Sorry can't fire Marlin

[cajuns80]

It was just two years ago we had this. And, we won 27 games. And, attendance was maybe a couple hundred better. Hence my comment on college basketball being dead in the deep south among mid majors which I've been saying for at least five years. Look at attendance in the deep south among mid majors...not just here. You'll see I'm right.

Also people could care less when you win 27 and dont make the tournament. Makes it very hard to have any momentum for the fans to jump behind

[cajun_lannister]

It was just two years ago we had this. And, we won 27 games. And, attendance was maybe a couple hundred better. Hence my comment on college basketball being dead in the deep south among mid majors which I've been saying for at least five years. Look at attendance in the deep south among mid majors...not just here. You'll see I'm right.

We averaged 1,200 more people a game after the tournament birth vs. losing 58 fans after the 27 win season.. basketball is not dead here casual fans want tournament births

[ULvictory]

It was just two years ago we had this. And, we won 27 games. And, attendance was maybe a couple hundred better. Hence my comment on college basketball being dead in the deep south among mid majors which I've been saying for at least five years. Look at attendance in the deep south among mid majors...not just here. You'll see I'm right.

There's definitely a little bit of a difference on announced vs actual attendance this season. And understandably so. But in 2018, the numbers looked a lot more accurate because of the way we were playing and better walk up crowds.

[Cajunsmike]

Announced attendance was slightly better. However, actual people in the Dome was much better than now. It will be again if what I describe as quality play happens for two consecutive seasons.

Not to discount Jay's point totally. Leave the Cajuns out of this for a minute. He is right in that little attention is paid to basketball on the huge majority of southern mid major campuses these days. That is the case even if you have a good team. Georgia State is an example of that. They announced about 1200 when we played there earlier this year. I wonder what Stephen F. Austin is drawing this year after the big win at Duke. I would have to check. This situation is one reason I miss having WKU and MT in the league. Those are not "deep south" schools however. Fans there do pay attention to the game and I think that impacts interest elsewhere in the league. Now having a quality product here and the fact that few pay attention to basketball elsewhere are two different issues. Of course we should strive to put an entertaining team on the court.

[basinbear]

Not to discount Jay's point totally. Leave the Cajuns out of this for a minute. He is right in that little attention is paid to basketball on the huge majority of southern mid major campuses these days. That is the case even if you have a good team. Georgia State is an example of that. They announced about 1200 when we played there earlier this year. I wonder what Stephen F. Austin is drawing this year after the big win at Duke. I would have to check. This situation is one reason I miss having WKU and MT in the league. Those are not "deep south" schools however. Fans there do pay attention to the game and I think that impacts interest elsewhere in the league. Now having a quality product here and the fact that few pay attention to basketball elsewhere are two different issues. Of course we should strive to put an entertaining team on the court.

Again.....we can't do what Georgia St has done over the last several seasons? Bull cookies.....

[ULvictory]

Not to discount Jay's point totally. Leave the Cajuns out of this for a minute. He is right in that little attention is paid to basketball on the huge majority of southern mid major campuses these days. That is the case even if you have a good team. Georgia State is an example of that. They announced about 1200 when we played there earlier this year. I wonder what Stephen F. Austin is drawing this year after the big win at Duke. I would have to check. This situation is one reason I miss having WKU and MT in the league. Those are not "deep south" schools however. Fans there do pay attention to the game and I think that impacts interest elsewhere in the league. Now having a quality product here and the fact that few pay attention to basketball elsewhere are two different issues. Of course we should strive to put an entertaining team on the court.

Sure, that may be possibly true. And attendance may be a little affected by that. We have seen it in football. But if "basketball is dead in the south," that shouldn't be justification for us underachieving. Now, I have never heard Jay say that to anyone in this regard outside of attendance. But there are fans who have used that exact quote when talking about not making the postseason or coming up short in recruiting. That's what I meant when I was referring the "woe is me" mantra in my previous post.

[RedTails]

I feel like there was some energy around the program during the JJ Thomas era (RIP). Not sure if basketball in the south is completely dead. Anecdotally, I find my circle of friends becoming more and more interested in basketball (NBA and college basketball). I'm as casual of a basketball fan there is, but I made a bunch of games over the last few years. But I've not had the desire to go at all this year, and neither has my circle of friends. Why is it that MBB is the only sport I see constant excuses for? Scheduling is hard, basketball in the south is dead, we get everyone's best shot. Coach Soy Boy across the basin is reviving a dead program that was surrounded by apathy. Granted, I know that's not apples to apples due to the resources available to them.

I don't have the answers, and I respect Coach Marlin...but hopefully there is a buzz next year around a healthy squad.

[cajuns80]

Not to discount Jay's point totally. Leave the Cajuns out of this for a minute. He is right in that little attention is paid to basketball on the huge majority of southern mid major campuses these days. That is the case even if you have a good team. Georgia State is an example of that. They announced about 1200 when we played there earlier this year. I wonder what Stephen F. Austin is drawing this year after the big win at Duke. I would have to check. This situation is one reason I miss having WKU and MT in the league. Those are not "deep south" schools however. Fans there do pay attention to the game and I think that impacts interest elsewhere in the league. Now having a quality product here and the fact that few pay attention to basketball elsewhere are two different issues. Of course we should strive to put an entertaining team on the court.

They don't care and yet they kick our ___ LOL. And have been to the tournament 3 of 4 years.

[CrazyCajun]

Basketball in general overall is trending downward, it’s dying. College baseball and softball are growing and more people are moving to those spring sports.

[ZoomZoom]

Hate to, but look to the west. McNeese built a new arena that hold right at 4K. They just got on a 7-8 game roll and sold it out against Lamar. Of course they soiled the sheets, am sure the crowd will be back down to the usual 1k. When Dumars, the Lawrence brothers, etc, they drew more than 4 k. We’re stuck in a cavern built to serve other purposes. And don’t expect a stand alone basketball arena.