1st Robert Lee Radio Show

[Cajunsmike]

Here are the main comments from the show tonight.

We need to play a more up tempo style. We had trouble doing so in the two road games due to shooting so poorly in the half court. You have to score before you can press. Better shot selection can help that. The nerves of young guys playing on the road was definitely a factor last week. One major improvement need which came from those two games is scoring after steals. We need to do more passing after the turnover is forced.

In order to force the tempo, we will trap more in the half court if we continue to struggle with shooting. That may allow some open looks for our opponents scorers if we don't force the turnover. However, we will live with that to get the pace we want. In the two road games, we worried so much about stopping certain shooters, we did not trap. Building for the long term requires us to force tempo despite that concern.

Here is a personal comment now based on that philosophy. That style may result in us getting blownout in the next few games as the talent/depth of UAB, Tennessee, and UCF is equal to or greater than ours. Blowouts are possible as those teams have more experience than us and will find the open man. Despite that, successful teams force tempo so it is probably best we go down that path if that is our long term style plan. In fact Coach said recent practices have focused more on what we want to do than worrying about the opponents.

We have been playing too many similar guys in the starting lineup at the 2 through 4 spots as they all generally score by trying to drive to the basket. As a result, we don't have enough perimeter shooting. Therefore look for either Milsap or Dees to not start in tomorrow night's game against UAB. I predict Gradnigo will start and Milsap will come off the bench. I think Elijah Milsap would be a great sixth man as he can bring energy coming off the bench and can play the 2, 3, and 4. Dees can also hit from the outside some. Having another shooter in the starting lineup may prevent us from having to play from behind so much. Note there is risk in this approach as Gradnigo needs to improve his defense. Brandon Dison continues to do well defensively and look for him to continue to play significant minutes. That does cut into David Dees playing time as they play the same position. Personally, I would play Dison and Dees at the same time some as Dison's shooting has been better than expected.

UAB has a transfer from Indiana who is an outstanding scorer as well as a 6'9" big man who can handle the ball well. They like a fast pace so it should be an entertaining game tomorrow night. Mike Davis is their coach and he was at Indiana for awhile after replacing Bobby Knight. UAB is picked second in CUSA behind Memphis. Tennessee (Friday night's road game opponent) may be the most talented team we will play and they have a lot of experience as just about about everyone who played last year for them returns. That includes Chris Lofton who is one of the best guards in college. Coach is concerned about how his team will handle playing in front of 18000 people and an aggressive opponent. Tennessee is the SEC favorite this season. We won't play for awhile after Tennessee due to finals break. Our first game after that is at UCF and they may be the third best team in CUSA.
As you can see, this is a very challenging schedule.

Finally, Coach said he needs to continually remind himself, the team, and us fans that what we are going through in the early going is a process to prepare us for conference play. A key here is the team buying into that and not getting discouraged with early season struggles. They have to continue work on improving regardless of the results. I think that will occur as last year's team improved some as the season progressed. BOP, did I miss anything significant.

CajunsMike

[rhineaux]

Two things...did he mention the player that recently left the team? I'm doubting it, but just curious since we never heard a whole lot about it. Secondly, we just signed two big men. Are they both juco's or is one a freshman?

[RaisingCajun08]

did he mention the player that recently left the team? I'm doubting it, but just curious since we never heard a whole lot about it.

You just opened the can. Now we need to know what is inside of it. Spill the beans ...

[J-Town Cajun]

Damon Forrest

[cjntgr]

I know this may be old and not pertain to the subject but can anyone tell me why Derek Gray isnt on the team this year? Was it grades, did he quit, or transfer?

[DaddyCajun]

_ Damon Forrest _

Do you know why he left? Was it playing time now and in the future?

DaddyCajun

ps The new signings seem to be pretty nice what do you think?

[J-Town Cajun]

_ Do you know why he left? Was it playing time now and in the future?

DaddyCajun

ps The new signings seem to be pretty nice what do you think? _

I heard it had alot to do with a girlfriend who lives in Baton Rouge but also it would have been playing time. We have too many gaurds on this years team and he already lost a year of eligibility last year due to grades so redshirting was not really an option.

I really like the signing of Barr. With him joining the team next year and these guys we have getting a year under them, we should be very good next year.

[rhineaux]

_ _

I didn't mean to create such a stir with my questions. It was posted here a week or two ago that he left for personal reasons. something about being homesick and missing his girlfriend. I was just curious if Robert made any comments about it or if he might be able to accept him back after a while. (if it was even brought up)

[Cajunsmike]

_ Two things...did he mention the player that recently left the team? I'm doubting it, but just curious since we never heard a whole lot about it. Secondly, we just signed two big men. Are they both juco's or is one a freshman? _

I did not hear him mention the player who left. He was a guard named Damon Forrest from Baton Rouge. He was one of the guys who sat out last year to become eligible. He had not played much before leaving. Both post guys we signed in the early period are from junior college. Although this was not addressed last night, I understand we may still sign another player in the spring period and if so, it will be a point guard.

[Cajunsmike]

_ I know this may be old and not pertain to the subject but can anyone tell me why Derek Gray isnt on the team this year? Was it grades, did he quit, or transfer? _

I don't know what happened to Derek Gray but I believe he was not invited back. I don't think he was on scholarship last year.