Pesoli, Fields will not return to UL basketball

[Cajunfever]

Last year's recruiting class was a total dissaster. Not just because it was not a good one, but because Lee recruited players he proclaimed would help Cajuns go far in NCAA tourney, only to flop completely. Then Lee blames it on the players by cutting them all loose, with little or no explanation for most. Have you ever seen a program offer scholarships and then take them away for so many players, just one year into the coach's and university's committment to them (most of these transfers turned down scholarships at other schools to go to UL?

I was happy that Lee brought back Southall and gave him a final chance, which worked out well for the player and coach. However, that move by Lee makes the idea that he is cleaning house for some ethical reasons a bit hard to swallow. Seems like he is just throwing these players' careers under a bus because he would rather go in a different direction. It is too bad that these players and their parents did not know that Lee thought of this as an option when he was recruiting them with full scholarships committed until their playing eligibility is over.

Even if all these players were bad apples and were not following team rules (doubtful), if so many players are cutting up then it falls on the head coach, no doubt. Responsibility for such a disgrace of having the majority of a 1A team out of control of course falls on the head coach.

But most disgraceful of all is Lee blaming the players he is cutting loose and thus hurting their chances for catching on with any other program, including the ones they had turned down scholarships to come to UL (at Lee's persistance).

I give Lee a very small chance of turning things around. The program is in a state of dissaray because of his poor leadership and now I doubt that he will suddenly be able to turn things around.
And just because so many people have a high opinion of Lee and think he is a great guy does not change the fact that the program is in dissaray and an embarrassment with regards to either one or the other: a) a team that was so out of control that majority had to be cut loose from scholarships; and / or b) a team that made a mistake in recruiting with a number of players and then cut them loose, not honoring the scholarship committment and then blaming the players, proclaiming they have character problems and broke team rules.

How do you know the players who were cut did not get an explanation? Were you involved in those meeting with those players?

Coach Lee understands that you don't build a program with JUCO players. You build it with quality high school players. He also understood that there was alot of high school talent available this year. He also understood that other schools in Louisiana did not have alot of scholarships available. He made the decision to go after those players. Considering the lackluster play of some of the returning players last year(Turner, Pesoli and Fields), it is not suprising that they are not on scholarship anymore. It wasn't about their skill level, it was about the desire to play. None of the above listed players showed a desire to play team ball last year.

[MiamiCajun32]

How do you know the players who were cut did not get an explanation? Were you involved in those meeting with those players?

Coach Lee understands that you don't build a program with JUCO players. You build it with quality high school players. He also understood that there was alot of high school talent available this year. He also understood that other schools in Louisiana did not have alot of scholarships available. He made the decision to go after those players. Considering the lackluster play of some of the returning players last year(Turner, Pesoli and Fields), it is not suprising that they are not on scholarship anymore. It wasn't about their skill level, it was about the desire to play. None of the above listed players showed a desire to play team ball last year.

If you give out scholarships, and the student athletes show up for practice and make their grades, then you honor the scholarships. If there is a bad apple here and there, it is one thing, but to think that so many players were bad apples, despite some great coaching and leadership by RL, is not logical. All of the players that are being let go and who are having their scholarships taken away are players that were pursued by other D1 universities' basketball programs, but I guess all these guys decided simultaneously to start not caring about playing basketball anymore (after all they had all been excelling and having a strong desire to excel in the sport for a number of years, so I guess it was time for all of them to just stop caring). No, I think it was a lack of leadership last season and a sell out this season. Name me one other program that ever cut loose so many players. Just doesn't feel right... I think the program will be back on its feet in about 4 years, after some mediocre seasons coming up, but only if RL is either gone by then or dramatically improves in his ability to lead a program.

[MiamiCajun32]

DOUBTFUL lol...so the times they were suspended throughout the year didn't give it away that they were breaking team rules?

If so many players were breaking team rules, then the coach has lost control of the program. There is no sunny picture to what is going on.

[Clutch0364]

If so many players were breaking team rules, then the coach has lost control of the program. There is no sunny picture to what is going on.

He did control the situation he suspended them. And he went out and handled the situation even more this off season but getting the cancer off the team. And you stated in another post if they were making the grades and doign what they had to do...how do you know they were making the grades? Coach Lee went and did what he had to do and got rid of the players who he felt were hurting his team on and off the court.

[cajunfan79]

these guys were lucky enough to get some playing time. The way these guys performed especially pesoli, I wouldn't have played him the rest of the year!

[Cajunfever]

If you give out scholarships, and the student athletes show up for practice and make their grades, then you honor the scholarships. If there is a bad apple here and there, it is one thing, but to think that so many players were bad apples, despite some great coaching and leadership by RL, is not logical. All of the players that are being let go and who are having their scholarships taken away are players that were pursued by other D1 universities' basketball programs, but I guess all these guys decided simultaneously to start not caring about playing basketball anymore (after all they had all been excelling and having a strong desire to excel in the sport for a number of years, so I guess it was time for all of them to just stop caring). No, I think it was a lack of leadership last season and a sell out this season. Name me one other program that ever cut loose so many players. Just doesn't feel right... I think the program will be back on its feet in about 4 years, after some mediocre seasons coming up, but only if RL is either gone by then or dramatically improves in his ability to lead a program.

I don't think they stopped caring about basketball. I think all three were used to getting their way. Why do you think Turner transferred from Pittsburgh? Because he wasn't getting enough playing time. Why do you thing Pesoli transferred from Long Beach State. Because he wasn't getting enough playing time. Why do you think Fields went to JUCO out of high school?

These three players all wanted to be "the man". The problem was that we had Mitchell, Southall, and Cameron who were "the man". They did not want to play second fiddle. That is the problem you get with JUCO players who are supposedly "superstars". They were asked to pass the ball to the other "men". They were asked to play defense. They did not like that. So they hung their heads. They tried to show Coach Lee during games that they had talent, they tried to do too much. Most of the time, they failed because they did not let the game come to them. They rushed everything. They did not play any defense. Did you ever watch any of these 3 play defense. It was a joke. (During the Sunbelt tournament, I think Turner got the message, he actually played much better defensively) Off the court, all three were suspended at various times during the year. They did not abide by Coach Lee's rules.

[cajunpepper]

I do believe that coach lee said that they didn't full the requirements to stay on the team. This is addition by subtraction. Those two players did absolutely nothing last year when they stepped on the court. I personally am happy to see those two go, because they were the biggest problems on the court last year. These incoming freshmen are head shoulders above the people we got last year, im looking forward to a very exciting year with these kids.

[CajunKahouna]

This doesn't have as much to do with Lee's ability to instill discipline as it has with Lee's L A C K of ability to recruit talent (physical AND mental)! When one cannot coach talent, one cannot recruit it.

[JamesTheJeweler]

regardless of what happened, whats done is done! the only thing that matters now is the players we do have. i understand we'll have to endure some growing pains, but i for one am excited that we're getting some young talented guys to build on. i think its very important to go out and support the program and these young guys that are going to be our future. talk is cheap! lets get out there and give other young talented players a reason to come be a RAGIN CAJUN!

[Tripple Threat]

If I'm remembering correctly...last years squad was missing some key players that fled to other teams after making commitments to the cajuns. Some of last years players were brought in under a short amount of recruiting and were asked to fill shoes they weren't qualified to fill. The only player I heard a lot about and was a let down was Ed Turner. The assistant coach that left prior to last year told me during a fund raiser that Ed Turner was going to be incredible. He had some flashes, but wasn't very aggressive. I thought that later in the season, the team started to finally commit to what Coach Lee was trying to do. But...too little, too late. The players last year seemed to be lost at times, I'm curious to see if this years players will look as lost (and I'm talking about basic offensive skills...). Anyway, time will tell how good our coaches are at teaching. Football anyone? 25 days until D-Day.