Burnt ROUX: JJ Thomas and Raymone Andrews suspended indefinitely

[CajunRed]

Define high character. We were told that this same group which just had two suspensions were high character. I think this about philosophy, not character. I wrote down my observations from the game Saturday night & what I observed was a team being expected to follow a seventeen year old boy who plays out of control up & down the court. The coach has a vision of this seventeen year old leading them to victory, but it aint happening.

I will say this because the only dog in the hunt for me is wanting to see the team be successful. Coach Marlin has made the choice to tie his wagon to a horse named Peyton. If that horse turns out to be Secretariat, he will look like a genius. Right now that horse looks like a candidate for a $500 claiming race. Maybe the upper classmen on the team know this? You can't tell a young man he needs to be a leader & then whent he attempts to talk to you like a leader, you tell him I'm the boss & that's the way we're gonna do it. I'm just saying & that's from a million miles away.

Uh...say again?



PS...your second paragraph is kinda funny. It's amazing how much more you know about this program than most of the rest of us.

[BirdofParadise]

Guys, we need to be fair.

I don't think there's anything bad about the character of JJ or Raymone. Neither has robbed a liquor store. They weren't arrested.

They also aren't perfect.

I think "conduct detrimental to the team" really speaks for itself, when you get right down to it.

[ManAboutTown]

I want to make 3 points:

No coach, successful or not, would ever cripple his own team for no apparent reason at all. There is absolutely a reason for suspending BOTH players. It's absurd to think otherwise.

Secondly, and this is positively not an indictment on Coach Marlin; merely an observation. This fan base has had his resume, past success, and "proffessional" demeanor shoved down its throat so much that I think some here are losing objectivity. Also, I think people were so disappointed in the Lee era that they are clinging onto the reputation of the "new guy" with reckless abandon. You guys can make all the excuse and justifications that you want to, but something is not right with this program, and if you're going to vilify Bustle, Lee, and occasionally Robe, under the guise of "it starts at the top" then you are obligated to take the same stance with Bob Marlin. On the same note, if you're going to give him credit for our first winning team in years, you must question his character judgement when his players are being suspended.

Lastly, and most importantly, we should all be very concerned about our basketball program. These little riffs are building up. I have a really bad feeling about the near future of this situation. If you can't surmise that something is very concerning about this group of staff and players is taking hold, then you're lying to yourself. Sometimes great coaches find themselves in positions that don't necessarily jive. This could surely be one of them, even though we don't want to entertain that thought.

[ragin2112cajun]

I want to root and cheer for guys that want to be a Ragin Cajun! If they don't respect the coach,uniform,university,etc etc see yeah. I admire the type of team Denver has displayed the last few seasons. I could only wish as a fan that we could put those type of players in a uniform.

Define high character. We were told that this same group which just had two suspensions were high character. I think this about philosophy, not character. I wrote down my observations from the game Saturday night & what I observed was a team being expected to follow a seventeen year old boy who plays out of control up & down the court. The coach has a vision of this seventeen year old leading them to victory, but it aint happening.

I will say this because the only dog in the hunt for me is wanting to see the team be successful. Coach Marlin has made the choice to tie his wagon to a horse named Peyton. If that horse turns out to be Secretariat, he will look like a genius. Right now that horse looks like a candidate for a $500 claiming race. Maybe the upper classmen on the team know this? You can't tell a young man he needs to be a leader & then whent he attempts to talk to you like a leader, you tell him I'm the boss & that's the way we're gonna do it. I'm just saying & that's from a million miles away.

[CajunRed]

Never liked Raymone pouting when he's substituted for. And that began long before that young kid got here.

[CajunRed]

I want to make 3 points:

No coach, successful or not, would ever cripple his own team for no apparent reason at all. There is absolutely a reason for suspending BOTH players. It's absurd to think otherwise.

Secondly, and this is positively not an indictment on Coach Marlin; merely an observation. This fan base has had his resume, past success, and "proffessional" demeanor shoved down its throat so much that I think some here are losing objectivity. Also, I think people were so disappointed in the Lee era that they are clinging onto the reputation of the "new guy" with reckless abandon. You guys can make all the excuse and justifications that you want to, but something is not right with this program, and if you're going to vilify Bustle, Lee, and occasionally Robe, under the guise of "it starts at the top" then you are obligated to take the same stance with Bob Marlin. On the same note, if you're going to give him credit for our first winning team in years, you must question his character judgement when his players are being suspended.

Lastly, and most importantly, we should all be very concerned about our basketball program. These little riffs are building up. I have a really bad feeling about the near future of this situation. If you can't surmise that something is very concerning about this group of staff and players is taking hold, then you're lying to yourself. Sometimes great coaches find themselves in positions that don't necessarily jive. This could surely be one of them, even though we don't want to entertain that thought.

I don't want to think that I'm backing or following Coach Marlin blindly or without objectivity. But you compare this situation to Coach Lee and Coach Bustle? Coach Marlin has not been here two full seasons yet. You seriously want to make that comparison?

[Bandwagon King]

Uh...say again?

What part of what I wrote went over your head or was too indigestible to take? Until otherwise informed, I am going to stand by the notion that this suspension was based on a personality conflict between the coach & certain players. I believe this conflict is based on who is getting how much playing time at which positions. I already stated in a thread from Saturday night that IMO Elfrid Payton is not a point guard & is certainly not a shooting guard. For my money no one or two position player should ever be allowed on the court if he can't hit 75% of his free throws. If you are playing guard & can't shoot at all what are you doing with a scholarship? This isn't MIT it's a state university.

As a NCAA D-1 basketball coach it is a man's job to beat every bush & kick over every stone fom here to Alberta Canada to find that/those guys. If you disagree kindly please post shooting & FT percentages for the guys who are going up to Arkansas this week & I will gladly say I am wrong.

[ManAboutTown]

I don't want to think that I'm backing or following Coach Marlin blindly or without objectivity. But you compare this situation to Coach Lee and Coach Bustle? Coach Marlin has not been here two full seasons yet. You seriously want to make that comparison?

It's not even close to a comparison. On principle, people need to stop being hypocritical. Objectivity has a funny way of taking a back seat when an individual is perceived to be well liked or have a great rep.

[SlappyCajun]

Elfrid Payton is not a point guard & is certainly not a shooting guard.

He is a point guard. Raymone and Bryant both play more minutes than him. He is 17 years old and will have to grow into the roll. If you want to put blame on recruiting for starting a freshman PG, so be it.

But, I will tell you this. He will be an all-conference player before he leaves here.

[Bandwagon King]

Guys, we need to be fair.

I don't think there's anything bad about the character of JJ or Raymone. Neither has robbed a liquor store. They weren't arrested.

They also aren't perfect.

I think "conduct detrimental to the team" really speaks for itself, when you get right down to it.

I think you make a great point Jay. Let's keep that in perspective. In Coach Marlin's estimation, these guys are detrimental to the team. These are two of the same guys who helped lead the way to our winning streak last year with considerably less talent. Now they are being detrimental.


Common sense would dictate that without their presence the team will perform at a higher level & win at least one game in the tournament. If they go out & lay an egg, get blown out, & come home one & done, then it would be just as fair to say Coach marlin's decision making with his own guys is detrimental to the team. I say let the next game (or two?) be a deciding factor.

[SlappyCajun]

If you disagree kindly please post shooting & FT percentages for the guys who are going up to Arkansas this week & I will gladly say I am wrong.

He shoots a higher percentage from the field than any guard we have...

http://ragincajunslive.sidearmsports...2/teamcume.htm

[cjr3888]

Now that hurts---BTW the Jays open up their new Baseball stadium against Holy Cross Friday---John Ryan gave a ton of money and gets the naming rights!!! The game is a sell out even for SRO!!!!

I've seen the picture of the outside. Can't wait to see pictures of the entire stadium, that thing is nice!