MBB Final: Louisiana 82, Richmond 76

[Just1More]

Yeah but this is easily our most talented and athletic tean we have had in a while

True true... not chuckling at you... just musing at what coaches say and do.

[Cajunsmike]

True true... not chuckling at you... just musing at what coaches say and do.

Two true statements are that most coaches think they are on the verge of being good at this time and that we do have some talent. I still think we have a long way to go. The two young guards (Hardy and Russell) looked overmatched defensively at times and they both struggled from the field against better competition. I know I have spoken highly of both in the past but Russell had to to come back to earth as he was making well over 60 percent of his threes before the trip. Teams have adjusted to him now that the book is out and he will have to move better without the ball to get good looks. We can't afford to get Stroman in foul trouble as the dropoff behind him as far as getting the team into the right set is substantial. We still had trouble finishing near the goal throughout the tournament but that was somewhat due to all the charging calls which went against us. Yesterday was a good win but it would have been a bad loss as Richmond's only win is against UAB. They were in quarterfinals of NIT last year but are not nearly as good this year. They will likely improve as their best guard and their best big man (we struggled with him yesterday) are both freshman. They probably will do OK in the Atlantic 10 as these guys mature. We did have two stretches in the second half where we showed our potential. We went from down 9 to up 8 early in the second half and went from down 6 to up 8 late in the game. Bartley's steals and Gant's rim protection were key there. Free throw shooting was key as Frank went 9 for 9 and hit big ones down the stretch. That was great to see as team gets rightly criticized when they struggle there so they should get complimented when they do well. Next few games can continue to build chemistry and hopefully get more guys playing time. That may help if they are needed at times in conference play.

[ZoomZoom]

Two true statements are that most coaches think they are on the verge of being good at this time and that we do have some talent. I still think we have a long way to go. The two young guards (Hardy and Russell) looked overmatched defensively at times and they both struggled from the field against better competition. I know I have spoken highly of both in the past but Russell had to to come back to earth as he was making well over 60 percent of his threes before the trip. Teams have adjusted to him now that the book is out and he will have to move better without the ball to get good looks. We can't afford to get Stroman in foul trouble as the dropoff behind him as far as getting the team into the right set is substantial. We still had trouble finishing near the goal throughout the tournament but that was somewhat due to all the charging calls which went against us. Yesterday was a good win but it would have been a bad loss as Richmond's only win is against UAB. They were in quarterfinals of NIT last year but are not nearly as good this year. They will likely improve as their best guard and their best big man (we struggled with him yesterday) are both freshman. They probably will do OK in the Atlantic 10 as these guys mature. We did have two stretches in the second half where we showed our potential. We went from down 9 to up 8 early in the second half and went from down 6 to up 8 late in the game. Bartley's steals and Gant's rim protection were key there. Free throw shooting was key as Frank went 9 for 9 and hit big ones down the stretch. That was great to see as team gets rightly criticized when they struggle there so they should get complimented when they do well. Next few games can continue to build chemistry and hopefully get more guys playing time. That may help if they are needed at times in conference play.

Check out their message board. Many are appalled they lost to ULL. Yeah, Richmond board was really into the second L.

[Cajunfanatico]

Check out their message board. Many are appalled they lost to ULL. Yeah, Richmond board was really into the second L.

Indeed they were. Interesting too, that for a school with whom we have had almost zero contact in sports, it was as though they were accustomed to using ULL. Hard to believe we'd ever be on their radar, don't think they're on ours. You'd think most of those fans would have just looked on the schedule to see who they were playing, and gone with that.

More and more usage of "Louisiana" today than I've ever seen before. Good work Maggard.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Everyone knows what gets under your skin and use it. In a few years it won’t matter. But right now we could actually have a state law naming UL and some would still add the L.

[Cajunfanatico]

Everyone knows what gets under your skin and use it. In a few years it won’t matter. But right now we could actually have a state law naming UL and some would still add the L.

Yeah, I hadn't considered the under-your-skin angle though even there I still find it unusual that they were all on the same page.

Speaking of under-your-skin, on WarrenNolan I clicked on teams and scrolled down to look at the Neckster schedule. I had to chuckle thinking about what the average Neckster must think when he does the same. We need to beat those guys at their place.

[Cajunsmike]

Zypher, after 7+ years of watching Bigfish coach, I have concluded that dribbling around the perimeter until the shot clock reaches 5 seconds and jacking up a desperation 3 IS our offense in the half court.

That has happened way too often in the past. However, Stroman has made a difference in that regard this year. He is able to get into the paint and dish off for inside buckets. Problem still is they don't finish as many of those plays as they should. Reason they won yesterday is because they did not settle for the three as often as the previous game and they were able to convert enough inside. Not having Stroman at critical times against Wyoming due to foul trouble was one reason we struggled against the Cowboys.

[ManAboutTown]

That has happened way too often in the past. However, Stroman has made a difference in that regard this year. He is able to get into the paint and dish off for inside buckets. Problem still is they don't finish as many of those plays as they should. Reason they won yesterday is because they did not settle for the three as often as the previous game and they were able to convert enough inside. Not having Stroman at critical times against Wyoming due to foul trouble was one reason we struggled against the Cowboys.

Stroman is a difference maker. The team operates with confidence when he’s on the floor. The amount of cutting and hard screening is very obvious. That’s what happens when a team expects to get the ball with opportunity to score.

[Cajunsmike]

Check out their message board. Many are appalled they lost to ULL. Yeah, Richmond board was really into the second L.

Well they lost to teams with worst basketball reputations than the Cajuns earlier. Those include Delaware and Jacksonville State. I can see their expectations being high due to being in the Atlantic 10 and getting to NIT quarterfinals last season. Their fans just need to realize they are young this year and will take their lumps early. Regardless of what they think, I still believe it would have been a bad loss had we not pulled that game out. Iowa fans are also probably still steamed considering they lost to us and South Dakota State. I occasionally enjoy reading other boards after a bad loss but ours has the same atmosphere when we lose a game we are not expected to. That happens to all programs as every team loses now and then as some nights the shots just don't go in or the opponent has a night when they can't miss.

[Cajunsmike]

Stroman is a difference maker. The team operates with confidence when he’s on the floor. The amount of cutting and hard screening is very obvious. That’s what happens when a team expects to get the ball with opportunity to score.

Sat near a former Cajun point guard at the Savannah State game. He was very pleased with the way Stroman ran the team. He may be more of a key than Gant.

[RaginScotsman]

Check out their message board. Many are appalled they lost to ULL. Yeah, Richmond board was really into the second L.

I thought that was funny. Other than your basketball program that has not been to the NCAA since 2011 (yeah, you made it to the sweet 16), Richmond isn’t really relevant. FCS football program, etc. I’d dial it back, Spider fans.

[Cajunsmike]

I thought that was funny. Other than your basketball program that has not been to the NCAA since 2011 (yeah, you made it to the sweet 16), Richmond isn't really relevant. FCS football program, etc. I'd dial it back, Spider fans.

I went to the Richmond board and read some basketball threads. Very familiar comments. They desperately want their coach fired. In fact they seem more displeased with him than some of our fans are with Coach Hud.