MBB G2 Final: Louisiana 65, Tennessee 87

[Cajunsmike]

When was the last time we beat a top 10 team?

Probably in the Marty Fletcher years when we beat Oklahoma in the 1992 NCAA's. I don't know if they were in the Top 10 at that time. His teams also beat Oklahoma in Norman, Cincinnatti, Kentucky and Memphis. I don't know if any of those games occurred however when the opponent was in the Top 10. I do know that Georgetown was ranked 2nd in the nation when we beat them in the first round of the Great Alaskan Shootout on the Friday in November of 1981. That may be the last time we defeated a team ranked in the Top 10.

[Cajunsmike]

Jessie's teams could indeed compete. ANd had off court issues and other "issues". But they would handle any Marlin team any day. I'm not expecting to win this game against a potential sweet sixteen school. Just show up better after 8 years ..

Last year's team (when healthy) would have competed well with some of Jessie's teams. His stronger teams had lots of talent but he had teams that underachieved as well. The 1999 team had a losing record for example. Now, I will say that I thought Jessie was a better X and O coach than many give him credit for.

[Cajunsmike]

I just want a top 50 win wait..... top 100

If we can't compete with the top just drop coach's salary to 100 k maybe buy a few good games with the extra 400k and enjoy basketball get lucky every 10 years make the dance get slammed the first round rinse repeat.

I know that is your opinion. However, I think you also know there is no way that will EVER happen as the coach was just given an extension.

[Cajunsmike]

When I look at matchups like this I try to find players for UL who would start for the other team. If we have a couple, I figure we have a reasonable chance of winning. In the case of Tennessee and Kansas none of our players would start for them. It is more likely that only Gant would be given a scholarship. We will not win these games with the current talent we have. That said, we have top tier SBC talent. Winning the league and going to the NCAA tournament are attainable goals.

They are not playing this year but Kobe Julien and Jalen Johnson could get scholarships at bigger schools. He was inconsistent last night but Stroman started some games at South Carolina so I think he could get a scholarship at Tennessee in some years, maybe not this one. I agree that Gant could get one and likely would be one of their top bench guys. I get your point. When you compare talent to talent, a 22 point margin is about what you expect. We need guys with more length to compete with a team like Tennessee.

[Cajunsmike]

Against inferior competition. Why is it when we play good teams we resort to isolation basketball? We abandon team play and movement. We play a pitiful pro game with driving for a layup or kicking it out. Everybody stands around on the perimeter and you have to hope someone makes their shot. When they don't, what happened with Tennessee happens over and over again. No one in position to rebound and we quickly get down by 20 and can't recover. Personally, I hate this type of basketball. Tennessee played beautiful basketball and schooled us last night. This happens every time we play a good team, especially one that has height and length, yet we keep forcing drives and have no movement. Looks like Marlin will live and die with this type of game, and so will we as fans.

Coach believes in NBA analytics. Numbers say if you can't get a shot at the rim, you are better off percentage wise to take the three. More and more coaches are buying into this philosophy They will take some mid range shots when that is wide open but that is not what they look for. Against a team like Tennessee, I think we should take more of those.

[cajun_lannister]

I know that is your opinion. However, I think you also know there is no way that will EVER happen as the coach was just given an extension.

What a top 100 win ?

[Cajunsmike]

It’s not that we resort to iso basketball. It’s that good teams can shut down our movement.

That is correct. Superior talent exposes your weaknesses. In today's world, we never get to play those type teams at home and rarely on neutral courts. That is a factor in our struggles in these type games.

[Cajunsmike]

What a top 100 win ?

No, the coach getting his salary dropped to the level you describe.

[zephyr]

Not avoiding a single thing. Read post #60 again.

I did. I commented on it. Its the overstatement post of the year.

[zephyr]

Coach believes in NBA analytics. Numbers say if you can't get a shot at the rim, you are better off percentage wise to take the three. More and more coaches are buying into this philosophy They will take some mid range shots when that is wide open but that is not what they look for. Against a team like Tennessee, I think we should take more of those.

Not if you don't have very good 3 point shooters.