So, which is it?

[Hatch]

Then stop rooting for a Sunbelt school. If your goal is to get to the NCAA tournament, the conference tournament is the only way in. If you're ok with NIT appearances, then Marlin is your guy and you guys should go have a beer.

Actually the NIT appearance should be more rare than the NCAA for a Subelt school.

[TammanyCajun]

You can take your 13 posts and check them at the door. I want my team and my school to have larger goals. I want us to build a program of consistency and excellence. Going to the NCAA is just a by product of building that type of program. Conference championships should be the first goal in a line of goals established at the beginning of each season. It should be known to recruits what we expect before even stepping foot on campus. We aren't going to make the NCAA every year. We're barely on a 1 of 8 clip. Even with more success there, we may make it only 1 out of every few years. If that's what your goal is, why even have a program?

Is there a right of passage where you have to have a certain number of posts to have an opinion? Is this a fraternity? Where is the "door" that I check them? This is news to me. Did you check your 10,000 posts at this "door?" Want larger goals? Stop playing Xavier and Loyola-New Orleans. Want consistency? Stop splitting with the Arkansas schools at home in conference play. In a results-oriented business that is intercollegiate athletics, you're right conference tournament championships is the goal in this conference. We don't play in the ACC. If you are telling recruits "we aren't going to make the NCAA tournament every year," that is a program I wouldn't want to be associated with. You operate a basketball program to have success and we have agreed that success is measured by conference tournament championships. We both want the same thing, I think. I just seem to have a tad bit higher expectations for the highest paid coach in the league.

[cajun_lannister]

You can take your 13 posts and check them at the door. I want my team and my school to have larger goals. I want us to build a program of consistency and excellence. Going to the NCAA is just a by product of building that type of program. Conference championships should be the first goal in a line of goals established at the beginning of each season. It should be known to recruits what we expect before even stepping foot on campus. We aren't going to make the NCAA every year. We're barely on a 1 of 8 clip. Even with more success there, we may make it only 1 out of every few years. If that's what your goal is, why even have a program?

Lol the more you post the more you align with the Marlin Cronies apparently

[TammanyCajun]

Lol the more you post the more you align with the Marlin Cronies apparently

Lannister, take your 5,500 posts and check them at that door, the big door at the front of the Sigma Farmer Marlin house, hater.

[VObserver]

Is there a right of passage where you have to have a certain number of posts to have an opinion? Is this a fraternity? Where is the "door" that I check them? This is news to me. Did you check your 10,000 posts at this "door?" Want larger goals? Stop playing Xavier and Loyola-New Orleans. Want consistency? Stop splitting with the Arkansas schools at home in conference play. In a results-oriented business that is intercollegiate athletics, you're right conference tournament championships is the goal in this conference. We don't play in the ACC. If you are telling recruits "we aren't going to make the NCAA tournament every year," that is a program I wouldn't want to be associated with. You operate a basketball program to have success and we have agreed that success is measured by conference tournament championships. We both want the same thing, I think. I just seem to have a tad bit higher expectations for the highest paid coach in the league.

I don't think we have agreed on this at all. I think we HAVE agreed that much more frequent Conference Tournament Championships [and NCAA appearances] is the inevitable RESULT of doing all the fundamental things you mentioned; improved non- conference scheduling, a greater focus on winning regular season games against [at a minimum] top 200 RPI programs instead of bloating our record by playing non conference bottom feeders, having a positive attitude toward winning road games instead of instilling in our players the idea that winning on the road is hard, so why even try, recruiting players who can elevate our team, etc... in other words coach to build the program. If you do the steps in the process correctly the results will inevitably align with your goals.

[VObserver]

Then stop rooting for a Sunbelt school. If your goal is to get to the NCAA tournament, the conference tournament is the only way in. If you're ok with NIT appearances, then Marlin is your guy and you guys should go have a beer.

Marlin has won exactly 1 conference regular season championship [so 1 NIT appearance] in 8 seasons, so no thanks.

[TammanyCajun]

I don't think we have agreed on this at all. I think we HAVE agreed that much more frequent Conference Tournament Championships [and NCAA appearances] is the inevitable RESULT of doing all the fundamental things you mentioned; improved non- conference scheduling, a greater focus on winning regular season games against [at a minimum] top 200 RPI programs instead of bloating our record by playing non conference bottom feeders, having a positive attitude toward winning road games instead of instilling in our players the idea that winning on the road is hard, so why even try, recruiting players who can elevate our team, etc... in other words coach to build program. If you do the steps in the process correctly the results will inevitably align with your goals.

I can agree with all of that. However, in year 9, at almost $600k annually, those steps should be in the rearview mirror and we should be seeing more consistent results that you just highlighted. Telling the media (and fanbase) after losing to Arkansas St. that "we have the nicest gym so teams get up to play here" is absolutely ridiculous. I am not sure why we label our 12,000 seat arena a "gym" but irrespective of that, if that is your excuse, I am not buying it.

[TammanyCajun]

Marlin has won exactly 1 conference regular season championship [so 1 NIT appearance] in 8 seasons, so no thanks.

I am with you. Pepper an NIT appearance here and there with an NCAA tournament appearance here and there, then perhaps a couple of rebuilding years is acceptable. The CBI or any other "pay to play" tournament is not an acceptable outcome.

[VObserver]

I can agree with all of that. However, in year 9, at almost $600k annually, those steps should be in the rearview mirror and we should be seeing more consistent results that you just highlighted. Telling the media (and fanbase) after losing to Arkansas St. that "we have the nicest gym so teams get up to play here" is absolutely ridiculous. I am not sure why we label our 12,000 seat arena a "gym" but irrespective of that, if that is your excuse, I am not buying it.

The only acceptable public statement about blame for any loss is "I didn't have the players properly prepared to win."

[Turbine]

Is there a right of passage where you have to have a certain number of posts to have an opinion? Is this a fraternity? Where is the "door" that I check them? This is news to me. Did you check your 10,000 posts at this "door?"....

Number of posts should not matter.

Content and context does though.

[VObserver]

I am with you. Pepper an NIT appearance here and there with an NCAA tournament appearance here and there, then perhaps a couple of rebuilding years is acceptable. The CBI or any other "pay to play" tournament is not an acceptable outcome.

The program goal should be at a minimum NCAA or NIT every year. Of course we won't reach either every year, but we should do what is necessary to consistently achieve those goals every day. It is imperative that those goals be a STANDARD, not a wish.

[TammanyCajun]

The program goal should be at a minimum NCAA or NIT every year. Of course we won't reach either every year, but we should do what is necessary to consistently achieve those goals every day. It is imperative that those goals be a STANDARD, not a wish.

Yes, now we are drinking from the same fountain. I am not saying we have to make it every year or the year is a failure, but this should be the realistic goal every year. Bottom line: two legitimate postseason appearances in nine years is not acceptable.