Bob Marlin, staff counting heavily on newcomers to improve Cajuns defensively and in SBC Race

[cajun_lannister]

According to Mike, he's more than willing to give him as much time as he can outside of a couple of catastrophic years to attempt to make that next step. I don't think Marlin is going anywhere anytime soon.

Hopefully he was just pandering to the basketball crowd or he was serious and we have no ambition to advance ourselves.

[Cajunsmike]

According to Mike, he's more than willing to give him as much time as he can outside of a couple of catastrophic years to attempt to make that next step. I don't think Marlin is going anywhere anytime soon.

I am not sure that is the case any longer. I think basketball knows more is expected than what occurred last season. How much better of an expectation is there? I can’t answer that question and can only guess at what could result from various outcomes. For example a third place finish and bowing out in the tournament semifinals would be an improvement over last season and the recent norm. That may not be enough of an improvement for some of you but I do not believe this would result in a change. However if the result was virtually the same as last year nothing that would result would shock me

[CajunT]

According to Mike, he's more than willing to give him as much time as he can outside of a couple of catastrophic years to attempt to make that next step. I don't think Marlin is going anywhere anytime soon.

I think that depends upon a number of factors. If seasons ticket sales are flat and the season is average at best, there will be tremendous pressure on Dr. Maggard to mover forward. The buyout will be reduced by another year, so it is possible should those factors come to a head. There is money out there, but people need to know what they are buying in to before writing checks. A new direction and the possibility of an exciting new hire for MBB could drive those funds, although diehard Marlin supporters would be reluctant to support such a move. They raised $79K at a football recruiting event last week, so there is money out there, but it won't come easy.

[Million$Mullet]

I think that depends upon a number of factors. If seasons ticket sales are flat and the season is average at best, there will be tremendous pressure on Dr. Maggard to mover forward. The buyout will be reduced by another year, so it is possible should those factors come to a head. There is money out there, but people need to know what they are buying in to before writing checks. A new direction and the possibility of an exciting new hire for MBB could drive those funds, although diehard Marlin supporters would be reluctant to support such a move. They raised $79K at a football recruiting event last week, so there is money out there, but it won't come easy.

Everyone in the basketball department is feeling the heat, no doubt.

[CajunAmos]

As you said in your followup posts, we have overhauled the roster and that probably is a bigger indicator of a need to change than staff movement. As far as Brock is concerned, I do know that there was an emphasis on bringing in youth when the position became open. Both he and Josten Crow aspire to be D1 head coaches one day and that is a good thing to have on your staff. I also don't know at what level the players brought in will perform at but it does appear we will have more athleticism and more depth than in the past. Of course none of us have any idea what type of team we will have at this stage. Consider, only four members of the squad saw playing time last year and one of those saw minimum action. At least two to of the eight new guys were able to practice due to redshirting. On an optimistic note, folks who went to practice have said they were the second and third best players on the team after Gant. That leaves six guys who have never had one practice at the D1 level at this time. Impossible to predict with any kind of confidence how successful they will be at this stage due to so much turnover. This is definitely a wait and see year.

Do you have any info on the home schedule? I'm somewhat reluctant to renew my tickets right now, and that's a shame as I've had them since 1980.

[Esqueleto]

Do you have any info on the home schedule? I'm somewhat reluctant to renew my tickets right now, and that's a shame as I've had them since 1980.

I'm in the same boat as you. Waiting on the schedule

[ManAboutTown]

I am not sure that is the case any longer. I think basketball knows more is expected than what occurred last season. How much better of an expectation is there? I can’t answer that question and can only guess at what could result from various outcomes. For example a third place finish and bowing out in the tournament semifinals would be an improvement over last season and the recent norm. That may not be enough of an improvement for some of you but I do not believe this would result in a change. However if the result was virtually the same as last year nothing that would result would shock me

I have been one of Maggard’s earliest and most vocal supporters. I agree with him on 80% of his actions so far.

If a third place finish in the conference and semi final loss in the conference tournament is good enough to keep the status quo after a decade of irrelevance, we have the wrong man leading this athletic program.

If we’re serious about raising money and getting into a real conference, basketball is going to have to improve in miraculous fashion, in all aspects. Support, revenue, and on court success. And it has to start yesterday.

[Rainman66]

I don't think we would be seeing the major roster overhaul if the basketball program wasn't feeling the pressure.

Dr Maggard has already said he will be more involved in scheduling (more pressure). What are the two biggest things I think Marlin needs to do to be retained.

1. Win all the games he is supposed to, and have an upset or two. He controls a lot of this, but injuries have hurt them the last couple of years.

2. My biggest complaint is something he can control 100%. He has to be more of the public face of the basketball team. His peers, Napier, Glasco and Key (all of Maggard's hires) are always pumping not only their programs, but the athletic department and university in general via social media, radio, etc.

[ManAboutTown]

I don't think we would be seeing the major roster overhaul if the basketball program wasn't feeling the pressure.

Dr Maggard has already said he will be more involved in scheduling (more pressure). What are the two biggest things I think Marlin needs to do to be retained.

1. Win all the games he is supposed to, and have an upset or two. He controls a lot of this, but injuries have hurt them the last couple of years.

2. My biggest complaint is something he can control 100%. He has to be more of the public face of the basketball team. His peers, Napier, Glasco and Key (all of Maggard's hires) are always pumping not only their programs, but the athletic department and university in general via social media, radio, etc.

3. Make the tournament. Period.

And really, win a game in the tournament in the next 3 years. Or kick rocks. It’s time.

[Rainman66]

Not bad, but I would argue if the first 2 don't happen, he shouldn't be here in 2 years, much less 3.

[Duckster]

The program is better now than when Coach Marlin arrived on the scene. However fan apathy has set in. The only cure is the 2019-20 team making the NCAA tourney, which would be great, or recruit a new head coach after the season.

[ULvictory]

The program is better now than when Coach Marlin arrived on the scene. However fan apathy has set in. The only cure is the 2019-20 team making the NCAA tourney, which would be great, or recruit a new head coach after the season.

Fan apathy......says it all.

There’s no question that the program has improved since Coach Marlin arrived in 2010. But to say that we are good enough where we currently are would be pushing it. I think with the roster overhaul that we are definitely seeing a coaching staff that knows that it’s time to win now.