MBB Final: LA (93) vs UALR (87)

[lcitsh]

if we get above 20 wins and don't win tourney. Any chance of at large bid to March madness?

Not even an NIT sniff. Even if they manage to get to 20 wins, they may get an invite to the CBI or CIT, they will view "Our Mission is March" is a success and the players will not learn what March is about.

[Turbine]

I'll take a win any day of the week and twice on Sunday but how does it take two overtimes to finally put away a team that ended up with 4 players on the court because everyone else had fouled out?

I should know better but I fell asleep at halftime with the game seemingly in hand.

At what point did UALR hit the 4 player mark?

[CajunEXPRESS]

if we get above 20 wins and don't win tourney. Any chance of at large bid to March madness?

There are a few teams, not many who can get into the dance with twenty wins. We are not close to being one of those. Teams with 20 wins getting into the tourney need multiple wins against very strong opponents, and few if any loses to teams like say South Alabama.

SBC teams getting an at large better have no more than three good loses, and probably runner up in the tourney.

[CajunFan3406]

I should know better but I fell asleep at halftime with the game seemingly in hand.

At what point did UALR hit the 4 player mark?

They had Neighbor and another guy out from the beginning with an injury. Then they had that other guy injure his knee during regulation, so their bench was getting thin going into OT. I think they had around 5 players foul out before they were down to 4 active players with about 10 seconds to go in 2OT.

[Cajunfever]

I understand everyone's frustration with blowing a big lead and having to win the game in overtime. There are lots of complaints about Marlin blowing that lead. Do you give credit to Marlin for getting the lead? In my opinion, this team is learning how to win. The last 3 games are examples of a team fighting thru adversity and winning. What I saw was a team that was not pointing fingers at anyone else, I feel this team is very close. Look at the last 2 years, you will see numerous games this team lost by less than 5 points.

This team has 16 wins with 6 games to go. We have a chance to finish in 2nd place. We have a great recruiting class signed for next year. This team has great student athletes(highest gpa ever). These kids all represent our university well. All the negativity about free throws is overblown. This team is shooting 68% from the line, this compares very well with the team stats over the last 20 years. I am 100% behind coach Marlin and this team.

[duggie85]

I understand everyone's frustration with blowing a big lead and having to win the game in overtime. There are lots of complaints about Marlin blowing that lead. Do you give credit to Marlin for getting the lead? In my opinion, this team is learning how to win. The last 3 games are examples of a team fighting thru adversity and winning. What I saw was a team that was not pointing fingers at anyone else, I feel this team is very close. Look at the last 2 years, you will see numerous games this team lost by less than 5 points.

This team has 16 wins with 6 games to go. We have a chance to finish in 2nd place. We have a great recruiting class signed for next year. This team has great student athletes(highest gpa ever). These kids all represent our university well. All the negativity about free throws is overblown. This team is shooting 68% from the line, this compares very well with the team stats over the last 20 years. I am 100% behind coach Marlin and this team.

I agree.

IMO, when you're to the point of complaining about HOW a team is winning, they are doing something right.

[tetragrammaton]

I agree.

IMO, when you're to the point of complaining about HOW a team is winning, they are doing something right.

Absolutely. Cold pizza or hot pizza is still pizza. An ugly win or a pretty win is still a win. These kids don't give up. And it pays off.

[ZoomZoom]

Not even an NIT sniff. Even if they manage to get to 20 wins, they may get an invite to the CBI or CIT, they will view "Our Mission is March" is a success and the players will not learn what March is about.

CBI or CIT. Hope our leaders have a little pride and respectfully say no thanks. Not worth going to, makes "OMIM" look like a joke and gives no advantage recruiting wise.

[Cajunsmike]

Reason UALR was able to come back in the 2nd half was because they were able to control the tempo by slowing the game down. There was a much faster flow in the first half when we pushed the lead to double figures. 2nd half was essentially a half court game and we spent too much time trying to force the ball to Long. Not playing in the first half had him out of rhythm which impacted him almost the whole game. Even when we got stops against UALR in the
2nd half we usually could not run out of it as often the change in possession came after balls being knocked out of bounds or missed free throws. On one of the few times we were able to get a defensive rebound and attack it resulted in Rimmer hitting an open three. Personally, I think the foul on Elfrid late in the first OT should not have been called as it was a free ball situation and both guys were going after it. Still, good to see Mbamalu have some key plays in the 2nd OT as it has been a tough year for someone who is a classy young man. As far as free throws go, we shot over our season % and actually shot a higher % than UALR. Granted, slightly less than 70% is not the standard we need to be at to have consistent success. What I can't understand is why Elfrid shoots such a high FT % on the road vs at home. I think he was about 90% in the two Texas games while he was 50% last night. Any psychologists out there who can explain that? Of course there is no such thing as an ugly win but I readily admit the 2nd half and first OT was definitely frustrating. Now on to Arkansas State which is a better team than UALR. We will need to play much better than last night to be successful on Saturday. It does seem the Red Wolves play at a faster pace than UALR which may give us a chance.

[MelRock]

One of the guys coming in next year.

Jerit Roser ‏@JeritRoser 9h
Johnathan Stove is a grown man! He went for almost 40! HUGE night for @GoCrusadersBB & #ULL signee http://bit.ly/1gC9BE3 @_BoutItBoutIt_