What's wrong with the basketball program?

[CajunRed]

If we make or don't make free throws. If we make or don't make jump shots. If the air conditioners are on or off.

Guys...no matter how close we think we came...or what we think the cause might have been...if we lose, we lose!

[cajunfan79]

meh, I think you're reaching a little there. It may slightly affect attendance at the very beginning of the season but really it has little to do with our down numbers.

Really ask LSU, nobody in BR cares about basketball!

[cajunfan79]

I'm not saying its the sole reason I mean not having winning records helps, but I believe it is a major contributor.

[AstroCajun]

The problem with the basketball program is the problem with basketball.

Basketball isn't nearly as interesting a sport to watch on the college level as it used to be and it's impossibly boring to watch on the pro level.

Other than the Miami LeBrons, I really can't tell you whose in the playoffs or who is going to win any of the series. Thanks, ESPN.

Talent levels have dropped as have the fundamentals.

And I don't see that changing for the better anytime soon.

[CajunT]

The problem with the basketball program is the problem with basketball.

Basketball isn't nearly as interesting a sport to watch on the college level as it used to be and it's impossibly boring to watch on the pro level.

Other than the Miami LeBrons, I really can't tell you whose in the playoffs or who is going to win any of the series. Thanks, ESPN.

Talent levels have dropped as have the fundamentals.

And I don't see that changing for the better anytime soon.

It’s been almost eight years since UL has won in basketball and after 3 years under Coach Marlin low expectations have set in again. Ultimately wins and losses decided whether people will buy tickets and show up. In my opinion, there is still enough hardcore basketball fans along with students to average over 4,500 per game in attendance should the program begin to win. Those fans have already shown what can happen his first season during the win streak and waiting for it to happen again. But complacency and low expectations have set in and until starts to win again, all the promotions in the world are not going to drive attendance up.

I know a number of people will point to the winning record at home and the close games, folks the season isn’t just played at home. A football team that wins only at home is still a .500 team at best and until Coach Marlin gets his program over the hump and puts together a winning season the seats will remain empty. It is about winning and losing.

[ulforlife]

I know I'm in the minority, but I think Marlin is doing a pretty good job. Over the last 2 years, if our guys could have made free throws in last 5 minutes of games, Marlin would easily have 15-20 more W's. In 2011 alone, I think we lost roughly 10 games by less than 5 points??? Why?? Couldn't make free throws....

I agree we have been a poor free-throw shooting team, but c'mon, every basketball game at every level that is lost by 5 points or less can be attributed to missed free-throws. Or maybe we could have made two more buckets, or maybe we could have turned it over 2-3 less times and gotten a few more possessions, or maybe we could have gotten a few more offensive rebounds, or maybe just two blocked shots, the list goes on...

Bottom line is they aren't getting it done.

[CrazyCajun]

Lee was our Baldwin...marlin is our bustle....we need to go find our HUD of the basketball program.

[RedBug58]

Do we need a big name coach? I honestly don't think one would succeed here at present. He'd win, but with modest success and unless his postseasons were better than one and done crowds would settle at 4-6K announced. So don't hire Coach K if he's over the hill and needs 10 more W's to set another major milestone, you might wind up broke and disappointed.

Are Cajun fans fair weather fans? The Bo Lamar crowd and support base was exterminated during the disasterous transition from Blackham to the Cajundome and the hatred for Fletcher (even though he was successful). This crowd absorbed pain more often than Rasputin was poisoned, so give the Cajun fan high marks for loyalty.

Does a fan have to possess a "true love" for the game to want to attend? I am not a "true" or "knowledgeable" basketball fan but under Shipley and Paschal I really enjoyed myself at the games. Probably the fun was as much watching people around me having a great time as it was the shots, steals, dunks, and wins. It was an intimate gathering of a lot of friends. I sensed that Evans' teams underachieved because of their postseason play, and he kept trying to get other coaching jobs. Lee gave it his best shot and that's all you can ask of a man. I've even tried getting season tickets a few years since my self-described golden years, determining to "learn" to like the game better, but just had to push myself out the door and wasn't successful very often. The last year I had them I didn't attend any games. Now I'm reading that the diehards who love the game and are knowledgeable are having the same motivation problems I had and are dropping THEIR tickets. It must gall them much more than it does me when a player not named Wilt Chamberlain or Shaquille O'Neal can't make a decent percentage of free throws.

What's wrong with the basketball program and how to we turn it around? Honestly, I think the program has been dead for so long that nobody knows what to do. You can't say efforts haven't been made to improve the salaries. Marlin was a successful basketball coach for many years before coming here, so I know he knows how to win. But since coming here, for whatever reason, he's been snake bit. The assistants change, players leave, and knowledgeable fans say the talent isn't anything like it once was. I'm not privy to the details, just know what they add up to in the W-L-E (the latter standing for "entertainment") column. Fans who are students of the game say they want a more exciting style of play.

Can UL regain its former glory in basketball and then some? Yes! They have before in a big way and will again. I will know things have turned around when the marginal fan is able to enjoy the games again. If I knew what to do I'd know a lot more about basketball, wouldn't I?

It looks like we had a small nucleus of good young players last year, and we were needing to have a super recruiting class this year to start getting us over the hump. I really haven't heard too much to get excited about in the recruiting area recently. How many new guys are committed for next year, how do they rate, and how many are we still looking for?

[duggie85]

I agree we have been a poor free-throw shooting team, but c'mon, every basketball game at every level that is lost by 5 points or less can be attributed to missed free-throws. Or maybe we could have made two more buckets, or maybe we could have turned it over 2-3 less times and gotten a few more possessions, or maybe we could have gotten a few more offensive rebounds, or maybe just two blocked shots, the list goes on...

Bottom line is they aren't getting it done.

Can't argue with that... I guess I just look at all the off the court crap surrounding the team the last 2 years, having to sign basically anyone willing to come here this last year and Marlin still has the team in winning position in most games. That's encouraging to me. But I love going to basketball games and trying to look at the bright side.

[ulforlife]

Can't argue with that... I guess I just look at all the off the court crap surrounding the team the last 2 years, having to sign basically anyone willing to come here this last year and Marlin still has the team in winning position in most games. That's encouraging to me. But I love going to basketball games and trying to look at the bright side.

I'm with you, I hope Marlin can turn it around. And I think I understand that you meant playing late either with a lead or a tie game, you've got to be able to hit those free throws to seal the deal. Which is certainly true

[bbbilly]

I was a die hard basketball fan. I had season tickets for 28 years. Sat in the student section for four years before that. Went to games with my dad before that. I loved UL basketball. I liked Robert Lee, but I could not take the losing any more. I gave up center court 8 rows up tickets before I had a heart attack because I would get so mad at how poor the play was. I have not really miss it as much as I thought I would. I have replaced it with season tickets to softball. I know this is about basketball, but if the basketball players played as hard as the girls do I think they would have more success. I do wish the team was better and if they ever do win, I would go to a few of the games. I did go when they were on the winning streak, but knew from what I saw that they would not last. Marlin may not be the answer but not sure who UL could get that would be better. Sorry about the rant.

[Cajunsmike]

I was a die hard basketball fan. I had season tickets for 28 years. Sat in the student section for four years before that. Went to games with my dad before that. I loved UL basketball. I liked Robert Lee, but I could not take the losing any more. I gave up center court 8 rows up tickets before I had a heart attack because I would get so mad at how poor the play was. I have not really miss it as much as I thought I would. I have replaced it with season tickets to softball. I know this is about basketball, but if the basketball players played as hard as the girls do I think they would have more success. I do wish the team was better and if they ever do win, I would go to a few of the games. I did go when they were on the winning streak, but knew from what I saw that they would not last. Marlin may not be the answer but not sure who UL could get that would be better. Sorry about the rant.

Billy, last year's team was not as big or as experienced as they needed to be. However, you cannot question their effort. They played every bit as hard as the girls softball team does. In fact, they probably overachieved to win 13 games.