I would never say that no one has the right to voice their concerns about the coach and/or players, but I see it firsthand on a regular basis with my own team. The basketball culture at Leesville High School has been a losing one for the last several years and I can try a whole bunch of different things to combat that, but until my players change mentally and have the desire to win we will continue to struggle. But it is my JOB to figure out a way to change that culture. I said that to say this, the culture of Ragin Cajun basketball was once a great one and it is has fallen on hard times. It is on everyone involved with the program to change that culture back to what it once was, community included. Brad, you and I both know what the coaching situation was like when I played there. We had good coaches, but more than that we had guys that bought into a system and put their blood, sweat and tears into each every game. I was talking to somebody the other day about when we tied the record for most consecutive wins in a row and then lost at home to South Alabama. We usually gathered at center court after the game to pray and no one said anything because everyone was crying. That was one lost and everyone was crying. I will take a bunch of rejects (which we were called) that have that type of passion versus anyone else.
p.s. Don't worry bloggers, I won't reminisce on my glory days like another Cajun on this site. LOL!!!!! Joking Brad
All of this talk about the glory days of Cajun basketball got me to thinking---not as a player but as a fan. I agree that right now our program is in the tank. But I don't ever remember our program having "glory days". We have been good some years, had good teams and fun seasons. But I don't ever remember a special season a glory year or years for that matter. The closest I can remember was the 1992 NCAA victory against Oklahoma---great fun that entire season.
Other than that there is not a single pleasant NCAA or NIT memory.
1993 NCAA loss to Marquette 81-69
2000 NCAA loss to Tennessee 63-58
2002 NIT loss to LA. Tech 83-63
2003 NIT loss to UAB 82-80
2004 NCAA loss to NC State 68-62*
2005 NCAA loss to Louisville 68-62*
* Vacated due to NCAA infractions
Close looses in the NCAA tournament, even against elite teams are not my idea of "glory". Having our postseason history,even bad history stripped due to NCAA infractions is not "glory" to me.
We had nice seasons, won some conference championships, did well in conference tournaments but no post season success. I cannot find the "glory" in this. Nice seasons yes. Fun teams to watch yes. Great talent on the floor and excited fan base yes. Glory? No.
The glory days are names like Shipley, Lamar, Winkler, Ebron. I just wish I had been old enough to appreciate them
I love UL, graduated from UL and attend as many football, basketball and baseball games as I possibly can. I will continue to support the Cajuns through thick and thin and plan on being in attendance for the basketball game on Saturday night. I am not expecting any "glory"
When I speak of Glory days, I am not talking about my time there. We had one good year which was a great run and I believe a building block to help UL reach some type of prominence (which has not happened). I am moreso speaking of the Bo Lamar, Andrew Toney, Winkler, etc. days. Back when Blackham Coliseum was rocking. i wasnt around but I heard stories. And I truly believe that you have to know the history if you're going to be a true fan
I agree that a fan must know the history. I was two years old when Blackham was really rocking but appreciate that part of Cajun basketball so much. I for one am not upset that in my lifetime we have never really had "glory" days as they say because so many years going to the Cajundome has been so much damn fun.
I remember what a fun game that Tennessee game was to watch. In it to the end.
Hopefully it will be fun again and hopefully real soon. This season is not over with yet and Coach Lee has put together some pretty good runs down the stretch in years past. Lets sit back and see what happens. I have said for a long time that UL could be the Gonzaga of the south, just have to figure out a way to get there.
What bothers me, and I think most of us, is that this team appears to be uncoached. There is no apparent offense, everybody stands around the perimeter with minimal ball movement, no plays, no screens, just waiting until the shot clock is almost up, then put up a 3 pointer with no one in position to rebound. We miss 3 ft. shots, layups, can't hit free throws and don't seem to have simple inbounds plays. When we do have a lead, we slow it down, run the same pattern, miss shots, don't get rebounds, and leads evaporate and turn into losses - AT HOME. We lose by 30 to Utah Freaking Valley State, by 35 to UAB, coach doesn't do interviews anymore, moral is down and general apathy is starting to set it. We have dwindling attendance and resultant revenue. UL always says it has great athletes, but loses to teams with good basketball players. Our guys don't seem to have a basketball IQ, all they know is 3 point shots and dunking, and that appears to be what Coach Lee lets them do. Watching UL basketball is just a horrible experience these days. I'll turn on a webcast game and after about 5 minutes, I just can't stand to watch the crap that is on the court. No skills, no coaching, poor execution of whatever it is they do run, bad attitudes, undisciplined players, and a losing program. I have been following UL basketball since the Marvin Winkler days. As a UL alum, this is just not acceptable. If total apathy sets in within the Lafayette community, we may never recover. UL basketball must be restored.
What bothers me, and I think most of us, is that this team appears to be uncoached. There is no apparent offense, everybody stands around the perimeter with minimal ball movement, no plays, no screens, just waiting until the shot clock is almost up, then put up a 3 pointer with no one in position to rebound. We miss 3 ft. shots, layups, can't hit free throws and don't seem to have simple inbounds plays. When we do have a lead, we slow it down, run the same pattern, miss shots, don't get rebounds, and leads evaporate and turn into losses - AT HOME. We lose by 30 to Utah Freaking Valley State, by 35 to UAB, coach doesn't do interviews anymore, moral is down and general apathy is starting to set it. We have dwindling attendance and resultant revenue. UL always says it has great athletes, but loses to teams with good basketball players. Our guys don't seem to have a basketball IQ, all they know is 3 point shots and dunking, and that appears to be what Coach Lee lets them do. Watching UL basketball is just a horrible experience these days. I'll turn on a webcast game and after about 5 minutes, I just can't stand to watch the crap that is on the court. No skills, no coaching, poor execution of whatever it is they do run, bad attitudes, undisciplined players, and a losing program. I have been following UL basketball since the Marvin Winkler days. As a UL alum, this is just not acceptable. If total apathy sets in within the Lafayette community, we may never recover. UL basketball must be restored.
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I respect and understand your frustration and I have read all of this in previous post. I don't know what the answer is. I started posting because someone questioned how and if any other former players feel about the current state of the program. I will not allow myself to speak on Coach Lee, because I don't know the entire situation and I have respect for him as a man and a coach. There once was a time that he and I didnt get along or see eye to eye, but those problems were resolved and I hope he resolves the problems that his team currently faces. Obviously he needs to do so very quickly, because the window is closing. I am frustrated like everyone, probably more, because I want to be proud to wear my ring and tell people where I played ball at and not get laughed at, like we used to my first year there.
I would not call them glory days, but from 2000-2005 postseason 5 out of 6 years. That is acceptable performance. We need to get back to this kind of success.
Forgot the NCST game was so close. We played pretty bad that day. If my memory serves me correct, that was not Brad's best day at the office.
I would not call them glory days, but from 2000-2005 postseason 5 out of 6 years. That is acceptable performance. We need to get back to this kind of success.
Forgot the NCST game was so close. We played pretty bad that day. If my memory serves me correct, that was not Brad's best day at the office.
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And if I don't get that technical against Tennessee and kill momentum, we win that game. I can say it now that I am older. Didnt understand back then. It hurts to say it, but I am the reason we didnt get out the first round.
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