MBB Final: Louisiana 84, Xavier of LA 72

[CajunVic]

It has nothing to do with the bottom of a spreadsheet column. It has everything to do with perception.

Competitive recognition in sports cannot exist without variances in perception.

Inflating or deflating a winning percentage is within the natural order of evaluating the quality of a team or season.

It is recognition that some Ws are bigger accomplishments than other Ws

Denying that "record" deflation and inflation (in sports) exists means you ignore every tangible or intangible and percieve a team with a weak schedule in the same light as a team with a strong schedule just because they have the same record at the bottom of a spreadsheet.

Very nice SOS analysis. Kudos to you on that.

[CajunEXPRESS]

No doubt the Xavier Gold Rush are way more talented than one would expect. Good shooters, quick, athletic, and well coached.

We still should have beaten them by 25+ points.

[covcaj]

No doubt the Xavier Gold Rush are way more talented than one would expect. Good shooters, quick, athletic, and well coached.

We still should have beaten them by 25+ points.

I gather we gave pretty near the entire team significant playing time last night, which is exactly why you schedule these games. However, that does affect continuity, and, I imagine, the last five guys in are not as talented as the first five.

[CajunEXPRESS]

I gather we gave pretty near the entire team significant playing time last night, which is exactly why you schedule these games. However, that does affect continuity, and, I imagine, the last five guys in are not as talented as the first five.

The starting 5, and best 10 played the vast majority of minutes. The team was unable to ever get beyond 19 point lead. We were out rebounded by a smaller, shorter team. We had more forced and unforced turnovers.

I’m still giving the Gold Rush appropriate respect. These lapses by a Marlin coached team always have excusers. Those excuses go up in flames once we play better division I teams.

I’m not criticizing Marlin here just saying what I witnessed last night. Hopefully he surprises me and coaches great games this season with great outcomes. I expect to be competitive against Indiana, beat Marshall, LoTech, Brokebacks , and UNeaux over the next few weeks.

[Cajunsmike]

The starting 5, and best 10 played the vast majority of minutes. The team was unable to ever get beyond 19 point lead. We were out rebounded by a smaller, shorter team. We had more forced and unforced turnovers.

I’m still giving the Gold Rush appropriate respect. These lapses by a Marlin coached team always have excusers. Those excuses go up in flames once we play better division I teams.

I’m not criticizing Marlin here just saying what I witnessed last night. Hopefully he surprises me and coaches great games this season with great outcomes. I expect to be competitive against Indiana, beat Marshall, LoTech, Brokebacks , and UNeaux over the next few weeks.

Actually the Cajuns outrebounded Xavier by 8. The turnovers were the most disappointing stat as the Cajuns had 3 more than their opponent. Still, I think the coaching staff was quite disappointed with the play, particularly in the second half. If you listened to Coach Marlin's post game interview you would think the Cajuns had lost the game. I bet they had lots to go over in practice today.

[CajunEXPRESS]

I guess I misheard that rebounding stat.

[Crawfish]

Actually the Cajuns outrebounded Xavier by 8. The turnovers were the most disappointing stat as the Cajuns had 3 more than their opponent. Still, I think the coaching staff was quite disappointed with the play, particularly in the second half. If you listened to Coach Marlin's post game interview you would think the Cajuns had lost the game. I bet they had lots to go over in practice today.

Thanks to Mike, the Joe Friday of RP ("just the facts".) I thought the game played out like it did for 2 reasons:

1) Xavier was better than the typical Xavier NAIA team we normally play. They had some quick guards with a nice touch.

2) I think Marlin is still experimenting with the lineup, resulting in the Cajuns playing so many players that chemistry was not always present on the court. I was somewhat encouraged that we were able to hit more outside shots as the game progressed. The defense played well for most of the game, but we were slow getting back in transition at times. I was also discouraged that our bigs missed some baskets from fairly close range, but I think this will get cleaned up because they have previously made the same shots in other games.

[cajuns80]

Thanks to Mike, the Joe Friday of RP ("just the facts".) I thought the game played out like it did for 2 reasons:

1) Xavier was better than the typical Xavier NAIA team we normally play. They had some quick guards with a nice touch.

2) I think Marlin is still experimenting with the lineup, resulting in the Cajuns playing so many players that chemistry was not always present on the court. I was somewhat encouraged that we were able to hit more outside shots as the game progressed. The defense played well for most of the game, but we were slow getting back in transition at times. I was also discouraged that our bigs missed some baskets from fairly close range, but I think this will get cleaned up because they have previously made the same shots in other games.

They will going against a first team all american big guy sunday afternoon so we will find out if they can guard. First real test of the year.

[Cajunsmike]

They will going against a first team all american big guy sunday afternoon so we will find out if they can guard. First real test of the year.

Indiana game is at 6:30 Sunday evening. Carried on Big 10 network.

[CajunEXPRESS]

I’m not paying for Big 10 network to watch it.

After checking it seems I already am a subscriber