MBB NIT Final: LOUISIANA 76, LSU 84

[CajunT]

Gant protecting the rim saved us a lot this season. The problem in the last few games from my point of view is that he wasn't there to do the protecting. In the end we have zero big bodies who could match up underneath with them.

Perhaps, but the one consistent problem in the losses to Georgia State, UTA and LSU was the dribble penetration to the basket without Gant in the game. Last night, he couldn't stop it when he was in the game. Marlin's refusal to go to the zone when the other team starts taking to the basket is his main problem. He admitted last night that he should have sent to the zone earlier in the game. The formula is the same for beating the Cajuns.

I would just like to thank Washington, Stove, Bartley and the other seniors for their efforts this season. The leadership of the first three specifically will be missed and they are good young men. Thank you so much from the Cajun Nation!

[zephyr]

Gant protecting the rim saved us a lot this season. The problem in the last few games from my point of view is that he wasn't there to do the protecting. In the end we have zero big bodies who could match up underneath with them.

You can defend the rim without always blocking shots. If I'm relying on ONE guy to protect the rim, I'm in trouble. Our help defense was non existent the whole game and our on ball defense was atrocious. Bartley was beaten soundly off the dribble by quicker guards all game. Our rotation was terrible. I remember one sequence in the 3rd quarter we actually rotated and got a steal where Bryce made a great pass for an and 1 down in transition. That is what we did most of the year. We didn't do it yesterday. We had very little rotation and recovery and it killed us. We gave up easy layups but I contend that those layups shouldn't have been attempted had we had better rotation and guys in the lane to stop it.

[CajunProud]

You can defend the rim without always blocking shots. If I'm relying on ONE guy to protect the rim, I'm in trouble. Our help defense was non existent the whole game and our on ball defense was atrocious. Bartley was beaten soundly off the dribble by quicker guards all game. Our rotation was terrible. I remember one sequence in the 3rd quarter we actually rotated and got a steal where Bryce made a great pass for an and 1 down in transition. That is what we did most of the year. We didn't do it yesterday. We had very little rotation and recovery and it killed us. We gave up easy layups but I contend that those layups shouldn't have been attempted had we had better rotation and guys in the lane to stop it.

In your opinion, is this a coaching issue, talent issue, or combination of both; or some other factor?

[Clutch0364]

You can defend the rim without always blocking shots. If I'm relying on ONE guy to protect the rim, I'm in trouble. Our help defense was non existent the whole game and our on ball defense was atrocious. Bartley was beaten soundly off the dribble by quicker guards all game. Our rotation was terrible. I remember one sequence in the 3rd quarter we actually rotated and got a steal where Bryce made a great pass for an and 1 down in transition. That is what we did most of the year. We didn't do it yesterday. We had very little rotation and recovery and it killed us. We gave up easy layups but I contend that those layups shouldn't have been attempted had we had better rotation and guys in the lane to stop it.

Completely agree. We depended way to much on him protecting. he misdirected a lot of shots this season that he didn't block.

[Clutch0364]

Perhaps, but the one consistent problem in the losses to Georgia State, UTA and LSU was the dribble penetration to the basket without Gant in the game. Last night, he couldn't stop it when he was in the game. Marlin's refusal to go to the zone when the other team starts taking to the basket is his main problem. He admitted last night that he should have sent to the zone earlier in the game. The formula is the same for beating the Cajuns.

I would just like to thank Washington, Stove, Bartley and the other seniors for their efforts this season. The leadership of the first three specifically will be missed and they are good young men. Thank you so much from the Cajun Nation!

I agree that it was the problem in all our losses. Running more of a zone would have helped last night. I have been calling for a lot more full court press. Our guard play could have handled it.

[zephyr]

In your opinion, is this a coaching issue, talent issue, or combination of both; or some other factor?

Combination along with jitters of playing in BR. They were going to run Bryce in high pick and rolls all game and they killed us with it. We need our coach to adjust and do something different. That's coaching. Problem is that we didn't have anybody to put out there except for Gant or maybe Davis ( who would have been drastically undersized guarding Reath) because we have some under the rim, slow footed guys like Washington and Miller. That's talent. Marquetti guarded the ball really well at times and is our most athletic guy but his head was somewhere else last night and I'm thoroughly confused as to where he was. Overall, their athleticism and quickness at just about every position hurt us. In transition, we were pretty good and should have trapped more as they made bad decisions and we could have gotten some more turnovers. Should have gone zone.

[CajunT]

In your opinion, is this a coaching issue, talent issue, or combination of both; or some other factor?

Combination of both. Anytime we play up, we can't match the other team's length up front outside of Gant. As hard as Washington and Miller play, neither can match the athleticism and length of teams like Clemson and Ole Miss. Big kids like that a hard to recruit at this level, but not impossible. Are best two have been Long and Gant, both were transfers. Hopefully this class with have a few develop to move this program forward.

[zephyr]

Funniest part of this whole thing is that we played poorly and were down 1 point with a minute and a half in the game. I hope LSU is happy and we will hear it from them but Gant and Marquetti were nowhere to be found and they were two of our most important guys this year. That's with a career night from their big.

[anhil8tor]

So let me get this right...

The Wednesday night baseball game that we won was our college world series win. We (as players and coaches) didn't act the fool or disrespect our competitors. We (as fans) didn't boo the visiting team as they left the field and loaded up the bus. We (as a program) served them a hot home cooked dinner and thanked them for coming.

How is that different than our hosts treated us last night? Who do you think it means more to?

[Clutch0364]

Funniest part of this whole thing is that we played poorly and were down 1 point with a minute and a half in the game. I hope LSU is happy and we will hear it from them but Gant and Marquetti were nowhere to be found and they were two of our most important guys this year. That's with a career night from their big.

Gant looked fatigued. Marquetti disappeared after his big game against Texas State. Next year a lot of be expected of Gant and Marquetti. Stroman will need to shoulder more scoring which I think he is capable of.

[fanof71]

Gant looked fatigued. Marquetti disappeared after his big game against Texas State. Next year a lot of be expected of Gant and Marquetti. Stroman will need to shoulder more scoring which I think he is capable of.

Having a big like Jordan Brown is what's needed, 6'6 guys no match for tougher bigs in the 6'10 range

[Clutch0364]

Having a big like Jordan Brown is what's needed, 6'6 guys no match for tougher bigs in the 6'10 range

Jordan would be huge but we need to develop some bigs. Hopefully Elijah McCoy can develop into a serviceable big. Lafayette coming in has nice length but not sure he will have the body to be a pure post.