The Book: 2006-2007 Ragin' Cajuns Basketball

[MiamiCajun32]

Anyone who thinks last year's team had a lot of talent must not have seen the same games I saw. Every newcomer on that team was weak. If you don't agree, stop for a moment and ask yourself this question... about which of our newcomers would any other coach in the league have said "wow, I'd really like to have THAT player"?

My thought would have been NONE OF THEM!

There are three professional players from last year's team. Three players that at a minimum can land on a European team and one already has (the third best). Further, we had two "blue chip" newcomer transfers who played horribly, but for whatever reason where rated very highly by the experts at such ratings and they were highly recruited (we out recruited Maryland for the point guard).

The team played very very badly until the end when things finally started coming together. A couple of decent players quit the team early on.

Just seems like coaching was the problem. Eventually the head coach has to take responsibility. And even if the team was not as talented as has been suggested by the experts and also the professional teams that are interested in three of those players, the Cajuns last year were at the very least one of the most talented teams in the sunbelt, a very weak conference.

The team you saw was disorganized and did not have a long range shooter or experienced veteran play maker at the point that could take over and make up for the disorganization on offense.

I hope it was just an anamoly and we don't have more of the same this year, especially with a team that is much less experienced and much less talented.

[Xlettrman]

The great players on last year's team never meshed with the newer players and those new guys from last year were not as good as their juco numbers were advertised...that's why none of them will be here for next year!

[chauncey]

Some basketball history!! The fab five never won a national championship, the lost to UNC. Michigan was national champions in 1989. Remember Glen Rice!!!

[MiamiCajun32]

Some basketball history!! The fab five never won a national championship, the lost to UNC. Michigan was national champions in 1989. Remember Glen Rice!!!

That's right! I forgot. Didn't Weber throw the ball away or something or call time out when there was none left?

[Clutch0364]

That's right! I forgot. Didn't Weber throw the ball away or something or call time out when there was none left?

First he traveled coming down court and they didn't call it, then he got trapped in the corner and called a Timeout which they didn't have.

[Clutch0364]

Trivia who can name all 5 members of the fab 5?

[Cajunsmike]

I remember watching the fab five win it all. Unfortunately, the Cajuns' freshmen class is only serviceable, perhaps good enough to win sunbelt in a few years. Of course, at least one of the best players in that class has almost no chance of ever putting on a Cajun uniform, due to eligibility problems.

I have never met R Lee. From all that I have heard, he seems like a truly great guy and someone that anyone would be lucky to have as a friend. However, that does not make him a great or even good head basketball coach at D-1 level.

Great college basketball coaches would have found a way to win last year, at least not have a losing record. There were holes, but there was also serious talent on that team.

I hope I am way wrong, but I am predicting at least two years of 12-16 type teams and it could be worse. Maybe single digit wins next year, although I don't predict that. Very much gone are the days of dominating sunbelt and having a really good shot to knock off a top 10 team in NCAAs. Those days were only about a year ago, but they are gone in my opinion. At least for a while. What could possibly be good about that?

Next year we don't have one player who is a pro prospect. And it is a very young team. I think this team will be lucky to finish in top half of sunbelt and there will be losses out of conference.

It is too bad there was not a way for Lee to motivate Cooke to get his schoolwork done. He got his school work done at the last two stops. Why not now all of the sudden? Of course I don't blame Lee for that, but mabye a great coach would have done more to influence. Who knows?

Which player do you believe won't be on the court because of eligibility problems. Plenty of players have been props their first year, became eligible, and then had success. That goes for our school and others. Dwayne Wade was a prop his first year at Marquette and look where he is today.

If you are talking about LaRyan Gary, he is in summer school at UL right now in order to get a head start on becoming eligible. He is paying his own way to school. He also did very well in the recent high school All Star Game. Give the guy a chance before you assume he won't cut it academically. I understand the belief that this will be a rebuilding year. It is quite a stretch to say next year will be as well. Key to both years will be David Dees.

[Cajunsmike]

Its is unlikely that Maurice and Valentino will be back, Turner will be a walk on.

Coach Lee said on the radio the other day that Maurice, Valentino, and Turner all had the opportunity to return. Have you heard that they are passing on the opportunity?

[Jason]

Trivia who can name all 5 members of the fab 5?

Ray Jackson, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King

[Clutch0364]

Ray Jackson, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King

I didn't think the first person to guess would get all 5, congrats. Jimmy King and Ray Jackson are always forgot about when naming them.

[Turbine]

I didn't think the first person to guess would get all 5, congrats. Jimmy King and Ray Jackson are always forgot about when naming them.

I could have named Webber, Rose, and perhaps picked Howards name out of a list but I would have missed Kink and Jackson.

[Cajunsmike]

I wonder why the Australian kid bothered to spend over a year at UL, waiting for his chance to play, and then just walking off... Was he kicked off the team? Again, another a highly touted point guard gone.

I thought going into this season that the Cajuns would struggle a lot in the post, but would have stellar point guard play. Guess not. I also guess that Woodfox was never really a threat to make it back for his sophmore year.

Seems like it is a bit silly to even make it newsworthy when a particular player signs out of high school or transfers because the odds are against any particular one player actually playing one minute.

Woodfox went to junior college. He will be there again this year.