MBB vs Louisiana, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+, Holmes Center, Bobby Marlin searches again for Nemo

[AppinVA]

The play of the game is when with about 7 minutes left,34 fouled twice, walked, but Abson blocked two shots. We didn’t get possession, but he was never the same.

[RaleighApp27609]

How far onto the court did marlin run at that tv time out?

[HurricaneYosef]

Marsh is really impressive as a spark off the bench, love his energy

[asu66]

Hard to miss and e-z to like stats...

App turnovers 5
App win 85-73
Attendance 6,587
Still unbeaten on home hardwood

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

Marsh Valuable Player

[Saint3333]

Anyone else notice ULL’s #34 shared long handshakes and what appeared to be kind words post game with at least three App players.

Looked like mutual respect for each other.

Marlin is still a charmin soft coach, right up their with Hud a couple years ago.

[Bootsy]

Hard to miss and e-z to like stats...

App turnovers 5
App win 85-73
Attendance 6,587
Still unbeaten on home hardwood

Re: attendance, I flipped over to the JMU game after watching App/ULL. I was surprised to see so many empty seats at the ABU Center.

[T-Dog]

Anyone else notice ULL’s #34 shared long handshakes and what appeared to be kind words post game with at least three App players.

Looked like mutual respect for each other.

Kitenge was great. Got tired late as did the rest of their team, but his post presence and passing were a problem for most of the game.

Kerns has said he's OK with one star player going off if the others are shut down. And in this game, that's what happened, especially from 13 minutes left onward.

[WASU 93]

Hard to miss and e-z to like stats...

App turnovers 5
App win 85-73
Attendance 6,587
Still unbeaten on home hardwood

Re: attendance, I flipped over to the JMU game after watching App/ULL. I was surprised to see so many empty seats at the ABU Center.

My takes after being there for the game today:

1. Another big stat, we only had 8 fouls the entire game.
2. Kitenge (#34) is a skilled low-post player with good footwork. He's a beast down low. The key to the game (other than Marsh), was when he picked up two quick fouls to start the second half. He had played every minute to that point and their offense ran well with him in the game.
3. They were very successful with dribble penetration for the first 3/4 of the game (something Texas State also had success with. That may be our defensive weakness.
4. Great crowd. But, not 6500 in attendance. Likely 4500 to 5000. However, it is wonderful to see the student section behind the basket filled from baseline to the rafters. It is a different energy driving up to Holmes pre game and seeing students walking from the dorms to the game. Overflow parking at Peacock again today. Basketball is a lot more fun inside Holmes this year.
5. We needed someone to step up. Gregory kept us close, but Marsh was a spark plug in the first half and took over the final 10 minutes. It's going to be a very special 4 years, if we can keep him on campus. He wanted the ball at the end of the game, and other than the missed front end of a 1 and 1, he was money down the stretch.

Finally, we need to make one improvement at Holmes. Player stats used to be shown on the main scoreboard and the "dasher boards" courtside. The two old school scoreboards in the corners cannot be seen by a large part of the upper seats (which we are now using) due to their positioning and the banners. We either need to add two more of these or re-position them.

[AppOrange]

I think a big key in the win was our rotation all game, especially in the first. ULL looked very tired late and they started missing shots. We looked fresher due to all the players who played. Kerns stuck with it and it paid off, that and mega bombs from 3 late.

[BambooRdApp]

I think a big key in the win was our rotation all game, especially in the first. ULL looked very tired late and they started missing shots. We looked fresher due to all the players who played. Kerns stuck with it and it paid off, that and mega bombs from 3 late.

Added to that...Kerns has appeared to be more adaptable with rotation based upon what is going well. That helps when you can go 8 or 9 deep. For the last few games, 0 has sat for extended minutes, another game 24...and yesterday it was 23.
As a fan, it was great to see the players on the bench mobbing 4 when he came off the floor after some big scores....=team chemistry

[AppAlum1]

I was there in the nose bleed seats and behind the UL bench. Turning point of game, IMO, was when Abson came out and App doubled Hosana #34. Its like they game planned for Abson but no further. So when Abson sat, they looked lost. Plus Coach Marlin appeared very thin skinned and let the Wheres Nemo chant bother him. At one point it looked to me like he actually challenged an App player on the court. !!! The refs huddled up and looked at a replay but nothing happened. So Coach Marlin was over there losing his cool and that transfered to his players, including #34 who was good but He lost his cool too. App deserves credit for staying focused on the game. Reminded me of the 30 on 30 about the Pistons and the Lakers series with Rodman and Worthy etc.

[appstate24]

Coach Marlin is such a clown

Loved every second of that.

GO APPS!!

[311neers]

Up to 77 in Net!
Go 1-0!

Jmu falls to 55 with a win over Southern haha.

[JTApps1]

Was the student section chanting "Nemo"? I couldn't tell on t.v.

They were shouting, "where is Nemo".

It came through loud and clear on the radio! Hahaha

[Bigdaddyg1]

One aspect of all sports these days that I really don't like is the analytics especially if coaches rely on them for decisions. Just coach and go by feel. Kerns doesn't seem to worry about having certain players on the floor at key moments just to appease them. He recognizes the hot hand and goes with it. I had commented a few weeks ago that Marsh looked like a ball hog and was taking bad shots. For whatever reason right after that he sat and his minutes dropped. Lately he's flipped the switch and looks much more under control and is obviously playing great. I love some cool numbers like comparing win totals and Kerns even referenced the fact that we are among the group of 9 teams at the 22 win mark- seems to be stumping for one of the at large bids. Coaches for really good teams in the notorious one bid conferences know the deal and at this point in seasons need to pump up their teams. During the second half last night I had to run out to pick up dinner and had the game pulled up on my phone. At the light I checked and we were down about 7, checked a few thread comments and there were the usual doom and gloom guys. Checked in a few minutes and we were tied. Got home, had the game on and while in the next room I knew we had taken control just based on the crowd noise and our announcers. Awesome win.

[Saint3333]

I hope ULL drops to fifth or worst before the tournament. I’d rather play them in their third game in three days. I think they’ll finish 4th though and we’ll likely see them in the semis.

[Rekdiver]

Coach Marlin is such a clown

Loved every second of that.

GO APPS!!

Might be because an App player gave him a little verbal shot after the 3…..

[Bigdaddyg1]

Combined home records for the top 4 in the Sunbelt is 52-5. That's crazy

[AppStFan1]

Our best game from the FT line. Excellent job men.

Indeed a great job to improve. Let's just hope this was not a single good game and we continue to see this. If we keep it up then we can be a very dangerous team in the postseason.