This loss is on you Marlin

[Cajunsmike]

What do you consider to be disappointing? Cause next year will have to really be a bad one for Maggard to make a move. Maggard likes Marlin a lot

I can't comment much as I did not see the game. I am out of state due to having to attend a wedding this evening. I can't say that I am surprised as most teams would have lots of difficulty winning a tournament without two of their top 6 guys being effective. Consider how critical those two are. Gant was the defensive player of the year and is our rim protector. With him in perhaps more pressure is placed on the perimeter and Neal does not have as many buckets. I understand he has bronchitis. I don't know how you even attempt to play basketball with that much difficulty breathing. Stove on the other hand is by far the best sixth man in the league and one of the most versatile players around. Perhaps his defense slows Neal down and he also is good at getting to the rim and making free throws. I have had the ankle sprain he has in the past and it takes months to get over. CajunDome got very quiet when he sprained it against South Alabama and maybe we sensed a bad outcome was headed our way at that time.

[CajunT]

Agreed.

I think that is fair. Once everyone has come down to earth, the question for me and to all Marlin supporter's is what is a reasonable expectation for our MBB program when it comes to winning SBC Championships and attaining NCAA Tournament bids? What is your standard, how often?

[Cajunsmike]

I think that is fair. Once everyone has come down to earth, the question for me and to all Marlin supporter's is what is a reasonable expectation for our MBB program when it comes to winning SBC Championships and attaining NCAA Tournament bids? What is your standard, how often?

Getting to NIT or NCAA's frequently-more often than not is a high expectation but not unreasonable. You have to win a championship in order to do either Health situation at the worst time killed our chances for NCAA's this year.

[Cajunsmike]

Don’t remember the specifics right off hand but he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon unless he chooses to do so.

He has two years remaining on his contract. Someone did tell me recently that any conference championship (regular season or tournament) adds an automatic one year extension. I don't know if that is true but if so he has three years remaining. I can attest that Dr. Maggard thinks very highly of Coach Marlin.

[Cajunsmike]

I agree! You win games you are supposed to win. Marlin is our Ricky Bustle. He’s not the guy to get us to the next level.

Rickey Bustle had one winning season. Basketball just earned their fifth consecutive one. Not saying our goals have been reached but let's be factual.

[CajunT]

Getting to NIT or NCAA's frequently-more often than not. You have to win a championship more often than not. Health situation at worst time killed our chances for NCAA's this year.

Mike, I'm not asking for your feelings on today's game. Do you have any specific expectations, or standards for conference championships and NCAA Tournament bids? There is no right or wrong answer, I just want to see how far apart we are as a fan base on reasonable goals for this program.

[Cajunsmike]

Mike, I'm not asking for your feelings on today's game. Do you have any specific expectations or standards for conference championships and NCAA Tournament bids. There is no right or wrong answer, I just want to see how far apart we are as a fan base on a reasonable goals for this program.

I answered your question a couple of posts earlier.

[CajunT]

I answered your question a couple of posts earlier.

Not exactly specific, more often than not? How many years is more often?

[Cajunsmike]

3 out of every 5. We have not reached that in the past but we may be in position to do so going forward with 7 guys who have played a lot in the last two years returning and a strong recruiting class. The injury to Kobe Julien is a definite negative however. They were counting on him to be like Stove, a versatile guy who can do lots of things. I will say this about Gant's absence today. I received information that he was dealing with more than a head cold, in fact it was bronchitis. I am not a doctor and I don't know the difference between that and pneumonia. I do know that either is serious and I am not surprised he could not go. If they shot too many three balls today, perhaps it is because he was not available to help inside.

[CajunT]

3 out of every 5. We have not reached that in the past but we may be in position to do so going forward with 7 guys who have played a lot in the last two years returning and a strong recruiting class. The injury to Kobe Julien is a definite negative however. They were counting on him to be like Stove, a versatile guy who can do lots of things. I will say this about Gant's absence today. I received information that he was dealing with more than a head cold, in fact it was bronchitis. I am not a doctor and I don't know the difference between that and pneumonia. I do know that either is serious and I am not surprised he could not go. If they shot too many three balls today, perhaps it is because he was not available to help inside.

Okay, thanks. You are a diehard supporter and I just want to have this dialog going forward. There clearly is a divided Cajun Nation when it comes to Coach Marlin.

As for today, the disappointment is tough. But I'm not disappointed in the effort of this team today. Given today's circumstances, the results will be a little bit easier to get over in the next few days.

[ZoomZoom]

Well, I hate to say it, called it for UTA months ago when they were sucking.

[Cajunsmike]

[QUOTE=ZoomZoom;1058204]Well, I hate to say it, called it for UTA months ago when they were sucking.[/QUOT

They do have lots of talent in their starting five. Not surprised they are doing well as teams like that often go through the motions until crunch time. Let me say one thing about our guys. Right now they are very disappointed and enduring a tough trip home. I feel especially for the three main seniors who worked so hard and were not rewarded for their efforts. Very unfortunate one of them was not at his best and could not contribute the way he is capable of. I know hundreds of young men are going through this at this time but it still makes it hard knowing guys we have watched and supported these last few years are having to deal with this. If they are healthy, maybe they can advance in the NIT and keep playing the game they love a little longer.