The Book: 2006-2007 Ragin' Cajuns Basketball

[MiamiCajun32]

You can criticize all you want "Dixie Chick"... but you might get popped for what you say. You somehow think you know how the whole fanbase feels based on monitoring this board? Lee's program is under scrutiny by many. There are people that like some of his coaching attributes... wins/losses is the result that he will ultimately be judged by.

You can leave the board. That is your choice. Getting criticized for slamming Coach Lee, but not sucking it up against someone who is tired of hearing it, is small. Keep the banter going... it reduces real-world stress.

I don't pretend to know exactly how the whole fan base feels, but the attendance is a pretty good indicator. Wins and losses dictate attendance to some large degree. If this were a program that had been down for years, then a young undertalented bunch of hustling players may still bring the fans in, but the dramatic fall and no real sense of urgency to change things is creating an empty cajun dome. I guess you know some other reason about the poor attendence though, right?

[MiamiCajun32]

You can criticize all you want "Dixie Chick"... but you might get popped for what you say. You somehow think you know how the whole fanbase feels based on monitoring this board? Lee's program is under scrutiny by many. There are people that like some of his coaching attributes... wins/losses is the result that he will ultimately be judged by.

You can leave the board. That is your choice. Getting criticized for slamming Coach Lee, but not sucking it up against someone who is tired of hearing it, is small. Keep the banter going... it reduces real-world stress.

I don't mind getting criticized, but I would much rather someone who disagrees with my posts to explain why they support Lee or why I should support him. I know he is a great guy (from all the posts and general knowledge) even though I have never met him. But great guys don't always equal successful coaches. I am very concerned because for the first time since I can remember (I am 35) the Cajuns basketball program is a losing one. Not only that, but it is one of the worst teams in D1. I am concerned that recruiting will suffer greatly and that Lee has already scared away a lot of potential future transfers by blaming a number of transfers last year on the team's failures and cutting their scholarships. The same team under Evans would likely have won 20 games, even if there was glaring holes regarding outside shooting.

I am not saying Evans is the greatest coach around either, but he was getting the job done and deserves credit for that, instead of the comical bashing for how supposedly his system of transfer players was so much worse than the current one of 5 win seasons.

Good coaches find a way to win. Great coaches, such as Tim Floyd for example, find a way to win championships, with no excuses. And they win with a clean program of course.

I know that some of the posters here have been fans for a long time. But for those that have not been following the Cajuns since the Blackham days, I suggest that you take a history lesson regarding how the Cajuns have had a winning season almost every year since becoming D1 in early 70s. There have been a few rough periods, with the death penalty and Marty Fletcher's first and last season (major transition time), but there has never been a total collapse like we are seeing now, with no real light at the end of the tunnel to be seen. If you see a light, then please explain. And explain how maybe competing for the sunbelt after 3 or so terrible years is something that any Cajuns fan should be interested in. I am disgusted by the team's performance. I am also embarassed by it, with my friends in Florida (who all know that I share loyalty between UF and UL) reminding me every day exactly how bad the Cajuns are. The program has become a laughing stock.

SFA, UNO, and ASU are all very very bad teams. But all clearly better than the Cajuns (and this is before the recruiting will take an even worse turn, and before some current players leave).

In any other traditionally winning program, forums like this would be screaming for coaching change, under such dire circumstances!

[Turbine]

The Jesse Evans way of recruiting worked just fine in the wins and loss column.

Both are nice but I am certainly a bigger fan of wins than of a tough schedule.

[rhineaux]

I don't mind getting criticized, but I would much rather someone who disagrees with my posts to explain why they support Lee or why I should support him. I know he is a great guy (from all the posts and general knowledge) even though I have never met him. But great guys don't always equal successful coaches. I am very concerned because for the first time since I can remember (I am 35) the Cajuns basketball program is a losing one. Not only that, but it is one of the worst teams in D1. I am concerned that recruiting will suffer greatly and that Lee has already scared away a lot of potential future transfers by blaming a number of transfers last year on the team's failures and cutting their scholarships. The same team under Evans would likely have won 20 games, even if there was glaring holes regarding outside shooting.

I am not saying Evans is the greatest coach around either, but he was getting the job done and deserves credit for that, instead of the comical bashing for how supposedly his system of transfer players was so much worse than the current one of 5 win seasons.

Good coaches find a way to win. Great coaches, such as Tim Floyd for example, find a way to win championships, with no excuses. And they win with a clean program of course.

I know that some of the posters here have been fans for a long time. But for those that have not been following the Cajuns since the Blackham days, I suggest that you take a history lesson regarding how the Cajuns have had a winning season almost every year since becoming D1 in early 70s. There have been a few rough periods, with the death penalty and Marty Fletcher's first and last season (major transition time), but there has never been a total collapse like we are seeing now, with no real light at the end of the tunnel to be seen. If you see a light, then please explain. And explain how maybe competing for the sunbelt after 3 or so terrible years is something that any Cajuns fan should be interested in. I am disgusted by the team's performance. I am also embarassed by it, with my friends in Florida (who all know that I share loyalty between UF and UL) reminding me every day exactly how bad the Cajuns are. The program has become a laughing stock.

SFA, UNO, and ASU are all very very bad teams. But all clearly better than the Cajuns (and this is before the recruiting will take an even worse turn, and before some current players leave).

In any other traditionally winning program, forums like this would be screaming for coaching change, under such dire circumstances!

I didn't say i agreed or disagreed with your point. I said that your arguements are tired. I didn't say you weren't a fan, I didn't say I thought you should stop posting, or that you should never come back to the board, but implying that it would be nice if you would come here to say something else. Post something that doesn't have anything to do with your distaste for RL or the program. It is tired. but still, you couldn't read my words and swallow them, because you continued to make reference to your distaste. We know!

[Tripple Threat]

coaches do get fired based on fans demanding it be done. But it takes an actual fan base that cares. Seems like UL will not have a large passionate fan base any time soon.

I hate to bring up the Ron Zook example again, but he was fired quicker than he otherwise would have, in some part, because of fireronzook.com. I certainly don't advocate that kind of bashing website, but take a dose of reality. As long as Cajuns' fans accept mediocrity then that is what we will get. Now it seems that most Cajuns basketball fans have just decided to sit out the Lee regime and wait around for an eventual change in a few years. A small percentage (most of this board for example) seem to be happy with things and don't want to hear any criticism of their program. An even smaller percentage are complaining.

Have fun at the games this year with the other 500 people.

I will get off your precious board.... I am obviously not a true fan....

Stick around, criticism fuels the fire. Coach Lee would be the first to say the criticism is warranted. He, I believe, would understand that fans will stop coming if the cajuns don't start winning. They better tighten things up.

[Ewhite]

From a previous thread.

I hope that all us naysayers are completely wrong. I would love to meet up with the optimists at the NCAA tourney and have pie thrown in my face. But unfortunately, I think us naysayers are right.

I'm thinkin a Key Lime pie....

I went through and finally found this Miami. I can totally understand from a far that you are dissappointed. Hell I am at every game and it's getting harder to see these guys get beat. Not to speak for Rhineaux but it does seem like you constantly are on Lee. The post up top was the first time I saw a chink in your armour. I respect you opinion but at the same time, sometimes it's just better to keep quiet. On the other i could ignore you post and move on.

You may have a point about wins and losses being the ultimate barometer on Lee, at the same time I can see that this is a rebuild year and don't see any changes happening. I also think we have what could be magic coming. I feel the experience level is good for a couple of losses so far.

Is that the wrong decision time will tell I still will have pie delivered to you. I am making the Lake charles trip Saturday. I am going to stand with this team until the bitter end but hopefully it is Sweet in the end.

[cajunlove]

Unfortunately, it seems that the Cajuns will not be able to compete with major teams in the south / southeast for high school talent. They were just starting to be able to a few years ago, based soley on Jesse Evans' success with wins and losses (came close with Ryan Francis and the , along with the national attention that brought. Recruiting a solid sunbelt high school class and hoping that they stay eligible and together for a few years (so there can be one good year out of 4) is a HUGE drop off in quality for the Cajuns basketball program.

What about signee Chris Gradingo, seen by some as the best player coming out of Louisiana, and ranked nationally as a top 20 high school small forwawrd (or power forward)? Also, what about this past recruiting class, all of which were rated among the top 25 prospects coming out of Louisiana high schools?

This year's freshman have loads of talent. They make freshman mistakes though, freshman mistakes that will only be corrected with game experience. They all signed on to the program knowing coach Lee's expectations. They also know that if those expectations are not met, they get sent packing, just like Marquie Cookie (sp?). Again, with the change in recruiting philosophy, I think Lee should be given a couple of years before he is judged. Let's allow these high school recruits to mature and then see if the Cajuns are ranked at the bottom of the SBC.

[El Sidonio]

What about signee Chris Gradingo, seen by some as the best player coming out of Louisiana, and ranked nationally as a top 20 high school small forwawrd (or power forward)? Also, what about this past recruiting class, all of which were rated among the top 25 prospects coming out of Louisiana high schools?

This year's freshman have loads of talent. They make freshman mistakes though, freshman mistakes that will only be corrected with game experience. They all signed on to the program knowing coach Lee's expectations. They also know that if those expectations are not met, they get sent packing, just like Marquie Cookie (sp?). Again, with the change in recruiting philosophy, I think Lee should be given a couple of years before he is judged. Let's allow these high school recruits to mature and then see if the Cajuns are ranked at the bottom of the SBC.

I agree. But at the same time, it's hard to sit here and wait for these supposed improvements that will happen while our team plays so badly. As much talent as we have on the court, shouldn't we be winning more? Whatever the case is, I say RL is gone if we don't win the conference next season.

God Bless

GEAUX UL RAGIN CAJUNS!!!!!!!!

[cajunlove]

I agree. But at the same time, it's hard to sit here and wait for these supposed improvements that will happen while our team plays so badly. As much talent as we have on the court, shouldn't we be winning more? Whatever the case is, I say RL is gone if we don't win the conference next season.

God Bless

GEAUX UL RAGIN CAJUNS!!!!!!!!

I believe that many would agree with you. But, I still stand by giving Lee 2 more years to win the conference. My post was in reply to the previous poster's suggestion that UL's recruiting has deteriorated since Evans's departure. Hopefully Lee can get these freshmen to "gel" and win some games this season.

[SlappyCajun]

You may disagree with all of these points or none. I know you are a fan, because I went through the same feelings with other coaches in the UL program at some point. Here are some things that I think Robert is doing right.

1) Signing top local talent. Robert and staff have gone out and signed some of the best local talent in the state. Is some of it ineligible, yes. If the players were eligible out of high school would they have gone to Louisiana Lafayette, probably not. Recruiting is hard. Recruiting top high school players is even harder. Many times the transfers that we signed had no other options left, so they were easier to get. Will Willie Lago be the next Orien Greene, proably not. Will Elijah Millsap be the next Brian Hamilton, possibly. Whats the difference, we have these guys for four years. For those who went to the A-State game Lago, played extremely well. He is slowly coming into his own. He will be an excellent point guard for three more years. I think we can all see the benefits of having Millsap for three more years. Tyren Johnson will continue to figure things out and be an athletic specimen before it is all over. Another thing that may pain us to think about. If Rick Majerus keeps the USC job, Ryan Francis is a Ragin' Cajun right now. Tim Floyd is good at what he does. Think we should have been able to keep Francis even with Floyd, ask the other general Bobby Knight about Jeremy Barr.

2 Home schedule. When Jesse was winning one of the complaints was the home schedule. We played Mobile, Bethune Cookman, Birmingham Southern (who we lost to by the way). This season the Cajun fans have gotten to see two All-Americans play in the Cajundome and two top 25 teams. I think high school recruits would rather play somebodies than beat DII's. It helps your recruiting.

3. Building the progam to last. Players are going into the community. The team GPA this fall was the highest it has been in 20 years. We have young talented players. We are rebuilding recruiting ties with Louisiana players that we did not have since we didn't recruit Louisiana players for the last four years. If Robert Lee was the coach four years ago, Bo Macaleb would be a Ragin' Cajun. Instead, our point guard, Kevin Bell, never made it to campus and now plays at Fresno State.

4. The transfers were nice. Orien, Tiras, Brian, Dwayne, Mike, were great. But then there were the ones who never made it, Carlos Hurt, Jimmy Inglis, a player who left then started at Oregon, a player from Chicago who got kicked out. Jesse did a great job while he was here. We got to the tournament twice. And a third time with his players. But, Robert coached them.

We will get back. I don't think it is a program collapse. I thnk the only thing Robert did wrong is not take high school kids after his first year. We tried to strike it big with some JUCO guys and it didn't work out. You must also remember that Robert did not sign, Fobbs, Pesoli, Mouton, James, they were here already. Maybe I am wrong and I have too much faith. Maybe my rose colored glasses fit just right. We are a mid major program that stopped relying on transfers there will be some growing pains. I think we will pull through, but I respect your opinion.