The Book: 2006-2007 Ragin' Cajuns Basketball

[MiamiCajun32]

Cher, Miami and 2112 made friends. That's cute. If we are all lucky then you two will form your own clique and not include us, and then start PM'ing each other so us un-cool kids can't know what you are talking about.

I can see it now:

MC: RL sucks
2112: I know
MC: Jesse was so much better
2112: Totally
MC: RL sucks
2112: I know
MC: Jesse was so much better
2112:Totally
MC: I wonder what Mike Southall's doing these days
2112: I don't know but I bet it's cool
MC: RL sucks
2112: I know

And on and on and on...Just repeating the same ol' blabber about RL.

Were you two pres and vice-president of GALA while ya'll were at UL?

And don't get upset and come on here telling me to back off and that i don't know you and whatever, and that 2112 is the only person that understands you. I get it.

I will always be a big Cajuns fan, but will never understand the lack of demand for winning results. My alma mater is University of Florida and us Gator fans demand the best from our teams. Why can't us Cajuns fans do the same? I don't expect national championships at UL of course, but I do expect sunbelt titles, as long as the sunbelt is so weak. I think it is great that the football program has risen from the ashes to be competitive, but the basketball program has been consistently winning for decades and now I fear it is one of the worst teams, regarding performance on the court. Worse of all is that at least the fans on this forum seem to accept it, no problem, and simply don't demand more. The team is young but has talent, so there is no excuse whatsoever for the record and the few blow out losses. Lee's teams have not played consistently up to their potential night in and night out for all three seasons he has been at the helm. Period. As attendance falls, it just shows more fans seem to agree with the non rose colored glasses approach that me and others are taking.

[NewsCopy]

Three different players on UL's men's basketball team stepped to the free throw line and made a pair of free throws in the final 23 seconds Saturday night, helping the Ragin' Cajuns survive in a 74-71 Sun Belt Conference win over Florida International. It wasn't just by chance that Rhett Hebert, David Dees and Willie Lago wound up at the stripe in those closing seconds. UL made sure that its better free-throw shooters were those handling the basketball, forcing the Golden Panthers to foul players that figure to find success at the line. But nothing's for sure in that situation, and that six-in-a-row streak runs counter to both the Cajuns' season-long performance and to national averages. As a team, UL is shooting 65.6 percent at the free throw line, meaning more than three out of 10 Cajun attempts don't go in. That's not far off the national averages, though, since Division I college teams have hit between 68 and 70 percent from the line in each of the last seven seasons. "It's a concentration thing," said Cajun coach Robert Lee. "We shot well when the game was on the line Saturday. What we have to do is get that concentration level up like we have it in the last two minutes." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[rhineaux]

I will always be a big Cajuns fan, but will never understand the lack of demand for winning results. My alma mater is University of Florida and us Gator fans demand the best from our teams. Why can't us Cajuns fans do the same? I don't expect national championships at UL of course, but I do expect sunbelt titles, as long as the sunbelt is so weak. I think it is great that the football program has risen from the ashes to be competitive, but the basketball program has been consistently winning for decades and now I fear it is one of the worst teams, regarding performance on the court. Worse of all is that at least the fans on this forum seem to accept it, no problem, and simply don't demand more. The team is young but has talent, so there is no excuse whatsoever for the record and the few blow out losses. Lee's teams have not played consistently up to their potential night in and night out for all three seasons he has been at the helm. Period. As attendance falls, it just shows more fans seem to agree with the non rose colored glasses approach that me and others are taking.

Most of us do demand more...But at the same time, we are not worried about what happens only one season, we are looking at the next several seasons. Its the people who can vs. the people who can't see the forest through the trees scenario.

[Cajunsmike]

I will always be a big Cajuns fan, but will never understand the lack of demand for winning results. My alma mater is University of Florida and us Gator fans demand the best from our teams. Why can't us Cajuns fans do the same? I don't expect national championships at UL of course, but I do expect sunbelt titles, as long as the sunbelt is so weak. I think it is great that the football program has risen from the ashes to be competitive, but the basketball program has been consistently winning for decades and now I fear it is one of the worst teams, regarding performance on the court. Worse of all is that at least the fans on this forum seem to accept it, no problem, and simply don't demand more. The team is young but has talent, so there is no excuse whatsoever for the record and the few blow out losses. Lee's teams have not played consistently up to their potential night in and night out for all three seasons he has been at the helm. Period. As attendance falls, it just shows more fans seem to agree with the non rose colored glasses approach that me and others are taking.

None of us are happy about the record. However jumping up and down and screaming the coach needs to go is not the solution. There is no short term solution. Those of us who go to the games don't believe the record is because they are not being coached properly. That does not mean Coach Lee has not made mistakes. Early on, Robert was too hard on these kids and they regressed when Milsap joined. However, it may have been a necessary regression as he has more athletic ability than anyone else and needs experience Also, Robert has realized he needs more patience and you can tell this is the case. He is not going to be fired so continually harping on this serves no purpose. Again, there is no short term solution to this issue. I will bet you that this team will not finish with the worst record in recent years (I know that is nothing to be proud of). The 95 team went 7 and 22. Two of the wins were against non Div 1 schools. There was only one road win while another was on a neutral court during the conference tournament. That same team with virtually no additions had a winning season the next year. That occurred because they matured and our guys will do the same and we are bringing in major reinforcements.

[BirdofParadise]

I will always be a big Cajuns fan, but will never understand the lack of demand for winning results. My alma mater is University of Florida and us Gator fans demand the best from our teams. Why can't us Cajuns fans do the same? I don't expect national championships at UL of course, but I do expect sunbelt titles, as long as the sunbelt is so weak. I think it is great that the football program has risen from the ashes to be competitive, but the basketball program has been consistently winning for decades and now I fear it is one of the worst teams, regarding performance on the court. Worse of all is that at least the fans on this forum seem to accept it, no problem, and simply don't demand more. The team is young but has talent, so there is no excuse whatsoever for the record and the few blow out losses. Lee's teams have not played consistently up to their potential night in and night out for all three seasons he has been at the helm. Period. As attendance falls, it just shows more fans seem to agree with the non rose colored glasses approach that me and others are taking.

I sent you my email address. Haven't heard from you.........

[CajunProud]

Cher, Miami and 2112 made friends. That's cute. If we are all lucky then you two will form your own clique and not include us, and then start PM'ing each other so us un-cool kids can't know what you are talking about.

I can see it now:

MC: RL sucks
2112: I know
MC: Jesse was so much better
2112: Totally
MC: RL sucks
2112: I know
MC: Jesse was so much better
2112:Totally
MC: I wonder what Mike Southall's doing these days
2112: I don't know but I bet it's cool
MC: RL sucks
2112: I know

And on and on and on...Just repeating the same ol' blabber about RL.

Were you two pres and vice-president of GALA while ya'll were at UL?

And don't get upset and come on here telling me to back off and that i don't know you and whatever, and that 2112 is the only person that understands you. I get it.

[CrazyCajun]

If i am a idiot come introduce yourself to me next home game sec206 row bb seat 11,12.Your the dude who probably liked Baldwin for football,and thinks Lee can do what Pasqual,Fletcher,and Evans did be a winner year end year out.Lee got a winning record as a coach off of Evans players.The administration obviously was trying to make themselves look good publicly hiring Cyprien and Lee.Will see,the crowd numbers have been going down even before this season,if you don't have a following how do you expect to fill the cajundome idiot.And I think we are hosting the sunbelt tourney at seasons end whats your excuse if the cajuns don't get in.A young team,sorry thats a sad excuse when there have been other coaches out there who have done great things with true freshmen as a starting five.Geaux hang out with your buddy Jay at 1420 IDIOT.

so urban meyer just won a national championship with ron zook's talent. You don't hear anybody saying that

[Just1More]

I will always be a big Cajuns fan, but will never understand the lack of demand for winning results. My alma mater is University of Florida and us Gator fans demand the best from our teams. Why can't us Cajuns fans do the same? I don't expect national championships at UL of course, but I do expect sunbelt titles, as long as the sunbelt is so weak. I think it is great that the football program has risen from the ashes to be competitive, but the basketball program has been consistently winning for decades and now I fear it is one of the worst teams, regarding performance on the court. Worse of all is that at least the fans on this forum seem to accept it, no problem, and simply don't demand more. The team is young but has talent, so there is no excuse whatsoever for the record and the few blow out losses. Lee's teams have not played consistently up to their potential night in and night out for all three seasons he has been at the helm. Period. As attendance falls, it just shows more fans seem to agree with the non rose colored glasses approach that me and others are taking.

I think I may be getting a better handle on your position. You are a Gator fan that is also a Cajun fan. Every thread ever generated in the SEC has a league of people slamming the snot out of coaches and players, if one game is lost, if one player underperforms, if instant results are not achieved. The big difference in Cajun fan forums and those from the SEC... and let me explain... I am totally surrounded here in Baton Rouge from the LSU fanbase, and know what I am talking about.... the SEC has unlimited funds (virtually) and a fan composition that is in large made up of the average Joe on the street. "Joe" has no other thing in his life to herald, but his affiliation with some sports program of choice. "Joe" does not possess the nads to back a program that has limited funds, and a less than stellar history. "Joe" demands at every opportunity that his team be undefeated and crush every opponent.

A typical Cajun forum fan (not everyone... typical) is a fairly competent, intelligent person, who understands that we cannot fire and reload at will. We brag about our talent, because we are proud and believe in who we hire, who we recruit, and attempt to assist their pursuits with our full backing. If they completely fail us, without any sign of a plan for improvement, we will throw them out. The big difference is that we do not have the luxury of pulling the plug and throwing unworldly (and ridiculous) sums of money at coaches. Florida, on the other hand, has that ability at their immediate disposal.

I am not slamming you with my "Joe" analogy, nor do I believe all SEC fans are "Joe". It just so happens that your average "Joe" tends to dictate the fan mentality in the SEC. I have many SEC fan friends. My friends are intelligent, respectful (although heavily brainwashed) and do not side with "Joe". They will not do anything to disassociate "Joe" from their choice of sports program... not because they like him... but because they know he fills the stands, yells "Tiger Bait" the loudest, and is an amusing, imposing force when gathered and unleashed on a sports opponent.

Cajun basketball fans want our team to return to 20+ wins, NCAA or NIT appearances, and more. The idea that Coach Lee has been given ample opportunity to complete the mission he has started, or that this team has reached it's potential, is simply premature. I am in no way, nor is anyone else, satisfied with losing seasons in basketball. It is a matter of allowing the current plan to show improvement, then success. Back to the SEC... no patience... no need to. That is not our luxury at UL.

[scotto_25]

I'm tired of hearing the "young" word when talking about this team. Of course we're young, but does anyone ever mention the word "suck"........Yep, I said it we suck man. Suck bad!

We need 3 more regular sized David Dees and 1 low post 7-foot David Dees, that would make us at least a contender in the Sun Belt.

A couple of guys will mature and become sub par stars, heck, maybe even studs, but you still need a couple of good transfers to take these boys under their wing. You gotta remember, this isn't Michigan or Duke, where you can start 5 freshman and be an actual contender. Main reason being, is that they get 5-star athletes and we get the one's that get rejected by the LSU ____, and the one's that don't feel like living in the dry/boring dorm rooms of Natchitoches or Ruston-ville. We need these transfers to build the program quickly, and then you'll get the freshman who are potential blue chip athletes stepping in.

Love Basketball, just hate this year

[cajuns67]

I'm tired of hearing the "young" word when talking about this team. Of course we're young, but does anyone ever mention the word "suck"........Yep, I said it we suck man. Suck bad!

We need 3 more regular sized David Dees and 1 low post 7-foot David Dees, that would make us at least a contender in the Sun Belt.

A couple of guys will mature and become sub par stars, heck, maybe even studs, but you still need a couple of good transfers to take these boys under their wing. You gotta remember, this isn't Michigan or Duke, where you can start 5 freshman and be an actual contender. Main reason being, is that they get 5-star athletes and we get the one's that get rejected by the LSU ____, and the one's that don't feel like living in the dry/boring dorm rooms of Natchitoches or Ruston-ville. We need these transfers to build the program quickly, and then you'll get the freshman who are potential blue chip athletes stepping in.

Love Basketball, just hate this year

big game james