Making History at Bradley

by **BradleyBrave** » January 23rd, 2011, 7:44 pm

It's a special time in Peoria on Bradley's campus. There's a buzz around the program right now. It's what was envisioned when Jim Les was introduced in April of 2002.

Bradley’s 0-9 start in the Missouri Valley Conference broke the 0-8 IIAC launch to the 1934-35 season. It also equaled the third-longest overall losing streak in school history.

What record will we break next?

**Sponsor**

by **valleychamp** » January 23rd, 2011, 8:18 pm

The unfortunate thing (for Les haters) is that the injuries that Bradley has had this year will probably get him another year.

Or maybe cutting him loose was not under consideration anyway. What's the inside scoop Bradley fans?

by **BradleyBrave** » January 23rd, 2011, 8:26 pm

valleychamp wrote:The unfortunate thing (for Les haters) is that the injuries that Bradley has had this year will probably get him another year.

Or maybe cutting him loose was not under consideration anyway. What's the inside scoop Bradley fans?

Depends on who you talk to. From what I have been told the only thing that would keep him around next year is economics. The relationship between him and the current president is not a good one.

by **8ball** » January 23rd, 2011, 8:56 pm

I'm interested to know who you hear that from...

by **BradleyBrave** » January 23rd, 2011, 9:37 pm

8ball wrote:I'm interested to know who you hear that from...

People who donate a lot more money than me.

by **45otseoj** » January 23rd, 2011, 10:29 pm

8ball wrote:I'm interested to know who you hear that from...

I've heard the same from very internal people.

by **squirrel** » January 24th, 2011, 8:50 am

valleychamp wrote:The unfortunate thing (for Les haters) is that the injuries that Bradley has had this year will probably get him another year.

Why? All the injuries have done is expose inadequate recruiting, depth and player development. In Year 9, that should not be an issue.

Especially when it is no guarantee either or both TB and SM will be back next year.

by **BradleyBrave** » January 24th, 2011, 9:20 am

squirrel wrote:
valleychamp wrote:The unfortunate thing (for Les haters) is that the injuries that Bradley has had this year will probably get him another year.

Why? All the injuries have done is expose inadequate recruiting, depth and player development. In Year 9, that should not be an issue.

Especially when it is no guarantee either or both TB and SM will be back next year.

I'm not even a Les 'hater'. He wasn't my first or second choice as coach, but I was willing to go with it. I thought it could work if you put a competent staff around him and he was able to recruit. I was on the fence after years 2 and 3, but was fully on board up until about year 6. I thought he did a decent coaching job in year 7, but we've regressed big time since then when players were supposed to be getting older and better (yet some still say we're young and inexperienced :roll:

). All this year's disaster does is put a magnifying glass on the failures both on the court and off since the NIT season of '06-'07. If you look at the entire body of work, it's been nothing but downhill since that year.

Considering all that's transpired over the past year, I will be shocked if TB returns even if Les is somehow retained. I wonder what those people throwing out 'player defection' as a scare tactic would think about that.

What I hope is strongly being considered on the Hilltop is the cost of a buyout versus the cost of lost revenues from canceled season tickets/maintenance fees and dwindling attendance if he's retained.

by **tribecalledquest** » January 24th, 2011, 10:07 am

I dont know why everytime someone suggest a coaching change they are then a "hater" of that coach.

Im like BBrave. I don't hate Jim Les. He is a very nice guy. He has done a lot of good things in his life and family and for Bradley University. I just don't think he should be the coach of the men's basketball team anymore.

It has nothing to do with hate.

by **squirrel** » January 24th, 2011, 11:30 am

BradleyBrave wrote:
Considering all that's transpired over the past year, I will be shocked if TB returns even if Les is somehow retained. I wonder what those people throwing out 'player defection' as a scare tactic would think about that.

What I hope is strongly being considered on the Hilltop is the cost of a buyout versus the cost of lost revenues from canceled season tickets/maintenance fees and dwindling attendance if he's retained.

Exactly. I asked the following hypothetical on the "specific JL thread" on BFF.com before it was cheesed:

What is the larger potential PR disaster: Going 0-18 in MVC play, or retaining the guy who got you there?