WATCH: Marlin Previews Georgia Southern And Georgia State
Stepping in front of the microphone is a lot easier when your team wins. Bob Marlin doesn't have to constantly correct the course of the ship because it's already headed in the right direction.
Marlin's Ragin' Cajuns rolled out to a 14-2 start to the season, and they already have two wins in conference play. Solid leadership and chemistry throughout the roster is manifesting through a fluid and potent offense. There's no disputing they know their identity on the court.
"Our guys know this is their team," Marlin said. "This is Jay Wright's last chance to make something happen."
Wright also provides the defensive spark at the guard position, where he left his mark against the ULM Warhawks most recently.
His defense against Nick Coppola was incredible the other night, holding the wily veteran to only one field goal. Monroe made the Cajuns work for it the other night too, and Marlin liked the way his team responded to the challenge.
"I thought it was a good test for our guys, and a good test of our character," Marlin said.
They will be tested again by Georgia Southern this Saturday at the Cajundome.
Georgia Southern's guards, Tookie Brown (17.3 ppg) and Ike Smith (19.7 ppg), are explosive offensive weapons. Wright, PJ Hardy, Frank Bartley and Johnathan Stove will have their hands full slowing them down all night, and Marlin said he thought the game would be won at the guard position.
Down low, Bryce Washington has a chance to feast. The highest leading rebounder for the Eagles is Coye Simmons at 5.3 per game, and Washington is averaging more than 12 rebounds every night.
"He goes after the ball and when he gets it, it's usually his," Marlin said about Washington's rebounding excellence.
The Cajuns also have home court advantage the next two games against Georgia Southern and Georgia State. They still haven't lost a game on the newly renovated Cajundome floor, protecting the new house.
Marlin's team is on a very solid trajectory in 2016. The pieces look to be in place, but there's still a lot of conference play left to get through. Take some time to listen to Marlin's thoughts on the current success of his team and how he's still trying to push them to improve as they get closer to the conference tournament.