Ragin' Cajuns look for more inside play

[Tripple Threat]

_ Good points!!! Really good points!!! U need a leader, someone like myself, a natural born leader... Some one the team can trust and depend on... _

He's just busting your balls...Read what you wrote again, maybe you'll see what he saw. You come across slighty confident, most people don't toot their own horn and let others or their actions do it for them... No hate here, some people just say it like they see it.

It's all cool with me man...after meeting you, I know you are vary passionate about this team and only want the best.

[Parrott]

I'm sorry, but anyone that says "Cajuns look for more inside play" either completely lacks a basic understanding of basketball, or is the eternal optimist who claims one's financial problems aren't the result of over spending, but merely due to under-earning.

This team has one player over 6'9", and has only 3 players over 6'7". Any third grader could validly prognosticate that they aren't going to be very successful inside.

No one that understands basketball thinks UL has the big guys to dominate inside on the offensive end. Adeife and Batiste are too raw. Barr has struggled for multiple reasons. Johnson and Gary are too slight and short to have their way inside. Wallace is too slow against quicker opponents.

Gradnigo was saying the players must get the ball inside more to keep defenders from staying so tight on the perimeter players. A pass inside doesn't always mean the post player is going to take a shot. There is such thing as a kickout for an open 3 if a defender sags into the lane. It's about making the inside game more of an option.

[Hammer58]

_ EBONICS,, LOL. now thats funny my boy... HA... I love it, you right i forgot that this was you... THe big white house... You making yur assumption of me, by what some one writes on a message board... This is a message board, not an english class... 90 % of all basketball players in college, that or the best players come from lower income homes, if you consider those guys to be thugs, just because of where they come from is your problem... ANd give some more qualities you need to be a D1 coach, since UL looks for all these things when they are hiring, ( more like who knows who )... IS something about you old folks, yall have not been listening to our new PRESIDENT, " its time for a change". You do not even know me personally, get to know besides, yur judgement from a message board, then maybe if you had some advice to give i might, might listen... and for you old folks its called IM text, you shorten up words and stuff, its 2009, a new day a new time... _

The "thugs" that I was refering to is in reference to your prior statements on these very same message boards where you, when commenting about Ryan Perrilloux's dismissal from State, in effect declared that if you were coach you would take thugs like him and that you didn't care what they did off the court or field of play. That is the kind of attitude from a coach that if put into practice will have the ncaa all up their ass. And we do not need that at UL.

And it doesn't mater what day or time it is, its called English. Its the language our new president speaks. I doubt he would have achieved what he has speaking like you. I don't care who you know, you won't get a head coaching job speaking like that in interviews. You're suppossed to be a college graduate, act like.

Save your racist assumptions for someone who'll buy what you're selling.

[Rebel02]

Brad,

Show us your resume to be the Head Coach of a Division 1 basketball program. Until then, I'll consider Errol Rogers a better candidate for the head coaching position than you.


Sincerely,

the man hiding behind the user name "Rebel02"

[Just1More]

_ No one that understands basketball thinks UL has the big guys to dominate inside on the offensive end. Adeife and Batiste are too raw. Barr has struggled for multiple reasons. Johnson and Gary are too slight and short to have their way inside. Wallace is too slow against quicker opponents.

Gradnigo was saying the players must get the ball inside more to keep defenders from staying so tight on the perimeter players. A pass inside doesn't always mean the post player is going to take a shot. There is such thing as a kickout for an open 3 if a defender sags into the lane. It's about making the inside game more of an option. _

Those are valid points. I think we have the size "on the roster" against other SBC teams. Our size inside just lack skill, confidence and experience (that's too many "lacks"). You are right that getting some good ball exchange from outside in/inside out would hopefully shake up the perimeter defense against us. I still think we run remedial screens and for whatever reason don't have any coordinated motion enough to break down many defenses. We are not gifted enough, to the man, to not need some "team offense". Puzzles me.

[Rebel02]

_ No body over here wants to be the head coach at UL boys r girls... Im just messing around with people... RELAX REBEL...What resume would you wanna see... Good assumption though of a better man for the job, hes doing great at it huh.. I think he is 11 and 39, thatss a great two year start.. good hire there... You must have went to teurlings huh, that explains the envy of guy who went to the real catholic school in lafayette... LOL, thats a joke, dont take it to heart, i dont even know if you went to teurlings... _

You certainly want to be the head coach.

Again, where's your resume showing that you are capable of being the head coach of a Division 1 men's basketball program?

[Hammer58]

_ What i meant by taking a thug, is that if i would sign him, i would have to make sure he was sincere about going to class, and handling his business... THen in return get the best for the basketball program with wins and good play... Thats all, i will not judge some one on there past r where they come from... If i meet a recruit and think he is bad for the program i wont sign him, but if he IMO is good i think he could stay focused, pass classes and stay out of trouble i will sign him... Wth R Perrilieaux, i would have took a chance on him if i could have met him before i would sign him, to see where his mind is, one big time impact player could be UL on there way, if it didnt work, its not like UL has not taking chances on players before... YOU CANT WIN THEM ALL... YOU KNOW!!! _

Nice spin, but back then you stated you did not care what they did off the court. This was in a discussion about Perilloux after he had been in repeated trouble and kicked off of State's team. I don't have a problem giving anyone a second or in some cases even a third chance. I agreed that given the facts Coach Lee did the right thing with Southall in givng him one more chance. Hopefully it helped the kid out and he did not cause any more trouble for UL.

Glad to hear in your reply to Rebel02 that you are not interested in being the coach at UL. We can all rest a little easier now.

[cjr3888]

PASS THE BALL WILLIE!!!!!

Sorry, I had to at least attempt to change the subject :-)


igeaux.mobi

[NewsCopy]

  It’s the final non-conference game of the 2008-09 season on Monday, Jan. 19 in Birmingham when Louisiana meets UAB at Bartow Arena. Game time is 7 p.m. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 3-7 in non-conference play; UAB is 9-5.

● Louisiana has alternated wins and losses in the last four games since the turn of the calendar year. UL lost to UALR in overtime by a 79-71 count in the last outing.
● The Cajuns are back in Alabama for the third time this season and second time in the last nine days. On Saturday, Jan. 10 UL visited Troy (W, 83-81). In December, Louisiana faced the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa (L, 44-61).
● Louisiana and UAB have one common opponent – Troy. UAB swept the Trojans in a home-and-home series (87-66 on Nov. 15 in Troy; 73-68 on Dec. 20 in Birmingham).
● Louisiana great Andrew Toney is the father of UAB senior guard Channing Toney. The elder Toney, ranks second in UL history with 2,526 career points.
● The Cajuns’ perimeter game has heated up since the return of Randell Daigle. Louisiana has made 60 triples over six games (10.0 per game). Prior to his return, the Cajuns had made 58 triples in the season’s first 10 games (5.8 per game).
● Chris Gradnigo has seen consistent success in four games this New Year. He set a season-high with 14 points vs. Denver (1/3) and tied that mark at New Orleans. For the third time in less than two weeks he set a season-high, scoring 20 vs. UALR (1/15).

GRADNIGO IN A GROOVE
● In the last four games Chris Gradnigo is shooting 26-of-49 (53 percent) and has made at least six field goals in each game.
● On the UNO-Troy road trip, he averaged 16 points per game in only 20.5 minutes played per game. Gradnigo shot 12-of-21 from the floor (57 percent) and 6-of-7 (86 percent) from three-point range.
● Against UALR, Gradnigo scored 16 in the first half en route to establishing his season-high of 20. He also made a season-high eight field goals (8-of-15).

CLOSE CALLS...FANTASTIC FINISHES
● The Cajuns have been involved in close calls as of late – four of the last five games have been decided by three points or less. The UALR game was a one-point contest for the final 3:15 of regulation.
● Each game has gone down to the wire as well. The Denver game was a double OT thriller. At UNO, the Cajuns cut the lead to one and had a chance to tie the game with 10 seconds left. At Troy, UL made four free throws in the final 36 seconds to seal the win. UL and UALR swapped the lead three times in the final 1:45 of regulation and the Cajuns had a chance to win the game at the free throw line with four seconds on the clock.
● The Cajuns are 2-3 during the stretch (wins: DU & Troy/losses: LSU, UNO & UALR).

THE SHARPSHOOTERS
● The Cajuns have three players shooting above 40 percent from three-point range – Ryan McCoy (54%), Randell Daigle (46%) and Travis Bureau (43%)

EXTRA BASKETBALL
● UL played its third overtime affair of the season last Thursday vs. UALR.
● The last time the Cajuns had three OT games – 2005-06.
● The Cajuns have played 10 OT games under Robert Lee (5-5 record).
● When’s the last time a Cajuns team had four OT games in a season? 1991-92.
“RADAR” DIALS ‘EM HOME
● Randell Daigle is shooting 21-of-45 from three-point range (46.7%) in six games since returning from injury. Shot 9-of-14 from three-point land in UT and LSU games combined.
● Daigle is averaging 3.5 triples per game and has made at least four in four games.

THE TRIPLE THREAT
● The combination of Travis Bureau, Randell Daigle and Chris Gradnigo fuel the Louisiana offense.
● They combine to average 43.2 points of the Cajuns’ 66.8 average (65%).
● They combine for 79 three-point field goals made out of UL’s 118 (67%).
● Overall shooting percentages: Bureau (48.7%), Daigle (46.5%), Gradnigo (45.7%)

THE LEADS THAT SLIPPED AWAY
● Louisiana’s record could be reversed. Four times a lead of eight points or better in the second half slipped away. Each time, UL had a chance to win in the final seconds.
● La. Tech (41-31), Sam Houston St. (34-24), New Orleans (51-43) and UALR (58-48).

UALR LEFTOVERS
● Louisiana lost its fourth straight game to UALR and saw its series lead lowered to 18-12. UL is now 9-4 vs. UALR in the CAJUNDOME (10-4 in Lafayette).
● The loss puts the Cajuns two games back of UALR in the SBC West standings with one-third of the league’s slate complete.
● Louisiana shot 13-of-24 (54.2%) in the first half, but only 12-of-37 (32.4%) in the final 25 minutes. Conversely, UALR shot 16-of-23 (69.6%) after halftime.
● La’Ryan Gary set season-highs and career-highs in steals (3) and blocks (3).
● Tyren Johnson blocked two shots, upping his season total to 28. He’s now two shy of tying his personal season-best, 30, set last season.
● Emmanuel Adeife was in the starting lineup for the first time this season.
● Colby Batiste blocked one shot to reach 20 for the season. He also had four rebounds in only nine minutes of action.
● Randell Daigle hit four 3-pointers, moving over 80 in his brief career.
● After Tyren Johnson fouled out with 6:08 remaining, the Cajuns were outscored 11-3 allowing UALR for force overtime.

LAST TIME VS. UAB
(Nov. 27, 2008 in CAJUNDOME – UAB won 78-72 in OT)
● Louisiana closed out the first half on a 6-2 run to take a 37-32 lead into the locker room.
● The Cajuns’ lead would reach 40-34 early on in the second stanza, but an 8-3 UAB run pulled the visitors within one, 43-42, with 16:42 remaining in regulation.
● After a 30-second timeout, Elijah Millsap hit three straight jumpers, while David Dees added a free throw to aid the Cajuns on an 7-2 run to take a 50-44 lead at 13:41.
● UAB held the lead for the first time since the 7:11 mark of the first half when it took a 61-60 edge with 4:02 remaining in the second half. That lead lasted just 29 seconds before Chris Gradnigo drained a triple from the corner, giving the Cajuns a 63-61 lead.
● UL led 69-66 after a Dees free throw with 43 seconds remaining, but three turnovers down the stretch allowed UAB to rally and force overtime.
● Randell Daigle pulled UL into a 72-all tie with 1:50 left in overtime. The Blazers then made 6-of-8 free throws over the final 1:40 to hold on for the win.

LAST TIME IN BARTOW ARENA
(March 19, 2003 – UAB won 82-80 in NIT)
● UAB’s Eric Bush drained a 17-footer with 11 seconds left that provided the winning margin as the Blazers held on for the 82-80 win in the 2003 NIT first round game.
● The highly physical and tightly contested matchup didn’t end without dramatic flair. UAB’s Brandon Tobias was hit with a technical foul with three seconds remaining.
● UL’s Brad Boyd made the first freebie to cut the UAB lead to 82-80. Boyd, though, would miss the second freebie. On the ensuing inbounds pass, the Cajuns were unable to field the ball cleanly and the clock expired.
● UL ended the night 14-of-26 from the charity stripe for a 54 percent clip – a stat which would come back to haunt them. After hitting 75 percent of their freebies in the first half, the Ragin’ Cajuns made only 8-of-18 in the second half (44 percent).

LOUISIANA VS. STATE OF ALABAMA
● Louisiana is 36-35 all-time against NCAA Division I members and 64-56 all-time against schools from the Yellowhammer State.

SERIES HISTORY
(UAB leads 3-1 overall; UAB leads 1-0 in Birmingham)
● Tonight’s meeting is the third regular season meeting, overall, and first-ever at Bartow Arena.
● The Blazers have won the last three meetings in this brief series (four all-time meetings). The streak began with a 75-67 win in the 1997 Great Alaska Shootout.
● Last season, UAB escaped the CAJUNDOME with a 78-72 victory in overtime.
● In the last meeting in Birmingham (March 19, 2003), UAB’s Eric Bush hit a jumper with 11 seconds remaining to help the Blazers defeat the Ragin’ Cajuns 82-80 in the first round of the 2003 NIT. That game was also Louisiana’s last postseason appearance.
● In the first-ever meeting between the schools, Louisiana defeated the Blazers 74-72 in the first round of the 1980 NIT at Blackham Coliseum.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA

Louisiana spends the day in Birmingham on Tuesday and leaves for Bowling Green, Ky., on Wednesday. The Cajuns return to Sun Belt action on Thursday, Jan. 22 against WKU (12-6, 6-1 Sun Belt) in a 7 p.m., contest at E.A. Diddle Arena.

The meeting with the Hilltoppers marks the first of five straight games against Sun Belt East Division teams. Following the game, UL travels home on Friday to prepare for a meeting with South Alabama on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the CAJUNDOME.

RaginCajuns.com

[NewsCopy]

  The last two times UL and UAB met on the basketball court, the Cajuns came up short in a tight game.

In the most recent meeting, UL led by three points with 43 seconds last season. But three turnovers down the stretch helped UAB rally and send it into overtime. The Blazers pulled away for a 78-72 win in the extra session with six free throws in the final two minutes.

Now the Cajuns (6-10 overall) play their final non-conference game of the season at 7 tonight against UAB (10-7) in Birmingham, Ala. In the previous meeting at Bartlow Arena, UL lost 82-80 on a last-second shot in the opening round of the 2003 NIT.

The rest of the story

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • January 19, 2009

[MetryCajun]

_ Prediction on tonights game... I think we will probably lose by less than 14, i hope... The spread is 14.5) We have to really jump on them early... The team that plays the hardest usually get majority of the calls, hope they dont want it more than us... _

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.

[bballholic]

Isn't Mike Davis the coach at UAB? It appears he's done a nice job of keeping up the program after Anderson's departure. I haven't seen them play since Anderson left, and I wonder if Davis has kept it pretty uptempo since he took over. I'll never forget traveling to Boise, Idaho only to see LSU get throttled by UAB's 40 minutes of hell. Everybody knew what was coming but apparently Brady and his staff didn't get the memo. I've seen a lot of basketball, but I'ver never seen a team look so unprepared. Good luck tonight, I'm hoping the Cajuns can pull things together to make a run in the conference tourney. I love the seasons when Louisiana has several teams in the Big Dance.