MBB G13 Final: Louisiana 73, SLU 72

[cajun4life]

If using injuries is part of analysis as to the performance of the team, it isn't an excuse. It's reality. You don't lose talents like Julien and Marquetti and be the team you would have been. That's just reality.

Did UCF use an injury as an excuse to fold against Memphis? Nope, next man up. Did Tua going out stop Bama from beating UGA? Nope, next man up.

Does Stove getting hurt/sick do us in last year? Yep, no depth. Does Marquetti getting hurt do us in? Yep, no depth.

Who’s fault is that? The injury boogeyman? Nope Bob Marlin and his lack of solid recruiting over the long haul. Right now Julian is like the Easter bunny. He may be all world, but we don’t know because he isn’t playing. So you can’t count on a kid who was never intended to play this season as an excuse.

Marlin gets solid character kids in the program. No one will ever say otherwise. But he sure don’t get enough really good basketball players to prove he is worth $600k.

[ULvictory]

If using injuries is part of analysis as to the performance of the team, it isn't an excuse. It's reality. You don't lose talents like Julien and Marquetti and be the team you would have been. That's just reality.

It’s the narrative that will be set, and the goal posts will be moved once again.

With a full healthy team, we would come up short because “it’s hard to win three games in March.” Now, it will be because “player X was injured.”

Look, I feel for Marquetti. That’s never fun to see. But I see where a lot of fans are coming from when they get frustrated with what always seems to be a reason of why we CAN’T do something rather than actually doing it. Against Tech, it was because “Gant got hurt.” But no one seemed to mention the fact that Tech had two starters out. And then, I started to hear “but we’ve beaten them 4 out of 6 times.” Yeah well again, we lost one of those two times when two of their starters weren’t even playing.

Cost has to match quality, and there needs to be a return on what fans are paying for. With the money we invest in this program, finishing in the top 3 every year should be a MINIMUM. People can call me “miserable” or a “pessimist,” but I’m not seeing the ROI. And people who really know me see that I’m a realist. It’s not like I’m just picking on basketball for _____s and giggles.

[CajunEXPRESS]

The word "competitive" is the one being used.

If you finish a game or two out of the top two in the league and you say it's not competing then there's nothing that can be done for you.

You'll just be happy being miserable, I guess.

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From here on out it will be hard to be competitive in the league.

Losing one starter to an ACL was bad enough. It's pretty damn difficult to come back from a pair of season ending injuries.

And, yes, Julien would have been starting had he not been injured.

I think he’s been in the top three twice, Lower than 4th several times. So to describe him as being in the top third is about right, but not top quarter!

What’s he vs Hunter? Not good, but not good verses Floyd was enough for fans to abandon Marty. Marty started beating Floyd consistently. So I guess there’s hope.

He’s slightly above average in a mediocre conference. That’s Marlin. Believe me I spend zero time worrying about our programs outside of this fan forum and many of my family and friends think I’m plenty happy go lucky.

[Cajunsmike]

I think he's been in the top three twice, Lower than 4th several times. So to describe him as being in the top third is about right, but not top quarter!

What's he vs Hunter? Not good, but not good verses Floyd was enough for fans to abandon Marty. Marty started beating Floyd consistently. So I guess there's hope.

He's slightly above average in a mediocre conference. That's Marlin. Believe me I spend zero time worrying about our programs outside of this fan forum and many of my family and friends think I'm plenty happy go lucky.

I think it is three times the Cajuns have been in top three since Coach Marlin has been here. That occurs by counting the Division title in Year 1. Marty won 5 games against 11 years against UNO and lost well over 20 times. Two victories each occurred in the tournament years of 92 and 94 and one occurred when Grider lit it up in the second half at the LafeFront. Current record against Georgia State is not nearly that bad but I can understand the skepticism it will not get much better. Having losing seasons in two of his last three years was part of the reason he was let go in addition to the UNO issues. As far as this season goes, I consider the injuries to be a fact it will impact performance which is different than an excuse in my view. My frustration is that two scholarships were given to players who are not contributing. Can't afford to miss on evaluations at our level. That is directly impacting the depth situation. Now, they may have projected both these guys to be contributors further in their careers after development and thought it was worth the risk since they expected to have enough quality players in front of them this season.

[zephyr]

It’s the narrative that will be set, and the goal posts will be moved once again.

With a full healthy team, we would come up short because “it’s hard to win three games in March.” Now, it will be because “player X was injured.”

Look, I feel for Marquetti. That’s never fun to see. But I see where a lot of fans are coming from when they get frustrated with what always seems to be a reason of why we CAN’T do something rather than actually doing it. Against Tech, it was because “Gant got hurt.” But no one seemed to mention the fact that Tech had two starters out. And then, I started to hear “but we’ve beaten them 4 out of 6 times.” Yeah well again, we lost one of those two times when two of their starters weren’t even playing.

Cost has to match quality, and there needs to be a return on what fans are paying for. With the money we invest in this program, finishing in the top 3 every year should be a MINIMUM. People can call me “miserable” or a “pessimist,” but I’m not seeing the ROI. And people who really know me see that I’m a realist. It’s not like I’m just picking on basketball for _____s and giggles.

Yep

[CajunEXPRESS]

All I know is Davis will have to play a little smarter. Can’t be wasting foolish fouls. He’s a force, just play a little smarter to stay on the court.

Russell? He’s got to be more like last year. Don’t know why he’s been so inconsistent.

Hardy is really stepped up his game, so I’m hopeful there.

Miller is Miller, you’ll get the good with the bad. There’s no doubt he’s capable of a great game against strong foes, and crap game against weaker teams.

The key IMO to this year is Davis.

[Cajunsmike]

All I know is Davis will have to play a little smarter. Can't be wasting foolish fouls. He's a force, just play a little smarter to stay on the court.

Russell? He's got to be more like last year. Don't know why he's been so inconsistent.

Hardy is really stepped up his game, so I'm hopeful there.

Miller is Miller, you'll get the good with the bad. There's no doubt he's capable of a great game against strong foes, and crap game against weaker teams.

The key IMO to this year is Davis.

Good points there. JD will have to play more consistently going forward for the team to have success. He has been playing mostly at the four spot but will now have to play some at the three spot due to the Marquetti injury. So far this year, coaches are pleased with his improvement and work on the glass. He was victim of a terrible traveling call at SLU as he was dribbling the ball when infraction was called. A basket was taken away with that call. I didn't know you could travel while dribbling. Another key is Jeremy Hayes. I would expect him to step in the starting role as he did that at SLU and was effective for a few minutes. I always say it takes 1/2 year for JUCO guys to be ready to really contribute and we have reached that time with him now. You are not the only way perplexed about Russell. He simply is suffering from lack of confidence and passes up open shots. That is why Hardy is playing more recently and PJ has played well on defense even in games when he does not shoot it effectively. Don't be surprised if Wesley becomes a starter along with Stroman at guard as that gives you two guys who can take people off the dribble. Granted you wouldn't have a three point threat that way but you probably would be solid defensively to start the game and the shooters could sub in. All these ideas and more are probably going through the heads of coaches as they try to figure out how to go forward without their most versatile player.

[Ragin4U]

San Diego State is not a traditional basketball school and neither is NMSU. They have had some solid teams over the years and they get players who wouldn't go to just any program. Steve Fisher obviously made a name for himself at Michigan and he will go after kids who are academic risks. He also plays a style that isn't for every player being a defensive high pressure team.

I think all of these schools are on one level or another "peers" with UL at least when discussing mid major basketball. I honestly don't care that Butler is in Indiana. There are plenty of crappy teams and programs in the basketball hotbeds. Nevada is able to recruit high level kids all of a sudden to their program. Why do you think that is? You asked if its solely the coach and I'd answer yes. There is some reason that players like Jordan Brown are going there over the UCLA's of the world.

NMST- 8 NCAA tourneys in the last 11 years with 4 different coaches.
San Diego State- 8 NCAA tourneys in the last 11 years with 2 different coaches- last year was Dutchers 1st year so most of the Aztecs success came under Fisher.

Not acknowledging that Indiana high school basketball may have something to do with Butler's success is like saying football in Texas is unimportant as well. Butler has had 4 tourney appearances since Stevens left with 3 coaches.

[Ragin4U]

All I know is Davis will have to play a little smarter. Can't be wasting foolish fouls. He's a force, just play a little smarter to stay on the court.


The key IMO to this year is Davis.

Agreed. Maybe knowing that he will get more playing time will help. It seems as if when he is on the floor, he feels the need to "prove" he deserves the minutes. With a more set idea of his minutes, he may slow down and play his game.

[cajun4life]

NMST- 8 NCAA tourneys in the last 11 years with 4 different coaches.
San Diego State- 8 NCAA tourneys in the last 11 years with 2 different coaches- last year was Dutchers 1st year so most of the Aztecs success came under Fisher.

Not acknowledging that Indiana high school basketball may have something to do with Butler's success is like saying football in Texas is unimportant as well. Butler has had 4 tourney appearances since Stevens left with 3 coaches.

So essentially that’s what they’ve accomplished in roughly the same timeframe that Marlin has been here?

Got it.