The value of Free Throw attempts by CajunFun

[Turbine]

Originally posted on delphiforums.com by CajunFun

I am guessing some of you surf this board. Maybe not; people here aren't always very, shall we say, "patient."

The first half of the game against Rice was some of the best basketball I have seen at UL. You guys were flying to the ball, rebounding, harrassing the bejesus out of the Owls, and taking very smart shots.

Rice ain't bad, however.

And so, in the second half, when you got a little tired, the crowd got after you, Rice rallied, and you got pencil-whipped by the refs, you stopped playing quite as smart. You weren't bad, but it wasn't your "A" game.

UL shot 5 free throws. Rice shot 32. Guys, get used to it. IF you get to the NCAAs, you are going to see exactly the same thing.

In fact, to get to the NCAA's you are going to see exactly the same thing.

On a friendly court, with reasonably neutral refs, you guys can relax, horse around, play some street ball, and still beat the fractionated plasma out of the oppostion.

And on the road, with hostile refs, if you give a complete game, you will still win. You have that much talent.

But it's got to be a COMPLETE game.

Look at the following:

2000 NCAAs:
Louisiana 8 FTs
Tennessee 29 FTs

1994 NCAAs:
Louisiana 9 FTs
Marquette 19 FTs

1992 NCAAs, 2nd Round:
Louisiana 5 FTs
NMSU 35 FTs

1992 NCAAs, 1st Round:
Louisiana 25 FTs
Oklahoma 25 FTs
(Cajuns win)

1983 NCAAs:
Louisiana 9 FTs
Rutgers 20 FTs

You can go back to 1972, and see the same thing, over and over. So here's the deal: YOU CAN'T RELAX. If you have a good first half, it means nothing.

Second half, you need to expect a game of eight-on-five.

And there's nothing you can do about it, but focus and keep up the intensity.

[CajunFun]

"If something I say offends you, not only will I retract it, I will deny having ever said it."

The Funsky

[DrySwamp]

It does seem like the guys are relaxing and getting swellheaded (is that a word) but I could be wrong. If the players are doing some of this, Coach Evans definitly should be picking up on this and motivating these guys to play 100% or more the whole game. I know it's tough playing on the road, it's just having to play tougher & I know Jessie knows this. Also the teams we are playing are not terrible teams but very competitive so they've got to give their all to be winners.

GEAUX CAJUN ROUNDBALLERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!