Crowd estimate for Basketball Senior Night.

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Originally Posted by Just1More

I think baseball has also maintained an allegiance due to the character of Tony. That's not to say that Coach Marlin isn't a man of high character... but Tony is a big part of the support fabric of UL baseball. Tony has gotten his team ranked #1 in the country, while being a pillar of the community.

I have to say, I'm impressed at this very reasonable discussion. I credit much of the civility to Cajunmike's posting style. It seems to garner reasonable (non hostile) conversation.

I have a very hard time criticizing fans. I like evaluating what drives fan support and fan behavior. I do not ever agree with "fan shaming". I'm almost violent about it... if there's one thing that destroys fan support besides your athletic programs sucking... is some knot head with a microphone/website/newspaper attempting to shame fans. If you want more fans, attract them. Period.

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Attracting fans is easier said than done. This is not the circus. This is a sport. I grew up watching with my dad because I was a basketball kid. I loved the game and often went with him after practice. I'm not certain what the approach should be but trying to force people to being basketball fans seems inorganic and not the right way to build a fanbase.

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Originally Posted by zephyr

LOL. You are right about Marlin but we may not get him for another couple of years if this one continues on its path. If this team were to make the tournament and win a game or two, his name would be a hot name on the open market. See Chris Beard from a couple years ago.

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Chris Beard born 1973
Bob Marlin born 1959

There’s no comparison between Beard and Marlin than an aging head coach and a young guy on the rise just a couple years ago.

Bob’s going to need a couple NCAA wins to be on a high paying job hot list.

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Originally Posted by zephyr

Attracting fans is easier said than done. This is not the circus. This is a sport. I grew up watching with my dad because I was a basketball kid. I loved the game and often went with him after practice. I'm not certain what the approach should be but trying to force people to being basketball fans seems inorganic and not the right way to build a fanbase.

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I agree. I'm always watchful of our own fans thinking there's some way of forcing fandom. It does not work. And I agree, it's not easy to attract fans to something not already the rave. If our MBB program is being isolated in a study to evaluate how to increase that fandom... I'm all for it. I think Cajunmike is a little puzzled as to why a team with a gaudy record and good character isn't creating a sold out Cajundome. When the best answers come in... all I'm saying is... you must address those issues... or you will keep getting exactly what you're getting.

Sometimes... when it comes to analyzing fans... I see it like a teenage girl asking her mom "why don't the boys ask me out?". I can tell the mom and the girl the blunt truth. But I'd probably get in trouble. But I can guarantee the girl one thing... you can analyze yourself and the boys until the cows come home... but they'll ask you out when they damn well want to. How to make that "want" does not involve cutting them down.

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Originally Posted by Cajunsmike

Does anyone know if an automatic extension comes with either the regular season title or the tournament title? I seem to recall that happened after the division championship in his first year. As someone said a few days ago, they would be surprised if Coach Marlin's agent does not negotiate for a raise once the season ends. Of course post season performance will dictate those details. Also, I believe the 2004 wins were vacated due to an eligibility issue. The 2000 team was the No. 1 seed but I believed they shared the conference title. Same thing in 1992. Therefore a recognized outright regular season title was last accomplished here in 1982. Hope it is not that long before the next one comes our way.

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Maybe he’s getting rewarded for everything in his current contract.

Bob wouldn’t expect to be fired or his contract renegotiated down if he had a couple bad seasons. This is his only outstanding season ever and he’s getting long in the tooth. I’d hope we’re not going to give him a longer more lucrative contract based on that. By the way I’d bet we’re still a long shot in Vega vs the field to get to the dance.

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Originally Posted by zephyr

You had a team with Long and Payton. They are NBA players, at least Long was and may be one in the future. I think you got my point. In this league, you would hope and expect to have that type of top end talent to either win the league or at least win the conference tournament.

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A sophomore and a junior.

A little revisionist projecting since Payton wasn't drafted for his scoring.

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Originally Posted by CajunEXPRESS

Maybe he’s getting rewarded for everything in his current contract.

Bob wouldn’t expect to be fired or his contract renegotiated down if he had a couple bad seasons. This is his only outstanding season ever and he’s getting long in the tooth. I’d hope we’re not going to give him a longer more lucrative contract based on that. By the way I’d bet we’re still a long shot in Vega vs the field to get to the dance.

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That is what I meant about an extension. His current contract may have a provision for it to occur automatically with a championship.

I tend to agree with Cajunsmike's theory on baseball attendance skyrocketing when the program maintained elite level status for multiple years. A solid core of fans was already in place then was expanded upon. Coach Robe seems to be playing younger players this year, next year will be better.
Cajun basketball simularly has a solid core of attending fans, moreso than most Deep South mid major programs. Applying Cajunmike's theory on baseball attendance to basketball attendance we should expect an upswing in the coming years based upon winning, and hopefully notch NCAA tourney win(s). Our fan base then enters each season expecting to win big especially if recruiting is stellar. I can't think of any reason, (well maybe the SBC) why our MBB program can't achieve and maintain Top 25 rankings much like Mid Tenn is doing. Lastly, the Cajundome renovations took the place from good to great. Other than outrageous concession prices fleecing the fans, the Cajundome is now a great place to take in a game. I believe a lot of programs would trade places with us in a heartbeat. Geaux Cajuns!

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Originally Posted by zephyr

You are comparing Marlin to guys who had a much smaller field for the tournament so there were less spots to take up for the same number of teams. You also had coaches who won some big games on the road and got some big teams at home. I would say that Marlin has underperformed but I don't want to take away from the season he has had this year. I'm all in and he has my support.

The rest of your argument has merit. You also have to understand that many people's perceptions of Marlin were based on years prior to this one. Multiple NBA players, higher expectations only to never really challenge even for the league top 2 or 3, tons of turnover all while being the highest paid coach in the conference. There were many reasons to be skeptical.

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I think we'll agree it's really hard to win on the road. And, that perception/reality thing is tough to overcome.

I mentioned the 82-83 independent team that got an at large. Great accomplishment.

But winning on the road?

Now, I'm not talking neutral site games. Bobby had some great wins. GREAT wins.

But on the road? Starting with his first NIT bid in Toney's senior year, their best road wins were:

1979-80 Oregon...but they were 6-17
1980-81 Northeast La.
1981-82 Louisiana Tech (opening of the TAC)
1982-83 Southern Miss
1983-84 Ole Miss ( who lost 20 games)
1984-85 Tennessee Tech
1985-86 UNO

That's why I question those who say we should pump up our schedule by playing more road games. As good as Bobby's teams were, they weren't a very good road team. But I give them credit for going to neutral sites and winning.

Both Marty and Jessie had a better road win. Marty at OU and Jessie at Miss. St. Both were ranked in the top 15 at the time.

Which is what I would like to see happen in the future. Hopefully, the Caymans is just the beginning.

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Originally Posted by CajunEXPRESS

Chris Beard born 1973
Bob Marlin born 1959

There’s no comparison between Beard and Marlin than an aging head coach and a young guy on the rise just a couple years ago.

Bob’s going to need a couple NCAA wins to be on a high paying job hot list.

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LOL. I compare the types of years they had and you go with age? Really? Two years ago, UALR dominate the league, win the conference tournament and get possibly the same seed we will get this year if we win out. They go and reach the Sweet 16. Beard is poached and goes to TTU. If we were to follow that path, there may be many more similarities between the two and you'll have to find something better than age.

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Originally Posted by Just1More

I agree. I'm always watchful of our own fans thinking there's some way of forcing fandom. It does not work. And I agree, it's not easy to attract fans to something not already the rave. If our MBB program is being isolated in a study to evaluate how to increase that fandom... I'm all for it. I think Cajunmike is a little puzzled as to why a team with a gaudy record and good character isn't creating a sold out Cajundome. When the best answers come in... all I'm saying is... you must address those issues... or you will keep getting exactly what you're getting.

Sometimes... when it comes to analyzing fans... I see it like a teenage girl asking her mom "why don't the boys ask me out?". I can tell the mom and the girl the blunt truth. But I'd probably get in trouble. But I can guarantee the girl one thing... you can analyze yourself and the boys until the cows come home... but they'll ask you out when they damn well want to. How to make that "want" does not involve cutting them down.

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I think we are all curious as to why the attendance is not better by average.

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Originally Posted by talktomewillis

I think we'll agree it's really hard to win on the road. And, that perception/reality thing is tough to overcome.

I mentioned the 82-83 independent team that got an at large. Great accomplishment.

But winning on the road?

Now, I'm not talking neutral site games. Bobby had some great wins. GREAT wins.

But on the road? Starting with his first NIT bid in Toney's senior year, their best road wins were:

1979-80 Oregon...but they were 6-17
1980-81 Northeast La.
1981-82 Louisiana Tech (opening of the TAC)
1982-83 Southern Miss
1983-84 Ole Miss ( who lost 20 games)
1984-85 Tennessee Tech
1985-86 UNO

That's why I question those who say we should pump up our schedule by playing more road games. As good as Bobby's teams were, they weren't a very good road team. But I give them credit for going to neutral sites and winning.

Both Marty and Jessie had a better road win. Marty at OU and Jessie at Miss. St. Both were ranked in the top 15 at the time.

Which is what I would like to see happen in the future. Hopefully, the Caymans is just the beginning.

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We beat Texas on the road in the 1980 NIT. That was a great win at the time. Best road win for Coach Marlin wAs at Tech in 2014. I think they won CUSA regular season that year. ThAt team may have gone further had Bryant Mbamalu and Kasey Shepherd both been healthy all year

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Originally Posted by Turbine

A sophomore and a junior.

A little revisionist projecting since Payton wasn't drafted for his scoring.

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Turbine, you don't get drafted in today's NBA to be a specialist. You are drafted because of what your short and long term projections suggest and Payton was drafted knowing he could become better on the offensive end of the court. I think you are derailing the entire point of our recent argument with this.