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

[TravlnCajun]

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.

You want us to "LaTech it" No way. Practice & play

[Cajunsmike]

Yo, you talkin' about...practice. Come on man, practice...

Yeah, y'all are right. Our conference and program has fallen to a point we need to play in a money pit of a tournament nobody watches just to feel good about ourselves. Like that was the goal this team set out for. It's bad enough the NIT stands for Not In Tourney, hell, anything else is not even runner up status. Nothing like risking injury in a crap game. To practice...

Practice...

You did not answer my question of how would you handle going to the players and tell them you don't think enough of them to give them the opportunity to continue playing. Don't you know those guys love to play games That would involve telling seniors who want to continue playing they don't deserve the chance to play more games. You don't think that playing more games would allow the younger players to continue their development. Do you even consider the perspective of players and coaches when you make such suggestions. If you respond to this post, I challenge you to address the players perspective question I have posed.

[fanof71]

Yo, you talkin' about...practice. Come on man, practice...

Yeah, y'all are right. Our conference and program has fallen to a point we need to play in a money pit of a tournament nobody watches just to feel good about ourselves. Like that was the goal this team set out for. It's bad enough the NIT stands for Not In Tourney, hell, anything else is not even runner up status. Nothing like risking injury in a crap game. To practice...

Practice...

You're either trying to be sarcastic or showing how big of an idiot you are....maybe a sarcastic idiot is more like it. "Program fallen to a point"...6 games left, good chance to have 20+ wins, close to a opening bye, and 2 players that the NIT (or any other post season tourney) would love to showcase in their games. The only thing that's crap are your posts.

[ZoomZoom]

I'm sure the "Mission March" has not or was bought into as whatever tournament is offered. May have not been sold to fans or players that way but back in November show me one person on this site that was all gung ho for the third option tournament as an objective. If Marlin discussed all goals with the team, what was acceptable or not (as in to accept bids to 3rd option tournament) this horse left the barn already and is between him and the team. Or it should have been. Basically, anything less than the NIT is a participation trophy of a tournament. A "reward" for being what...? As far as pulling a Tech, different situation. Tech was a qualified bowl team and opted out. Third tier, about 100 or so teams already picked before invite.

It's like the first round of LHSAA playoffs at that tournament level...it's about someone making a buck.

[CajunEXPRESS]

So the team suffers because expectations, or really hopes are not met, mostly yours.

Hey Zoom, Zoom beat upon Marlin all you want he is well paid to take the heat, these young men give it their all. They deserve whatever platform that can help them improve.

[CajunFan3406]

I'm sure the "Mission March" has not or was bought into as whatever tournament is offered. May have not been sold to fans or players that way but back in November show me one person on this site that was all gung ho for the third option tournament as an objective. If Marlin discussed all goals with the team, what was acceptable or not (as in to accept bids to 3rd option tournament) this horse left the barn already and is between him and the team. Or it should have been. Basically, anything less than the NIT is a participation trophy of a tournament. A "reward" for being what...? As far as pulling a Tech, different situation. Tech was a qualified bowl team and opted out. Third tier, about 100 or so teams already picked before invite.

It's like the first round of LHSAA playoffs at that tournament level...it's about someone making a buck.

Are you ever going to answer Cajunmike's question?

[Cajunsmike]

I'm sure the "Mission March" has not or was bought into as whatever tournament is offered. May have not been sold to fans or players that way but back in November show me one person on this site that was all gung ho for the third option tournament as an objective. If Marlin discussed all goals with the team, what was acceptable or not (as in to accept bids to 3rd option tournament) this horse left the barn already and is between him and the team. Or it should have been. Basically, anything less than the NIT is a participation trophy of a tournament. A "reward" for being what...? As far as pulling a Tech, different situation. Tech was a qualified bowl team and opted out. Third tier, about 100 or so teams already picked before invite.

It's like the first round of LHSAA playoffs at that tournament level...it's about someone making a buck.

I see you did not accept my challenge of addressing this situation from the standpoint of having to tell the players why an invitation was declined. Somehow I am not surprised that turned out to be the case as many people do not think about these things from a wider perspective. I challenge you once again to respond to this situation from that viewpoint. I don't know why but I doubt you will?

Regardless of what tier you apply, there is not much difference between an offer to a lesser tounament and Tech declining a bowl bid. There are nearly 350 D1 basketball teams. If 150 are in post season play, that is about 40% of the available clubs. Over 50% of football teams receive bowl invites. Granted, that % is much lower for mid majors but the fact remains a higher % of football teams are in post season play than basketball teams.

By the way the regular season is not over. Conference tournament seedings have not been set and the tournament has not been played. I guarantee the coaches and the team have not given up on the possibility of winning it. Many fans are predicting they will not be successful in that effort due to the team's limitations. I understand that approach as we can see they are a couple of ingredients short of what you normally need to win a tournament. However what the players think is much more important than what we think.

[ZoomZoom]

Cajunsmike, etal, take a chill pill and go read again...AGAIN...this situation should have been addressed at the start of fall practice. If not, shame on coach. But I think he probably did.

At same time back at you, where's anyone on this site that was "hey, our goal is the third tier tournament." (Insert crickets here).

Sorry, I'm not of the coke and trophy participation mindset. You play to win, not "settle" for leftovers.

Win out, it's all good for everyone...

[Turbine]

LOL "coke and trophy"

[Cajunsmike]

Cajunsmike, etal, take a chill pill and go read again...AGAIN...this situation should have been addressed at the start of fall practice. If not, shame on coach. But I think he probably did.

At same time back at you, where's anyone on this site that was "hey, our goal is the third tier tournament." (Insert crickets here).

Sorry, I'm not of the coke and trophy participation mindset. You play to win, not "settle" for leftovers.

Win out, it's all good for everyone...

The goal back in the fall was to get to the NCAA tournament and it STILL IS. I doubt anyone within the program has talked about anything else as of yet. They will be very disappointed if they do not reach the goal. They play to win and they do not want leftovers. That is something I can guarante. However, if we don't get there, the possibility of the lesser known tournaments does exist. If that situation does arise, do you still think we should tell the guys that we don't think you did enough to warrant post season play. Only acceptable answers here are YES or NO. You still have not answered my first question as to how you would justify a NO answer to the players on the team. A response should not deal with anything else but answering the questions I have posed.

[douglas]

"coke and a trophy" lol that's awesome, how has JP bitterman never said that before. But seriously you wanna van de veld this one? No thanks

[ZoomZoom]

"coke and a trophy" lol that's awesome, how has JP bitterman never said that before. But seriously you wanna van de veld this one? No thanks

If coach told team it was only NCAA or NIT before season started I'm behind him 100%. NIT is already "sloppy seconds", so that third tier tourney is what, waking up next to a pig in a blanket?

Again, win out and all is well.