Final: Louisiana (83) at UALR (79)

[BirdofParadise]

Road trip from hell. Yup, cold big time. Radiator on my car went out @ Houston airport. Knew we were getting back to Houston late, so bought one in Chicago (was staying at a friend's house) and carried it on plane. When game ended, one of the guys we were with wanted to go to South Bend and see touchdown Jesus. We saw TJ, but security ran us away from stadium. Then on return trip, lake effect blizzard hit on tri state beltway. Hit ice in a white out doing about 20 and spent hours in median, got back around midnight. Yankee friend had all we needed (shovel, blankets, food, water), dug out car and waited for tow truck. Of course tow truck driver only took cash and tapped us for all we collectively had. And for a final lick, was drizzling in Houston. At least I had tools in the car and had left it facing a light pole. Got water out of a ditch for radiator.

Loved the crushed velvet seats in the old Mecca...lol. Was an adventure and would do it all over again, but with modern technology like cell phones, gps and ATMs.

We made two trips to Marquette. I did TV on the second one, which was MUCH warmer. Temps were actually around +12 degrees.

Both of those games were televised. Pretty sure Tom Brown did the PBP on the other one. I've talked with the guys who had to set all that stuff up. There was a two minute frostbite warning that day. Wind chills topped out at -80 degrees.

Mais, 'dats cole yeah.

[BirdofParadise]

Bird, I'm the one that sent you the old articles from the Milwaukee Journal/Marquette. Went to the old Mecca years back along with other long trips. I'm not new to the party. So I hear ya, but it's not all television and football's fault. It's our own fault for letting it happen with weak hires at different levels and not responding in a timely manner when things started to slide. That falls directly on the then AD's, president's and board's collective feet. We may never be that great again, but being the shiniest turd in the toilet should not be our goal.

I don't think anyone said that should be our goal and I'm sure no one feels as though it should be. My whole point was, given televisions entry (and I'm not talking about whether Grand Canyon is on television, but rather there are so many choices out there), the emphasis on football and many, many other factors that enter into this, to expect we're going to have teams like the days of Bo and Toney just aren't realistic. It's not an excuse. The playing field is so different now.

As I said many years ago, if the NCAA committee did business in the early 70's the way they do business now, you know how many at-large bids we would have had a chance to get? None.

Same is true of coach Paschal's team that got in as an independent (which is still one of the great accomplishments ever at this school.)

Several posts ago, I asked folks to name mid major schools that play FBS football that are having regular success in hoops. I'm still waiting for an answer. There are a few, but they are few and far between. UNLV used to be a top ten school in the late 80s and early 90s. Now, they still have some success, but they aren't a threat to come close to winning the national championship.

Kent State had a couple of very good teams a few years ago. But they haven't been able to sustain it (and, it should be noted, their football program, with exception of one good year a few years ago) is in the toilet.

The league we are in is the league we are in. Hopefully that will change. Our goal should be to challenge for a championship and win our share. I hope that takes place.

I agree we should do better against non-conference competition. I do NOT agree that would help us get an at large bid. Those days are gone. And, that's not all our fault.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Gonzaga, Dayton, Butler, Weber State,Witchata State, are are a few that come to mind. I don't buy into football sucking the life out of basketball. Fans have been smalle timed into apathy.

Just to be sure? You did say UAB athletics would suffer because they dropped football. Now you say basketball suffers because of football.

[duggie85]

Gonzaga, Dayton, Butler, Weber State,Witchata State, are are a few that come to mind. I don't buy into football sucking the life out of basketball. Fans have been smalle timed into apathy.

Just to be sure? You did say UAB athletics would suffer because they dropped football. Now you say basketball suffers because of football.

Are you suggesting UL drop football to FCS (or lower) or all together like those schools so we can compete in basketball?

[Cajunsmike]

Gonzaga, Dayton, Butler, Weber State,Witchata State, are are a few that come to mind. I don't buy into football sucking the life out of basketball. Fans have been smalle timed into apathy.

Just to be sure? You did say UAB athletics would suffer because they dropped football. Now you say basketball suffers because of football.

Jay, asked us to name southern FBS schools doing well in basketball. Gonzaga, Dayton, Butler, Weber State, and Wichita State do not fit that criteria. None play FBS football and none are from the south. Almost all are private schools in fact with the bulk of the budget going towards basketball. That does not mean we cannot do better than our peers. Let's hope tonight's game is the second of a long winning streak. I think we need to win 6 or 7 consecutive games before folks get interested. Unfortunately next home game after tonight is Thursday against Georgia State. Why do I say unfortunately? One the game against what is likely the best team in the league is on a weeknight vs a Saturday and the other reason is that the game will be a week before our students return. Would be nice if that game were about 16 days later.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Not in the my view of things. I say football is a stawman, a whipping boy for failure to maintain basketball at an outstanding level.

Jay asked for successful mid level schools in basketball. He added the also football requirement. I don't agree with that requirement. My UAB comment was to clearify that he expounded on UAB dropping football would not enhance their other sports. Clearly basketball the most important of the other sports.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Jay, asked us to name southern FBS schools doing well in basketball. Gonzaga, Dayton, Butler, Weber State, and Wichita State do not fit that criteria. None play FBS football and none are from the south. Almost all are private schools in fact with the bulk of the budget going towards basketball. That does not mean we cannot do better than our peers. Let's hope tonight's game is the second of a long winning streak. I think we need to win 6 or 7 consecutive games before folks get interested. Unfortunately next home game after tonight is Thursday against Georgia State. Why do I say unfortunately? One the game against what is likely the best team in the league is on a weeknight vs a Saturday and the other reason is that the game will be a week before our students return. Would be nice if that game were about 16 days later.

I don't agree with his restrictive requirements Mike.

The state of Louisiana can almost assure which paint you use on a project by restrictive requirements.

Do you truly believe that our basketball would not be a profit maker winning 23+ games season after season. Making it to NCAA 1st & 2nd rounds.

Just look at the lost revenue in that huge empty dome. Feed the friggin oxen. Instead we starved it.

[duggie85]

I don't agree with his restrictive requirements Mike.

The state of Louisiana can almost assure which paint you use on a project by restrictive requirements.

Do you truly believe that our basketball would not be a profit maker winning 23+ games season after season. Making it to NCAA 1st & 2nd rounds.

Just look at the lost revenue in that huge empty dome. Feed the friggin oxen. Instead we starved it.

Well we won 23 games last season and made NCAA's last year. People still don't show up this year.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Just like football it dies fast. Takes a long time to rebuild a fan base.

Plus to be clear 23+ wins a season is the regular season. No one is getting any credit for NAIA wins except the coaches W/L record. That doesn't xcite knowledgeable fans.

[BraveCajun]

I don't think anyone said that should be our goal and I'm sure no one feels as though it should be. My whole point was, given televisions entry (and I'm not talking about whether Grand Canyon is on television, but rather there are so many choices out there), the emphasis on football and many, many other factors that enter into this, to expect we're going to have teams like the days of Bo and Toney just aren't realistic. It's not an excuse. The playing field is so different now.

As I said many years ago, if the NCAA committee did business in the early 70's the way they do business now, you know how many at-large bids we would have had a chance to get? None.

Same is true of coach Paschal's team that got in as an independent (which is still one of the great accomplishments ever at this school.)

Several posts ago, I asked folks to name mid major schools that play FBS football that are having regular success in hoops. I'm still waiting for an answer. There are a few, but they are few and far between. UNLV used to be a top ten school in the late 80s and early 90s. Now, they still have some success, but they aren't a threat to come close to winning the national championship.

Kent State had a couple of very good teams a few years ago. But they haven't been able to sustain it (and, it should be noted, their football program, with exception of one good year a few years ago) is in the toilet.

The league we are in is the league we are in. Hopefully that will change. Our goal should be to challenge for a championship and win our share. I hope that takes place.

I agree we should do better against non-conference competition. I do NOT agree that would help us get an at large bid. Those days are gone. And, that's not all our fault.

San Diego state plays football has a good basketball program.