The Book: 2006-2007 Ragin' Cajuns Basketball

[CajunKahouna]

haaaaaaa, you know i would never be refering to you. but since you bring it up........ no man, i 'm messing with you. i know you're as happy as anyone that they're finally getting it together. even if they didn't, i'm sure it would all be forgotten soon with baseball at our doorstep!

Tkx. See you at The Tigue!

[rhineaux]

Alright. Good job Cajuns!

It's an anomaly... an excursion from the norm... it cannot be happening. This team cannot be improving on the back stretch of a defeated season. I refuse to recant. There is no way Coach Lee can coach. There is no way this lack of experience is starting to make a turn. It cannot happen. They just cannot do it. Come on... these other teams are on the take.
What in the world is going on here?

This is intolerable. It has been stated and cannot be overturned... this program is a loser. This experiment has tried and failed. What, again, is going on here? This team cannot possibly be getting it together. What? In preparation for tournament play? Come on! We must fire the coach and belittle this team. But, how oh how can we do this if they don't keep up the losing? Dadblamit!

Slow down guys. To borrow a phrase...If you want to crown 'em, then crown their asses, but the boys are who we thought they were"

They are playing better. But they haven't turned the corner, yet. they are approaching it, maybe already starting to apply the breaks to make a safe turn. But, i've seen it too many times by you guys. Something starts to go right, everyone starts getting excited, telling the naysayers to eat their crow, then they lose a couple more, becaseu they aren't quite there yet, and everyone gets a ruffled up again. Just have some patience. Give them time. Just enjoy the ride, don't get too low or high. If we're lucky, we'll get to host a play-in game. then we might get to steal one at home in the tourney, but these boys are still climbing the hill. Next year shouldn't be as bad as this one, but with more freshmen coming in next year, and losing Mouton, Hart, Hebert, james, etc., there will be some holes to fill and there will still be some growing pains. Remember this is a long road, with the destination a fwe years down the road. Just sit back and enjoy the scenery.

[TheFan]

Slow down guys. To borrow a phrase...If you want to crown 'em, then crown their asses, but the boys are who we thought they were"

They are playing better. But they haven't turned the corner, yet. they are approaching it, maybe already starting to apply the breaks to make a safe turn. But, i've seen it too many times by you guys. Something starts to go right, everyone starts getting excited, telling the naysayers to eat their crow, then they lose a couple more, becaseu they aren't quite there yet, and everyone gets a ruffled up again. Just have some patience. Give them time. Just enjoy the ride, don't get too low or high. If we're lucky, we'll get to host a play-in game. then we might get to steal one at home in the tourney, but these boys are still climbing the hill. Next year shouldn't be as bad as this one, but with more freshmen coming in next year, and losing Mouton, Hart, Hebert, james, etc., there will be some holes to fill and there will still be some growing pains. Remember this is a long road, with the destination a fwe years down the road. Just sit back and enjoy the scenery.

Great Post!

[Just1More]

Slow down guys. To borrow a phrase...If you want to crown 'em, then crown their asses, but the boys are who we thought they were"

They are playing better. But they haven't turned the corner, yet. they are approaching it, maybe already starting to apply the breaks to make a safe turn. But, i've seen it too many times by you guys. Something starts to go right, everyone starts getting excited, telling the naysayers to eat their crow, then they lose a couple more, becaseu they aren't quite there yet, and everyone gets a ruffled up again. Just have some patience. Give them time. Just enjoy the ride, don't get too low or high. If we're lucky, we'll get to host a play-in game. then we might get to steal one at home in the tourney, but these boys are still climbing the hill. Next year shouldn't be as bad as this one, but with more freshmen coming in next year, and losing Mouton, Hart, Hebert, james, etc., there will be some holes to fill and there will still be some growing pains. Remember this is a long road, with the destination a fwe years down the road. Just sit back and enjoy the scenery.

Oh OK. I'll ask your permission next time when/if it is OK to show what level of enthusiasm (I say with a grin). My point was not to herald the second coming. There are some naysayers who are quick and willing to pen their prognostication of the imminent demise of the Cajuns MBB program. I am only saying to them, that this program is in the infancy of improvement, and not in the proported stage of rigamortis. That said, your point is true and understood. Have a good one. Geaux Cajuns!

[RaginEsquire06]

Next year shouldn't be as bad as this one, but with more freshmen coming in next year, and losing Mouton, Hart, Hebert, james, etc., there will be some holes to fill and there will still be some growing pains.

Repeat after me....

Chris Gradnigo 6'6" Guard
"The Louisiana native is one of the camp surprises thus far. He’s shown some explosiveness around the basket and nice touch along the baseline. At 6-7 he looks like a high major combo-forward who can play inside out. Love his agressiveness at both ends of the floor."

See:http://www.bobgibbons.net/index.php?...cd_camp_day_2/

"The state’s top shooter, Gradnigo needs to work on his defense and intensity. Gradnigo averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior and was named southwestern Louisiana's player of the year. He visited Arkansas last weekend and the Razorbacks are considered the leader along with University of Louisiana, McNeese State, South Florida, Cincinnati, Iowa State and Colorado State."

See: http://www.nola.com/weblogs/print.ss...int192173.html

La'Ryan Gary 6'7" Guard
"Baylor, new Tulane head coach Dave Dickerson and Louisiana Tech were also on hand to see guys like LaRyan Gary and Steve Payton.

Gary, a 6-foot-7 shooting guard/small forward, looked good in the first half with a nice, high-arching shot from deep as he buried a number of shots from 15 feet and out. Gary said he's hearing from Baylor, Louisiana Tech, Connecticut and Alabama."

See: http://arizonapreps.rivals.com/showm...031596&style=1

See: http://texas.rivals.com/viewprospect...2&pr_key=38469

Corey Bloom 6'4" Guard

"Helped lead Brother Martin to two straight Louisiana Class 5A state championships in 2004 and 2005...named to the All-State team after averaging 15.6 points per game, made 82 percent of his free throws and shot over 47 percent behind the three-point line as a senior...scored 21 points in the state championship game after netting 22 points in the semifinals and 26 in the quarterfinals...Brother Martin was ranked Fourth in the final USA Today National High School rankings with a 39-2 overall record...nominated for the McDonald's High School All-American team and was a High Honorable Mention All-America selection by Street & Smith's...averaged 17.2 points per game as a junior and 16.5 points as a sophomore."

See: http://uhcougars.cstv.com/sports/m-b...m_corey00.html

[Zeebart21]

Repeat after me....

Chris Gradnigo 6'6" Guard
"The Louisiana native is one of the camp surprises thus far. He’s shown some explosiveness around the basket and nice touch along the baseline. At 6-7 he looks like a high major combo-forward who can play inside out. Love his agressiveness at both ends of the floor."

See:http://www.bobgibbons.net/index.php?...cd_camp_day_2/

"The state’s top shooter, Gradnigo needs to work on his defense and intensity. Gradnigo averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior and was named southwestern Louisiana's player of the year. He visited Arkansas last weekend and the Razorbacks are considered the leader along with University of Louisiana, McNeese State, South Florida, Cincinnati, Iowa State and Colorado State."

See: http://www.nola.com/weblogs/print.ss...int192173.html

La'Ryan Gary 6'7" Guard
"Baylor, new Tulane head coach Dave Dickerson and Louisiana Tech were also on hand to see guys like LaRyan Gary and Steve Payton.

Gary, a 6-foot-7 shooting guard/small forward, looked good in the first half with a nice, high-arching shot from deep as he buried a number of shots from 15 feet and out. Gary said he's hearing from Baylor, Louisiana Tech, Connecticut and Alabama."

See: http://arizonapreps.rivals.com/showm...031596&style=1

See: http://texas.rivals.com/viewprospect...2&pr_key=38469

Corey Bloom 6'4" Guard

"Helped lead Brother Martin to two straight Louisiana Class 5A state championships in 2004 and 2005...named to the All-State team after averaging 15.6 points per game, made 82 percent of his free throws and shot over 47 percent behind the three-point line as a senior...scored 21 points in the state championship game after netting 22 points in the semifinals and 26 in the quarterfinals...Brother Martin was ranked Fourth in the final USA Today National High School rankings with a 39-2 overall record...nominated for the McDonald's High School All-American team and was a High Honorable Mention All-America selection by Street & Smith's...averaged 17.2 points per game as a junior and 16.5 points as a sophomore."

See: http://uhcougars.cstv.com/sports/m-b...m_corey00.html

The times Pica-you-nose sells Gradnigo short. Dude is ranked as one of the top 30 forwards in the country. He had offers from(not just interest shown) the following:

School Interest Level Offer? Visit Date Signed LOI?
University of Louisiana Verbal Yes None
Arkansas No Interest Yes 09/23/2006
Cincinnati No Interest Yes 10/14/2006
Colorado State No Interest Yes None

Notre Dame No Interest Yes 09/30/2006
South Florida No Interest Yes None
Tulane No Interest Yes None

[rhineaux]

Repeat after me....

Chris Gradnigo 6'6" Guard
"The Louisiana native is one of the camp surprises thus far. He’s shown some explosiveness around the basket and nice touch along the baseline. At 6-7 he looks like a high major combo-forward who can play inside out. Love his agressiveness at both ends of the floor."

See:http://www.bobgibbons.net/index.php?...cd_camp_day_2/

"The state’s top shooter, Gradnigo needs to work on his defense and intensity. Gradnigo averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior and was named southwestern Louisiana's player of the year. He visited Arkansas last weekend and the Razorbacks are considered the leader along with University of Louisiana, McNeese State, South Florida, Cincinnati, Iowa State and Colorado State."

See: http://www.nola.com/weblogs/print.ss...int192173.html

La'Ryan Gary 6'7" Guard
"Baylor, new Tulane head coach Dave Dickerson and Louisiana Tech were also on hand to see guys like LaRyan Gary and Steve Payton.

Gary, a 6-foot-7 shooting guard/small forward, looked good in the first half with a nice, high-arching shot from deep as he buried a number of shots from 15 feet and out. Gary said he's hearing from Baylor, Louisiana Tech, Connecticut and Alabama."

See: http://arizonapreps.rivals.com/showm...031596&style=1

See: http://texas.rivals.com/viewprospect...2&pr_key=38469

Corey Bloom 6'4" Guard

"Helped lead Brother Martin to two straight Louisiana Class 5A state championships in 2004 and 2005...named to the All-State team after averaging 15.6 points per game, made 82 percent of his free throws and shot over 47 percent behind the three-point line as a senior...scored 21 points in the state championship game after netting 22 points in the semifinals and 26 in the quarterfinals...Brother Martin was ranked Fourth in the final USA Today National High School rankings with a 39-2 overall record...nominated for the McDonald's High School All-American team and was a High Honorable Mention All-America selection by Street & Smith's...averaged 17.2 points per game as a junior and 16.5 points as a sophomore."

See: http://uhcougars.cstv.com/sports/m-b...m_corey00.html

My point with next year wasn't that the talent was gonna drop off, but that the talent coming in would still be young. The guys on the team this year are growning by leaps and bounds, and just because these guys are getting all this experience and knowledge doesn't mean that those new guys won't have to. I understand they are great athletes, great players, great talents, but they are gonna have to go through some of the same things that this years team went through. How great are a few of this years freshmen starting to play right now (Milsap, Wallace, Lago), and we are already in Feb. I am not saying its gonna suck, but its not likely that we are gonna blow through the conference and make a run in the NCAA tourney. I just don't want folk's expectations to get too high and start blowing on the guys and the coaches when something like that doesn't happen. It's a building process. It will take a while.

big test tomorrow night. Glad to finally hear about the stream. I'll finally be able to listen to a game.

[cjr3888]

Here are a few. *denotes record vacated

WINNINGEST COACHES ALL TIME BY % IN DIVISION II
33. Beryl Shipley Louisiana .699
53. Steve Rives Louisiana Col & Delta St .668
57. Fred Hobdy Grambling .666

SINGLE GAME REBOUNDS - BOTH TEAMS
134, Marshall (68) vs. *Louisiana (66), 1st rd, 3-11-1972

DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIPS - NIT
Year - 1984
Champ - Michigan
Runner-Up - Notre Dame
3rd Place - Virginia Tech
4th Place - Louisiana

DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIPS
Year - 1971
Champ - Evansville
Runner-Up - Old Dominion
3rd Place - *Louisiana
4th Place - Kentucky Wesleyan

2006 DIVISION I LEADERS
Field Goal %
10. Michael Southall Louisiana 61.7
21. Quincy Davis Tulane 58.1
28. Paul Millsap Louisiana Tech 57.1

Blocked Shots Per Game
7. Michael Southall Louisiana 3.3
9. Tyrus Thomas LSU 3.1

Opponents Field Goal %
8. Louisiana 38.6
14. Southern 39.3
17. Tulane 39.6
23. LSU 39.9

Blocked Shots Per Game
6. LSU 6.6
18. Louisiana 5.6
26. Tulane 5.0

[rhineaux]

Here are a few. *denotes record vacated

WINNINGEST COACHES ALL TIME BY % IN DIVISION II
33. Beryl Shipley Louisiana .699
53. Steve Rives Louisiana Col & Delta St .668
57. Fred Hobdy Grambling .666

SINGLE GAME REBOUNDS - BOTH TEAMS
134, Marshall (68) vs. *Louisiana (66), 1st rd, 3-11-1972

DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIPS - NIT
Year - 1984
Champ - Michigan
Runner-Up - Notre Dame
3rd Place - Virginia Tech
4th Place - Louisiana

DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIPS
Year - 1971
Champ - Evansville
Runner-Up - Old Dominion
3rd Place - *Louisiana
4th Place - Kentucky Wesleyan

2006 DIVISION I LEADERS
Field Goal %
10. Michael Southall Louisiana 61.7
21. Quincy Davis Tulane 58.1
28. Paul Millsap Louisiana Tech 57.1

Blocked Shots Per Game
7. Michael Southall Louisiana 3.3
9. Tyrus Thomas LSU 3.1

Opponents Field Goal %
8. Louisiana 38.6
14. Southern 39.3
17. Tulane 39.6
23. LSU 39.9

Blocked Shots Per Game
6. LSU 6.6
18. Louisiana 5.6
26. Tulane 5.0

LLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cjr3888]

ATTENDANCE RANKINGS

TEAM

TOTAL

AVERAGE

LSU

151,499

9,468

Louisiana

37,422

3,402

La Tech

33,457

2,788

Tulane

16,896

1,689

Southern

16,724

1,672

Grambling

14,285

1,298

Southeastern La.

16,941

1,129

Centenary

10,739

826

McNeese St

9,784

815

La-Monroe

10,304

792

New Orleans

5,774

641

Nicholls St

4,733

473

[Just1More]

Here are a few. *denotes record vacated

DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIPS - NIT
Year - 1984
Champ - Michigan
Runner-Up - Notre Dame
3rd Place - Virginia Tech
4th Place - Louisiana

Man, that reminded me of a story... my cousin went to Notre Dame and he sent me a t-shirt. Bobby Paschal lived right up the street from my parents in Lafayette. I was out mowing my parents lawn, wearing that ND t-shirt. I was a UL student at the time, but thought nothing of my free-bee t-shirts that said just about anything. Paschal came jogging by the house, I looked up and waved at him... he looked at my Notre Dame t-shirt (it said nothing but Notre Dame) and he gave me a stare that liked to made me "poop my draws". It was right after the 84 NIT tourney.

I thought... dang, what is his problem. Then it occurred to me. The Cajuns had just come home from the NIT. He had a look that had to have scared the pee out of incoming freshman players. I never got to know him outside of BB games, and don't know whether he ever stopped looking so serious. I liked his coaching style. Intense, but not wild. He used incredible stares to hammer referees. They were insane looking and they worked.

[Ewhite]

Wow,

This is a sad state of state basketball