Marlin: 'It was good ... to take a punch in the mouth'

[NewsCopy]

It may have seemed like the end of the world to some.

But after the Sun Belt Conference regular season-champion UL basketball team dropped its regular-season finale to last-place Little Rock 72-61 in overtime Saturday night, Ragin’ Cajuns coach Bob Marlin sought out some silver lining.

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[Tripple Threat]

It may have seemed like the end of the world to some.

But after the Sun Belt Conference regular season-champion UL basketball team dropped its regular-season finale to last-place Little Rock 72-61 in overtime Saturday night, Ragin’ Cajuns coach Bob Marlin sought out some silver lining.

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Just reading the title, I agree. A little humble pie isn't a bad thing.

[angeleast]

Just reading the title, I agree. A little humble pie isn't a bad thing.

lets hope this embarrassing kick in the testes serves as fortitude.

[Turbine]

I think the tournament is the ultimate refocus tool.

What scares me usually is how many times I've seen long win streaks, busted, only to be followed by losing streaks.

I don't think that will happen here, but I still don't subscribe to "that loss was a good thing" attitude.

[RaginScotsman]

I think the tournament is the ultimate refocus tool.

What scares me usually is how many times I've seen long win streaks, busted, only to be followed by losing streaks.

I don't think that will happen here, but I still don't subscribe to "that loss was a good thing" attitude.

I think the “good time for a loss” or “that’ll help us in the long run” attitude is just what upset sports fans say to make themselves feel a bit better. I know I do.

I’m sure there’s some evidence to back it up. Like team’s that have gone on tears after a bad loss. We’ll certainly let know on Sunday if we’re part of that group. I think we are.

[LouisianaB]

I think the “good time for a loss” or “that’ll help us in the long run” attitude is just what upset sports fans say to make themselves feel a bit better. I know I do.

I’m sure there’s some evidence to back it up. Like team’s that have gone on tears after a bad loss. We’ll certainly let know on Sunday if we’re part of that group. I think we are.

When you are constantly winning, you start to think you can’t lose.

[cajunfan79]

The only positive I can see is that this loss didn't come in the first round of the Conference tournament

[zephyr]

I think the tournament is the ultimate refocus tool.

What scares me usually is how many times I've seen long win streaks, busted, only to be followed by losing streaks.

I don't think that will happen here, but I still don't subscribe to "that loss was a good thing" attitude.

It's a good thing if what was needed is a mental reset. It won't be a good thing if teams take a page out of that book and start going more zone against us in the tourney and neutralize our offense. We'll see.

[CharlieK]

Coachspeak. Never good to lose a game.

This team will rebound and run the table in the tourney. When they focus, they are unstoppable in our league.

[cajundiehard]

It's a good thing if what was needed is a mental reset. It won't be a good thing if teams take a page out of that book and start going more zone against us in the tourney and neutralize our offense. We'll see.

We have zone busters that weren't hitting that night which enabled LR to stay in a zone... Usually we have someone hot from 3.... but that wasn't the case Saturday night. I'd like to see Cedric Russell shoot it a lot more. He is going to be special before he's done here...

[AirBill]

It seemed to me that Marlin saw what was happening and let it happen. Hopefully it drove home the point that by not doing what got them there — hard-nosed defense and efficient offense — they'd be in trouble. We'll see if that lesson was learned.

[zephyr]

We have zone busters that weren't hitting that night which enabled LR to stay in a zone... Usually we have someone hot from 3.... but that wasn't the case Saturday night. I'd like to see Cedric Russell shoot it a lot more. He is going to be special before he's done here...

You are right but we are at our best against Man defense. Bartley, Marquetti and Stove have killed people by cutting into the lane and getting short jumpers and layups not to mention Stroman has been real effective getting into the lane and distributing to the bigs. That is where we've put up most of our points. I agree that the 3 was not falling like it should but I'd rather build my scoring base from those short shots in the lane versus living and dying by the 3. I fear that just about everybody we see in the tournament will go zone against us and that affects our rhythm.