2008-09 Men's Hoops Slate

[Hatch]

_ Don't expect Roberson and Adeife to redshirt. Roberson sat out a year already after transferring from Houston to UNLV. Adeife is one of the team's top inside players and will be needed this season.

Wallace and Lago are the top candidates to redshirt. I think Johnson is on the verge of a breakout season. _

Adeife sat out a year when he transferred to UNLV too so the redshirt is not an option for him.

I would redshirt Lago, Johnson (think he would be a beast in his 5th year), and call me crazy but also Travis Bureau. From what I remember Travis and his family really wanted him to get a 5th year and I don't think his production would missed much next year. Dison and Bloom could get alot of playing time in those first 7 games at the 2, then after Adefie becomes eligible a starting lineup of Pg Daigle, Sg Gradnigo, Sf Gary, Pf Barr, and C Adefie.

Wallace would be the main back up at both Pf and C with Batiste and Roberson getting some PT as well. Dison could get minutes at Sg and Daigle could even play some Sg alongside McCoy as long as he was matched up against another small Sg. This would give Gradingo a chance to still get some minutes at his more natural Sf position.

Just a crazy idea, I'm sure neither Johnson or Bureau gets redshirted. I actually have a feeling since Ferguson didn't make it that Lago may be the only redshirt. I think that would be a shame though to not have an experienced big man (either Wallace or Johnson) to go along with that stacked senior class two years from now.

[Jeaux]

_ Adeife sat out a year when he transferred to UNLV too so the redshirt is not an option for him.

I would redshirt Lago, Johnson (think he would be a beast in his 5th year), and call me crazy but also Travis Bureau...

We tried redshirting Travis already and we paid for it. Travis and Gradnigo cause major match up problems for whomever we play. They both need to be on the court.

I think Batiste and/or Wallace and possibly Lago are the main candidates to redshirt. We played small last year and still managed to share the west title. I think we could do it for the first few games until the fall semester ends on the 5th of December. Barr should be more than adequate until then in the middle with Gary or Johnson next to him.

I agree with JP, this could be Tyren's breakout year. He would be playing PF this year with either Barr or Adeife as the dominate center. I see other teams concentrating on the center and Johnson cause havoc with block shots and dunks off the double team.

All this Basketball talk is getting me pump for the coming season. How many teams outside the Majors can be as versatile as this team could possible be? I mean; we could go to a big line-up or small line-up, an all shooter line-up or a defensive line-up and still be very talented. This is a very deep team.

[J-Town Cajun]

Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think Batiste can redshirt. He came out of HS 2 years ago and only played 1 year of BB.

[J-Town Cajun]

I just looked it up Adiefe just like Roberson transfered from Houston and does not have a redshirt.

[Cajunsmike]

_ Thanks Parrot, MetryCajun, and Brock Meaux for the response. After reading about Roberson playing at Houston before UNLV I then remembered that he did already use the redshirt. I also agree about Johnson really needs that 5th year. He will develop and get better every year.

My guess now is Lago and Johnson. Wallace is a canidate to redshirt also, but ideally Adiefe should redshirt instead since he will miss 7 games and let Wallace redshirt next season.

I would like to redshirt who we can without sacrificing any wins in the first 7 games to teams like McNeese, La Tech, and others.

New predictions
PG: McCoy, Daigle, and Jones
SG: Bureau, Dison, and Bloom
SF: Gradnigo and Roberson
PF: Ryan and Batiste
C: Barr and Adeife

Redshirts: Lago, Johnson, and Wallace _

Adeife can't redshirt as the year he sat out due to transferring (even though it was a mid semester deal) is like a redshirt year. Johnson won't redshirt as the staff thinks he is one of the better players. Stats don't always show how much a contribution he makes, but his overall game (especially defense) is strong. Lago and Wallace are candidates but I don't think either will redshirt. Wallace will be needed in the early games in the post and you sometimes need three point guards in a game. If anyone does redshirt, I bet it would be Lago.

[BirdofParadise]

_ Adeife can't redshirt as the year he sat out due to transferring (even though it was a mid semester deal) is like a redshirt year. Johnson won't redshirt as the staff thinks he is one of the better players. Stats don't always show how much a contribution he makes, but his overall game (especially defense) is strong. Lago and Wallace are candidates but I don't think either will redshirt. Wallace will be needed in the early games in the post and you sometimes need three point guards in a game. If anyone does redshirt, I bet it would be Lago. _

Just to clarify, Adiefe, Roberson and Batiste do not have a redshirt year available.

Lago and Wallace would be the most likely candidates, but nothing is etched in stone.

I agree with Josh in that Johnson might be poised for a breakout season.

[DestinCajun]

Metry is a glass half empty kind of guy. Fortunately the rest of his family ain't. _

A "half truths" fellow to boot. There is an obvious difference between becoming eligible in December because you transferred in at midterm versus becoming eligible in December after passing a "distant learning" course. Also, a blanket criticism of tranfers is completely unwarranted in cases like Brian Hamilton, Dwayne Mitchell and many others.

Anyone who has even remotely followed Cajuns basketball knows Coach Lee had to start a major rebuilding program season before last due to past "issues". After watching his team all last season, I thought Lee did a good job except for the final game against Troy. Now, having said that, it really is time to see some improvement in the W/L count. Just as it for Coach Bustle's program.

By the way, in looking around at other nonBCS prorgams, I see transfers at many places, like UAB for example. LaTex has brought in several big ones too. It's the times.

[MetryCajun]

_ A "half truths" fellow to boot. There is an obvious difference between becoming eligible in December because you transferred in at midterm versus becoming eligible in December after passing a "distant learning" course. Also, a blanket criticism of tranfers is completely unwarranted in cases like Brian Hamilton, Dwayne Mitchell and many others.

Anyone who has even remotely followed Cajuns basketball knows Coach Lee had to start a major rebuilding program season before last due to past "issues". After watching his team all last season, I thought Lee did a good job except for the final game against Troy. Now, having said that, it really is time to see some improvement in the W/L count. Just as it for Coach Bustle's program.

By the way, in looking around at other nonBCS prorgams, I see transfers at many places, like UAB for example. LaTex has brought in several big ones too. It's the times. _

For the record I love transfers. Over the past 10 years they have been some of our best players. My sarcastic remark about transfers is more to do with fans that were praising Lee for going strictly HS a few years ago (we all saw how that turned out).
Also, many people here give Lee a pass when he blew up the program. UL had to start a major rebuilding program because of his own recruiting mistakes. During those years he fielded some of the worst Cajun teams in the past 30 years.
But, that is all in the past. This is the year progress should be made. We will probably not lead the league in shooting, so it will be important for the bigs to get some put backs and limit shots on the other end. If they can do that they should be able to win 20 games. How's that for optimism!

[DestinCajun]

_ For the record I love transfers. Over the past 10 years they have been some of our best players. My sarcastic remark about transfers is more to do with fans that were praising Lee for going strictly HS a few years a go (we all saw how that turned out).
Also, many people here give Lee a pass when he blew up the program. UL had to start a major rebuilding program because of his own recruiting mistakes. During those years he fielded some of the worst Cajun teams in the past 30 years.
But, that is all in the past. This is the year progress should be made. We will probably not lead the league in shooting, so it will be important for the bigs to get some put backs and limit shots on the other end. If they can do that they should be able to win 20 games. How's that for optimism! _

It'll do. No backsliding.

[CajunRebel]

_ That is one of the most moronic post I've read concerning basketball. Please don't go to any games this year. Our fan base is better off without you! _

I don't think that was a moronic post at all. For the past 5 years we have been sitting through some very poor basketball seasons. When we asked what the problem was we were told: "Just wait, Lee is building this thing from the ground up. No Transfers, no JUCO, no academic problems. It will take some time to build this but we will be better off in the long run." Well guess what we have. A program filled with Transfers, JUCOs, a few academic problems, and alot more problems behind the scenes. Now I'm not at all against Transfers and JUCOs. In fact I think that's about the best way to get top quality players when you are a smaller school like us. But I have to call BS here. Too many "superstar" players have underwhelmed, to many seasons of problems in the program. Too many losing seasons. And this new recruit only High School plan which set us back for so many years is thrown out the window? Come on.

If we don't see significant progress this year I think it's time to find a new coach. Lee has had more than enough time to build a strong program.

[Hatch]

[QUOTE=CajunRebel;125681] For the past 5 years we have been sitting through some very poor basketball seasons.

The past 5 seasons include 2 Sun Belt Championships and NCAA Tournament apperances and a Western Division Co-Championship. We only sat through one year when we knew the team had no chance to contend. Lee has laid a sloid foundation with his High School Recruiting and this year is taking a chance on a few guys who have had issues elsewhere (I don't know specifics but three guys who are at their third school in three years). I'm fine with him taking this chance now, as long as stays with the reputation and keeps a tight leash on them all.

[Zeebart21]

[QUOTE=CajunRebel;125681]
_ I don't think that was a moronic post at all. For the past 5 years we have been sitting through some very poor basketball seasons. When we asked what the problem was we were told: "Just wait, Lee is building this thing from the ground up. No Transfers, no JUCO, no academic problems. It will take some time to build this but we will be better off in the long run." Well guess what we have. A program filled with Transfers, JUCOs, a few academic problems, and alot more problems behind the scenes. Now I'm not at all against Transfers and JUCOs. In fact I think that's about the best way to get top quality players when you are a smaller school like us. But I have to call BS here. Too many "superstar" players have underwhelmed, to many seasons of problems in the program. Too many losing seasons. And this new recruit only High School plan which set us back for so many years is thrown out the window? Come on.

If we don't see significant progress this year I think it's time to find a new coach. Lee has had more than enough time to build a strong program. _


1.We went to the NCAA's in Nashville in 2005(basic math shows 2008-2005= 3).

2.Out of a 15 man roster we have 4 transfers/Juco's(filled with Jucos and transfers?).

3. Our academic problems are virtually nil. APR of 1000 for last year.

Finally, Oh wise one..... enlighten all of us to the "alot more problems behind the scenes" of which you speak.

Z