Basketball points

[Turbine]

Well, I traveled more with this team than any team in the past. You can stop with the "verbal parrots of coach speak." I SAW the results on the buses after games and during trips. I HEARD the unselfishness of the players as they stood up in the bus to extol the performances of their teammates.

So you can stop right there.

I totally buy in to the unselfishness, their crediting teamates, the humility. All of it, all season long.

But them going back to the preseason in the post game last night is is 100% repeating coach speak.

I have been in on many post-game press conferences where.
a) Coach talks to players.
b) Coach talks to media.
c) Players talk to media.

Result players are repeating verbatim what the coach just said about keys to the game (etc) and they weren't even in the media room together.

None of that takes away from them extoling each other's performances.

[KajunKrazy]

2013-14
2017-18
2022-23

Saying Drake paid for the trip.

So you want to bring in
2013-14
2017-18
2022-23?

The question was what quality team would you spend that money on that is willing to come here for that price? How do you know its all about a money thing and not about a willingness to play on the road against a quality mid major? Name those quality teams that he should be bringing in?

[sportsfanatic21]

Thanks cajunsmike for the original post.

The rest of this thread is stupid. The team had a great regular season. And last night won the conference tournament, which is the ONLY way for a Sun Belt Conference team to make the NCAA tournament in the current landscape of college basketball.

The money spent in PR would be nowhere near what it would cost to bring in a team that, if (and a BIG if) the Cajuns had beaten, wouldn’t have made any difference in making the NCAA tournament without winning last night.

Is it so difficult to enjoy the moment and celebrate this team accomplishing what they’ve accomplished?? My God.

[LouisianaB]

Then you're not accepting reality.

Three trips overseas. Three championships. That isn't a coincidence. All three of those trips helped with bonding and chemistry. The players themselves said as much in interviews last night.

Do the trips mean some kind of magic happens to win a tournament? Of course not. But to say it has nothing to do with it is simply wrong.

Now, if you want to say we should do it without those trips, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it.

So, now I'll ask you this question. And, anyone else can chime in.

For the cost of the Puerto Rico trip, what quality of opponent (assuming we had raised that money each year) do you think we could bring to the Dome?

Whatever your answer is, it won't do nearly as much as those trips did. And, you'll probably be wrong about the quality of opponent.

So can we win a SBC championship without going overseas?

[Turbine]

So you want to bring in
2013-14
2017-18
2022-23?

The question was what quality team would you spend that money on that is willing to come here for that price? How do you know its all about a money thing and not about a willingness to play on the road against a quality mid major? Name those quality teams that he should be bringing in?

Misunderstood your question I thought you meant define quality teams Marlin has had.

I read further back and see you were responding to my saying BRING IN a quality team.

I can't answer your question today.

[Turbine]

No one has undermined last night's accomplishment.

I think it is important to know how you got to a certain point (so you can repeat) and Puerto Rico is not why they won last night.

[cajun4life]

Just to touch on the at large chances. For any SBC program to get an at large, OOC scheduling has to improve and the results have to be good.

But, an at large berth earns a NCAA unit. Just like winning a game in the tournament. So, now you know why the mediocre programs in High Major leagues get the at large spots. Follow the money.

[zephyr]

Why do THEY say it contributed to success then. The extra 10 days of practice and experience of 3 games in 3 days were also positives of trip

I think many here are miscategorizing what chemistry is. Playing with chemistry can be anything from generating bonds between the players and you always play better and harder for guys you like. It can be having a feel for what each player can do and you make decisions on the court quicker because you know what to expect from each player. Ultimately, it can mean you playing better as a group and that leads to consistency. I'd say we were pretty consistent this year. I've never seen a Cajun bench as intense during games as I saw this year and it was noticeable if you are watching in person. That includes the managers, bench players, coaches, support staff standing and talking and when we were on defense you could hear them from the benches. That is chemistry and its not just a player issue. It doesn't guarantee you wins but I think it helps in tough games and I'd say this team had chemistry and I'd say it was beneficial this year.

[Turbine]

I think many here are miscategorizing what chemistry is. Playing with chemistry can be anything from generating bonds between the players and you always play better and harder for guys you like. It can be having a fell for what each player can do and you make decisions on the court quicker because you know what to expect from each player. Ultimately, it can mean you playing better as a group and that leads to consistency. I'd say we were pretty consistent this year. I've never seen a Cajun bench as intense during games as I saw this year and it was noticeable if you are watching in person. That includes the managers, bench players, coaches, support staff standing and talking and when we were on defense you could hear them from the benches. That is chemistry and its not just a player issue. It doesn't guarantee you wins but I think it helps in tough games and I'd say this team had chemistry and I'd say it was beneficial this year.

Agree

[zephyr]

Just to touch on the at large chances. For any SBC program to get an at large, OOC scheduling has to improve and the results have to be good.

But, an at large berth earns a NCAA unit. Just like winning a game in the tournament. So, now you know why the mediocre programs in High Major leagues get the at large spots. Follow the money.

Correct. Having the conference improved with the new arrivals will help but it won't turn the dial in regards to getting at large bids. UNC will miss the tournament with a SOS in the 20's and Net ranking somewhere in the 40's and they are a blue blood in a power conference. The SBC had 4 teams with NET rankings under 100 which has never happened but all were in the 70"s and up. Our OOC SOS would absolutely have to get much better along with adding some neutral site stuff so we're not always playing on someone's court an Oh, we would have to start winning some of those games also.

[zephyr]

I'm not the biggest basketball fan in the world, but there are three things that this team did this year that I didn't see as much in the past

1 they shot free throws and made those points, it drives me nuts to see teams that aren't good free throw shooters since to me that shows a team that doesn't pay attention to the small details

2 they rebounded and had multiples around the board which enabled them to have rebound points

and 3 they were very good from the 3 point range which would open up the inside game when needed.

I would argue one thing and that's FT's. We were near the bottom in the league in that regard and our best player struggled from the FT line and that may be a big issue moving forward in the tournament if we get in a close game.

[IberiaCajun]

One more point. The hunger and energy of the young assistants contributed to success. They also had come from winning programs. Donovan Kates came from Alabama and Casey Perrin from
Texas Tech/Texas. 2nd year coach Derrick Zimmerman became lead assistant and was up to task. Moving Neil Hardin to Director of Scouting was a great move as he excels in that aspect. Team gave him a great birthday present last night as he turns 50 today. Our guys were rarely not prepared properly this season. People who have ties to coaching world know assistants do most of work and I just wanted to give shout out to those guys.

Happy Birthday Neil.