MBB G13 Final: Louisiana 73, SLU 72

[Cajunsmike]

There have been 81 posts since I mentioned the injury to Marquetti looks to be serious and he could be out extensive time.

Not one reference to it.

Not even a good wish for Marquetti.

Lame.

I thought I had mentioned it in a couple of my posts regarding how much he will be missed on the court. You are right though in that we should have wished him well in battling this from a health standpoint. I regret not doing that and I am sure all Cajun fans are hoping he has a quick recovery. I am sure that is offered regardless of basketball.

[Cajunsmike]

I don't consider 4th in this conference competitive. In the five years you cite, we had a winning record vs top 200 RPI twice [the only two times in Marlin's tenure]. We have finished third or better in conference 3 times in 8 years, our median finish is 4th, our mean finish is also 4th. Out of conference we have had only 3 home games against top 100 RPI teams, and only 11 home games against RPI 101-200 during the 8 years of Marlin's tenure. To his credit, we are 10-4 in those 14 games.

I am happy with that kind of home winning percentage against top 200 teams; I just hate that only 14 of our home OOC games were against teams 200 or better in RPI. 14 were against teams with 201+ RPI, and at least 8 were against non D1 teams. Even worse is the fact that in the 8 years before this year we played 10 road and neutral site OOC games against teams with RPI of 201+, and we were 3-7 in those games [we were 9-32 vs Top 200 RPI in road and neutral site games].

If we have 5 non conference home games, at least 4 should be against teams with a 3 year rolling average RPI of better than 200, and the other should be at least D1. Road games should be similar.

The word "competitive" is obviously subjective from this thread. Fourth is not for some but is for others. Where we will be this year I have no idea but I do know it would be higher if Marquetti did not have to miss any games. The schedule changes you advocate simply won't happen due to the desires to play state teams and few others are willing to come here. Administration supports that approach. It could happen if the state teams improve and the proposed alliance comes to pass. SLU was a good team last year for example and I bet they will have a strong SLC season again. Everyone hopes for less non D1 games despite the fact that buying SWAC teams to replace them hurts the RPI. However that still does more to help prepare the team for conference play. I don't know what the policy on that will be going forward. I continue to remind people that 2/3 of our schedule is against SBC schools and there is nothing we can do about that.

[ManAboutTown]

The schedule changes you advocate simply won't happen due to the desires to play state teams and few others are willing to come here. Administration supports that approach. It could happen if the state teams improve and the proposed alliance comes to pass. SLU was a good team last year for example and I bet they will have a strong SLC season again. Everyone hopes for less non D1 games despite the fact that buying SWAC teams to replace them hurts the RPI. However that still does more to help prepare the team for conference play. I continue to remind people that 2/3 of our schedule is against SBC schools and there is nothing we can do about that.

All fair. But the reality is, as long as these limitations are in place, the ceiling for basketball will be extremely low, and the support will remain tepid. One way or the other, in order to maximize our potential as a program, something has to change in a MAJOR way.

[Cajunsmike]

All fair. But the reality is, as long as these limitations are in place, the ceiling for basketball will be extremely low, and the support will remain tepid. One way or the other, in order to maximize our potential as a program, something has to change in a MAJOR way.

What can change is to win the league more regularly. That will increase support two to three years out. Unfortunate that the health of the team will make that a major challenge this season. Not impossible, but will require more efficient play from a number of guy than we have seen so far this year.

[zephyr]

Or just allow a thug coach to recruit thugs to come and win some ball games.
But I do agree with your 3 legged stool analogy.

So that's it then? It's either recruit less talented players that will graduate or we just go Thug U? Is that what you are saying? So there is no recruiting good players who will go to school and still earn a degree or work towards one? Right now, if we played Yale they'd whoop our ___. They have a couple of guys who are getting looks from the NBA and they are Ivy league kids. You can't tell any of us that we can't go out and find better athletes and overall better players that will still define what a student athlete is.

[zephyr]

What can change is to win the league more regularly. That will increase support two to three years out. Unfortunate that the health of the team will make that a major challenge this season. Not impossible, but will require more efficient play from a number of guy than we have seen so far this year.

And Mike this points to our depth, or lack thereof. There isn't much we can do about overall health and injuries but losing a Marquetti or Gant is a back breaker for us because we don't have the players behind them.

[zephyr]

Yup, one bid leagues in most likelihood.

Possibly for this year but the MWC has been a solid league with multiple ranked teams and tournament teams in the past.

[zephyr]

Spot on. This team has two difference makers and an above average PG. Everyone else are role players who have good games and bad games. Yesterday it was Hardy with some big plays and Miller who had a rough time. Next game it will probably be Miller who steps up. With only 3 players you can count on it will be tough for this team to string together wins. After watching the team yesterday I came away with the feeling that recruiting and not X's and O's coaching is our problem. The execution down the stretch shows Marlin knows what he is doing. He is just not getting good enough HS players. Right now all of our best players are p5 transfers. If he cant get more P5 transfers or more polished HS players ASAP he will not be here for long.

I think this post is spot on and pretty much been my biggest beef with Marlin to date. The only problem is that it has been a trend for his entire tenure here.

[zephyr]

While many of you are complaining about beating Southeastern ( we were in Hammond because it's a two for one, to answer one complainers question) back to the reality at hand.

Malik Marquetti's injury appears to be serious. He could be out a month or more.

And, that's a serious blow to this team.

As far as the scheduling is concern, remember we go to 20 conference games next year. Plus, if Mark Adams is successful with his scheduling consortium, that would make 22. We will continue to play Tech and McNeese and we have Southeastern coming back to Lafayette next year. That's 25. We play at Arizona State. 26. We'll play in an MTE. 27. And if they do the dreaded pair of non-D1's that concludes the schedule.

I was out of town and didn't get to read anything about the game. What is the injury? I feel for him. Sucks to have your senior year go like that.

[Turbine]

There have been 81 posts since I mentioned the injury to Marquetti looks to be serious and he could be out extensive time.

Not one reference to it.

Not even a good wish for Marquetti.

Lame.

I thought you were replying to me.

I hope Marquetti's injury isn't bad and he recovers quickly. GWS

[zephyr]

We have another quality transfer coming in, the top ranked player in the state signed early with us, and the second ranked player from last year is being redshirted. Your suggestions are being followed but that is probably not enough to improve as more is needed. It will be interesting to see if the HS guys can play at a high level next year. They are looking at bringing in another recruit in the spring period. Success there may tell the tale of their fortunes next season.

Mike, out of curiosity, do you know if Marlin and staff are recruiting any of the players that were in the Sunkist Shootout last week? I was there for a couple of days and never saw anybody from UL or at least not that I knew of. The reason I ask is there are some really good players that were in town. Sophie B Wright has several swing men who are not committed that looked pretty good. Walker has the top Sophomore and top Junior Guards in the state on their team and they are REALLY good. The junior dropped 43 against Riverside. We talk about getting better recruits and I'm just curious if we are even on any of them.

[zephyr]

Butler, Wichita State were pointed out as models but they are not really because they are in much different situations. We cannot transplant UL out of the South and into basketball country nor can we reallocate football funds. The other schools pointed out have not had a level of success that is not that much greater than ours.
Come up with a program that is in the same situation and has sustained, top-tier success, because I don't really see one.

First of all, tell me which areas of the country you find to be basketball hotbeds. I'd like for you to identify them before I respond so we keep the contradictions to a minimum.