Marlin's Record

[Turbine]

We just won 27 games and a conference championship. I guess none of that counts for some of you.

I knew as soon as the season ended, VO would be back to point out Marlin's perceived faults.

Some agendas are pretty transparent.

Some points are valid, oft repeated but valid.

The timing is weird considering the high ankle sprain and pneumonia that just don't disappear in a week.

It is the untimely injuries and sickness that ended this season prematurely, not the regular season scheduling.

[Turbine]

Marlin has taken the exact right tact to get this program back on track.

[Turbine]

My agenda is completely transparent; I want us to have a quality basketball program; not a smoke and mirrors imitation of quality.

27 wins this year: 0 vs top 100 RPI, 10 vs RPI 101-200, 15 vs RPI of 201+ and 2 non- D1.

To his credit, Marlin coached Louisiana to a winning record vs RPI 101-200; something he had accomplished only once before in his tenure here.

54-86 vs top 200 RPI over the last 8 years at UL.

You may call that good basketball. I call it institutionalized mediocrity.

If you can't see the staircase climbing, your not looking.

[Cajunsmike]

That really doesn't matter. Blaming the NCAA or the committee is a deflection away from the fact that Marlin is awful in road games and slightly less awful in games against top 200 opponents.

Just win games against quality opponents and win on the road. Blaming others for your failure to perform is a cop out.

I would challenge that statement from the standpoint that the Cajuns were OK on the road against conference teams the last few seasons. They have struggled on the road in non conference other than against SLC schools. You may be dismissing those games as opponents were not of the highest quality.

[VObserver]

If you can't see the staircase climbing, your not looking.

The staircase is built on smoke and mirrors; the results against teams who are even modestly good belie the claim to climbing.

[CajunT]

If you can't see the staircase climbing, your not looking.

I think the last 5 years shows there is a "staircase climbing" to use your words. But you must have wide vision to view his entire 8 years here at UL, and not just the 5 years in capsule. VO has backed his concerns up with valid statistics, not metaphors and emotional rhetoric.

[Cajunsmike]

I can't speak for VO, but I have read his posts and they are very logical and factually accurate. As for myself, I don't think Marlin should be let go at the end of this year as he was able to put together a 25 win season (I don't count non D1 wins), and he was competitive against LSU. However, if he doesn't beat at least 1 team in the top 100 rpi next season and fails to make the NCAA tournament, then I would thank him for his service and show him the door.

We all have our opinions and I don't know what Dr. Maggard's expectations are for next season. However I am almost certain that if we have a D1 winning season next year and finish in the top third of the conference standings he won't make a change.

[CajunEXPRESS]

I’m thinking this coming season will be a very big standard for where we are. Any finish below 22 regular season wins and third in regular season would in my opinion be stepping backwards big time.

[Cajunsmike]

I’m thinking this coming season will be a very big standard for where we are. Any finish below 22 regular season wins and third in regular season would in my opinion be stepping backwards big time.

Agree next season will be telling as to where the program stands long term.

[Turbine]

The staircase is built on smoke and mirrors; the results against teams who are even modestly good belie the claim to climbing.

Same competition as before but better results.

Climbing the stairs one step at a time.

Next up as the pre-contracted schedule clears should be better scheduling.

But to do so prematurely without respecting the situation would be foolhardy.