MBB Final: Louisiana 98, Loyola (NO) 56

[Cajunsmike]

I wonder if Dr. Maggard plans to upgrade the schedule in the future.

Coaches make the basketball schedule. Dr. Maggard just approves it. He was at the Rebounders Club meeting last week and when the coaches mentioned beating Iowa will make scheduling more difficult, he just shook his head in agreement. Agree that we should only have one of these games, not two. However they did slot this one well as it is the dead day of finals week. Very little practice has occurred this week.

[Cajunsmike]

What's up with Bartley in a boot? How long is he out for? Hope we can get everyone healthy...

Bartley sprained his ankle in practice Monday. Although he was in a boot, his walk looked fine. In the post game show, Coach Marlin said they expect him back in a few days and are planning for him to be available at Tech. As far as tonight's game goes, the team played OK considering the opponent. In these type games I always hope for a 20 point lead sometime in the first half and a 30 point lead in the second half. That obviously occurred. I also look at the assists and turnovers. We only had 13 turnovers and 3 of those were offensive fouls. Usually you get around 20 turnovers in these type games as they tend to get sloppy. Outrebounding them by over 20, shooting over 50%, holding them under 40 %, doing well at the line, having 7 guys make threes, and having the bench continue to increase the lead were all positives. Every guy played at least 4 minutes, most played between 15 and 20, and no one played more than 29. I get it the opponent was outmanned which is why you have to compare your performance to your goals and we hit most of those. Only negatives I saw were Washington and STalcup not finishing well inside. Stove is finishing very well and Marquetti is making threes. That needs to continue and Bryce needs to do better with his layups for the team to have success at Tech. Almost a week to prepare for that game which should be a good one.

[Cajunfanatico]

Bartley sprained his ankle in practice Monday. Although he was in a boot, his walk looked fine. In the post game show, Coach Marlin said they expect him back in a few days and are planning for him to be available at Tech. As far as tonight's game goes, the team played OK considering the opponent. In these type games I always hope for a 20 point lead sometime in the first half and a 30 point lead in the second half. That obviously occurred. I also look at the assists and turnovers. We only had 13 turnovers and 3 of those were offensive fouls. Usually you get around 20 turnovers in these type games as they tend to get sloppy. Outrebounding them by over 20, shooting over 50%, holding them under 40 %, doing well at the line, having 7 guys make threes, and having the bench continue to increase the lead were all positives. Every guy played at least 4 minutes, most played between 15 and 20, and no one played more than 29. I get it the opponent was outmanned which is why you have to compare your performance to your goals and we hit most of those. Only negatives I saw were Washington and STalcup not finishing well inside. Stove is finishing very well and Marquetti is making threes. That needs to continue and Bryce needs to do better with his layups for the team to have success at Tech. Almost a week to prepare for that game which should be a good one.

SFA made a ton of layups against Tech tonight. I wonder if we had someone at that game scouting as they're next up?

[IberiaCajun]

Mike, the last two home games have seen Bryce miss some layups. It is very uncharacteristic of him. I don't see how the team improves by playing this game during deadweek. It is less than a practice because of the lack of competition. I think coach said Tech played tonight and will play again Saturday before playing Louisiana. I guess coach could only get this level of competition during deadweek and decided it was better than not playing and having a long lay-off. Hope Frank, P.J., and company are at full strength for the next one. Gant and Marquetti did have good games.

[Cajunfanatico]

Mike, the last two home games have seen Bryce miss some layups. It is very uncharacteristic of him. I don't see how the team improves by playing this game during deadweek. It is less than a practice because of the lack of competition. I think coach said Tech played tonight and will play again Saturday before playing Louisiana. I guess coach could only get this level of competition during deadweek and decided it was better than not playing and having a long lay-off. Hope Frank, P.J., and company are at full strength for the next one. Gant and Marquetti did have good games.

Necksters lost at home to SFA tonight, 85-83 I believe it was. And yes, they play a SWAC team on Saturday IIRC.

[Hudsheen#Fired]

Mike, the last two home games have seen Bryce miss some layups. It is very uncharacteristic of him. I don't see how the team improves by playing this game during deadweek. It is less than a practice because of the lack of competition. I think coach said Tech played tonight and will play again Saturday before playing Louisiana. I guess coach could only get this level of competition during deadweek and decided it was better than not playing and having a long lay-off. Hope Frank, P.J., and company are at full strength for the next one. Gant and Marquetti did have good games.

Its not just the past 2 home games, its been all year. He has been struggling mightily in the paint this year. He is still doing well on the boards though

[zephyr]

Love Miller, but he's been forcing too much this year. Three turnovers in the second half alone, against these guys. Needs to let the game come to him.

It almost appears at times that he wants to "join in on the fun" type thing. He's not starting like last year and his minutes are limited so he wants to get his when he is in there. I agree. He's been forcing it a bit.

[Cajunsmike]

It almost appears at times that he wants to "join in on the fun" type thing. He's not starting like last year and his minutes are limited so he wants to get his when he is in there. I agree. He's been forcing it a bit.

Miller forced it a lot against McNeese but was one of our better players at Nicholls. He made some nice passes in that game and also had a couple last night. Agree he still has room for improvement in that regard.

[zephyr]

SFA made a ton of layups against Tech tonight. I wonder if we had someone at that game scouting as they're next up?

I think the game last night was a bit of practice for the Tech game. Last year we KILLED them in transition and getting to the hoop. We attacked early in the shot clock and got layups all game. Last night, we really ran a very fast tempo, faster than previous games IMO and perhaps that was a prep game to run the offense they want to against Tech.

Also, in previous years, this game would have been a blowout on the scoreboard but I feel like we would have given up more points and held a slimmer lead at half. This team, like Mike said, controlled the turnovers and never allowed these guys to even make runs. It was nice to see us coast through a game and not deal with comebacks or closer than necessary scores.