Marlin happy to be playing Bulldogs again
When the UL basketball team plays Louisiana Tech tonight, it will do so for the first time since November of 2008.
Ragin’ Cajuns coach Bob Marlin said he’s tried to schedule the Bulldogs each season he’s been at UL since 2010, but this is the first year the Cajuns could get a deal done.
“We’ve called them every year,” he said, “and they finally agreed to play.”
Quote:
<!--
When the UL basketball team plays Louisiana Tech tonight, it will do so for the first time since November of 2008.
Ragin’ Cajuns coach Bob Marlin said he’s tried to schedule the Bulldogs each season he’s been at UL since 2010, but this is the first year the Cajuns could get a deal done.
“We’ve called them every year,” he said, “and they finally agreed to play.”
Marlin suggested he wasn’t sure why the Conference USA-member Bulldogs would not agree earlier. But he ventured a guess anyway.
“Last year they had a really good season. Saw we were having a difficult season. So they said, ‘Yes,’ ” he said. “That’s the only way I can figure it out. But it’s a game that should be played.”
Marlin said the two schools signed a two-year scheduling agreement, and after UL plays tonight in Ruston, Louisiana Tech will visit the Cajundome next season.
The Cajun coach is a proponent of games like tonight’s and UL’s last outing, which was at home against Northwestern State – games against, that is, NCAA Division I opponents located within Louisiana and within reasonable driving distance.
The Cajuns also earlier this season played McNeese State, which like Northwestern State is a member of the Southland Conference.
“These are names our fans can recognize,” he said.
TOUGHER TEST
Marlin anticipates a tougher test tonight than when the 5-2 Cajuns, now on a three-game win streak, beat Northwestern State 105-74 last Wednesday night.
Louisiana Tech (6-1) has won six straight.
“They press, try to steal the ball. They play very fast,” he said. “It will be somewhat similar to Northwestern State – except they’re bigger, stronger, deeper, more athletic.”
Missed defensive assignments left Marlin less than pleased even after beating the Demons by 31.
“We’ve got a long way to go if we want to be a championship-caliber team,” he said, “and just because the margin of victory was good (it) does not mean we played very good.”
Louisiana Tech, meanwhile, has won its last 19 home games and has 32 consecutive non-conference home victories.
“It will be a difficult task for us to go up there and play and pull out a victory,” Marlin said.
LONG BREAK
Even with his team riding the three-game win streak, Marlin doesn’t mind the fact the Cajuns’ last game was seven nights ago.
“The rest is important to us,” said Marlin, who gave players three full Thanksgiving-time days off from practice. “I like the way it falls.”
Marlin suggested non-conference games this season have been spaced out like they have in part because the Cajuns took a preseason trip to Spain, part of especially busy offseason in which starting point guard Elfrid Payton also played in China and for USA Basketball at the FIBA U19 World Championships in the Czech Republic.
“So I like the breaks, mentally and physically. … I think the break was well-deserved,” Marlin said.
ULM DISPARITY
Marlin pointed out that while UL is preparing to play its eighth game of the season, fellow Sun Belt Conference-member UL Monroe has played only three.
The 2-1 Warhawks won’t play their fourth game until Monday night, and they’ll have only eight before opening Sun Belt play Jan. 4 at home vs. UL. By then, the Cajuns will have played 13 non-conference games.
MBAMALU UPDATE
The Cajuns still hope to have senior Bryant Mbamalu, their would-be starting shooting guard, back before the start of Sun Belt play in early January.
He’s been out all season with a Jones foot fracture sustained in the offseason.
Marlin said Mbamalu continues to shoot, will see a doctor again next week and “may be able to do some activity next week with us.”
“So,” the Cajun coach said, “headed in the right direction.”
-->
Re: Marlin happy to be playing Bulldogs again
Too bad the reporter didn't delve more into why it's been so difficult to schedule. But then I guess that's what "separates" journalists from hacks. :rolleyes:
Re: Marlin happy to be playing Bulldogs again
Re: Marlin happy to be playing Bulldogs again
Were they boycotting UL for Robert Lee then Marlin hiring their assistants?
Re: Marlin happy to be playing Bulldogs again
just beat the crap out of them. losersTech
Re: Marlin happy to be playing Bulldogs again
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BlueDawg
Please tell us why?
Dooley and the tech admin's "separation" strategy was responsible.
Re: Marlin happy to be playing Bulldogs again
What was/is Tech trying to separate from exactly? Aren't y'all the ones that want to "separate" from ULM & the SBC?
Re: Marlin happy to be playing Bulldogs again
Hey it is LTU & it's fans that first used the term separation. pretty sure it was meant to leave behind, creating separation, and not in distance but in quality.
Re: Marlin happy to be playing Bulldogs again
Ok , well I guess I'm too young for that. Are we talking about when Tech joined D1 in '88? That's a long time ago
Re: Marlin happy to be playing Bulldogs again
No when they opted out of the SBC and joined the WAC, I believe 2000.
No hard feelings man. IMO UL and La Tech are the only real rivals in this state. We have played each other more than any other school until they departed for the WAC. Things may have changed since then.
