Marlin Set To Return ( Retaining Players Paramount )

[JayWalker]

I'm like you. I don't have a strong opinion on men's basketball either. I did when Jessie was coaching & I was a season ticket holder. Then folks got mad at Jessie because he understood the lay of the land. They wanted to have a bunch of choir boys & make the final four every other year.

Since Marline has been here this team has made what one NCAA tournament? The league which used to be a two, or three team bid league with an 8-12 seed first place team, has now gone to being a one bid league with a 15th to 16th seed tournament champion only participant. In those 12 years Marlin has managed how many tournament appearances?

Listening to Jay on the radio this morning it sounds as though there are a lot of people prepared to back up Marlin in his righteous quest for annual mediocrity. Of course to back this thought process up Jay went the old blame the fans, blame the fans, blame the fans deck & pulled those cards out. It appears it is the fault of all of us that this team has managed to avoid any hint of greatness, or success during Marlin's time here. But we, or you who are still holding up the fort better be careful what you wish for. Because by golly, we'll be starting ALL OVER again & it could be worse than better.

To that my thought would be, who cares? It ain't a product worth seeing now if the tickets were free & I only had to cross the street to watch. But then again, that's just a fair weathered fan who used to be there every night the doors opened opining.

Oh, Kyle, you are so full of crap.

1. This has never been a three bid league since we joined in 1992. It's been a two bid league maybe four or five times in 30 years. And, no one has had an eight seed. WKU might have gotten a nine one time. Eleven is usually the high water mark.

2. What have I "blamed the fans" for? I said there are fans who have acted (and said on this board) that the program is in the pits. I said that wasn't true. UL has the second most league wins 2014-present. And, while I respect those who think it might be time for a change, the facts are what they are. I will admit there has been some slippage the last three or four years. But this program is FAR from the pits.

3. You say we've gone down for five years now. Four years ago we won 27 games and a league championship.

4. Jessie Evans was almost 20 years ago. The game has changed since then and so has the interest in basketball in the deep south. Now we only look at football until almost Christmas and then spring sports take center stage over the last four weeks of basketball.

Basketball is an afterthought for Cajun fans. Nothing is going to change that. Football and spring sports will always be more important.

I, when asked, stated what I would do if it were my decision. And, it was based on what I see could be something really good next year. My personal feelings for Coach Marlin (and they run deep) really didn't have anything to do with my opinion.

I will support Dr. Maggard's decision. He is much more qualified to make the decision than any of us.

[ManAboutTown]

Oh, Kyle, you are so full of crap.

1. This has never been a three bid league since we joined in 1992. It's been a two bid league maybe four or five times in 30 years. And, no one has had an eight seed. WKU might have gotten a nine one time. Eleven is usually the high water mark.

2. What have I "blamed the fans" for? I said there are fans who have acted (and said on this board) that the program is in the pits. I said that wasn't true. UL has the second most league wins 2014-present. And, while I respect those who think it might be time for a change, the facts are what they are. I will admit there has been some slippage the last three or four years. But this program is FAR from the pits.

3. You say we've gone down for five years now. Four years ago we won 27 games and a league championship.

4. Jessie Evans was almost 20 years ago. The game has changed since then and so has the interest in basketball in the deep south. Now we only look at football until almost Christmas and then spring sports take center stage over the last four weeks of basketball.

Basketball is an afterthought for Cajun fans. Nothing is going to change that. Football and spring sports will always be more important.

I, when asked, stated what I would do if it were my decision. And, it was based on what I see could be something really good next year. My personal feelings for Coach Marlin (and they run deep) really didn't have anything to do with my opinion.

I will support Dr. Maggard's decision. He is much more qualified to make the decision than any of us.

**counter punch**

Let me get comfortable for this one. One sec.

[Grantvb]

Thanks for the gut check, Jay-bird.

[RaginDave]

Oh, Kyle, you are so full of crap.

1. This has never been a three bid league since we joined in 1992. It's been a two bid league maybe four or five times in 30 years. And, no one has had an eight seed. WKU might have gotten a nine one time. Eleven is usually the high water mark.

2. What have I "blamed the fans" for? I said there are fans who have acted (and said on this board) that the program is in the pits. I said that wasn't true. UL has the second most league wins 2014-present. And, while I respect those who think it might be time for a change, the facts are what they are. I will admit there has been some slippage the last three or four years. But this program is FAR from the pits.

3. You say we've gone down for five years now. Four years ago we won 27 games and a league championship.

4. Jessie Evans was almost 20 years ago. The game has changed since then and so has the interest in basketball in the deep south. Now we only look at football until almost Christmas and then spring sports take center stage over the last four weeks of basketball.

Basketball is an afterthought for Cajun fans. Nothing is going to change that. Football and spring sports will always be more important.

I, when asked, stated what I would do if it were my decision. And, it was based on what I see could be something really good next year. My personal feelings for Coach Marlin (and they run deep) really didn't have anything to do with my opinion.

I will support Dr. Maggard's decision. He is much more qualified to make the decision than any of us.

Could not have been said any better. I think you are correct that WKU was a 9 once, which was an oddity. Normally 11 or 12 was where the SBC used to be. And crap we have never been a 3 bid league and if we were a 2 bid league it has been many years and it was not the norm.

I too, will support our basketball team no matter what decision is made from the administration and the athletic department. I would love to see a change at the top, but it does not mean my support will waiver if Marlin is the coach next year. I agree if the players that could come back next year, come back, specifically Brown, Akuwba, Dalcourt and Williams. And the continued improvement of Joe Charles and Michael Thomas. The big question mark will be Kobe Julien (injuries again), but I think that Isiah Richards will take Dou Gueye spot and be better at it, specifically understanding his role as a backup to the two bigs. I still think we need to make sure we get a true (bigger) point guard, hopefully through the transfer portal and a few other minor tweaks and this team can be really good. But I will let Dr. Maggard make his decision and next November, I will be hoping for a great season in the Cajun Dome.

[fanof71]

**counter punch**

Let me get comfortable for this one. One sec.

Popcorn, peanuts, cold Beeeah, Popcorn, Peanuts, cold Beeeah

[CajunVic]

Oh, Kyle, you are so full of crap.

1. This has never been a three bid league since we joined in 1992. It's been a two bid league maybe four or five times in 30 years. And, no one has had an eight seed. WKU might have gotten a nine one time. Eleven is usually the high water mark.

2. What have I "blamed the fans" for? I said there are fans who have acted (and said on this board) that the program is in the pits. I said that wasn't true. UL has the second most league wins 2014-present. And, while I respect those who think it might be time for a change, the facts are what they are. I will admit there has been some slippage the last three or four years. But this program is FAR from the pits.

3. You say we've gone down for five years now. Four years ago we won 27 games and a league championship.

4. Jessie Evans was almost 20 years ago. The game has changed since then and so has the interest in basketball in the deep south. Now we only look at football until almost Christmas and then spring sports take center stage over the last four weeks of basketball.

Basketball is an afterthought for Cajun fans. Nothing is going to change that. Football and spring sports will always be more important.

I, when asked, stated what I would do if it were my decision. And, it was based on what I see could be something really good next year. My personal feelings for Coach Marlin (and they run deep) really didn't have anything to do with my opinion.

I will support Dr. Maggard's decision. He is much more qualified to make the decision than any of us.

You threw a few for a loop here and rightfully so. It is time that someone other then me get on here and set a few of these pompous butts straight. You can see from the response who are reasonable posters here and who deserved to be shocked with this fact filled post. Thanks Jay.

[RedTails]

Basketball is an afterthought for Cajun fans. Nothing is going to change that. Football and spring sports will always be more important.

This is the only part of your post I disagree with. Winning consistently and some trips to the dance can change that.

[KajunKrazy]

Oh, Kyle, you are so full of crap.

1. This has never been a three bid league since we joined in 1992. It's been a two bid league maybe four or five times in 30 years. And, no one has had an eight seed. WKU might have gotten a nine one time. Eleven is usually the high water mark.

2. What have I "blamed the fans" for? I said there are fans who have acted (and said on this board) that the program is in the pits. I said that wasn't true. UL has the second most league wins 2014-present. And, while I respect those who think it might be time for a change, the facts are what they are. I will admit there has been some slippage the last three or four years. But this program is FAR from the pits.

3. You say we've gone down for five years now. Four years ago we won 27 games and a league championship.

4. Jessie Evans was almost 20 years ago. The game has changed since then and so has the interest in basketball in the deep south. Now we only look at football until almost Christmas and then spring sports take center stage over the last four weeks of basketball.

Basketball is an afterthought for Cajun fans. Nothing is going to change that. Football and spring sports will always be more important.

I, when asked, stated what I would do if it were my decision. And, it was based on what I see could be something really good next year. My personal feelings for Coach Marlin (and they run deep) really didn't have anything to do with my opinion.

I will support Dr. Maggard's decision. He is much more qualified to make the decision than any of us.

With you J. The way I saw this team gel down the stretch they could be very special next year if they come out the gate playing that way. I think Bob deserves to coach that team. SAVE BOB MARLIN

[ManAboutTown]

Ok. I’m back. Go ahead…

[ULvictory]

It would take a unique set of circumstances for Louisiana's head coaching job to be more attractive than it is right now.

Agreed.

All of the resources that is there for success is indeed there. Like CajunT had previously mentioned, we need to rid ourselves in the culture of "CAN'T."

-"We are a one bid league. It is hard to win in this conference."
-"Basketball isn't what it used to be down here which is why we have bad attendance."
-"This player got injured, so that's why we lost these slew of games."

This conference is weak, hence our tournament run. There is no reason why we should be finishing below 4th place consistently like we have since 2018. As far as attendance, make the home game attractive. Don't blow big leads and play decent teams at home instead of a bunch of DIII schools that St. Thomas More could beat. I'm not asking to draw 7k per game, but the crowd we saw this season spells "apathy" to what we already expected. Also, we kept hearing the excuse of guys like Julien being hurt for the past 3 years. That was the cost of us losing games, right? Well this past weekend we made the longest run in the tournament without him. That doesn't mean he is not valuable to our team. But don't scapegoat the kid every time we lose to bad teams.

Again, the culture of "can't".....