Louisiana Hosts Texas State In Blackout Game

[Cajunsmike]

Nothing against people close to the program, but to automatically say that this team would be 6-2 with a healthier roster is a stretch. Some of the “propaganda” spewed last season was why I was so hard on them especially after we would lose to inferior competition.

For example, we lost to a 5-14 Wyoming team because we went 13/28 from the FT line with a lot healthier team than what we have now. The starting 5 that night included Julien, Gueye, Wilson, Johnson, and Russell. Loss. For TCU, we played TWELVE guys. Lost by 33. For Little Rock, we blew a 14 point lead in the 2nd half at home. And even without Julien, we were good enough to jump to that lead. Loss.

There’s no doubt now that we are struggling due to injuries, but some of the losses earlier in the year before all of this wasn’t injuries. It was bad play and some questionable coaching. Going into this season, all I heard was “wait and see what happens.” Well, with ten years into a coaching tenure, that’s the last thing fans want to hear especially after running off four guys in the offseason.

No one will ever know what our conference record would be with a healthy roster. My opinion is that it would be 5 and 4. The Little Rock game is one that I believe we would have been able to hold on to. No particular view on any of the other games. Just an overall sense.

[cajuns80]

Somehow I missed that Smith played in the Wyoming game. So we had 11 of 13 scholarship players healthy which is still not 90 percent. Lowery would not have been redshirted with Caldwell healthy. I am fairly certain that is the case. Spenkuch was the most likely candidate for a redshirt and likely would have with a healthy roster. As far as the way Julien and Wilson played, Julien did well in that game with 15 points while Wilson struggled. Wilson is a pure freshman however and that was his first road game. Wilson was improving tremendously prior to his injury. His loss has been a big factor in the recent struggles.

Ahhh so Wilson cost us the game you are saying? Has there been a game this year where we have just lost with no excuses?

[Cajunsmike]

Ahhh so Wilson cost us the game you are saying? Has there been a game this year where we have just lost with no excuses?

Wilson played in the Little Rock game. Not his fault we lost that one. Having a healthy Julien may have made the difference there due to the way we matched up. We have lost four straight without Wilson however and he was coming on. Don't have any idea which other games Wilson would have specifically made the difference in. Speaking from an overall sense. See, I think that kid has a chance to play in the NBA if his body gets stronger. We were just starting to see the improvement/potential in him before the knee sprain occurred. He can be a difference maker if he continues to work hard. I have seen over 500 Cajun basketball games in my life so I may be able to tell when a player has potential. As far as other games are concerned. The Wyoming game is obviously a road game the team played terribly in and was reasonably healthy as was pointed out to me. Santa Barbara is one home game we probably lose with a healthy roster as they were fundamentally sound. Last two home games we had no chance to compete with the team we put on the floor.

[ULvictory]

No one will ever know what our conference record would be with a healthy roster. My opinion is that it would be 5 and 4. The Little Rock game is one that I believe we would have been able to hold on to. No particular view on any of the other games. Just an overall sense.

5 and 4 is a reasonable assumption with a full roster. I’d say something similar to that. But for the Little Rock game, people are still using excuses that Julien was out. We had a 14 point lead without him. In the second half! That’s coaching.

[Cajunsmike]

5 and 4 is a reasonable assumption with a full roster. I’d say something similar to that. But for the Little Rock game, people are still using excuses that Julien was out. We had a 14 point lead without him. In the second half! That’s coaching.

Coaches and players both had a factor in that loss. From what I recall we went three happy early in the shot clock midway through second half and went cold. Some mid range shots may have been called for there. Still had the lead in the last two minutes but some bad turnovers sealed our fate.

[cajuns80]

Wilson played in the Little Rock game. Not his fault we lost that one. Having a healthy Julien may have made the difference there due to the way we matched up. We have lost four straight without Wilson however and he was coming on. Don't have any idea which other games Wilson would have specifically made the difference in. Speaking from an overall sense. See, I think that kid has a chance to play in the NBA if his body gets stronger. We were just starting to see the improvement/potential in him before the knee sprain occurred. He can be a difference maker if he continues to work hard. I have seen over 500 Cajun basketball games in my life so I may be able to tell when a player has potential. As far as other games are concerned. The Wyoming game is obviously a road game the team played terribly in and was reasonably healthy as was pointed out to me. Santa Barbara is one home game we probably lose with a healthy roster as they were fundamentally sound. Last two home games we had no chance to compete with the team we put on the floor.

I agree 100% on Wilson being a pro guard one day. I think he is further along as a freshman than EP was.

[Hatch]

I think its the opposite. Years ago the tournament field was smaller and rankings were a much bigger component to postseason access. Now. there are more metrics to view teams and compare. I believe the landscape, especially this year, is much more wide open. Other schools have been able to build programs to where many don't feel they are mid majors any more. I think its the opposite. I think some people make it out to be harder than it is.

So basically, back to Marlin and in ten years it started off promising to have hit a lull and now we are in a downward spiral. If you agree with that as that is the impression I got from your overall view why is it not time to consider other options? When is enough enough?

Look like I said if it is time to consider other options I have no problem with that, although I personally wouldn’t do it this year with the circumstances. If you want to try to get a Richie Riley (not sure how that is working just yet) or Chris Beard and make quick run that would be fun. I still don’t know if new blood and excitement would double the crowds in the dome. I think times have changed there too as we have seen Napier put maybe the best team in the history of the school on the field and he still can’t draw the numbers Bustle did 10-12 years ago.

As far as the downward spiral like I said I just look at it different. They won the conference regular season 2 years ago. Last year I think with Marquetti and Julien they would have won at least 2-3 more conference games. If they win 2 more they would have been tied or in 2nd, 3 more and they are tied or in 1st.

As far as changes in the landscape I’m not trying to make this a generational thing but I’m in my late thirties and I honestly don’t remember a time before there was 64 teams in the tournament (I had to look it up and see that changed in 1985). There have been some mid major powerhouse programs develop but I do think those athletic departments are structured differently as I don’t know if any that play FBS football (and I don’t consider American conference as mid major basketball).

[VObserver]

I am convinced that part of Wisons early struggles were caused by him being limited in what he was allowed to do. Since he has been given a igger role, he has elevated not just his game, but the team's game, especially Smith and Gueye.

[Cajunsmike]

I am convinced that part of Wisons early struggles were caused by him being limited in what he was allowed to do. Since he has been given a igger role, he has elevated not just his game, but the team's game, especially Smith and Gueye.

I agree. Too many times he was just standing in the corner in the half court offense waiting for the ball to go to someone else. When the shot clock gets under 10 seconds he should get the ball as he is one of the few guys we have had recently that can create his own shot in that situation. I also love the way he was starting to rebound from his spot. Now when he does come back, it may take him a game or two to get his rhythm back.

[cajuns80]

Look like I said if it is time to consider other options I have no problem with that, although I personally wouldn’t do it this year with the circumstances. If you want to try to get a Richie Riley (not sure how that is working just yet) or Chris Beard and make quick run that would be fun. I still don’t know if new blood and excitement would double the crowds in the dome. I think times have changed there too as we have seen Napier put maybe the best team in the history of the school on the field and he still can’t draw the numbers Bustle did 10-12 years ago.

As far as the downward spiral like I said I just look at it different. They won the conference regular season 2 years ago. Last year I think with Marquetti and Julien they would have won at least 2-3 more conference games. If they win 2 more they would have been tied or in 2nd, 3 more and they are tied or in 1st.

As far as changes in the landscape I’m not trying to make this a generational thing but I’m in my late thirties and I honestly don’t remember a time before there was 64 teams in the tournament (I had to look it up and see that changed in 1985). There have been some mid major powerhouse programs develop but I do think those athletic departments are structured differently as I don’t know if any that play FBS football (and I don’t consider American conference as mid major basketball).

It's not about THIS year. It's about the last 10.

[CajunVic]

It's not about THIS year. It's about the last 10.

Those are gone. Let’s move on.

[Hatch]

It's not about THIS year. It's about the last 10.

I think I covered every year of Marlin’s tenure at some point in this thread and I really don’t feel like rehashing that. And again I am not adamant that he stay.