At 19-3, Cajuns are starting to turn some heads

[ManAboutTown]

Baseball is a top 50 program. Softball is a top 20 program. Basketball is barely top 175 as a program. If basketball scheduled and won like the stick and ball sports we would be packing the dome on a regular basis.

Baseball, as published by D1baseball, is squarely in the top 30. And I’d argue we are top 25.

Basketball.. over the last 5 years, IMO, is Top 100.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Baseball, as published by D1baseball, is squarely in the top 30. And I’d argue we are top 25.

Basketball.. over the last 5 years, IMO, is Top 100.

Not close to a top 100 in any year, so maybe as a cumulative where the sum of the parts exceeded individual seasons.

This year is definitely different, but we’ve still got to go undefeated in conference all the way to the big dance.

[VObserver]

Baseball, as published by D1baseball, is squarely in the top 30. And I’d argue we are top 25.

Basketball.. over the last 5 years, IMO, is Top 100.

The 5 years prior to this year our mean RPI is 139.2, with only our NCAA year being better than 100 ( it was 89). Over all better than I thought, but still closer to 175 than to 100.

[Cajunsmike]

No, Mike. We are not. We may be a top 50 team this year, but as a program we are still 175ish. There is a reason Gonzaga and St. Mary's are bubble teams with RPI similar to ours and we are not. That reason is that they perform at this level or better every year, and we do not. In fact, there is no visible proof that we are deserving THIS year; as 12 of our 19 wins are against teams with RPI of 200 or worse, and 2 are against non-d1 opponents. That leaves only 5 wins against the top 200, none of which are over a top 100 team.

The players are not at fault; they can only play the teams on the schedule. To some degree, even the coaches are not at fault, as it can be difficult to know how good the teams you schedule will be. I still maintain that the coaches could do a better job of OOC scheduling, but I don't think they will.

You are correct that if we sustain this level of success attendance and perception will improve; but our scheduling OOC must improve as well, and we must win some of those games against top 50 and top 100 teams.

You are correct that we are not a Top 50 team yet with our RPI at 55. I was thinking in the 50's. vs Top 50. We may now be in the Top 50 of the BPI but I don't know where we rank there. However if we keep winning we can move into RPI Top 50 which is in the 40's. I suspect we will play more name programs in the future but my belief is they will generally be road games. Time to win some of those. We can get a chance at a name program this year if we win the regular season or tournament. That will put us either in the NIT or NCAA tourney.

[Cajunsmike]

The 5 years prior to this year our mean RPI is 139.2, with only our NCAA year being better than 100 ( it was 89). Over all better than I thought, but still closer to 175 than to 100.

Once we factor in this season, our mean RPI could be closer to 100 than 175 for the 5 year running average. Reason for that is 2013 was a losing season and 2018 could be the best of our 5 straight winning seasons. Of course at our level, one loss kills you. Have to stay focused and I am confident our guys will do that. However ULM will be a tough one come Saturday as they are a different team at home and I guarantee they recall the butt whipping we gave them here.

[ManAboutTown]

The 5 years prior to this year our mean RPI is 139.2, with only our NCAA year being better than 100 ( it was 89). Over all better than I thought, but still closer to 175 than to 100.

I was factoring in our tourney year and this year.. You know, like a handicap in golf..

You can shoot 100 almost every time out; shoot 78 one time and you’re ____ed 😂

[zephyr]

If the basketball team made the tourney 4 times in the last 5 years with 2 trips to the sweet 16 and finished number one in the country, would you consider our basketball as competing for a national championship?

No, Not really. While making the tourney more consistently and actually winning some games is a progressional step, there are a number of teams that have done that in basketball in recent years. I think semantics would decide how you refer to their run. Sweet Sixteens is, IMO, not necessarily competing for a national title but I guess you could argue that every team begins the season competing for national titles. I assume you are referring to the baseball team when you mention those results, how did we finish #1 in the country by not even making the CWS?

[Million$Mullet]

No, Not really. While making the tourney more consistently and actually winning some games is a progressional step, there are a number of teams that have done that in basketball in recent years. I think semantics would decide how you refer to their run. Sweet Sixteens is, IMO, not necessarily competing for a national title but I guess you could argue that every team begins the season competing for national titles. I assume you are referring to the baseball team when you mention those results, how did we finish #1 in the country by not even making the CWS?

Regular season

[CrazyCajun]

No, Not really. While making the tourney more consistently and actually winning some games is a progressional step, there are a number of teams that have done that in basketball in recent years. I think semantics would decide how you refer to their run. Sweet Sixteens is, IMO, not necessarily competing for a national title but I guess you could argue that every team begins the season competing for national titles. I assume you are referring to the baseball team when you mention those results, how did we finish #1 in the country by not even making the CWS?

I don’t know, ask the people who ranked us. We will disagree that making the sweet 16 twice in 5 years is the same as every team begins the season competing for a national title, it’s not. Right now we are 1 special team away from even getting in the tournament in basketball, the baseball team is one special team away from winning it all.

[Turbine]

No, Not really. While making the tourney more consistently and actually winning some games is a progressional step, there are a number of teams that have done that in basketball in recent years. I think semantics would decide how you refer to their run. Sweet Sixteens is, IMO, not necessarily competing for a national title but I guess you could argue that every team begins the season competing for national titles. I assume you are referring to the baseball team when you mention those results, how did we finish #1 in the country by not even making the CWS?

Not competing (NC) is any team outside of the 4 team playoff in football.

Sweet 16 in baseball is slam dunk competing in the National championship discussion.