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

[cajun4life]

If we were to go on a run of 5-6 years of success like this then you see and hear a lot more talk about MBB. But we went darn near a decade without a winning record. The worst stretch of basketball is Cajun history including the years bookending the death penalty.

The lack of attention was done by our lack of results. It won’t be an overnight change. But we have seen significant improvement in fan interest and attendance. Also if we were in the AAC or a better basketball conference we would see bigger crowds and more chatter as well.

[Turbine]

Article also states that the 19 and 3 record is 8TH BEST in the nation at this time. This is significant. Again, it is nice that these accomplishments are starting to be recognized but more people locally need to be made aware of these. I know the administration is working to continually promote the program and all who participate here recognize the work these guys have put in. We can help simply by making the so-so fans aware by mentioning these in any casual conversations we may have with our friends.

20 before 4

[zephyr]

That's because baseball semi-regularly competes for a national championship.

It does?

[Turbine]

It does?

Simply being in the field of 64 is commonly called "Competing for the National Championship"

[CrazyCajun]

It does?

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?

[VObserver]

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.

[Cajunsmike]

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.

This year we are a Top 50 program. Key is to move that into the 40's and do it on a year to year basis. Post season success followed by another strong start next season will likely get us much greater support at this time next year.

[VObserver]

This year we are a Top 50 program. Key is to move that into the 40's and do it on a year to year basis. Post season success followed by another strong start next season will likely get us much greater support at this time next year.

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.

[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.