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Basketball: UL men, women hoops teams made good choices – coaches’ statements included

Kevin Foote, The Advertiser, March 15, 2017

There were some eyebrows raised at UL’s announcements over the last few days concerning the postseason fates of its two basketball programs.

First, the Ragin’ Cajuns’ men’s basketball program released a statement from coach Bob Marlin on Sunday evening that the men were declining an invitation to participate in the 2017 CollegeInsider.com Tournament, better known as the CIT.

Then, on Tuesday morning, the athletic department released a statement from women’s coach Garry Brodhead that his program won’t be participating in the 2017 Women’s Basketball Invitational, or WBI as the event’s two-time champion

The primary reason given by both programs was health of the players.

On the men’s side, senior guard Jay Wright and junior forward Bryce Washington were mentioned by name. Both gutted it out big time physically to get the Cajuns to win seven straight games prior to being eliminated in the Sun Belt Tournament by Georgia State.

No specific names were mentioned on the women’s side, but several Cajuns also limped to the finish line and at least two will likely require some form of surgery when the season is over.

Both teams began the season with the hopes of enjoying really deep benches. Both ended the season without that luxury, counting on hurting players having to play extended minutes in hopes of earning an NCAA automatic berth.

When that didn’t take place, despite valiant late-season pushes by both programs, the logical decisions were made.

So now it’s me raising my eyebrows at some of the questioning of those two decisions.

It seems curious that someone who once tried to belittle the achievement of winning in the CIT or the WBI would now question a program deciding to bow out of such an event.

Sure, even with the current injury situations, had either team qualified for the NCAA Tournament, of course they would have continued to play hurt and done their best against one of the tournament’s powerhouses.

You don’t turn down automatic NCAA Tournament berths.

And that probably even applies to the NIT and WNIT, which would also be a step up for both programs.

But when you’re talking about a pay-to-play-type tournament that you’re already competed in, it’s certainly not an apples-to-apples comparison.

A decade or two from now, UL fans will still recall the run to the 2014 NCAA Tournament, not competing in the CIT the following two seasons.

Each season is different and should be judged accordingly.

For instance, if this was two year of the Brodhead era, the decision to not accept would likely have been much more difficult.

But it’s not, so comparing this year to three years ago is futile.

It’s not that the CIT or WBI are now beneath UL. If they were deep and/or healthy, every indication is that both programs would have accepted the invitation.

But does paying money to compete in a low-profile tournament with injured stars on teams that lack depth makes any sense? No.

There’s just no real upside to it.

The attendance doesn’t warrant it.

The finances don’t warrant it.

The interest doesn’t warrant it.

The potential recruiting benefits don’t warrant it.

It wouldn’t even really help younger players for the future. Most of the promising freshmen on these two teams have already played significant minutes this season due to the lack of numbers.

Now if they let transfers sitting out the season compete in this event, it might be a different story, but that’s not the case.

About the only possible benefit is adding one more postseason berth on the two coaches’ resumes, but that’s of little consequence in the big picture.

The bottom line is that good, sound decisions were made in both instances.

* * * * * * *

Athletic Network Footnote posted by Dr. Ed Dugas March 15, 3017 – statements by both basketball coaches.

Women’s Basketball: Statement from Garry Brodhead on Bypassing a 2017 Postseason Appearance  3/14/2017 

STATEMENT FROM GARRY BRODHEAD ON BYPASSING A 2017 POSTSEASON APPEARANCE

After consulting with our University administration, our medical staff and Athletics administration, we decided that it would be in the best interest to the welfare of our student-athletes in declining an invitation to the 2017 Women’s Basketball Invitational.

During the season, we had several players who were unavailable to play due to injury, which ultimately affected our overall depth. We are thankful for the opportunity in producing another 20-win season and the chance to play for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament title, but at this time, we must do the right thing for the overall welfare of our student-athletes.

(Director of Athletics) Dr. Bryan Maggard, (Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator) Dr. Jessica Leger and our administration are in full support of our decision. We are thankful for the support of our fans this season and are excited about the future of our program.

Men’s Basketball: Postseason Statement From Coach Bob Marlin  3/12/2017

STATEMENT FROM RAGIN’ CAJUNS HEAD COACH BOB MARLIN ON POSTSEASON

After consulting earlier today with our University administration, (Director of Athletics) Bryan Maggard and Athletic Trainer BJ Duplantis, I have decided to decline our invitation to participate in the 2017 CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

(Senior guard) Jay Wright suffered an ankle injury versus Little Rock in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and (junior forward) Bryce Washington is getting shut down for rest.  We are appreciative of the opportunity to be rewarded for another 20-win season but feel this is the right thing for the welfare of our student-athletes at this time.

Dr. Maggard and our administration support our decision. We are beginning our preparation for the 2017-18 season and excited about the future of our program.