The Book: 2006-2007 Ragin' Cajuns Basketball

[Tripple Threat]

Here is a positive spin, for the sake of trying to be positive. Milsap looks good enough to be a third scorer, Milson is consistantly pounding the boards (he just needs to get the ball fed to him a little more), Rhett scored with a little more confidence, and C. Wallace had some fight in him. I don't know if anyone else noticed, but after Wallace wrestled with #24 the cajuns actually showed a tiny bit of fire. We didn't look as shaky breaking the press or the 1/2 court trap and our freethrows aren't horrible. If Ross gets back to 12-15 points a game and Milsap and D. Dees continue to play like they have been, they will start winning.

I think the improvement needs to come from the Point Guard (Lago) and Valentino needs more playing time. The players need to be motivated to be more aggressive. On one play, Rhett was breaking the press and instead of pulling it out like they had been he pushed a pass to Ross (he missed the layup, but it was aggressive). We'll see how the Monroe game goes...

[CajunKate]

I was there. The mental aspect of the numerous losses is definitely taking a toll , I think. These guys are in a really bad "head space" at this point. I don't see any way to overcome it except to rack up some wins, but I don't see it happening with the mental attitude of the team at this date.

Far and away the most disquieting part of the game was the disgruntled crowd. With not many people in attendance and the acoustics of the arena, I heard a lot of yelling of opinions- all directed at Lee, not the players. He took a lot of grief from the crowd last night. In fact, I felt a current of downright anger in the Cajundome last night. It was disconcerting for me as a fan, so I can't imagine the effect on the team and staff. I guess I wasn't fully aware of how, excuse my French, ____ed off people really are about the state of the team until last night.

[RaginFan]

If Ross gets back to 12-15 points a game

Ross was fighting off the flu and had a bad ankle last night. He hadn't practiced for two days.

[Tripple Threat]

Ross was fighting off the flu and had a bad ankle last night. He hadn't practiced for two days.

Exactly

[Tripple Threat]

I was there. The mental aspect of the numerous losses is definitely taking a toll , I think. These guys are in a really bad "head space" at this point. I don't see any way to overcome it except to rack up some wins, but I don't see it happening with the mental attitude of the team at this date.

Far and away the most disquieting part of the game was the disgruntled crowd. With not many people in attendance and the acoustics of the arena, I heard a lot of yelling of opinions- all directed at Lee, not the players. He took a lot of grief from the crowd last night. In fact, I felt a current of downright anger in the Cajundome last night. It was disconcerting for me as a fan, so I can't imagine the effect on the team and staff. I guess I wasn't fully aware of how, excuse my French, peeed off people really are about the state of the team until last night.

Did you notice that the band wasn't there last night? Or for the sake of mentioning missing intangibles...the hecklers who sit behind the visitor's bench were replaced by a family of 5! I was really disappointed.

[kwehmeyer]

"i think this team must start winning games (when it counts;
there is no way that our team would, win if they give up
40 rebounds, foul 18 times, and turnover the ball 13 times
shoot 26% from 3point line 37% from the field 57% in
free throws this is very bad for our team if ya'll think i'm lying
look at the stats on there website & you will see why
our team is 2-11 and 0-3 in the sunbelt

[Just1More]

Well stated...The lack of intensity on our players part made last nights game very difficult to watch. So what's the problem? Is it associated with our players youth? Player's personal character? Or...is it the the coaching?

Good questions, and I am not sure of the answer. It could be a combination, but I am hoping that the youth and inexperience is the key contributor. I think it is more mental than talent. I am not so upset with the Xs and Os. I have seen past teams play way worse fundamentally. I didn't see the intensity on defense. A struggling program gets back into it on defense. Ross being sick didn't help, but the team has gotten down on themselves and it shows. As Kate said, the fans are struggling to get into it, and some are yelling out "coaching tips" to Coach Lee.

If I were to give advice to Coach, I would nominate a couple of players to be the intensity enforcers. It can't all happen from the bench or the crowd. I watch the body language and communication between the players, and I don't see player leadership on this team right now.

[Tripple Threat]

I watch the body language and communication between the players, and I don't see player leadership on this team right now.

Did you notice C. Wallace put his hand in Ross' face and push him off when Ross tried to give him advice? The frustration is out of this world. Since Coach Lee is the man, I hope his frustration doesn't make him lose his motivation and focus

[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.