Meanwhile, in Natchitoches

[zephyr]

Was anyone worried about UL losing to LTUR before it happened? I don't think so. Read the prediction thread. About one hundred responses predicting a win. I did see one that predicted UL to lose 31-21. Zeebart told him to crawl out from underneath the rock he's living under. So, next year let's see on the prediction thread leading up to the game how many people will be predicting UL to lose.

UH, Yeah I was and I know others were to. While most of us predicted a victory, we knew that Tech had some talent, particularly on offense. I don't see how you can overlook a fairly comparable opponent who is an in state rival.

[duggie85]

Also what does attending the game in Nola have to do with this?

You think I don't like the players? That is your argument?

Right now we are more talented than any team we have had since '05. Are we winning, outside of D3 and NAIA games I would say no.

Marlin ain't the guy. When you have the right guy you know it prior to year 5.

What are you looking for from our bball team? As in, what is a realistic, yearly goal you expect our team to achieve?

Edit: No matter the coach. Whether its Marlin or our next hire

[zephyr]

Also what does attending the game in Nola have to do with this?

You think I don't like the players? That is your argument?

Right now we are more talented than any team we have had since '05. Are we winning, outside of D3 and NAIA games I would say no.

Marlin ain't the guy. When you have the right guy you know it prior to year 5.

This team is quite perplexing to say the least. IMO, there is no doubt we are very talented and will be a much better team in conference play but these two losses to McNeese and NWSU are just awful. I know they are both on the road but if you are a conference contender, you have to win these games. This team looked so good against Tech and then looks so bad against these guys. I think its pretty obvious that while we have some good team talent, we will ultimately go as far as Shawn Long will take us. He didn't show up against NWSU and we lost. We still have little to no leadership and when you have to lean on freshmen and transfers because your remaining upperclassmen are too streaky, its scary.

[zephyr]

I didn't like the hire from day 1 I was and have been clear. The same for the Robert Lee hire, we have wasted a decade of basketball and it looks like it will push 15 years of ____ poor basketball with one or two good seasons sprinkled in.

Pardon me if I want to see good basketball.

The question about Marlin was not player development or X and O coaching, it was recruiting when he came in. I think most fans prior to Marlin were tired of coaches who didn't seem to be able to execute a game plan in a game. Evans and Lee could recruit but they sometimes seemed lost on the court. Marlin was supposed to be the polar opposite of these two guys. A tactical guy who knew the game and was known for getting the most out of the players he had.

This year, he finally has been able to get what most agree is some serious talent into this program but we are losing some games that we should be winning. I like the hire and I think most here did as well. I'm just wondering, as bad as these losses are, if this basketball team will in some ways mirror this year's football team. Look bad and misfire at the beginning of the season but catch fire when it matters?

[CrazyCajun]

My question is, will we allow the next coach to restart for the 3rd time in a row? Is that gonna be our thing? It could become a tradition.

[zephyr]

Broadway was not healthy! As evident in his play over the last 3 weeks. His poor play early in the season led to 3 straight losses.

He did win MVP with a solid performance. Had he been healthy all season we would not have played in New orleans because we would not have been 8-4.

You can compare my criticism for Broadway all you want, the fact remains that I also stated several times that TB gave us the best chance to win.

I'll remind you once again, 63-66 against D1 competition. This has occurred in an RPI league of 20 +. If you can't win the games you are supposed to, then you are not getting the job done. You're telling me we are suppose to lose to Jax St, McNeese, NwSt or Tecas College?

I didn't think so. Don't worry, we have $1,000,000 left to pay him and at least 3 more years of mediocrity.

To put the three losses early in the season on Broadway is complete BS. I'm sure you will label me the apologist if you haven't already even though the funny and interesting part is that I've been as critical of him as some here. That team was just playing god awful and the debacle against Tech was not his fault. Its kind of like some of you who say the debacle against USA last year was not Haack's fault. Did he play his best? No, However, he rarely had time to make a decision against those teams early as his line could not keep anybody off of him and our receivers struggled to get any type of separation ALL year.

[cajun4life]

What are you looking for from our bball team? As in, what is a realistic, yearly goal you expect our team to achieve?

Edit: No matter the coach. Whether its Marlin or our next hire

My realistic expectations are quite simple. Day in and day out play to the level of your talent. Consistency is what I'm looking for. We have yet to see a Bob Marlin coached team play well for extended periods of time, minus the first year he was here.

If this team would play to the level of the talent on the floor we would only have 1 loss. Year in and year out we are inconsistent, that is coaching.

[zephyr]

My question is, will we allow the next coach to restart for the 3rd time in a row? Is that gonna be our thing? It could become a tradition.

The mistake was the extension a couple years back. At this point, you obviously have to let the year play out. If we win conference and are in the dance again, you won't be talking a whole lot about these two losses and we will be praising the job he's done this year.

[CrazyCajun]

The mistake was the extension a couple years back. At this point, you obviously have to let the year play out. If we win conference and are in the dance again, you won't be talking a whole lot about these two losses and we will be praising the job he's done this year.

That's not what I'm talking about, robert lee was given a reboot, marlin was given a reboot. Marlin earned his extension per his contract. Was it a bad contract? Maybe, but he "won his division" and even postponed the raise and extension per our request. Your body of work and record are what they are, head coaches are in charge they should be held accountable for everything...no more reboots.

[CajunRage]

Also what does attending the game in Nola have to do with this?

You think I don't like the players? That is your argument?

Right now we are more talented than any team we have had since '05. Are we winning, outside of D3 and NAIA games I would say no.

Marlin ain't the guy. When you have the right guy you know it prior to year 5.

You can't criticize an era of basketball and just put it on the coach. You considered the last decade a waste. That's as much a slap in the face to the players as you want it to be to marlin. I was at the game in Nola and saw first hand how important that win was to the players and how accomplished they felt.

Right now we have great talent. That talent is also turning the ball over 17 times per game. That is including only 10 each in the two blowout wins against Centenary and Milligan. Turnovers are not on the coach. They are on the players.

Right now we are 6-5. We could be 26-5, 6-25, or anywhere in between. When the season ends, we could be rebuilding and that's where I would see it as Marlin's last chance. We could also be going to the dance in back to back years with back to back 20 win seasons. All the while you wanted Marlin canned 11 games in with 4 new starters.