-7" or better and beefy. Someone not afraid to mix it up inside. Someone who likes contact.

3. Nine or fewer losses. NIT bid or better. Top 3 in the MVC. ESPN game in the bracketbuster. A Sunday appearance in St. Louis. RPI at 50 or under.

4. An attitude, swagger, confidence, toughness or whatever you want to call it that says "Carver Arena is our home and we do not lose here" This goes for the coaches, the team, AND THE FANS. It's a mindset that has to be shared by EVERYONE involved with BU basketball.

5. A non conference schedule that rivals this years. a couple good BCS teams mixed with top mid major programs. Would love to get teams such as Butler, Dayton or Xavier tied into a three game or more contract.


I realize that some of the things I have listed are not in JL's control but I believe they are all obtainable. This is the direction I think we need to be going in. Good luck to JL and the Braves!!
 
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