Is Bob Marlin's seat even starting to warm up?

[Parrott]

You make a good point about the success of Stephen F Austin's basketball program. But what do you make of Danny Kasper's lack of sun belt success even though he played a big part of Stephen F Austin's recent success?

Kaspar took a lowly, losing program at SFA and built it into a regular 20-game winner. (He won 21 games in his third and fourth year, then had a down stretch for the next three years before bouncing back and becoming a regular winner.) Underwood has kept the momentum going and won with a mix of Kaspar's players (he recruited last two SLC players of year) and his own.

Kaspar is in his third year rebuilding a struggling Texas State program that lacked the discipline and talent to win in D1. He also turned Incarnate Word into a lower-level winner before going to SFA, so I'd be surprised if he's unable to win at Texas State.

[BraveCajun]

Kaspar took a lowly, losing program at SFA and built it into a regular 20-game winner. (He won 21 games in his third and fourth year, then had a down stretch for the next three years before bouncing back and becoming a regular winner.) Underwood has kept the momentum going and won with a mix of Kaspar's players (he recruited last two SLC players of year) and his own.

Kaspar is in his third year rebuilding a struggling Texas State program that lacked the discipline and talent to win in D1. He also turned Incarnate Word into a lower-level winner before going to SFA, so I'd be surprised if he's unable to win at Texas State.

Oh, I was definitely impressed with his SFA teams. I'm a big fan of the way his team's played defense. However I thought his defensive scheme would have carried over to Texas State rather quickly since this Sun Belt is a guard oriented league. Do you think the drastic change in officiating is limiting Kasper's coaching strength?

[ManAboutTown]

Oh, I was definitely impressed with his SFA teams. I'm a big fan of the way his team's played defense. However I thought his defensive scheme would have carried over to Texas State rather quickly since this Sun Belt is a guard oriented league. Do you think the drastic change in officiating is limiting Kasper's coaching strength?

I'll even admit, I wanted Kaspar to be the hire when we had a vacancy here. We got Marlin instead, but I was a fan, no doubt.

[Parrott]

Oh, I was definitely impressed with his SFA teams. I'm a big fan of the way his team's played defense. However I thought his defensive scheme would have carried over to Texas State rather quickly since this Sun Belt is a guard oriented league. Do you think the drastic change in officiating is limiting Kasper's coaching strength?

Yes, I do. The Sun Belt also is deeper in terms of quality programs (but the Southland has improved in recent years). Also, I think Kaspar inherited a Texas State program with few, if any, tough players interested in sharing the ball and playing team defense. That's been a major issue as he attempts to rebuild there.

[tetragrammaton]

Oh... Well, in that case....

...subtract 5....
.....carry the 1....

Yup, still just 0-1 in Conference.

....fast forward a little over a month, and we are in 2nd place. Last nite's game was hard to watch, but we saw a team that would have been (and was) decimated at the beginning of the season claw their way back and knock down ULM. And the crowd loved it. I feel good about where this team is right now.

[BirdofParadise]

I didn't find last night's game hard to watch at all. Two teams got after each other. Contested shots, contested rebounds, contested everything. In fact, I thought it was the most enjoyable game of the season.

We have to remember, the other team gets to play, too.

[CrazyCajun]

To me it looled like 2 pretty good teams that respect each other but don't like each other going at it, I thought it was a great game.

[ManAboutTown]

I didn't find last night's game hard to watch at all. Two teams got after each other. Contested shots, contested rebounds, contested everything. In fact, I thought it was the most enjoyable game of the season.

We have to remember, the other team gets to play, too.

Last night, the effort was at a season high. Our big man was breathing fire. Even when ULM made a run, our guys continued to fight, hard. I was not worried when we got down by 11, and that's unusual. Nothing hard to watch about two teams gunning for one another.

[scotto_25]

I agree. We started off sluggish on the offensive end, but hustle made up for it. Stove might've missed like three 2-footers, but added about 4 offensive boards and a steal or two in the opening minutes. I enjoyed last nights game. I loved the halftime adjustments on the defensive too

[BirdofParadise]

Yes, I do. The Sun Belt also is deeper in terms of quality programs (but the Southland has improved in recent years). Also, I think Kaspar inherited a Texas State program with few, if any, tough players interested in sharing the ball and playing team defense. That's been a major issue as he attempts to rebuild there.

Kaspar is also inheriting a lack of tradition. When you are used to losing (and at TxSt they've lost for a LONG time) it's that much tougher to build something.

This is the first year he has had all of his own players. But I'll say this....he has to recruit better. Gant is a good player, but he's a senior. I've liked Gilder-Tilbury from the beginning.

But Montalvo is very guardable. Naylor is serviceable. Black is just ok.

His teams are good enough defensively to keep them in games. They'll be tough to beat in San Marcos.

But if he's going to be a challenger in this league, the talent level has to improve. He's not in the Southland any more.