Ragin' Cajuns look for more inside play

[Cajunsmike]

_ I predict we will play well in the first half and carry an 8 point lead with 10 minutes left. We will then slow it down and go on a 6-8 minute dry spell. We will then make a series of errors down the stretch and lose by 3. Lee will blame the players post game.

Actually I hope I am wrong. A win against UAB would give us some hope. _

I don't think we purposely slow the game down late. I think other teams make adjustments defensively taking away our 1st and 2nd options. We then have to reset and struggle doing so.

[NewsCopy]

 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB built a 10-point lead in the first three minutes of the game and never looked back, defeating Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns by a final score of 97-62 here Monday night in Bartow Arena.

The Cajuns played without leading scorer Travis Bureau, who is nursing a groin injury, and struggled shooting the ball. UL made only seven shots in the first half, connecting at 25 percent. Meanwhile, UAB shot 66.7 percent (22-of-33) in the opening 20 minutes to take a 31-point lead at the break.

As his father did many nights for the Cajuns, Channing Toney (son of Andrew Toney) was on fire from the floor. Toney hit his first eight shots, scoring 18 points to go with six rebounds.

Six Blazers scored in double figures, led by 21 points from Robert Vaden. Lawrence Kinnard and Cameron Moore each recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards.

UL (6-11) was led by 14 points from Chris Gradnigo, all in the second half. Tyren Johnson added 12 points, while Corey Bloom finished with 10 points.

With the loss, Louisiana completes non-conference play with a 3-8 mark. UAB collected its fourth straight win over UL and now leads the all-time series 5-1.

Monday night's game marked the first-ever regular season meeting between the two programs in Bartow Arena.

The Blazers (11-7) converted four Cajuns turnovers into eight points in the first three minutes of the game en route to a 13-3 edge.

The Cajuns were looking for offense down 24-14 eight minutes into the contest, as only Johnson and Bloom had made field goals.

As the Cajuns went 7:42 without a field goal, UAB used a 15-1 run to increase its lead to 39-15 with less than five minutes to play in the first half. After a short jumper by Courtney Wallace broke the Cajuns drought, the Blazers scored four straight baskets to build a 30-point lead, 47-17, with 1:09 left in the first half.

UAB did most of its damage in the first half in the paint, scoring 34 points in the lane. The Blazers also capitalized on Cajuns’ miscues, scoring 21 points off 11 first half turnovers.

UL tried to make a comeback early in the second half, hitting four straight triples in the first four minutes, but the red-hot Blazers countered with three triples over the same span.

Eventually the UAB lead crept over 40 points, 79-38, midway through the second half.

The Cajuns road trip continues on Thursday at Western Kentucky before returning home to face South Alabama on Saturday night at the Cajundome.

RaginCajuns.com

[NewsCopy]

  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Robert Vaden scored 21 points and Channing Toney added 18 as Alabama-Birmingham placed six players in double figures to beat Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns 97-62 on Monday night.

UAB (11-7) led 51-20 at halftime and built the margin to as many as 41 points in the second half.

The rest of the story

AP

[Pup]

apathy yes apathy i had no interest in the game last night sad to say i was rewarded



Posted via Mobile Device

[CajunZ1]

_ apathy yes apathy i had no interest in the game last night sad to say i was rewarded

What's worse than a fan's apathy?

Players', then coach's apathy. Hopefully that won't happen.

There are no positives to take from last night's game, other than that it's one game closer to baseball season.

[jllanclos]

_ What's worse than a fan's apathy?

Players', then coach's apathy. Hopefully that won't happen.

There are no positives to take from last night's game, other than that it's one game closer to baseball season. _

I will never question Robert Lee's heart and desire to win. I truly believe he is passionate about seeing Louisiana basketball succeed. But after hearing the post-game interview on Thursday, it seems to me that apathy has already started among the players, and I'd be suprised to win 4 more games this year, to be honest. I hope I'm wrong, because I truly appreciate Robert Lee's loyalty and passion for UL and I want so badly to see him succeed here.

[NCAA or BUST]

_ What's worse than a fan's apathy?

Players', then coach's apathy. Hopefully that won't happen.

It already has happened UAB shot a season-high 64.1 percent apathy shows on defense.

[NewsCopy]

  Even after watching UL fall apart down the stretch in a home loss last Thursday to Arkansas-Little Rock, Chris Gradnigo held out hope for the future.

The sophomore guard/forward knew the Cajuns were talented and capable of playing better. Leading by 15 with 15 minutes left, UL collapsed and lost 79-71 in overtime.

"We've got all the pieces," Gradnigo said after the game. "We just need to put them together."

The rest of the story

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • January 21, 2009

[Tiredof theBS]

Did you notice the response on the paper's website?

This team is in freefall. UL was losing by 40 points at one time during the UAB game. Robert Lee's career record is 46-73 according to NCAA statistics. That's a winning percentage of 38.6%, in this, his 5th year.

He needs to be relieved of his coaching duties, and one of the assistants named as interim coach, followed by a national search for a coach with college head coaching experience, and a proven winner and recruiter. Once Lee is out, you can begin the process of accepting resumes.

UL was and is a very recognizable product in college basketball, and would get a lot of interest from coaches throughout the United States. The Cajundome is the best facility in the Sun Belt, and the Leon Moncla practice facility is first-rate.

David Walker and Dr. Savoie, stop the bleeding. This is getting embarrassing, and it will only get worse.

[Brady]

Good morning to everybody. This message is for the self proclaim "The Great Brad Boy". I was your teammate for 4 years; we spent a lot of time together on the court and off the court, so I know a little bit about you. You are down here making a lot of comments, talking about the past teams, this team, and the future of ULL sports.

My first question to you is: Are you serious? You are talking about "Leadership", a born leader let me get straight to the point bro, you are not a leader, and here is why:
1- A leader never bad mouths his teammates behind their backs
2- A leader never slacks off at practice, in the classroom, or on the court (you used to skip the defensive drill at practice, miss classes, which is reason why you did not graduate on time and you used to play half ass defense)
3- You also used to miss curfew, smoked dope all the time, doing whatever you wanted to.
4- How about the guy who passed the ball, the guy who set the screen for you, the guy who rebounded the ball, the guy who help you on defense when your man was always going by you, so before you brag about your success, think about this bro, it was a team effort.

Being a leader is not about scoring a basket, making an assist, or shooting a high percentage on the free throw lines, a leader is (make sure you read this Brad Boy very attentively) A leader is the person who makes everybody around him BETTER, on the court and off the court. I've been reading your messages for a long time and I just got sick to my stomach of you trying to portray something that you are not. So please, ENOUGH of B.S.!!!!!!!!

I apologize to all the fans in this forum for my strong comments about Brad; however, I wanted to set all the records straight.