The Book: 2006-2007 Ragin' Cajuns Basketball

[Cajunsmike]

I think "Reality" is finally starting to set in with these players. The hopes for having double digits in the WIN column is fading away, and I believe our guys are realizing that. They don't have the "Fire" that they had beginning of this season. Sort of like they're just going through the motions, which is p!ss poor considering that we still have a good bit of games left. We MIGHT, and MIGHT being the key word, win three more games. But then again, if they continue to play in this fashion, 2 wins MIGHT be what we finish with.

It may look like they are going through the motions but that is not the case. They are playing tentative due to the fear of making a mistake. When you do that, you are a step slow. Basketball is a game which you must play instinctively in order to be successful. The mounting no. of losses has sapped their confidence and caused the current situation. I agree it will be difficult to turn it around this season. I am now doubtful about my earlier prediction it will happen at the end of January. Struggles this season does not mean we can't have success next season as Gradigno, Bloom and the four guys sitting out should not have lost their confidence. Anyone know how Gradigno is doing at LaGrange.

CajunsMike

[RaginEsquire06]

They are playing tentative due to the fear of making a mistake. When you do that, you are a step slow. Basketball is a game which you must play instinctively in order to be successful. CajunsMike

That is the answer that I just couldn't come up with....absolutely! The Cajuns have more than enough talent to beat any team they faced this year! If people disagree...obviously they haven't watched this team play. I still believe that this teams future is bright...after dismissing some of the starters from last years team...I feared that this would be the type of season we would have to witness...on the other hand...the upswing for the Cajuns is gonna be tremendous! Mark my word...If people can't see that the future for this team is bright....take a second look at these guy's accomplishments coming out of high school...they all literally dominated their peers...the playing field is gonna balance out & look out...the band wagon jumpers will be standing in line to jump back on again! My advice to Coach Lee...Don't lose sight on what your plans are...avoid the "nay-sayers" and keep this young group of players together by any means necessary!

Go Cajuns!

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. — Terrance Akins anticipated a zone defense from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette on Thursday night and in the end he made the Cajuns pay. Akins scored a career-high 21 points that helped the University of Arkansas-Little Rock defeat ULL, 59-55, in a Sun Belt Conference game played at the Cajundome. “We knew coming into this game that (ULL) was going to play us zone, so I went back into the gym during the last few days and I started concentrating on my shots,” said Akins, who scored 13 in the second half. Akins finished making 7-of-11 from the field. That total included sinking all but three of nine 3-point attempts as the Cajuns dropped to 2-11 overall and 0-3 in the conference. UL basketball coach Robert Lee said he knew that Akins, who was shooting 33.7 percent of his treys before the game, was capable of becoming a long-distance weapon. “When you’re going through the kind of stretches that we have been going through, it seems like you can’t catch a break,” Lee said. “We knew that (Akins) could hit the three, but when we looked at the stats, he wasn’t shooting that great of a percentage from that range. “Tonight (Akins) made the 3’s. We were ready for that. We just didn’t get to him quick enough.” The rest of the story By BOB ARDOIN The Advocate

[Cajunsmike]

That is the answer that I just couldn't come up with....absolutely! The Cajuns have more than enough talent to beat any team they faced this year! If people disagree...obviously they haven't watched this team play. I still believe that this teams future is bright...after dismissing some of the starters from last years team...I feared that this would be the type of season we would have to witness...on the other hand...the upswing for the Cajuns is gonna be tremendous! Mark my word...If people can't see that the future for this team is bright....take a second look at these guy's accomplishments coming out of high school...they all literally dominated their peers...the playing field is gonna balance out & look out...the band wagon jumpers will be standing in line to jump back on again! My advice to Coach Lee...Don't lose sight on what your plans are...avoid the "nay-sayers" and keep this young group of players together by any means necessary!

Go Cajuns!

Doing a little surfing has led me to discover that LaGrange High School has a 17 and 2 record to date this season. LaGrange is the school Cajun signee Chris Gradigno plays for. I have not been able to find any individual stats for Gradigno however. If anyone has access to the box scores of LaGrange games, I would appreciate they would let me know how to acquire that access. I only point this out to indicate help may be on the way.

[LARaginCajun]

Doing a little surfing has led me to discover that LaGrange High School has a 17 and 2 record to date this season. LaGrange is the school Cajun signee Chris Gradigno plays for. I have not been able to find any individual stats for Gradigno however. If anyone has access to the box scores of LaGrange games, I would appreciate they would let me know how to acquire that access. I only point this out to indicate help may be on the way.

I hope fans do not expect him to be the savour of the Cajuns basketball program. That is unfair to put that kind of pressure on him. College basketball is a big step upward from high school basketball.

[Just1More]

I hope fans do not expect him to be the savour of the Cajuns basketball program. That is unfair to put that kind of pressure on him. College basketball is a big step upward from high school basketball.

You are right, but I don't think (I hope) anyone is looking for a single player, especially a freshman to come in and save the team. Right now this team is going to have to self-generate some confidence, overcome their blues, and play lights out for 40 minutes. They can do it if they want to.

[rhineaux]

That is the answer that I just couldn't come up with....absolutely! The Cajuns have more than enough talent to beat any team they faced this year! If people disagree...obviously they haven't watched this team play. I still believe that this teams future is bright...after dismissing some of the starters from last years team...I feared that this would be the type of season we would have to witness...on the other hand...the upswing for the Cajuns is gonna be tremendous! Mark my word...If people can't see that the future for this team is bright....take a second look at these guy's accomplishments coming out of high school...they all literally dominated their peers...the playing field is gonna balance out & look out...the band wagon jumpers will be standing in line to jump back on again! My advice to Coach Lee...Don't lose sight on what your plans are...avoid the "nay-sayers" and keep this young group of players together by any means necessary!

Go Cajuns!

Last year at around this time, Coach Lee changed some things that the team was doing, such as practicee routines. I think in his words, he tried to make it fun again. It worked pretty well, at least got the guys to go back to the basics and such. They still couldn't shoot the ball, but they started playing some really good D. I am not sure if he is hesitant to do that with this group because he doesn't want to effect their heads long term (for example to make them think that things are different from now on and they lose some tenacity in the future, just a thought), but something along those lines should be done now. Winning is just as contagious as losing. One game may equal a couple more, then give them the confidence to make a late game run at someone and win it that way, then who knows. I live out of town and haven't seen one game (was at most of the TEch game, but after all that tailgating, my head wasn't really doing much focusing), but from what i hear you guys say and all, this really young group of guys has no idea how to win right now on this level, nor do they have the confidence in themselves to give it a shot.

[Just1More]

Last year at around this time, Coach Lee changed some things that the team was doing, such as practicee routines. I think in his words, he tried to make it fun again. It worked pretty well, at least got the guys to go back to the basics and such. They still couldn't shoot the ball, but they started playing some really good D. I am not sure if he is hesitant to do that with this group because he doesn't want to effect their heads long term (for example to make them think that things are different from now on and they lose some tenacity in the future, just a thought), but something along those lines should be done now. Winning is just as contagious as losing. One game may equal a couple more, then give them the confidence to make a late game run at someone and win it that way, then who knows. I live out of town and haven't seen one game (was at most of the TEch game, but after all that tailgating, my head wasn't really doing much focusing), but from what i hear you guys say and all, this really young group of guys has no idea how to win right now on this level, nor do they have the confidence in themselves to give it a shot.

That may be the right thing to try. I could imagine Lee being so stressed he may be over-analyzing and putting a lot of pressure on this group. It may be required with young players, but with losses piling up, it may be time to loosen it up. They may need to be given the green light to just play ball. That generally works on offense, but not on defense. There are ways to make players understand that you can start having fun on offense, not get slammed for every mistake, but only if you hussle your arse off on defense. It is a "deal" that many can figure out... or else bench them and put players in that can.

[RaginEsquire06]

That may be the right thing to try. I could imagine Lee being so stressed he may be over-analyzing and putting a lot of pressure on this group. It may be required with young players, but with losses piling up, it may be time to loosen it up. They may need to be given the green light to just play ball. That generally works on offense, but not on defense. There are ways to make players understand that you can start having fun on offense, not get slammed for every mistake, but only if you hussle your arse off on defense. It is a "deal" that many can figure out... or else bench them and put players in that can.

Just curious....Do you guys think that it would be wise for Coach Lee to go out and find a seasoned, high caliber player who needs a second chance...maybe another Orien Greene, Dwayne "Dunk you very much" Mitchell...or even a...Hummmm....Mike Southall to generate a little excitement with this team? Someone capable of complimenting or even just taking some attention off of Dees as a scoring threat? With all the youngsters on our team, it won't create a situation where there will be a need for total rebuilding. Regarding the transfers in the aforementioned...they all where a risk...more so Mr. Southall...But they all eventually paned out! IMO I think this may be something to consider regarding coach Lee's next signing class...If the right type of play-maker...with good character is out there lurking...why not snatch him up?

[Clutch0364]

Just curious....Do you guys think that it would be wise for Coach Lee to go out and find a seasoned, high caliber player who needs a second chance...maybe another Orien Greene, Dwayne "Dunk you very much" Mitchell...or even a...Hummmm....Mike Southall to generate a little excitement with this team? Someone capable of complimenting or even just taking some attention off of Dees as a scoring threat? With all the youngsters on our team, it won't create a situation where there will be a need for total rebuilding. Regarding the transfers in the aforementioned...they all where a risk...more so Mr. Southall...But they all eventually paned out! IMO I think this may be something to consider regarding coach Lee's next signing class...If the right type of play-maker...with good character is out there lurking...why not snatch him up?

By the time that transfer would be eligible Dees would be gone and the freshmen would be seasoned.