Crowd estimate for Basketball Senior Night.

[CrazyCajun]

I agree no. of boosters or there support level has nothing to do with attendance. Only pointing out that some people who support basketball do so with passion.

Every sport does...we just built a $17 million stadium.

[Cajunsmike]

Every sport does...we just built a $17 million stadium.

Good point there which I acknowledge. Also, many people just drove 4 hours to watch a team which has one of the worst hitting lineups in the country at this point. Those people have passion for their team. Some of that passion came about due to 2013-2016 performance. Like everything else, if performance suffers eventually it will impact support. Long way to go however but it is understandable the concern people have about the bats so far. Back to the original topic. We all agree the basketball team deserves a nice thank you for their season so far tonight and I trust they will put on a nice show for the people that can make it to the Dome tonight.

[Ragin4U]

Personally, I will not watch a baseball game on tv. I enjoy them in person. Basketball and football are just fine on TV. I wonder if others feel the same and that might also contribute to the lower than expected attendance.

[talktomewillis]

You are comparing Marlin to guys who had a much smaller field for the tournament so there were less spots to take up for the same number of teams. You also had coaches who won some big games on the road and got some big teams at home. I would say that Marlin has underperformed but I don't want to take away from the season he has had this year. I'm all in and he has my support.

The rest of your argument has merit. You also have to understand that many people's perceptions of Marlin were based on years prior to this one. Multiple NBA players, higher expectations only to never really challenge even for the league top 2 or 3, tons of turnover all while being the highest paid coach in the conference. There were many reasons to be skeptical.

In my opinion, the biggest regular season accomplishment besides this year was in 1983 when the Cajuns made the tournament as an independent. There were good wins...and really, no terrible losses. That was the field of 54.

The previous season, the Cajuns were the auto qualifier from the Southland.

All other NCAA appearances post probation were with 64 or more teams. And, there have been no other at-large appearances.

That was an incredible accomplishment. It was also 35 years ago. We'll agree college basketball has changed drastically since then.

Multiple NBA players? Marlin has had one player drafted. Evans had one. Fletcher had one.

Oh...and Maggard loved Marlin from the day he met him.

[Just1More]

I think baseball has also maintained an allegiance due to the character of Tony. That's not to say that Coach Marlin isn't a man of high character... but Tony is a big part of the support fabric of UL baseball. Tony has gotten his team ranked #1 in the country, while being a pillar of the community.

I have to say, I'm impressed at this very reasonable discussion. I credit much of the civility to Cajunmike's posting style. It seems to garner reasonable (non hostile) conversation.

I have a very hard time criticizing fans. I like evaluating what drives fan support and fan behavior. I do not ever agree with "fan shaming". I'm almost violent about it... if there's one thing that destroys fan support besides your athletic programs sucking... is some knot head with a microphone/website/newspaper attempting to shame fans. If you want more fans, attract them. Period.

[zephyr]

In my opinion, the biggest regular season accomplishment besides this year was in 1983 when the Cajuns made the tournament as an independent. There were good wins...and really, no terrible losses. That was the field of 54.

The previous season, the Cajuns were the auto qualifier from the Southland.

All other NCAA appearances post probation were with 64 or more teams. And, there have been no other at-large appearances.

That was an incredible accomplishment. It was also 35 years ago. We'll agree college basketball has changed drastically since then.

Multiple NBA players? Marlin has had one player drafted. Evans had one. Fletcher had one.

Oh...and Maggard loved Marlin from the day he met him.

You had a team with Long and Payton. They are NBA players, at least Long was and may be one in the future. I think you got my point. In this league, you would hope and expect to have that type of top end talent to either win the league or at least win the conference tournament.

[zephyr]

I think baseball has also maintained an allegiance due to the character of Tony. That's not to say that Coach Marlin isn't a man of high character... but Tony is a big part of the support fabric of UL baseball. Tony has gotten his team ranked #1 in the country, while being a pillar of the community.

I have to say, I'm impressed at this very reasonable discussion. I credit much of the civility to Cajunmike's posting style. It seems to garner reasonable (non hostile) conversation.

I have a very hard time criticizing fans. I like evaluating what drives fan support and fan behavior. I do not ever agree with "fan shaming". I'm almost violent about it... if there's one thing that destroys fan support besides your athletic programs sucking... is some knot head with a microphone/website/newspaper attempting to shame fans. If you want more fans, attract them. Period.

Attracting fans is easier said than done. This is not the circus. This is a sport. I grew up watching with my dad because I was a basketball kid. I loved the game and often went with him after practice. I'm not certain what the approach should be but trying to force people to being basketball fans seems inorganic and not the right way to build a fanbase.

[CajunEXPRESS]

LOL. You are right about Marlin but we may not get him for another couple of years if this one continues on its path. If this team were to make the tournament and win a game or two, his name would be a hot name on the open market. See Chris Beard from a couple years ago.

Chris Beard born 1973
Bob Marlin born 1959

There’s no comparison between Beard and Marlin than an aging head coach and a young guy on the rise just a couple years ago.

Bob’s going to need a couple NCAA wins to be on a high paying job hot list.

[Just1More]

Attracting fans is easier said than done. This is not the circus. This is a sport. I grew up watching with my dad because I was a basketball kid. I loved the game and often went with him after practice. I'm not certain what the approach should be but trying to force people to being basketball fans seems inorganic and not the right way to build a fanbase.

I agree. I'm always watchful of our own fans thinking there's some way of forcing fandom. It does not work. And I agree, it's not easy to attract fans to something not already the rave. If our MBB program is being isolated in a study to evaluate how to increase that fandom... I'm all for it. I think Cajunmike is a little puzzled as to why a team with a gaudy record and good character isn't creating a sold out Cajundome. When the best answers come in... all I'm saying is... you must address those issues... or you will keep getting exactly what you're getting.

Sometimes... when it comes to analyzing fans... I see it like a teenage girl asking her mom "why don't the boys ask me out?". I can tell the mom and the girl the blunt truth. But I'd probably get in trouble. But I can guarantee the girl one thing... you can analyze yourself and the boys until the cows come home... but they'll ask you out when they damn well want to. How to make that "want" does not involve cutting them down.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Does anyone know if an automatic extension comes with either the regular season title or the tournament title? I seem to recall that happened after the division championship in his first year. As someone said a few days ago, they would be surprised if Coach Marlin's agent does not negotiate for a raise once the season ends. Of course post season performance will dictate those details. Also, I believe the 2004 wins were vacated due to an eligibility issue. The 2000 team was the No. 1 seed but I believed they shared the conference title. Same thing in 1992. Therefore a recognized outright regular season title was last accomplished here in 1982. Hope it is not that long before the next one comes our way.

Maybe he’s getting rewarded for everything in his current contract.

Bob wouldn’t expect to be fired or his contract renegotiated down if he had a couple bad seasons. This is his only outstanding season ever and he’s getting long in the tooth. I’d hope we’re not going to give him a longer more lucrative contract based on that. By the way I’d bet we’re still a long shot in Vega vs the field to get to the dance.