Louisiana vs Cal Irvine

[Just1More]

I had no issues with the final play calling defensively or offensively. UCI got a little fortunate in having that last bucket drop. We had a chance to cinch it and it just didn't happen. I have no doubt Shawn was fouled on that last shot... but you take the risk in tournament games that refs are just going to let it go.

The only thing I would have probably done if I were Marlin... is to have called the play I wanted on that full time out... and then spent the remainder of it getting in the ear of one of the referees about how your big man is getting hacked when he takes it to the basket. That may have set us up for triggering the whistle. But as someone else pointed out... had we won this game... it would have felt like we stole it from UCI considering how cold we were from long range.

[Just1More]

The tourney accomplished more than having a minor financial impact to the coaching staff. Participation here had no impact on possible extensions. The tourney allowed the players to participate in three more games, something they love to do. It also allowed fans to see three more games. I am of the view that the more Cajun basketball I can watch the better and there others who feel the same way. I understand the casual fan having the same view as Z however. There is a larger picture to think of when you consider the impact to the players however. Back to those guys, if you saw the look on their faces as they walked off the court I can assure you they wanted to keep playing. I feel for them this morning as six of them will never be able to put on that Cajun uniform again and they worked their butt off to be able to do so. They generally represented the university well in the process. We as fans will wonder what type of team will be put together in the off season and will be back next November for another season. When you are a player though, this is it. While I am disappointed in last night's result and the season overall, it means little to my life. I am more disappointed for the guys who fought so hard last night and were not rewarded. As said earlier, I wish them well in life and am confident they will be successful as they move on to their next chapters. I thank all of them for their efforts.

Very good post, Mike. No matter where you fall on expectations out of our programs... the young men that fight so hard while wearing our uniform deserve our gratitude.

[CajunFan3406]

This is the best team we've seen at the Dome in a while...so question. How does UC Irvine get these recruits and UL doesn't? Not trying to start an argument or anything. Really just curious. How do other mid majors get much better recruits?

Since when is 39 days "a while"?

[Just1More]

Since when is 39 days "a while"?

When you have a toothache?

[Boomer]

I had no issues with the final play calling defensively or offensively. UCI got a little fortunate in having that last bucket drop. We had a chance to cinch it and it just didn't happen. I have no doubt Shawn was fouled on that last shot... but you take the risk in tournament games that refs are just going to let it go.

The only thing I would have probably done if I were Marlin... is to have called the play I wanted on that full time out... and then spent the remainder of it getting in the ear of one of the referees about how your big man is getting hacked when he takes it to the basket. That may have set us up for triggering the whistle. But as someone else pointed out... had we won this game... it would have felt like we stole it from UCI considering how cold we were from long range.

---Nice summary and thoughts!

[Grantvb]

Don't fret guys. Basketball season will be back in 34 weeks. Rest up. Now how about throwing that support to the women's team...?

[CajunFan3406]

Have you been to Irvine, CA? Orange County, CA is a nice place to go to school, and that's a highly populated area. We do need to up our recruiting, but UCI is a good school, in a nice area.

Irvine is OK, but let's not get crazy now. If I was going to UCI, it would be for the quality of education more so than the city of Irvine. Irvine is on the interior of OC, so to get to anything that you guys associate with Orange County (aka the beaches) then you have to drive about 15 minutes to get there.

[CajunFan3406]

Don't fret guys. Basketball season will be back in 34 weeks. Rest up. Now how about throwing that support to the women's team...?

If I wouldn't be at a bachelor party this weekend, I'd be at that game, for sure. Women's team deserves everyone's full support. EKL better be packed on Saturday. Game is at 4pm.

[Zeebart21]

Aw get out of here with that ****. No one wants to hear that.

Happy Easter, Reb!!!

Z

[CajunFan3406]

When you have a toothache?

Perhaps...

but just saying, the best team to come to the dome in a while didn't come last night. They came only a few weeks ago. If no one remembers they won our league's regular season and tourney and won a game in the NCAA. They also had the nation's best record before being ousted from the NCAA tournament.

[Frenchie35]

Stove's foul was the 5th. They had one more to give.

I was screaming foul but they didn't. They could have foul and there would have been Less then three seconds on the clock before the clock manager would have stopped the clock. UCI had no time outs to take. Trap after the inbound and no under the rim shot....maybe a win right there.

[Just1More]

Irvine is OK, but let's not get crazy now. If I was going to UCI, it would be for the quality of education more so than the city of Irvine. Irvine is on the interior of OC, so to get to anything that you guys associate with Orange County (aka the beaches) then you have to drive about 15 minutes to get there.

That's right... it is a good school. I worked for a company headquartered in Irvine and if you get locals to show you around, it's a pretty sweet place to be. It is ridiculously expensive to own a home. And it is crowded as a mofo. But young people from the west coast (and a lot of midwesterners) love it in that area. A lot of students work as waiters and bartenders in the upscale places that attract the massive professional community. I don't think it's a great place for a young southerner to live and go to school... but I can see where they have a large recruiting base and are an attractive school to recruit to.