MBB: Ragin’ Cajuns Dominate the Glass, Roll to Seventh Straight Win

[fanof71]

The SBC will be a one bid league again this season. I remind you that 23 of the 32 leagues are generally one bid leagues. Sometimes it is 24 of 32. Our top NET rated team is James Madison at 63. They are a full two games behind App State in the conference race. 3 really since App has the tie breaker due to 2 victories vs the Dukes. App has a NET rating of 76. That is the case despite having a 17-4 D1 record, being undefeated at home, and earning a win over Auburn. James Madison has a 17-3 D1 record and is rated higher due to winning at Michigan State. In the conference race, the Dukes are currently third with 3 losses. They own the tie breaker over the Cajuns due to their January win at the Dome. That is one game this season in which the Cajuns shot free throws poorly. Point of all this is you are not really in line for an at large bid unless your Net Rating is in the 50's and it probably needs to be over 50 for decent consideration. The NET replaced the RPI but has done nothing to help the mid majors when it comes to at large consideration. Like it or not, the 3 days in March is really what it comes down to for the great majority of schools in D1 (over 350 schools in that category) when it comes to participation in the NCAA tournament. Sorry for being long winded but I think the one bid league status of the SBC needed to be put into proper perspective.

Well said Mike...

[Doug]

This years team really is surprising me. This feels like the first time Marlin is putting up good after good seasons.

[zephyr]

The SBC will be a one bid league again this season. I remind you that 23 of the 32 leagues are generally one bid leagues. Sometimes it is 24 of 32. Our top NET rated team is James Madison at 63. They are a full two games behind App State in the conference race. 3 really since App has the tie breaker due to 2 victories vs the Dukes. App has a NET rating of 76. That is the case despite having a 17-4 D1 record, being undefeated at home, and earning a win over Auburn. James Madison has a 17-3 D1 record and is rated higher due to winning at Michigan State. In the conference race, the Dukes are currently third with 3 losses. They own the tie breaker over the Cajuns due to their January win at the Dome. That is one game this season in which the Cajuns shot free throws poorly. Point of all this is you are not really in line for an at large bid unless your Net Rating is in the 50's and it probably needs to be over 50 for decent consideration. The NET replaced the RPI but has done nothing to help the mid majors when it comes to at large consideration. Like it or not, the 3 days in March is really what it comes down to for the great majority of schools in D1 (over 350 schools in that category) when it comes to participation in the NCAA tournament. Sorry for being long winded but I think the one bid league status of the SBC needed to be put into proper perspective.

The Net is based off of who you beat and who you lose to. By playing a good schedule, you can impact your Net rankings significantly. We do not play a good schedule. We get few to no Quad 1 opponents and we surely don't beat them if we play them.

I think that's why you're seeing so many of the top teams this year playing each other OOC. It's been fun to see the Uconn's playing the UNC's and such. They know that even if you lose, its better to lose to a Quad 1 team when it comes down to selection day.

I don't think anything will help the mid majors until they improve their scheduling and, of course, actually win some of those matchups with better teams.

[RaginReview]

The Net is based off of who you beat and who you lose to. By playing a good schedule, you can impact your Net rankings significantly. We do not play a good schedule. We get few to no Quad 1 opponents and we surely don't beat them if we play them.

I think that's why you're seeing so many of the top teams this year playing each other OOC. It's been fun to see the Uconn's playing the UNC's and such. They know that even if you lose, its better to lose to a Quad 1 team when it comes down to selection day.

I don't think anything will help the mid majors until they improve their scheduling and, of course, actually win some of those matchups with better teams.

Start beating better teams while continuing to win AND make the basketball game entertaining outside of the game. People will show up for that.

[Turbine]

Start beating better teams while continuing to win AND make the basketball game entertaining outside of the game. People will show up for that.

Correct, but not overnight.

It will take a couple of seasons with this new model to change perceptions.

[CajunVic]

Correct, but not overnight.

It will take a couple of seasons with this new model to change perceptions.

We have a new model? Looks like we have the same model as about 90% of all of basketball, 3 games in March. We need to do the best we can with what we have. Only positive vibes going forward. In Marlin, staff and roster we trust.

[Turbine]

We have a new model? Looks like we have the same model as about 90% of all of basketball, 3 games in March. We need to do the best we can with what we have. Only positive vibes going forward. In Marlin, staff and roster we trust.

"squirrel"

I was replying to "start" it reqires a new model.

[Cajunsmike]

The Net is based off of who you beat and who you lose to. By playing a good schedule, you can impact your Net rankings significantly. We do not play a good schedule. We get few to no Quad 1 opponents and we surely don't beat them if we play them.

I think that's why you're seeing so many of the top teams this year playing each other OOC. It's been fun to see the Uconn's playing the UNC's and such. They know that even if you lose, its better to lose to a Quad 1 team when it comes down to selection day.

I don't think anything will help the mid majors until they improve their scheduling and, of course, actually win some of those matchups with better teams.

We played a very good mid major schedule. Toledo, La. Tech, Samford, Eastern Kentucky, and McNeese all either lead their conference or are challenging for a chance at the top spot. Of course those teams did not win enough against bigger schools to help themselves or us. As usual, that is because the great majority of those type games are on the road. Unfortunately we did not beat enough of those clubs. I wonder how we would do now against that competition since Hosanna Kitenge has improved so much. We now have an inside presence we did not have earlier in the season. Still the point remains that 23 of 32 conferences are one bid leagues.

[Million$Mullet]

Also Youngstown St is 17-7 and one game out of first in their conference. I know we had no money games but this schedule has turned out to be some pretty solid competition. And it was all when we were trying to find our identity.

[UL_Cajuns]

Also Youngstown St is 17-7 and one game out of first in their conference. I know we had no money games but this schedule has turned out to be some pretty solid competition. And it was all when we were trying to find our identity.

Youngstown State win looks pretty good. They made the tournament last year as well.

Hope for the sake of the overall program we can get back to the NCAA tournament again this year.