Basketball points

[R1Letterman]

Every four years.

interesting, thanks.

[CajunNation]

No. RPI is no longer used. NET rankings are and they are 87. Marshall has the best NET rating at 83. Cajuns are 89.

I'll go a step farther. I truly believe had we lost last night our season would be over with 25 wins.

When the NET was explained, I said it would be tougher than ever to get an at large as a mid major.

Time so far has proven me correct.

Wow.

So, how do you get your Net ranking up?

[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.