The Book: 2006-2007 Ragin' Cajuns Basketball

[CajunCharlie]

Keep it rolling CAJUNS! It seems that things got scary near the end of this one. Can anyone who was at the game tell me whether FIUs closing of the scoring gap was due to their outstanding play or our poor play? In either case, we need to learn how to close games out strongly. The true test will come in the next two games. GEAUX CAJUNS!!!!!

We made some bad floor decisions...four turn overs in one minute of play. FIU pulled some 3 pointes out of their butts. The officials also had a part in this turn of events...a few horrible calls which gave the advantage to FIU. Nevertheless we prevailed. In a couple of years the record will show that we won 74-71 and no one will know about our turnovers or their "remarkable" three pointers..

[Tripple Threat]

Keep it rolling CAJUNS! It seems that things got scary near the end of this one. Can anyone who was at the game tell me whether FIUs closing of the scoring gap was due to their outstanding play or our poor play? In either case, we need to learn how to close games out strongly. The true test will come in the next two games. GEAUX CAJUNS!!!!!

During his interview, coach Lee pretty much said the same thing everyone is writing. In his words, the guys got rattled and were saved by good freethrow shooting in the end.

[Zeebart21]

That's Chris Gradnigo.

You're right, this team is young and if they can continue to play close games, they will have the opportunity to learn how to win under pressure, like they have in these last two games. I can tell you that the reason for the near collapse tonight was a combination of poor execution on offense and, at times, some incredible three point shooting from Alex Galindo, a sophomore. This could be an interesting road trip.

Man, I havent even been drinking. I knew a guy a looooooong time ago named Rodney G. Thanks form the correction.

Is Galindo a transfer?

Z.

[lordguill]

Yes, Galindo transferred from Kansas

[DaddyCajun]

For the first time in a very long time I(actually my whole family) was not able to make the game.

I was able to catch the last part of the last half on the radio. We are just a young team and we are just as young playing together. If they can sqeak out some more wins and continue to mature as a team we could end up with an ok final stretch.

Hopefully we at the very least make the conference tournament really hot.

DaddyCajun

[Zeebart21]

Yes, Galindo transferred from Kansas

yes, thank you!

Z.

[NewsCopy]

Maybe it was because UL's men's basketball team hadn't been in that situation ... holding onto a lead. After all, the Ragin' Cajuns had only one other double-digit advantage all season. UL had that type of edge several times Saturday night at the Cajundome, and didn't handle prosperity well down the stretch. But some clutch free throw shooting overcame three turnovers in the final minute, and the Cajuns held on for a 74-71 Sun Belt Conference victory over Florida International. The Cajuns (4-12, 2-4 Sun Belt) led by 14 points both late in the first half and early in the second half, and still were in front by nine at 67-58 with 55 seconds left before things started going haywire for the hosts. FIU (6-9, 1-4) got a key three-pointer from Johwen Villegas in between Elvis Lora free throws, those made possible by two Cajun turnovers, but two freebies by Willie Lago and David Dees provided a 72-68 lead with 13.4 seconds left. However, Alex Galindo threw in a high-arching trey over UL's defense with 6.8 ticks left, and Rhett Hebert had to make two more free throws for the eventual winning margin. Galindo had a potential tying three-pointer bound away at the horn. "On the plus side, we'd really never been in that situation, trying to hold onto a lead, and we didn't react well to it," said Cajun coach Robert Lee. "But we had guys that stepped up and made free throws. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[Just1More]

I caught the game on the radio over here in the Villa De Refinery. I was very pleased with Dees and Hebert hitting the clutch free throws, but was curious why in the final minutes, FIU got down the floor and launched 3pt shots so fast. Just as Jay would say we missed a shot, or made one, it was only 2-3 seconds and he would say Vegas or Lauri (sp) launches a 3.

Was that just Jay (who does a great job) having a radio delay of his own, or were they getting down the floor that fast every time? I was getting very worried that our guys were going to let this game slip out of their grasp. Maybe it was the radio, but it sure did seem like FIU got off shots extremely fast down the stretch.

All is good, however... congrats to the Cajuns on a critical win. 2 in a row has got to instill some needed confidence. These 2 games should help a great deal in getting their heads into practice (not to say they weren't) and despite some tough games ahead, they know that they can compete.

[JamesTheJeweler]

Obviously I wasnt there, but it sounded like we turned the ball over quite a few times in the last minute. They were also light out with their 3's hitting a couple(I believe) in the last minute.

We cant get too shook if these guys get throttled at WKY or NT. We are extremely young...EXTREMELY YOUNG!...Next year with everyone back, ineligible players ready to go, Corey Bloom ready to play(Transfer from Uof Houston) and Rodney Gradigo from LaGrange here.... Things will be much better.

Z.

HEY Z, WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE AFOREMENTIONED PLAYERS. I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT 'EM. CAN'T GET MUCH INFO FROM THE DAILY SADVERTISER! ANY INFO IS APPRECIATED. THANKS.

[Zeebart21]

HEY Z, WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE AFOREMENTIONED PLAYERS. I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT 'EM. CAN'T GET MUCH INFO FROM THE DAILY SADVERTISER! ANY INFO IS APPRECIATED. THANKS.

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=345&p=9&cfg=bb&c=8&yr=2007

ROUX: Chris Gradnigo commits/signs with UL
Basketball:
Chris Gradnigo SF Ability to create and big time scorer
Ht: 6-6 Wt: 200
(Has been given an offer) Is not scheduled for a visit.
(LaGrange HS)
National Ranking (29)
Recruited by:Arkansas, Cincinnati, Colorado State, University of Louisiana, Notre Dame, South Florida, LSU, Tulane

Arkansas, Cincinnati, and ND offered.

Gradnigo is bigtime.

Bloom is a transfer from University of Houston, I believe he is Antoine Landry's brother.

http://pelicanpreps.rivals.com/viewp...2&pr_key=25229

Maybe others can give more insight.

These guys, plus the cats we have in the wings......I believe we'll see a serious improvement next year. Wont tell you we'll be a contender yet, because we'll still be young, but over the next few years...look out! IMHO

Z.