UL vs Tulane

[Turbine]

JJ Thomas was on fire up until the 5 minute mark or there abouts.

[MetryCajun]

_ I agree that last year's team was better than this version of the Cajuns. I say that without without a coaching aspect to the comment. Last year, we had the SBC player of the year in Tyren Johnson. No one on this team comes close to his production. Although he was inconsistent, Gradnigo at times could get hot and score a few baskets. It is unfortunate he decided to leave because I believe he would have helped this year's team. Seems like we are always looking ahead but next season will be the first year Coach Marlin will really have his team on the court. 5 of the current squad are his recruits, 2 are sophomores brought in by Coach Lee, and five are seniors. Next year, we will have the five mentioned earlier, 4 recruited in early signing, and the two sophomores mentioned earlier. Also, expect us to bring in two freshman in the spring signing period. Therefore 11 of the guys on next year's team will be Coach Marlin's guys and the two sophomores will have been coached more by him than the previous staff. This year's team will likely struggle all year due to personnel limitations. Next year's team may start making us smile at about the time conference play starts. That will have given them enough time to become accustomed to one another. One positive from today was the play of pure freshman JJ Thomas. In only his third game, he was one of the better players on the court. He has gotten better in each game he has played. _

There is a lot to like about Thomas. He is probably the strongest and most physical player we have. If we had anyone could consistently make an outside jumper it would open up the inside more, but right now we will have to just wait until Daigle has one of his good shooting nights.

[J-Town Cajun]

_ Not sure how losing to Tulane gets you so upset. We have only beat them twice in our history. I am just glad it was as close as it was today.. _

I think we have a history of the better basketball program most years. And in the past 10 or so years, I would think we would have beaten Tulane most years.

[SlappyCajun]

_ I do not see one player on this years squad that would get any run if they were on the 04-05 squad. _

Not sure about that. The first five were amazing. The depth on that team was terrible. While none would have started. Bureau, Daigle, Brown, JJ Thomas, or Gary could probably all have played.

[playincajun]

Until we get production in our inside game the guards will continue to struggle since the defense just sets up a zone then extends it. Come on now. Lets get real with this. We have three legit big men (6-8/6-10) and we are playing a 6'6 170lb player as our big man. Something is wrong with that picture. JJ played well today, Andrews was big again on defense. Perez gave points off the bench. One good thing I saw was we finally went zone in defense and that got us back in the game. Could of probably won the Mcnesse game if the ran it like they did tonight.

[Cajunsmike]

_ There is a lot to like about Thomas. He is probably the strongest and most physical player we have. If we had anyone could consistently make an outside jumper it would open up the inside more, but right now we will have to just wait until Daigle has one of his good shooting nights. _

Another thing we need is a bigger point guard who can handle things when people are physical with him. The JC guy we signed is between 6'3" and 6'4" with over 200 pounds on him. That may allow him to penetrate more than we can now which will result in more open perimeter shots. You mention the inside would be open if we had more consistent shooters. Conversely if we were not so limited in the post we might have even more open outside shots. Batiste, Mitchell, and Wallace are all struggling right now. At McNeese our best inside player was Farrington. Although he hustles, he is only a 6'5" guy playing center at times. Add to that, he has problems at free throw line. Despite those limitations, it is understandable why he plays more than the other guys mentioned at times due to his energy. You guys in New Orleans did not get to see another guy we missed and that is Josh Brown. Although his perimeter shot has not come around, he was helping us on the defensive end and with some scoring via slashing prior to his injury. He is also a tough guy and hopefully he will be OK at conference time.

[MetryCajun]

_ Another thing we need is a bigger point guard who can handle things when people are physical with him. The JC guy we signed is between 6'3" and 6'4" with over 200 pounds on him. That may allow him to penetrate more than we can now which will result in more open perimeter shots. You mention the inside would be open if we had more consistent shooters. Conversely if we were not so limited in the post we might have even more open outside shots. Batiste, Mitchell, and Wallace are all struggling right now. At McNeese our best inside player was Farrington. Although he hustles, he is only a 6'5" guy playing center at times. Add to that, he has problems at free throw line. Despite those limitations, it is understandable why he plays more than the other guys mentioned at times due to his energy. You guys in New Orleans did not get to see another guy we missed and that is Josh Brown. Although his perimeter shot has not come around, he was helping us on the defensive end and with some scoring via slashing prior to his injury. He is also a tough guy and hopefully he will be OK at conference time. _

You are right on the pt guard. Daigle is really a shooting guard and I am not sure what Andrews is other than a defensive stopper. I have heard a lot of people sing the praises of Andrews, but his offensive game is just too limited to be affective on the offensive end.

[mr. cajun]

_ I think we have a history of the better basketball program most years. And in the past 10 or so years, I would think we would have beaten Tulane most years. _

I respectfully disagree. They have been better than us for a while ... Even beat us in Lafayette last year - Their worst year in decades.

I just find it laughable that anyone would think we have a better program than a program that has a 25-2 all time record vs. us ...

[playincajun]

I beg to differ a 6'5 200 point guard would not hold the speed and agility of the guards in sunbelt. Also Andrews is getting to the goal. The offense that is run does not set up for that option. You need to watch the offensive sets. I saw today at least 5 great feeds to the inside by our point guard and they either fumbled the passes or they were not ready. Our problem is our inside game. Even Diagle cant get shots off in this offense because of the lack of a legit big man. Andrews had 8 point the last two games and is getting back comfortable shooting after Lee killed him last year. We need better screen sets for our guards.

[J-Town Cajun]

_ I respectfully disagree. They have been better than us for a while ... Even beat us in Lafayette last year - Their worst year in decades.

I just find it laughable that anyone would think we have a better program than a program that has a 25-2 all time record vs. us ... _

We have made many more NCAA appearences the past 10 years. And our Hay Day is is better than their best years.

[mr. cajun]

_ We have made many more NCAA appearences the past 10 years. And our Hay Day is is better than their best years. _

Yes we have made more NCAAs.. But lets be honest it is a lot easier winning conference tournaments in our league than CUSA.. I think without question that they have had a better team than us over the last several years.

Also if you use post season play as a measuring stick - Over the last two decades they have doubled the number of post season appearances that the Cajuns have made and have at least 5x the number of post season wins.

I never intended to get into a ____ing match between the two programs. I was just trying to point out that a loss to Tulane is not a bad loss for our program.

[J-Town Cajun]

Being in CUSA is in a way easier to get to the NCAA because they put in multiple bids every year. In the early 90's Tulane had some good basketball with Clark as the HC.

I would say today's lost is not horrible but losing at home last year is unexceptable. The home court advantage in basketball is huge. I read were the home team wins 80% of the games in college basketball across the board. That is why the loses to New Mex St. and Cleveland St. also hurts.