We only play two non D1 teams per year. I agree that is too many but it is not as frequent as some think. We had no choice this year to play those in order to get to the 14 home games Learfield requires. The MTE's we play in allow us to play the normal 29 games vs D1 competition. I do give lots of credit to UNO for the intensity they played with last night. We will see how many they win going forward but I think they will contend well in the SLC. We have two chances to play in either the NIT or NCAA in our league. Conference tournament championship is the only way to the NCAA and we have to win the regular season to get to at least the NIT. Can we do that? I have no idea. I know the Georgia schools are good and I know our team is nowhere near the well oiled machine of last year prior to injury. If we finish second in the regular season and lose in the tournament finals our season will be over or we will be in a minor tournament. That would be disappointing but I don't know if I would call that a failure of a season. However, the last two games vs the New Orleans schools shows we do have a gritty bunch. Hopefully, the way they dug deep to find ways to win will pay off once conference play starts.
We were somewhat competitive against the two road games we played vs Top 10 schools we played this year. We also played Michigan State to a 3 point game on the road when Elfrid was here. Losses are not to be celebrated in any form. However the words "competitive" and never were used. Perhaps the term "rarely" would be more appropriate than "never".
I really don’t get the hate for the “other” tournaments, especially with the way the selection committee and NIT treat mid majors these days. Of course the NCAA should be the goal but if you win 20+, finish in the top 4 in conference and make at least the semis of the tournament that is solid, not great but solid. If that is the case let the kids get the chance to go play some more ball with something on the line. If you win the whole thing celebrate and hang a banner. If you don’t at least it was some extra practice and game experience for next years bunch. I really think a 6-6 team going off to a bowl game is much more of a celebration of mediocrity than the CIT/CBI.
McNeese St. (multiple times), Robert Morris, Lamar, Jackson State, Northwestern State, Texas College and I want to say Centenary as well when Wronkowski was there but could be mistaken. These are teams that have beaten us much less competed with us. He does pad his record with wins like this but the criticism comes more from the consistent scheduling of all these teams versus trying to go out and get better competition, especially in the Cajundome.
In fairness to Marlin, we have competed from time to time. We went to a good Michigan State team and barely lost, we lost to Louisville in the NCAA by a few points and we've been competitive against teams like a Baylor and Georgia. Issue is we never win these games and more times than not, we get run out of the gym regardless of how talented we are supposed to be.
Rockets this season is just another example of Big Fish plateau. Lost to a very bad LilRock last year because Stove injured, good Lord an awful LilRock last year. GaSt virtually every game.
It’s a shame that the sycophants chose to muddy the water when Big Fish had such a nice week vs Louisiana teams. But actually that’s about as good as it gets for y’all cause he’s not gonna have two big years in a row. Good luck to the team.
Agree we should appreciate the two wins vs New Orleans area opponents who wanted desperately to beat us. We should celebrate getting those victories in a week’s time vs a focus on our problems right now. If you think that we should blow out UNO at their place just because of resources, you are not being realistic. Just their intensity in such a game insures it will be a war. While it is unlikely we match last year in conference, we may do quite well with proper focus.
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