Is Bob Marlin's seat even starting to warm up?

[Cajunsmike]

We are pathetic. The reason you play OOC games is to increase your RPI, especially in a ____ ty conference like this. Gotta love the koolaid drinkers, though.

Z

Z, Coach Marlin agrees with you to a certain extent. We have played a tough road schedule to improve RPI and prepare for conference play. All six of our road games have been against quality opponents. Now, the conference is a middle of the pack mid major league. However, other than the Cajuns, the league has done better in non conference play than they have in many years.

[Turbine]

Does it not bother you at all that we lost every real game so far this season. The only teams we beat are the teams that would have a hard time beating some of the better high school teams in the state.

If he doesn't shrink the rotation for conference I will begin to worry.

I would have liked a big win preconference but when the threes ain't fallen, you will.

[Cajunsmike]

He will shrink the rotation soon. He always does. They will start Wright, Shepherd, Stove, Washington, and Long. Note, they have not had a healthy Washington and Long playing together this year for any meaningful stretches. Hopefully Walker is also healthy by the time conference play starts. It is obvious he is not at 100 per cent. Walker, Hedgeman, and Register will play many of the back up minutes. Of course if Register is off someone else will take his minutes. Could be Wooten. Wronkowski will see some action at times but may not be in the regular eight. Long and an effective Washington could help as they will be better on the boards. It also helps defensively as Washington is a smart player and can help put people in the right position. Still, to improve the guys have to hit some outside shots to provide balance. All the talk about ugly basketball comes down to that one facet. Make some shots and people boycotting now will return.

[Oiler]

Once we start winning 75% of our games when conference play starts, we'll once again start to believe that we are a good team that belongs in the NCAA tournament. The best case scenario for us now is that we win the SBC tournament championship and become a 16 seed in the big dance.

[Cajunsmike]

Once we start winning 75% of our games when conference play starts, we'll once again start to believe that we are a good team that belongs in the NCAA tournament. The best case scenario for us now is that we win the SBC tournament championship and become a 16 seed in the big dance.

We won't be a 16 seed if we get in the tourney. 15 of course is possible. Our conference is stronger than it has been in years so our RPI wil not be in the bottom 6. Conference action last night saw Georgia State beat Middle Tennessee and South Alabama beat Rice. That is wins over two CUSA teams. Troy lost to Ole Miss of the SEC but the game went to OT. UTA and Little Rock have been excellent in pre-conference. For the Cajuns to go 15 and 5 against this improved league will take much better play than they have shown to date. It is OK to be critical of the team as they have performed well below expectations. However, just automatically assuming the league is poor without looking at facts is not fair.

[California Cajun]

He will shrink the rotation soon. He always does. They will start Wright, Shepherd, Stove, Washington, and Long. Note, they have not had a healthy Washington and Long playing together this year for any meaningful stretches. Hopefully Walker is also healthy by the time conference play starts. It is obvious he is not at 100 per cent. Walker, Hedgeman, and Register will play many of the back up minutes. Of course if Register is off someone else will take his minutes. Could be Wooten. Wronkowski will see some action at times but may not be in the regular eight. Long and an effective Washington could help as they will be better on the boards. It also helps defensively as Washington is a smart player and can help put people in the right position. Still, to improve the guys have to hit some outside shots to provide balance. All the talk about ugly basketball comes down to that one facet. Make some shots and people boycotting now will return.

Does the playing of all the players significantly hurt the early season record? Is this something all teams must do to prepare for conference play?

Seems to me that everyone is optimistic when practice begins in October, but by the time Christmas rolls around the sentiment is that the coach is a bum.

I'm not a big basketball fan but certainly recognize it's importance.

It seems to me the public's opinion of the basketball program will improve only if we break the cycle of bad start, good finish.

[RaginDave]

Pepperdine is coming to Lafayette next year. That is pretty good return trip for us. We need to sign more of these home and homes, to make sure that we get some pretty good mid major competition in the dome rather than playing NAIA schools.

[anhil8tor]

Do you think Pepperdine will move the needle for those thinking about attending a game?


I'm asking out of curiosity..not to be a butthead.

[RaginDave]

Do you think Pepperdine will move the needle for those thinking about attending a game?


I'm asking out of curiosity..not to be a butthead.

Let me answer this with a resounding, I don't know. Here is what I do know.

I do not live in Lafayette or Louisiana for that matter and i can not make any home games. I do know that if I were in Lafayette, i would attend every home game possible and if I lived in New Orleans I would attend as many as possible. But for the casual fan, I would rather see Pepperdine than Louisiana College, Loyola and even UNO. Pepperdine comes with a pretty solid tradition of Basketball. All I was saying that if we can get some local schools (McNeese/La Tech/NwState types) and than pepper in some home and home with quality mid majors, Pepperdine types. Than as a casual fan I would be more likely to attend.

Take this for instance, my step son is a crazy basketball fan. Basketball to me is 3rd out of the big three, football, baseball than basketball. I came back to New Orleans for the Thanksgiving break and considered going to the UL game, but when I realized that we were playing Loyola, I chose not to. If that game would have been vs Pepperdine, I would have probably made the 2 hour trip from Metairie to Lafayette so that he and I could have caught the game together.

[CajunRebel]

Do you think Pepperdine will move the needle for those thinking about attending a game?


I'm asking out of curiosity..not to be a butthead.

No. I think it's pretty well established that there's not that much that can move the needle on attendance before conference play starts.

But it's a home game against a quality opponent which will help our RPI.