Crowd estimate for Basketball Senior Night.

[Turbine]

You had a team with Long and Payton. They are NBA players, at least Long was and may be one in the future. I think you got my point. In this league, you would hope and expect to have that type of top end talent to either win the league or at least win the conference tournament.

A sophomore and a junior.

A little revisionist projecting since Payton wasn't drafted for his scoring.

[Cajunsmike]

Maybe he’s getting rewarded for everything in his current contract.

Bob wouldn’t expect to be fired or his contract renegotiated down if he had a couple bad seasons. This is his only outstanding season ever and he’s getting long in the tooth. I’d hope we’re not going to give him a longer more lucrative contract based on that. By the way I’d bet we’re still a long shot in Vega vs the field to get to the dance.

That is what I meant about an extension. His current contract may have a provision for it to occur automatically with a championship.

[Duckster]

I tend to agree with Cajunsmike's theory on baseball attendance skyrocketing when the program maintained elite level status for multiple years. A solid core of fans was already in place then was expanded upon. Coach Robe seems to be playing younger players this year, next year will be better.
Cajun basketball simularly has a solid core of attending fans, moreso than most Deep South mid major programs. Applying Cajunmike's theory on baseball attendance to basketball attendance we should expect an upswing in the coming years based upon winning, and hopefully notch NCAA tourney win(s). Our fan base then enters each season expecting to win big especially if recruiting is stellar. I can't think of any reason, (well maybe the SBC) why our MBB program can't achieve and maintain Top 25 rankings much like Mid Tenn is doing. Lastly, the Cajundome renovations took the place from good to great. Other than outrageous concession prices fleecing the fans, the Cajundome is now a great place to take in a game. I believe a lot of programs would trade places with us in a heartbeat. Geaux Cajuns!

[talktomewillis]

You are comparing Marlin to guys who had a much smaller field for the tournament so there were less spots to take up for the same number of teams. You also had coaches who won some big games on the road and got some big teams at home. I would say that Marlin has underperformed but I don't want to take away from the season he has had this year. I'm all in and he has my support.

The rest of your argument has merit. You also have to understand that many people's perceptions of Marlin were based on years prior to this one. Multiple NBA players, higher expectations only to never really challenge even for the league top 2 or 3, tons of turnover all while being the highest paid coach in the conference. There were many reasons to be skeptical.

I think we'll agree it's really hard to win on the road. And, that perception/reality thing is tough to overcome.

I mentioned the 82-83 independent team that got an at large. Great accomplishment.

But winning on the road?

Now, I'm not talking neutral site games. Bobby had some great wins. GREAT wins.

But on the road? Starting with his first NIT bid in Toney's senior year, their best road wins were:

1979-80 Oregon...but they were 6-17
1980-81 Northeast La.
1981-82 Louisiana Tech (opening of the TAC)
1982-83 Southern Miss
1983-84 Ole Miss ( who lost 20 games)
1984-85 Tennessee Tech
1985-86 UNO

That's why I question those who say we should pump up our schedule by playing more road games. As good as Bobby's teams were, they weren't a very good road team. But I give them credit for going to neutral sites and winning.

Both Marty and Jessie had a better road win. Marty at OU and Jessie at Miss. St. Both were ranked in the top 15 at the time.

Which is what I would like to see happen in the future. Hopefully, the Caymans is just the beginning.

[zephyr]

Chris Beard born 1973
Bob Marlin born 1959

There’s no comparison between Beard and Marlin than an aging head coach and a young guy on the rise just a couple years ago.

Bob’s going to need a couple NCAA wins to be on a high paying job hot list.

LOL. I compare the types of years they had and you go with age? Really? Two years ago, UALR dominate the league, win the conference tournament and get possibly the same seed we will get this year if we win out. They go and reach the Sweet 16. Beard is poached and goes to TTU. If we were to follow that path, there may be many more similarities between the two and you'll have to find something better than age.

[zephyr]

I agree. I'm always watchful of our own fans thinking there's some way of forcing fandom. It does not work. And I agree, it's not easy to attract fans to something not already the rave. If our MBB program is being isolated in a study to evaluate how to increase that fandom... I'm all for it. I think Cajunmike is a little puzzled as to why a team with a gaudy record and good character isn't creating a sold out Cajundome. When the best answers come in... all I'm saying is... you must address those issues... or you will keep getting exactly what you're getting.

Sometimes... when it comes to analyzing fans... I see it like a teenage girl asking her mom "why don't the boys ask me out?". I can tell the mom and the girl the blunt truth. But I'd probably get in trouble. But I can guarantee the girl one thing... you can analyze yourself and the boys until the cows come home... but they'll ask you out when they damn well want to. How to make that "want" does not involve cutting them down.

I think we are all curious as to why the attendance is not better by average.

[Cajunsmike]

I think we'll agree it's really hard to win on the road. And, that perception/reality thing is tough to overcome.

I mentioned the 82-83 independent team that got an at large. Great accomplishment.

But winning on the road?

Now, I'm not talking neutral site games. Bobby had some great wins. GREAT wins.

But on the road? Starting with his first NIT bid in Toney's senior year, their best road wins were:

1979-80 Oregon...but they were 6-17
1980-81 Northeast La.
1981-82 Louisiana Tech (opening of the TAC)
1982-83 Southern Miss
1983-84 Ole Miss ( who lost 20 games)
1984-85 Tennessee Tech
1985-86 UNO

That's why I question those who say we should pump up our schedule by playing more road games. As good as Bobby's teams were, they weren't a very good road team. But I give them credit for going to neutral sites and winning.

Both Marty and Jessie had a better road win. Marty at OU and Jessie at Miss. St. Both were ranked in the top 15 at the time.

Which is what I would like to see happen in the future. Hopefully, the Caymans is just the beginning.

We beat Texas on the road in the 1980 NIT. That was a great win at the time. Best road win for Coach Marlin wAs at Tech in 2014. I think they won CUSA regular season that year. ThAt team may have gone further had Bryant Mbamalu and Kasey Shepherd both been healthy all year

[zephyr]

A sophomore and a junior.

A little revisionist projecting since Payton wasn't drafted for his scoring.

Turbine, you don't get drafted in today's NBA to be a specialist. You are drafted because of what your short and long term projections suggest and Payton was drafted knowing he could become better on the offensive end of the court. I think you are derailing the entire point of our recent argument with this.

[Turbine]

I think we are all curious as to why the attendance is not better by average.

I would love to know how many "different people" attended basketball games this year?

Therein is the potential.

[Cajunsmike]

I would love to know how many "different people" attended basketball games this year?

Therein is the potential.

Good question. Lots of people who participate here in not most have indicated they have gone to a game here and there. Therefore there may be potential for improvement. I will say this thread has missed one component on how to improve things is to really target students. That needs to be a focus at the beginning of next season.