Big series for the Cajuns (outside of the Sun Belt)

[GoneGolfin]

It is getting to the time of the year when I begin looking at significant series that will affect the Cajuns and their move up towards at-large bid consideration. We have one this weekend in Rice at East Carolina. While the Cajuns have four games against these two clubs on the road in the not too distant future, three of them are against the Pirates. An East Carolina series win would help their RPI immensely and would also position them as the front-runner for the conference title. That would set the table for a potential big series win for the Cajuns against a top flight opponent in May. Not only will this series be a potential big RPI boost (with bonus points available), but it would catch the eyes of the selection committee and help solidify an RPI Top 50 and potentially RPI Top 25 record.

Even more interesting is that Rice will once again this weekend be without their top two starters (Ryan Berry and Mike Ojala). Both have been dominating this season.

One thing the UL Baseball program did this year was assemble a solid schedule against some big name and high RPI value opponents, resulting in the potential for high value wins. Because of that, the Cajuns are legitimately in the running for an at-large bid should they continue their winning ways. And by no means do I mean a perfect record. I could envision a 16-8 record (with enough of the right wins) plus a decent conference tournament showing to be enough to put the Cajuns right in the thick of consideration. A top 3 finish in the Sun Belt would really aid their cause as well. Of course, going 16-8 against this remaining schedule will not be easy.

Brian

[CajunRed]

FINALLY... some GREAT stuff from "Gone Golfin". Thanks, Brian, this is the kind of stuff we look to you for!

[Dad04]

Finishing 16-8 would get us to 33 wins, which by itself is less than impressive to the Committee until they consider we would have finished 23-8 with an RPI a good bit better than right now.

We got left home in 2006 with 39 wins, but the RPI was about 70 as our opponents had a tough season in general. It was a down year for the Sunbelt and our out of conference opponents had bad years.

The trend is definately positive.

[J-Town Cajun]

Brian I love this time of year win the Cajuns are in contention for an at-large bid. I agree with your statement. I say if we win 75% of our home games and 50% of the road games left we will have a good shot of an at large bid. Of course the right wins such as LSU, Rice, East Carolina, and even SLU will go along way. At this point we are pulling for the greenie weenies, Nebraska, and USM to improve their RPI as well. It will also be important that we finish at least in the top 3 in the Sun Belt and win 2 or so in the conference tournament. The Sun Belt is ranked around 8th right now. Also hopefully Arkansas St. can keep their RPI above 150 because we have 2 loses against them that can really hurt us later in the selection process. Man I wish we had those 2 games to do over now that we are hitting the ball.

[J-Town Cajun]

Looking at the rest of the scheldule I see somewhere between 12-15 wins is likely not counting the conference tournament. I believe you are right that it may 16 or more wins to get an invite.

[jllanclos]

Brian, this is the good news I needed today! Amazing how this season turned from a rebuilding year into a potentially special year very quickly. Since you HIT your way through regionals, I'd love to see us get there and try to muscle our way through one. Would be a fun ride!

[MiamiCajun32]

seems like Cajun baseball is what Cajun basketball used to be: a very solid and winning program that will figure out how to be anywhere from winning / competitive to competing at high national level just about every year. A program for fans to be proud of, even when rebuilding and not winning as much as we would like.

I hope that when Robi retires one day, the program is not destroyed within one or two years by one coach like in basketball.

[IHateLaState]

_ seems like Cajun baseball is what Cajun basketball used to be: a very solid and winning program that will figure out how to be anywhere from winning / competitive to competing at high national level just about every year. A program for fans to be proud of, even when rebuilding and not winning as much as we would like.

I hope that when Robi retires one day, the program is not destroyed within one or two years by one coach like in basketball. _

Isnt it amazing, 3 weeks ago there were idiots (not you) calling for Robe's head on this board? Most were General Lee defenders of course. The difference is that Robe runs a quality program and even in rebuilding years we have hope.... All I have ever asked in other sports is to be competitive...

[GoneGolfin]

_ Finishing 16-8 would get us to 33 wins, which by itself is less than impressive to the Committee until they consider we would have finished 23-8 with an RPI a good bit better than right now.

Yes. But the 16-8 was just for the regular season. I also noted that a decent conference tournament finish was necessary. I would say a couple of wins would be the minimum. This puts the Cajuns at 35 wins (yielding a 35-22-1 record). The Cajuns could also schedule a 55th regular season game.

We got left home in 2006 with 39 wins, but the RPI was about 70 as our opponents had a tough season in general. It was a down year for the Sunbelt and our out of conference opponents had bad years.

Our RPI was 53 at selection time in 2006. And we were left out despite a second place finish (ahead of South Alabama who was taken with a higher RPI - 39) and behind Troy (we took 2/3 from Troy). But as you allude to, the Cajuns' schedule was lighter than this year's schedule (considerably so). In particular, the Cajuns only played seven games vs. the RPI Top 50 (going 4-3). This year, the Cajuns have the opportunity to make a statement in this category. And if they do it on the road in a weekend series against the CUSA champion ...

Brian