Basketball Talent!

[CajunRed]

Anyone who watched last night's basketball game involving that school down the road (and I must say I struggled and agonized over watching it) had to be struck by ONE thing... and that is TALENT. It was very obvious pretty early in the game which team had more raw TALENT and ATHLETICISM!

Which gets me to my point. For a few weeks now, there have been posts and comments concerning the talent level on UL's basketball team... and exactly which players may or may not have the talent to contribute to a successful 06/07 season. My comment is that out of the returning players (not counting the transfers and signees), not many are at a level to contribute much.

I'll ask again... Which returnee from this year's team would another school look at a say... "Wow, we've got to have THAT guy!" I think in most cases, the answer would be NONE!

What do you think?

[cajunref]

Agree, I think we could be in for a long season next year, but I will be there at every game possible rooting our guys on and hopefully I am proven wrong!

I have to agree with you on the game last night, LSU had the much better talent, and young to boot.

[MiamiCajun32]

Anyone who watched last night's basketball game involving that school down the road (and I must say I struggled and agonized over watching it) had to be struck by ONE thing... and that is TALENT. It was very obvious pretty early in the game which team had more raw TALENT and ATHLETICISM!

Which gets me to my point. For a few weeks now, there have been posts and comments concerning the talent level on UL's basketball team... and exactly which players may or may not have the talent to contribute to a successful 06/07 season. My comment is that out of the returning players (not counting the transfers and signees), not many are at a level to contribute much.

I'll ask again... Which returnee from this year's team would another school look at a say... "Wow, we've got to have THAT guy!" I think in most cases, the answer would be NONE!

What do you think?

Of course I have never seen the guy play and even if I did I have no expertise in judging basketball talent, but the word is that the new point guard M.C. is a major talent that any big time program would love to have, from a pure talent perspective (not including the baggage).

So that is one player that is supposedly big time. Maybe there is a big drop off from there... But maybe a great point guard and a supporting cast that is better than average, by sunbelt standards, will be enough to compete in sunbelt higher levels and get back on winning track. This year's team proved during the last month that they were in top 3 in sunbelt and were NIT caliber, but in my opinion below average coaching is causing the team to take too long to gel and it takes half the season or longer for them to play to their potential.

Hopefully next year it will be different because the team will probably not be as good as this year. But if it takes 3/4 of season to gel again, expect worse than 13-16. We need a complete season of playing up to potential and then cajuns can finish with 18+ wins IMHO.

[CajunCharlie]

Anyone who watched last night's basketball game involving that school down the road (and I must say I struggled and agonized over watching it) had to be struck by ONE thing... and that is TALENT. It was very obvious pretty early in the game which team had more raw TALENT and ATHLETICISM!

Which gets me to my point. For a few weeks now, there have been posts and comments concerning the talent level on UL's basketball team... and exactly which players may or may not have the talent to contribute to a successful 06/07 season. My comment is that out of the returning players (not counting the transfers and signees), not many are at a level to contribute much.

I'll ask again... Which returnee from this year's team would another school look at a say... "Wow, we've got to have THAT guy!" I think in most cases, the answer would be NONE!

What do you think?

It takes time and money to build up a program...ask John Brady!

I am not certain where you are going with your post. If you are complaining about the talent level, it is a legitimate complaint. If you are complaining that Lee is not the man for the job, because of his inability to recruit, then I feel you are on the wrong page. I say this because I think Lee and his coaches can evaluate talent, and do try their best to recruit talent. One of the shortcomings in our recruiting is the lack of substantial funds to travel to observe potential talent, and then to fund visits of potential talent for a campus visit.

Regardless, and the good Lord willing, I will be in the same seats I have held since the Dome opened. Can't give up on my Ragin Cajuns.

[CajunRed]

It takes time and money to build up a program...ask John Brady!

I am not certain where you are going with your post. If you are complaining about the talent level, it is a legitimate complaint. If you are complaining that Lee is not the man for the job, because of his inability to recruit, then I feel you are on the wrong page. I say this because I think Lee and his coaches can evaluate talent, and do try their best to recruit talent. One of the shortcomings in our recruiting is the lack of substantial funds to travel to observe potential talent, and then to fund visits of potential talent for a campus visit.

Regardless, and the good Lord willing, I will be in the same seats I have held since the Dome opened. Can't give up on my Ragin Cajuns.

Please don't get me wrong... I have been watching Cajun basketball for 45 years and surely won't give up on my university and my team. And I not only like Coach Lee, I respect him a lot on and off the court. But my point still stands that things have not worked out the last couple of years as far as talent goes. I think both Dees and Cooke will help tremendously next year, but beyond that we will struggle. Both our forward and post players are very limited. Regardless of how much we like Coach Lee, we MUST judge his recruiting AT LEAST against other mid-major programs (if not against at least SOME majors if we want to grow the program!)

There is still opportunity to find and sign some talent. For everyone's sake, let's hope he does!!

[Cajunsmike]

Please don't get me wrong... I have been watching Cajun basketball for 45 years and surely won't give up on my university and my team. And I not only like Coach Lee, I respect him a lot on and off the court. But my point still stands that things have not worked out the last couple of years as far as talent goes. I think both Dees and Cooke will help tremendously next year, but beyond that we will struggle. Both our forward and post players are very limited. Regardless of how much we like Coach Lee, we MUST judge his recruiting AT LEAST against other mid-major programs (if not against at least SOME majors if we want to grow the program!)

There is still opportunity to find and sign some talent. For everyone's sake, let's hope he does!!

Word is that we will be bringing in new talent -mostly from high school-next month.

[Cajun Express]

It takes time and money to build up a program...ask John Brady!

I am not certain where you are going with your post. If you are complaining about the talent level, it is a legitimate complaint. If you are complaining that Lee is not the man for the job, because of his inability to recruit, then I feel you are on the wrong page. I say this because I think Lee and his coaches can evaluate talent, and do try their best to recruit talent. One of the shortcomings in our recruiting is the lack of substantial funds to travel to observe potential talent, and then to fund visits of potential talent for a campus visit.

Regardless, and the good Lord willing, I will be in the same seats I have held since the Dome opened. Can't give up on my Ragin Cajuns.

Butch did not spend a lot of money in the travel budget to get the best players on that team. They are all from Metro Baton Rouge and Louisiana.

Man I can assure you that there is enough talent in this state every year to support three high calibre teams. You get outside help to round out the team. We only need to get any 5 of the top 15 players in this state year end and year out to have a really healthy program.

[CajunCharlie]

Word is that we will be bringing in new talent -mostly from high school-next month.

I have heard the same thing. Some players on scholarship will not be retained. Did not know how that could be done, but the Bird of Paradise says that scholarships are renewable every year. The word I heard is that the team will be practically made up of newcomers.

[CajunCharlie]

Butch did not spend a lot of money in the travel budget to get the best players on that team. They are all from Metro Baton Rouge and Louisiana.

Man I can assure you that there is enough talent in this state every year to support three high calibre teams. You get outside help to round out the team. We only need to get any 5 of the top 15 players in this state year end and year out to have a really healthy program.

One of the reasons for the their BR connection is Temple's father, who is an
lsu alum (played football for them, if I recall correctly). He coached four of the "best players" in AAU ball, and they all decided to go to lsu. How odd!! I guess as long as Temple is the source for their talent they will not exceed their travel budget.

Lee and his staff just have to work harder!!!!!

[Sonsissymia]

One of the reasons for the their BR connection is Temple's father, who is an
lsu alum (played football for them, if I recall correctly). He coached four of the "best players" in AAU ball, and they all decided to go to lsu. How odd!! I guess as long as Temple is the source for their talent they will not exceed their travel budget.

Lee and his staff just have to work harder!!!!!

you recall incorrectly; he was the roundballer that broke the race barrier at lsu. and i agree with what the original poster said about lsu's players, at least the starters, looking to be superior to the duke players; the amazing thing about that is that duke recruits from every state in the union [wasn't trajan langdon from alaska??], and yet lsu's players were from within 75 miles of each other [3 b.r., one denham springs, and darrell from st. mart]. amazingly good core of talent during at least that 4 year window. the state has had great talent, but the exodus from N.O. may herald a change in that status--the augustin kid, for example, was supposedly an lsu lean, moved to texas with katrina, and now i think is a 'horn verbal. still, i agree there should be plenty talent in la. for the cajuns to build a solid hi school recruiting base. lee will take care of it.

[Sonsissymia]

Anyone who watched last night's basketball game involving that school down the road (and I must say I struggled and agonized over watching it) had to be struck by ONE thing... and that is TALENT. It was very obvious pretty early in the game which team had more raw TALENT and ATHLETICISM!

Which gets me to my point. For a few weeks now, there have been posts and comments concerning the talent level on UL's basketball team... and exactly which players may or may not have the talent to contribute to a successful 06/07 season. My comment is that out of the returning players (not counting the transfers and signees), not many are at a level to contribute much.

I'll ask again... Which returnee from this year's team would another school look at a say... "Wow, we've got to have THAT guy!" I think in most cases, the answer would be NONE!

What do you think?

'agonized watching it.' i am an lsu fan, and a budding 'new' cajun fan what with my daughter matriculating here, but even before that connection i watched dozens of cajun games, in many sports, and have never had an agonizing moment---that 'school down the road' does produce some odd sentiments. ____, on stevie p's show yesterday even turbine called in, gave lsu a thumbs up, and indicated he would be watching and pulling for 'em. following his lead might cut down the pepcid bill.

[RaginFan2]

'agonized watching it.' i am an lsu fan, and a budding 'new' cajun fan what with my daughter matriculating here, but even before that connection i watched dozens of cajun games, in many sports, and have never had an agonizing moment---that 'school down the road' does produce some odd sentiments. ____, on stevie p's show yesterday even turbine called in, gave lsu a thumbs up, and indicated he would be watching and pulling for 'em. following his lead might cut down the pepcid bill.

It would be a LOT easier to pull for lsu if their supporters didn't a) look down their collective nose at us, b) ridicule and put us down constantly, c) make fun of "ignorant cajuns", then adopt Cajun acoutrements, d) fight us constantly when any improvement in our university is seen as an attack on the "flagship status" at Baton Rouge, e) virtually demand that any Louisiana resident support/cheer for lsu, regardless of their own alma mater, ........ , etc., etc. Please don't misunderstand me, I started out as a Tiger fan. I went to HS in North Louisiana and began my college career at lsu. I had no real ties to Lafayette or the university there. Only after I transferred to then-USL, after being on the receiving end of many undeserved put-downs (some subtle, some not) of my new choice in higher education, and seeing how we almost always seemed to be out-manuevered by the political powers in BR, that I had enough of the bullying tactics. Then I began to resent lsu, or at least many of the supporters of the school. Thus I, too, had an "agonizing time watching" last night. I am happy for the players. Those kids are mostly from Louisiana and it's good to see them succeed. It's just the purple-and-gold jerseys they wear that represents so many bad feelings which makes for the pepcid moments. I know from experience that there are many fine lsu fans who are genuinely glad when we have success. I think you may be that kind of fan. I was apprehensive about you when you first came on this board, but you've changed my mind as you've mellowed a bit. I hope your daughter is enjoying her time at UL. My son is a senior at UL and is loving it. I would love to see the day when Tigers and Cajuns cheered for each other regularly (when we weren't playing each other naturally). Unfortunately, I don't think that day is right around the corner for most of us. I know a few folks who go to BR and wear purple, then come to Lafayette and wear red. Those folks are a rare breed.