MBB: Louisiana vs UTA

[Boomer]

Agree. It's a complex issue all around.

At this stage I'll be happy to overachieve this year and have big expectations for next. The kids deserve nothing less.

Personally I think Marlin could do more for the program outside of his coaching duties but I'm still not convinced that would make a noticeable difference to the program as a whole .

I know this....Marlin has definitely convinced a bunch of players this year that they are relevant and they do have a chance to do something special. I'm good with that. The rest can wait until after the season.

----Oh and one more lil thought on this great game---don't forget that UTA played their AZZ off and that they I think are very well coached----the rebounding was WAR, talk about some bodies bumping and they are so very talented and speaking of wars, their point and ours did battle!!!

[California Cajun]

MAT I'm in line with you on this issue.

I think we often give coaches too much credit and too much blame. Marlin sets a good tone for our STUDENT athletes. He could do more in regards to fundraising but he is hamstringed unlike other major coaches at UL.

It is not a good situation and I'm not saying he is the answer but I also don't think he is a "problem". I question how much success any coach would have under some of the limitations placed on the program at this stage.

With all that said we are talking large picture. Bring things back down to this season and you have to give them credit up to this point. Job well done.

It will be interested to see what a new AD does but given the huge mountain of college basketball in the deep south and some of our own limitations it would not surprise me to see that this isn't a priority. Baseball and softball are rolling and Football drives the bus so don't be surprised if basketball is the red headed step child for a while longer.

That is an interesting point. Basketball was at the the pinnacle of our athletics and now it no longer is. But basketball became the favorite sport of many during the Shipley-Paschal years and it still is for a significant core of fans today.

I hope Dr. Maggard can figure out a way to keep the torch lit for these people. I still think having past success can help bring it back to prominence.

[Cajunfever]

But, as you know, Marlin has attracted less direct support of MBB, in terms of money given to the program, than baseball or softball, to the tune of about a 3 to 1 advantage for each of the stick and ball sports. That dog don't hunt.

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[Turbine]

I have talked to former players on this subject: "Marlin is the First Coach to Do Right by the Program."

[VObserver]

Please provide a link with this data to verify your comment.

RCAF annual report, which every member received last month.

[Cajunsmike]

FTR, I am not railing against fans that aren't happy and I understand why several want a new coach. I go back and forth.

I get the support for Marlin. Seems like a good man that recruits and graduates top notch individuals (and families). As opposed to a coach that had his own son being arrested for slangin dope.

I get the anti Marlin crowd because, me included, expect our historically quality basketball program to compete at a high level. IMO, we should always be in contention for an SBC championship.

Mike gave a great example of the ____ MBB has to deal with. Also, when it costs 75k to get Stephen F. Austin to come to Lafayette, you can see why scheduling is lack luster. (And oh, btw, they refuse to come and play us as well.)

I forgot about SFA being another school that refuses to play us home and home. Add that to USM, Tulane, UNO now, Lamar, Houston, and Rice as area schools that refuse to play us home and home. I think the last time we bought a D1 home game was when Robert Lee was able to get Centenary to come to the Dome. We got them for cheap as they were dropping out of D1 the next year. We just need to go out of the area and find teams that are willing to play us home and home. We played schools like Robert Morris and Duquesne a few years ago in home and home deals. We can do that type of thing again.

[Cajunsmike]

The man has been and still being given time...can he not have a UTA,LATECH ,UALR,Georgia state,USM type season at some point? Is that really too much to expect in 8 years? All similar schools in close proximity.

It is reasonable to expect a strong season like those schools have had. I just did not expect it this season due to all the new guys. I was hoping it would happen last season and was disappointed it did not occur then.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Mike we know the problem, but it is within our powers to fix the problem. It only takes will.

Mr. Maggard will start today after a very successful weekend of the four major spring sports. IMO he needs to upgrade all non conference sports to the extent possible. To say locals refuse to play us and cry woe is me is not acceptable.

[Cajunsmike]

Mike we know the problem, but it is within our powers to fix the problem. It only takes will.

Mr. Maggard will start today after a very successful weekend of the four major spring sports. IMO he needs to upgrade all non conference sports to the extent possible. To say locals refuse to play us and cry woe is me is not acceptable.

I just gave the solution. Play schools outside of the area in home and home deals. When we went to the Pittsburgh area we played two schools on one trip and they came the next year. You can also go to UCLA and play Pepperdine on the same trip. You get paid for the trip by UCLA and then get a home and home deal with a nearby school. We did that last year. I bet we could do the same with Houston and Houston Baptist. Get paid by the Coogs and have Houston Baptist come home the next year. Now the schools I am mentioning are not the big names but the P5 schools are not traveling in today's world. We do get Iowa next year in the tournament in the tropics on a neutral court but that is not one coming here. I agree that Dr. Maggard needs to get involved here for all the sports and I hope that is a focus area. The non conference home schedule is only one issue. Finishing higher in the league than in recent years is what I would like to see happen. I just knew it would be tough to do this year with basically only three returning players. That is why I say we should focus on what they players did accomplish for now. We also know a staff change will not occur so working on some of these other issues is something that can begin to be tackled in the offseason.

[CajunEXPRESS]

I just gave the solution. Play schools outside of the area in home and home deals. When we went to the Pittsburgh area we played two schools on one trip and they came the next year. You can also go to UCLA and play Pepperdine on the same trip. You get paid for the trip by UCLA and then get a home and home deal with a nearby school. We did that last year. I bet we could do the same with Houston and Houston Baptist. Get paid by the Coogs and have Houston Baptist come home the next year. Now the schools I am mentioning are not the big names but the P5 schools are not traveling in today's world. We do get Iowa next year in the tournament in the tropics on a neutral court but that is not one coming here. I agree that Dr. Maggard needs to get involved here for all the sports and I hope that is a focus area. The non conference home schedule is only one issue. Finishing higher in the league than in recent years is what I would like to see happen. I just knew it would be tough to do this year with basically only three returning players. That is why I say we should focus on what they players did accomplish for now. We also know a staff change will not occur so working on some of these other issues is something that can begin to be tackled in the offseason.

Mike, with all due respect it isn't your or my job to fix the problem. It isn't even our job to identify the problem. We are fans and all I hear from Marlin is he does not have enough money, and we will continue to get the weakest non conference schedule until his boss says enough.

There are solutions that do not blame USM, Tulane, LTUR, for not playing us. You have identified some ways and I can only think Marlin and staff were the ones smart enough to take advantage of those opportunities. It isn't his fault that Pepperdine and JMU chose 2017 to be weak.

Bob nees to help raise funds to bring in better OCC teams. Instead of simply thinking that these games will or won't increase attendance short term we need to see them as recruiting tools, RPI builders, and if successful building a better younger fan base. If a business does not think in terms of long term success they would never invest in short term losing operations needed to insure growth.

For the moment, I am going to enjoy the conference tournament and a baseball game with Tulame tomorrow. Still long term we need basketball to be much more successful in order to fully take advantage of the NCAA gold mine out there.