MBB G11 Final: Louisiana 62 Tech 83

[zephyr]

Troy won at wku today!!! Chaulk one up for the lowley sunbelt.

That's a damned good win. WKU is legit this year.

[Jacob81]

WKU beat West Virginia and Arkansas this year. But the loss drops them to 5-5.

[zephyr]

WKU beat West Virginia and Arkansas this year. But the loss drops them to 5-5.

Lost 4 out of last 6. I didn't realize they had lost to Missouri State and Indiana State. I saw them against UCF and they had a nice lead in that game but Tacko Fall took over in the second half. Seem to be a bit up and down this year but if they can get it going in conference they would be an interesting team to look at going into the tournament.

[Cajunfanatico]

During last night's discussion here the subject of "basketball powers" was brought up and I believe it was Jacob81 saying that it's so hard to build a program with basketball tradition in the mid majors in the deep south.

I would have to ask, why?

It's often said that a number of states in the midwest is where there's more "tradition" in basketball than in the south.........I'm guessing that means more high caliber high school players to help build college teams. I also often hear that a number of schools that don't feature football, concentrate on basketball, and are somehow basketball powers year-in and year-out because of that.

Again I'd ask, why?

1) Are there not plenty of quality high school basketball players in the deep south? I suspect there are. I understand that, just as it is in football, 4 and 5 star guys are likely to go to P5 programs, but are there still not plenty of 3 star guys to get, guys who still have the potential to be NBA players with the right coaches teaching them?

2) If there are not plenty of quality high school basketball players in the deep south, what's to keep an aggressive coaching staff from going wherever they are and getting them by recruiting them tirelessly? I know we've done that here before. Can we not do it again?

3) What advantage does a school that doesn't offer football, have over a similar-sized program that does? The only thing I can imagine would be a larger budget focused on basketball, but other than coaches salaries and perhaps a marginally better-looking facility in which to play the game, how does that extra budget actually translate into better players and more wins? How does that extra money translate into recruits saying.....that's where I want to play? How is it that some of those schools like Butler and Dayton, just to name a couple, always seem to get into the NCAA tournament, often with an at-large, and often winning a game or two, or even three? How is that? Don't they compete against the P5's for their players as well?

I suspect what's happening here is that we are letting this coaching staff make this sound impossible when it's not. Am I saying it's easy? Of course not. Being the best at whatever the hell you're doing ALWAYS takes a lot of effort and committment.

I just think the effort and committment is not there. It starts each year with lazy scheduling and goes from there.

Okay, I'm done.

[CajunVic]

During last night's discussion here the subject of "basketball powers" was brought up and I believe it was Jacob81 saying that it's so hard to build a program with basketball tradition in the mid majors in the deep south.

I would have to ask, why?

It's often said that a number of states in the midwest is where there's more "tradition" in basketball than in the south.........I'm guessing that means more high caliber high school players to help build college teams. I also often hear that a number of schools that don't feature football, concentrate on basketball, and are somehow basketball powers year-in and year-out because of that.

Again I'd ask, why?

1) Are there not plenty of quality high school basketball players in the deep south? I suspect there are. I understand that, just as it is in football, 4 and 5 star guys are likely to go to P5 programs, but are there still not plenty of 3 star guys to get, guys who still have the potential to be NBA players with the right coaches teaching them?

2) If there are not plenty of quality high school basketball players in the deep south, what's to keep an aggressive coaching staff from going wherever they are and getting them by recruiting them tirelessly? I know we've done that here before. Can we not do it again?

3) What advantage does a school that doesn't offer football, have over a similar-sized program that does? The only thing I can imagine would be a larger budget focused on basketball, but other than coaches salaries and perhaps a marginally better-looking facility in which to play the game, how does that extra budget actually translate into better players and more wins? How does that extra money translate into recruits saying.....that's where I want to play? How is it that some of those schools like Butler and Dayton, just to name a couple, always seem to get into the NCAA tournament, often with an at-large, and often winning a game or two, or even three? How is that? Don't they compete against the P5's for their players as well?

I suspect what's happening here is that we are letting this coaching staff make this sound impossible when it's not. Am I saying it's easy? Of course not. Being the best at whatever the hell you're doing ALWAYS takes a lot of effort and committment.

I just think the effort and committment is not there. It starts each year with lazy scheduling and goes from there.

Okay, I'm done.

Proof Perfect - look at Tico's post right here - being the best at whatever the hell he is doing.

[Jacob81]

During last night's discussion here the subject of "basketball powers" was brought up and I believe it was Jacob81 saying that it's so hard to build a program with basketball tradition in the mid majors in the deep south.

I would have to ask, why?

It's often said that a number of states in the midwest is where there's more "tradition" in basketball than in the south.........I'm guessing that means more high caliber high school players to help build college teams. I also often hear that a number of schools that don't feature football, concentrate on basketball, and are somehow basketball powers year-in and year-out because of that.

Again I'd ask, why?

1) Are there not plenty of quality high school basketball players in the deep south? I suspect there are. I understand that, just as it is in football, 4 and 5 star guys are likely to go to P5 programs, but are there still not plenty of 3 star guys to get, guys who still have the potential to be NBA players with the right coaches teaching them?

2) If there are not plenty of quality high school basketball players in the deep south, what's to keep an aggressive coaching staff from going wherever they are and getting them by recruiting them tirelessly? I know we've done that here before. Can we not do it again?

3) What advantage does a school that doesn't offer football, have over a similar-sized program that does? The only thing I can imagine would be a larger budget focused on basketball, but other than coaches salaries and perhaps a marginally better-looking facility in which to play the game, how does that extra budget actually translate into better players and more wins? How does that extra money translate into recruits saying.....that's where I want to play? How is it that some of those schools like Butler and Dayton, just to name a couple, always seem to get into the NCAA tournament, often with an at-large, and often winning a game or two, or even three? How is that? Don't they compete against the P5's for their players as well?

I suspect what's happening here is that we are letting this coaching staff make this sound impossible when it's not. Am I saying it's easy? Of course not. Being the best at whatever the hell you're doing ALWAYS takes a lot of effort and committment.

I just think the effort and committment is not there. It starts each year with lazy scheduling and goes from there.

Okay, I'm done.

So when you say we’re letting the coaching staff make it sound impossible. Are you talking about all the mid major fan bases and coaching staffs in the south? Because apparently we’re all in the same boat. Win your tourney or your out. Except for few cases down here. Like Houston this year maybe. But if they lose a couple inconference to uconn, Cinn, ucf, or smu. They will be in the same position. So maybe it’s not impossible but it seems really freakin hard, because no one is doing it down south.

[CajunVic]

So when you say we’re letting the coaching staff make it sound impossible. Are you talking about all the mid major fan bases and coaching staffs in the south? Because apparently we’re all in the same boat. Win your tourney or your out. Except for few cases down here. Like Houston this year maybe. But if they lose a couple inconference to uconn, Cinn, ucf, or smu. They will be in the same position. So maybe it’s not impossible but it seems really freakin hard, because no one is doing it down south.

I can't read this enough for it to make sense. All I understood was the boat. Maybe 81 is fishing.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Excuse me but did we hire Marlin to be average,and not compete at the highest level? Whatever his game plan is to make those 3 days in March special ain't working. So nothing special in March, and nothing special anytime. I'd like to know if that's your idea of success? He's not much different than everyone else isn’t getting me excited.

[ULvictory]

Excuse me but did we hire Marlin to be average,and not compete at the highest level? Whatever his game plan is to make those 3 days in March special ain't working. So nothing special in March, and nothing special anytime. I'd like to know if that's your idea of success? He's not much different than everyone else isn’t getting me excited.

Follow the “Les Miles” model. Win just enough games to stay afloat.

[CajunVic]

Follow the “Les Miles” model. Win just enough games to stay afloat.

I like a boat that floats.

[Jacob81]

Excuse me but did we hire Marlin to be average,and not compete at the highest level? Whatever his game plan is to make those 3 days in March special ain't working. So nothing special in March, and nothing special anytime. I'd like to know if that's your idea of success? He's not much different than everyone else isn’t getting me excited.

My point about mid major powers in the south in basketball has nothing to do with marlin or this program. I’m simply asking, how hard is it to have a consistent winning mid major program in the south? And more so, a relevant one. I asked for examples, got 1 response. Houston , who is ranked now and 10-0 but I haven’t herd of Houston basketball since Hakeem and Clyde were there. So not exactly consistent winners.

[Cajunfanatico]

Excuse me but did we hire Marlin to be average,and not compete at the highest level? Whatever his game plan is to make those 3 days in March special ain't working. So nothing special in March, and nothing special anytime. I'd like to know if that's your idea of success? He's not much different than everyone else isn’t getting me excited.

Zackly. While Napier's class has not yet signed, if things work out the way we all believe, he'll have signed a class near the top of the G5's. THAT'S FREAKIN' HARD to do, right?