Making History at Bradley

[bigdawg]

I might be in the minority but I think the Braves get a couple of wins in the MVC. However, does going 2-16 really make you more attractive when it comes to job retention? Bradley is a basketball school and if they don't make a move that is a sad commentary on the level of expectations for BU.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

It will be a sad day for the Valley if Jim Les is shown the door. To me he symbolizes Bradley U. To look over at the side line and not see that platinum hair will sure take some getting used to. Maybe it truly is time to move on, but that Sweet Sixteen was just 5 years ago. I mean many of us fans of different Valley schools would do anything to get there and we would do whatever it would take to keep that man at our school. Man what a difference 5 years makes.

[TylerDurden]

It will be a sad day for the Valley if Jim Les is shown the door. To me he symbolizes Bradley U. To look over at the side line and not see that platinum hair will sure take some getting used to. Maybe it truly is time to move on, but that Sweet Sixteen was just 5 years ago. I mean many of us fans of different Valley schools would do anything to get there and we would do whatever it would take to keep that man at our school. Man what a difference 5 years makes.

Is this a serious post?

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

It will be a sad day for the Valley if Jim Les is shown the door. To me he symbolizes Bradley U. To look over at the side line and not see that platinum hair will sure take some getting used to. Maybe it truly is time to move on, but that Sweet Sixteen was just 5 years ago. I mean many of us fans of different Valley schools would do anything to get there and we would do whatever it would take to keep that man at our school. Man what a difference 5 years makes.

Is this a serious post?

Yeah. I get that time may have run out on him and that the wheels may have fallen off, but it is just amazing to think that not even 5 years ago Jim Les was king. I guess my post was just kind of lamenting the ever changing nature of sport. Bradley would certainly be justified in making a move.

[valleychamp]

Jim Les was never king. If not for 1 good weekend in march 5 years ago, he has been the definition of mediocrity.

[TylerDurden]

Yeah. I get that time may have run out on him and that the wheels may have fallen off, but it is just amazing to think that not even 5 years ago Jim Les was king. I guess my post was just kind of lamenting the ever changing nature of sport. Bradley would certainly be justified in making a move.

I'm not sure how long or how closely you've been following the MVC, but BU fans were asking for Les' head in Dec. and early Jan. of the 2005-06 season.

They had an outstanding six-week run in 2006 and a pretty good follow up season in 06-07. Outside of that it's been mediocre at best under Les and it's been going downhill pretty fast after Chuck Buescher (who some credit with the S16 run) left.

People know what they're getting with Les - a mid-pack MVC finish. They had an 11-7 MVC record in the Sweet 16 year.

[uniftw]

It doesn't help Les that he is a giant douche, and has probably the least amount of class of any of the MVC coaches, and it seems his players have about as much class on the court at times.

[tribecalledquest]

It doesn't help Les that he is a giant douche, and has probably the least amount of class of any of the MVC coaches, and it seems his players have about as much class on the court at times.

I understand he may not be a good coach but what makes him a "douche" and "classless". And what BU players are "classless"? Heck, there are too many nice guys on this years team.

[squirrel]

King is probably too strong a word. Certainly there were (and may still be) elements of the fan base that believe he should have a lifetime contract, primarily for 3 reasons: A) Sweet 16 earned him not only immortality as a player, but as coach, B) some want Bradley to be a closed community and view any outsiders as toxic, and C) some indicate that it would be impossible for Bradley to find a qualified candidate to come to Peoria.

That said, he did assemble a very good roster from 2005-07. Early on during that stretch he had some very good talent inside, but he didn't really know how to use it until Wichita embarrassed us on our home floor and forced him to rework things. In 2007, he had one of the best shooting teams in the country and turned in by far his best effort. However, there was no continuity after that...we were still taking high-risk recruits and seemingly had a revolving door for potential transfers/players that never did suit up, while not really looking in our own backyard for kids who could offer stability at least.

All that said, when the unpopular President Broski left, JL was at the height of his tenure and he was handed an insane extension that has tied Bradley's hands in what they could do to get out of it.

[squirrel]

I might be in the minority but I think the Braves get a couple of wins in the MVC. However, does going 2-16 really make you more attractive when it comes to job retention? Bradley is a basketball school and if they don't make a move that is a sad commentary on the level of expectations for BU.

I have looked at the last 20 or so years of Valley standings, and here are the 3-win or less Valley campaigns going as far back as 1989-90:

2010: UE (3-15)
2008: UE (3-15)
2003: InSU (2-16)
2001: UNI (3-15)
1998: DU (0-18)
1997: DU (0-18)
1995: InSU (3-15)
1994: CU, InSU (3-15)
1992: BU, DU (3-15)
1990: InSU (2-12)

So, even having such a bad conference season is generally rare. The possibility of seeing BU on there twice by season's end to me, at least, is troubling.

And BU should really never be that bad. No matter how much bad luck befalls the program.