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

[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.

[HoustonCajun]

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.

How did the NCAA lose control of FBS football enabling it to become the only NCAA sport not declared an NCAA champion, now with a 4 team playoff instead of an NCAA tournament format?

[Turbine]

How did the NCAA lose control of FBS football enabling it to become the only NCAA sport not declared an NCAA champion, now with a 4 team playoff instead of an NCAA tournament format?

It's been a convoluted ride but the first bowl game predated the NCAA

[CajunEXPRESS]

They never had control of this. It’s hard to lose what you never owned. Now with the P5 being autonomous they cannot put the genie back into the bottle.

[MetryCajun]

This debate is easy to settle. Take person who knows of our university and casually follows college sports. Ask him about our teams. It will go something like this:
Baseball- UL always has a good team. That coach is great. They can compete with anyone.
Softball- UL always has a good team. They can compete with anyone, but what’s the deal with the coach?
Basketball - Man I remember y’all used to be good. What happened? I hear you have a good team this year.
Football - y’all suck. I can’t believe you are paying that much for coaches. How is it possible that you are not even top 3 in the state of Louisiana.

By my count that makes two Top 25 programs, one Top 100 program and an FBS football program still struggling for relevancy.

[Cajunsmike]

This debate is easy to settle. Take person who knows of our university and casually follows college sports. Ask him about our teams. It will go something like this:
Baseball- UL always has a good team. That coach is great. They can compete with anyone.
Softball- UL always has a good team. They can compete with anyone, but what’s the deal with the coach?
Basketball - Man I remember y’all used to be good. What happened? I hear you have a good team this year.
Football - y’all suck. I can’t believe you are paying that much for coaches. How is it possible that you are not even top 3 in the state of Louisiana.

By my count that makes two Top 25 programs, one Top 100 program and an FBS football program still struggling for relevancy.

That is probably what most people would say outside of Acadiana. That gives an opportunity to educate them that we have eighth best record in country this time in basketball. Also tell them the program has been trending upward recently as this will be our fifth straight winning season. Tell them only La Tech can mAtch that in Louisiana and we have beaten the Bulldogs four out of five. Football wise tell them our recent facility upgrades put us near the top of the G5 in that regard. That gives us optimism recruiting and the record will soon improve under a staff that has more Louisiana connections than the previous one.

[zephyr]

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.

I know I may be looking at it from a literal angle but I see difference between competing on a national level and competing for national championships as slightly different. I know what was meant by the statement but until we are advancing to the CWS, I will see a difference between the two.