MBB Final G1: Louisiana 66, ULM 72

[Cajunsmike]

Mike I don't believe this is completely true. Sure, it makes sense to believe that the team that shoots "better" from 3 will win at a larger percentage but teams that shoot better percentages win at a higher rate than those that don't right? For instance, I love how the writer used that game to suggest that because the Nuggets got "hot", they won. Well, what he didn't tell you was that they had a smaller percentage of their overall shots that were 3pt attempts and he didn't tell you that Utah actually hit more 3's in that game just at a lower percentage.

So, does it mean if you are making more 3's you're going to win? No. If you look at NBA team stats, you don't necessarily see the best teams with the most attempts. However, when you look at make percentage, I think there's a better picture of who the better teams are generally speaking.

I don't think the game has become just a 3 game. Attempts are up from say, 10 years ago but the pace and number of possessions is what has been most affected. People talk about the cajuns just wanting to shoot 3's and they seem right on many nights. However, if you watch an NBA game, the pace is off the chart these days. They play to try to get the best shots early to gain more future possessions. There are plenty of NBA players that shoot midrange shots. If you look at that Utah-Denver comparison the writer used, Denver still took more shots inside the arc than beyond. As a matter of fact, only about 1/3 of their shots were from 3 while Utah shot more than 50% of their shots from beyond the arc. I could make the argument that the sheer number of 3's you shoot can adversely affect you as well just as you've seen with the Cajuns this year. The problem with us is that we want to play that type of game but we don't play with the same pace as those teams and we get bogged down shooting outside shots often with a lot of guys who shoot at low percentages.

I agree we should shoot more mid range shots. More are taken in the NBA due to line is further out. No. of threes taken is not indicative of success. Percentage of threes made is the best indicator of success. ULM beat us last Thursday because their % there was abnormally high. Was that just luck or bad defense. Probably both. Overall, I think both the pro and college game are trending too much towards an excess number of three point shots taken.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Mike I don't believe this is completely true. Sure, it makes sense to believe that the team that shoots "better" from 3 will win at a larger percentage but teams that shoot better percentages win at a higher rate than those that don't right? For instance, I love how the writer used that game to suggest that because the Nuggets got "hot", they won. Well, what he didn't tell you was that they had a smaller percentage of their overall shots that were 3pt attempts and he didn't tell you that Utah actually hit more 3's in that game just at a lower percentage.

So, does it mean if you are making more 3's you're going to win? No. If you look at NBA team stats, you don't necessarily see the best teams with the most attempts. However, when you look at make percentage, I think there's a better picture of who the better teams are generally speaking.

I don't think the game has become just a 3 game. Attempts are up from say, 10 years ago but the pace and number of possessions is what has been most affected. People talk about the cajuns just wanting to shoot 3's and they seem right on many nights. However, if you watch an NBA game, the pace is off the chart these days. They play to try to get the best shots early to gain more future possessions. There are plenty of NBA players that shoot midrange shots. If you look at that Utah-Denver comparison the writer used, Denver still took more shots inside the arc than beyond. As a matter of fact, only about 1/3 of their shots were from 3 while Utah shot more than 50% of their shots from beyond the arc. I could make the argument that the sheer number of 3's you shoot can adversely affect you as well just as you've seen with the Cajuns this year. The problem with us is that we want to play that type of game but we don't play with the same pace as those teams and we get bogged down shooting outside shots often with a lot of guys who shoot at low percentages.

I recently saw a Pelicans game where Zion hit 11/12 in the paint. He also had several free throws that he sank at a very respectable 75%. They couldn’t defend the 3 and lost.

Mike’s argument that 3 pointers drive wins seems valid in most games.

Unfortunately season after season, over and over teams have their best 3 points and other best against the Cajuns.

That’s just sad

[ULvictory]

All great analysis of the game from a basketball fan here. I don't really care for the game, at least not these days, so I'm one who is generally not concerned with the program.

Except for the fact that Bob Marlin seems to want to make excuse after excuse. That in itself was tiring enough to read, but then he says what he did in the comparison of Sunbelt basketball to Sunbelt football.

That sort of ill-minded arrogance comes off as someone grabbing for any argument to not lose his job. Luckily for him, he's AD Maggard's one screwup. Dr. Maggard has hit on everything else he's done, but Marlin's contract extension with the buyout has definitely hurt us.

Everyone misses, though. Look at Belicheck, an all-time great, thinking he'd be back in the playoffs with Cam Newton at QB. So that's going to happen.

I just hope Dr. Maggard called Bob into his office after that statement and chewed his entitled-minded ass out.

This is why I was so critical during the 2018-2019 season. Every loss was followed by "Well, we won 27 games last year so we get everybody's best shot" or "Teams celebrate like they won the Super Bowl when they beat us." I must've been asleep the whole time we were becoming the next Gonzaga. And to make matters worse, some of these losses came against inferior conference opponents who beat us by double digits. And then came those quotes or an excuse such as "Mardi Gras distractions" or "altitude issues in Boone." The arrogance the staff showed the year after the NIT berth told me all I needed to know as far as expectations of this program: Just get by or create window dressing by beating bad competition. And the comments that were made the other night was not only an insult to football, but to Cajun fans in general. You have a fan base that is on Cloud Nine that their football team is ranked #15 IN THE NATION, while most of those same people don't even know when our basketball games even start anymore; and we have to hear that after losing to a 4-15 team on a 10 game losing streak. Just admit that you weren't prepared. Don't inflate the terrible division we play in to cover up for your poor performance.

Regardless of what happens, we have a solid leader in the AD office that I am sure will do what is best for the program moving forward. As of now, we have baseball and softball to look forward to.

[zephyr]

I recently saw a Pelicans game where Zion hit 11/12 in the paint. He also had several free throws that he sank at a very respectable 75%. They couldn’t defend the 3 and lost.

Mike’s argument that 3 pointers drive wins seems valid in most games.

Unfortunately season after season, over and over teams have their best 3 points and other best against the Cajuns.

That’s just sad

That's because the Pelicans have one of the worst defenses in the NBA. They give up high percentages all over the court. You use Zion alone to formulate what outcome? The pelicans are not one of the better 3 point shooting teams which means they can't rely upon it consistently to win. Their offense against Detroit was just fine. Their defense and rebounding is what let them down.

[CajunEXPRESS]

They’re awful on defense and badly lacking 3 point players. Mostly they’re a bad team

[Rainman66]

The math is the math, shooting 33% from 3 point area is same as shooting 50% from non-3pt. That doesn't mean it makes it fun to watch, because for me, it isn't fun to watch.

I lucked into a Utah Jazz game the other night and that was a good watch. Really moved the ball well.

[UL_Cajuns]

This is why I was so critical during the 2018-2019 season. Every loss was followed by "Well, we won 27 games last year so we get everybody's best shot" or "Teams celebrate like they won the Super Bowl when they beat us." I must've been asleep the whole time we were becoming the next Gonzaga. And to make matters worse, some of these losses came against inferior conference opponents who beat us by double digits. And then came those quotes or an excuse such as "Mardi Gras distractions" or "altitude issues in Boone." The arrogance the staff showed the year after the NIT berth told me all I needed to know as far as expectations of this program: Just get by or create window dressing by beating bad competition. And the comments that were made the other night was not only an insult to football, but to Cajun fans in general. You have a fan base that is on Cloud Nine that their football team is ranked #15 IN THE NATION, while most of those same people don't even know when our basketball games even start anymore; and we have to hear that after losing to a 4-15 team on a 10 game losing streak. Just admit that you weren't prepared. Don't inflate the terrible division we play in to cover up for your poor performance.

Regardless of what happens, we have a solid leader in the AD office that I am sure will do what is best for the program moving forward. As of now, we have baseball and softball to look forward to.

Great post. Lays out everything. The Big Fish has got to go. It’s over for him.

[zephyr]

The math is the math, shooting 33% from 3 point area is same as shooting 50% from non-3pt. That doesn't mean it makes it fun to watch, because for me, it isn't fun to watch.

I lucked into a Utah Jazz game the other night and that was a good watch. Really moved the ball well.

It is the math but its not everything. The best teams in the league are not leading in any type of 3 pt categories and when the playoffs come, midrange becomes much more important.

I will agree about the NBA as I believe it is actually easier to watch right now than the college game. There is way more player movement and ball movement and it flows.

[Cajunsmike]

Great post. Lays out everything. The Big Fish has got to go. It’s over for him.

Understand this viewpoint. However, I have no idea what Dr. Maggard is thinking here. I also am not sure what the buyout is. Couple of hundred grand I believe. If someone was willing to pay it, he may consider a change. That assumes of course a strong finish does not happen. I am highly confident none of the regular basketball boosters have that kind of money. Perhaps someone else does. While I would not bet either way, if forced to make a prediction I would say he returns next season. A complete collapse the rest of the way may change my prediction.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Not a chance in the world Big Fish isn’t back, short of a scandal. We’re eating dung poboys again in 21/22!