MBB Final Louisiana 60, Texas State 51

[RaginDave]

2 of our last 4 games were against teams missing there best players. USA Kevin Samuel and Texas State mason Harrell.

[Cajunsmike]

When this team plays as they did the previous 3 games vs. ULM, USA and Ark state, their game was a thing of beauty. Great ball movement, backdoor cuts, beautiful assists, and great outside shooting. That is what we haven't had in the past and why we haven't won. Then, against Texas State, we resorted to our old game, isolation basketball, dribbling endlessly with bad passes and turnovers, little ball movement, forced shots. We overcame that to win, but Marlin never stops play and says enough, quit the one on one game and get back to playing team basketball. We finally have some great shooters instead of a bunch of athletes who can dunk the ball. This is a fun team to watch when they are ON. Not so fun when they are OFF because of what he allows them to resort to. That is Marlin's Achille's heel and he never seems to realize when it has taken over a game, stop play and make the correction. He just let's them play a game that looks like street ball. We win some games despite this because of a weak schedule, but good teams beat us. Play our game and we win the conference and a bid to the NCAA tournament. Resort to old play and we won't make it out of the conference tournament.

The reason the offense looked so poor at times on Saturday was simply because of the missed free throws. At one time we were 5 of 17 from the line. A normal performance there and the Cajuns have this game in hand halfway through the second half. At that point, the Bobcats would have been forced to play faster which would have been to the Cajuns advantage. Three pointers were also not falling Saturday and they were open looks. The Cajuns only had 8 turnovers on Saturday which is one of the best marks in that category all year. It may have looked like more due to the game being played at a slower pace. They also had the best defensive performance of the year against a team that goes late into the shot clock on every offensive possession. You have to win in different ways and Saturday the defense led the way.

[Cajunsmike]

Scheduling sucks. But if UL can’t get more creative than flipping 6 or 7 SWAC games or starts H/H with SWAC teams I’m out. That was the line in the sand with Fletcher and still is for me today. Scheduling a league, who today, has half their teams with a lower net ranking than the SBC’s worst team is stupid. It’s bad enough we have McLeast and UNO, bottom 10% teams on the schedule. So why add teams that drag your program further down? The MAC deal is ESPN just keeping us in our place, two one bid leagues battling it out gains nothing.

I don't think we will have many home and home games with SWAC teams. I am presuming we will resort to paying them due to our problem with getting home and home teams with other teams in the area. Schools like Lamar, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and other state teams have refused to play us home and home in the past. Therefore, I am not optimistic they will agree to do so going forward. Of course we should be playing schools like Rice, North Texas, and UAB on home and home deals. They also refuse and I don't know why.

[Cajunsmike]

We’re losing our star player so probably a rebuilding. Expect mediocrity.

A rebuild next year would not surprise me. However, nothing can be done about that now. At this stage focus should be on supporting the current group. They have done well to date and while I don't assume that will continue at the current pace, I am confident of of a couple of things. That is they will continue to prepare properly and no one will put their own success ahead of the team. You can do all that but still lose any particular game if your opponent has a hot night or if your shots don't fall. As far as end of the season melt down goes, that did not happen at the end of last year. They actually improved in the last couple of weeks. There is still room for improvement with this group and it is likely needed to reach their goals.

[ZoomZoom]

I don't think we will have many home and home games with SWAC teams. I am presuming we will resort to paying them due to our problem with getting home and home teams with other teams in the area. Schools like Lamar, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and other state teams have refused to play us home and home in the past. Therefore, I am not optimistic they will agree to do so going forward. Of course we should be playing schools like Rice, North Texas, and UAB on home and home deals. They also refuse and I don't know why.

I think AFA Rice and company we don’t bring any value to the table NET wise. NW State I think just got a new coach in the last year or so; had a lifer retire if I recall. That might open up. Other than maybe a few butts in the seat, state schools don’t move the attendance needle, much less the NET needle.

It’s a Catch-22 situation of epic proportions. And we’re not alone.

[Cajunsmike]

I think AFA Rice and company we don’t bring any value to the table NET wise. NW State I think just got a new coach in the last year or so; had a lifer retire if I recall. That might open up. Other than maybe a few butts in the seat, state schools don’t move the attendance needle, much less the NET needle.

It’s a Catch-22 situation of epic proportions. And we’re not alone.

Good post there. However, state D1 schools and SWAC teams are still better for the team than playing 3 non D1 schools. We probably will still play one going foward and perhaps 2 as they like playing Loyola as they force you to to prepare properly. We could have 15 home games with 2 non D1's as I think the requirement will be 13 D1 games. I am not certain of that but I recall hearing that no. being mentioned somewhere. You could then play 16 on the road if you get into a 3 game MTE. That allows you to play 2 more than 29.

[RaginDave]

A rebuild next year would not surprise me. However, nothing can be done about that now. At this stage focus should be on supporting the current group. They have done well to date and while I don't assume that will continue at the current pace, I am confident of of a couple of things. That is they will continue to prepare properly and no one will put their own success ahead of the team. You can do all that but still lose any particular game if your opponent has a hot night or if your shots don't fall. As far as end of the season melt down goes, that did not happen at the end of last year. They actually improved in the last couple of weeks. There is still room for improvement with this group and it is likely needed to reach their goals.

Next year will be tough, I think no matter who is the coach, the portal will be hit hard. You are losing probably Jordan Brown and definitely Greg Williams, Terrance Lewis, Jalen Dalcourt. That is 3 starters and one of your off the bench guys.

Hopefully Kobe improves health wise and Joe Charles will take some of those minutes as he continues to get better and better, but it is hard to replace those 4 guys from the roster we have right now.

I assume that Marlin (if he is the coach next year, and based on this year I see no reason why he would not be) will be in the portal hard during the offseason.

[Crawfish]

We are not talking about professional ability. When you say someone is a once in a generation talent, that is talking about a level of a guy like Lebron James or Kobe Bryant, lol. No doubt JB will play professionally although I see it being more in Europe or something like that.

The Cajuns are not the NBA. We are a NCAA mid major team and what I meant by my statement was for the Cajuns. He is player with seldom seen talent. He was a 5 star player and a McDonald's All American. He is currently averaging over 19 PPG. He plays like the best big man the Cajuns have had since Southall (who could not stay eligible) or Long. You can debate on whether Shawn Long was better. That is why I said he is a once in a generational player. I am talking about the Ragin Cajuns not the NBA.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Hasn’t been a generation since Long. But let’s not quibble he’s a rare commodity in SBC

[zephyr]

The Cajuns are not the NBA. We are a NCAA mid major team and what I meant by my statement was for the Cajuns. He is player with seldom seen talent. He was a 5 star player and a McDonald's All American. He is currently averaging over 19 PPG. He plays like the best big man the Cajuns have had since Southall (who could not stay eligible) or Long. You can debate on whether Shawn Long was better. That is why I said he is a once in a generational player. I am talking about the Ragin Cajuns not the NBA.

My response was not an NBA related response. I used those examples as that is what a "generational" player is. One who's talents are not common and often not seen for decades. I'm not trying to diminish his skills and accomplishments but I just thought the term used to describe him is more hyperbole than accurate. Obviously, I think JB is an excellent player but the two players you mentioned along side him are in his generation and you even said its arguable to suggest they might be better. Just Saying