The future of Robert Lee

[bballholic]

I'm an LSU basketball season ticket holder, and I've had the chance to watch the Cajuns play on two occasions this season. I was obviously in attendance for the New Year's Eve battle between LSU and UL-Lafayette, and I also had the chance to see the Cajuns host ULAR last week. Considering the Cajuns finally got healthy, I both expected and hoped they would win the Sun Belt. So far, it doesn't appear that will be the case, but it's obviously too early to write them off completely. It appears they have a pretty talented nucleus in Gradnigo, Bureau, and Daigle. I was blown away by Daigle's late game heroics in Baton Rouge, but that was obviously somewhat of an aberration. So finally, that brings me to question the coaching of this team. Is Lee close to being on the hot seat? Having seen most of the Louisiana schools play this season, I'm convinced the Cajuns are the most talented behind LSU. I'm hoping the state can send at least a couple of teams dancing this March. I'm new to this site, and I'm sure it has been discussed in the past. Having said that, I'd appreciate any insight. Thanks.

I lived in Lafayette for nearly 10 years, and I've been to my fair share of UL-Lafayette athletic events. My wife was a graduate of UL-Lafayette and some of my best friends graduated from your school as well.

[Clutch0364]

_ I'm an LSU basketball season ticket holder, and I've had the chance to watch the Cajuns play on two occasions this season. I was obviously in attendance for the New Year's Eve battle between LSU and UL-Lafayette, and I also had the chance to see the Cajuns host ULAR last week. Considering the Cajuns finally got healthy, I both expected and hoped they would win the Sun Belt. So far, it doesn't appear that will be the case, but it's obviously too early to write them off completely. It appears they have a pretty talented nucleus in Gradnigo, Bureau, and Daigle. I was blown away by Daigle's late game heroics in Baton Rouge, but that was obviously somewhat of an aberration. So finally, that brings me to question the coaching of this team. Is Lee close to being on the hot seat? I'm new to this site, and I'm sure it has been discussed in the past. Having said that, I'd appreciate any insight. Thanks.

I lived in Lafayette for nearly 10 years, and I've been to my fair share of UL-Lafayette athletic events. My wife was a graduate of UL-Lafayette and some of my best friends graduated from your school as well. _

A lot of us want a coaching change...his seat is very ht at the moment but a lot of us question whether the administration will make a change. I would be very disappointed if he was not fired at the end of the year but only time will tell.

[Big Buds]

Welcome, yeah Robert is IMO on the hot seat. This team has far to much talent to be setting in the position we are in. I would love to see myself proven wrong but this might be his last year.

[bballholic]

Thanks, there is plenty of local talent to keep the Cajuns highly competitive in at least basketball and baseball. Personally, I think there are far too many DI colleges in the state and I'd wish they would trim down that number. I might be a homer considering I lived in Lafayette for years, but I think the city has a lot more to offer when compared to Ruston, Monroe, Thibodaux, etc. One of my Cajun buddies in Dallas argues that Lee has done a very good job, and I just wonder if he's out of touch given his distance from Lafayette.

[Clutch0364]

_ Thanks, there is plenty of local talent to keep the Cajuns highly competitive in at least basketball and baseball. Personally, I think there are far too many DI colleges in the state and I'd wish they would trim down that number. I might be a homer considering I lived in Lafayette for years, but I think the city has a lot more to offer when compared to Ruston, Monroe, Thibodaux, etc. One of my Cajun buddies in Dallas argues that Lee has done a very good job, and I just wonder if he's out of touch given his distance from Lafayette. _

Up to this year I had given Lee the benefit of the doubt but this year has been horrible. I tell people all the time I think we have the worst mens and womens basketball coaches in the country. I am sick of going to games and seeing a bad product on the floor.

[bballholic]

_ Up to this year I had given Lee the benefit of the doubt but this year has been horrible. I tell people all the time I think we have the worst mens and womens basketball coaches in the country. I am sick of going to games and seeing a bad product on the floor. _

Well, I can feel your pain to a certain extent. If you follow college basketball, I'm sure you know that John Brady was ousted last season. I don't think Brady was a bad coach, but it was time for him to leave in my opinion. Having met John a few times, I wish him all the luck at ASU. He was a great defensive coach, but his offensive sets left a lot to be desired. He also made the mistake of shunning the history of LSU basketball, and he burned a lot of bridges in the meantime. I see he's going a pretty good job at Ark St so far and I was hoping to come see him coach in Lafayette (except that LSU hosts Ole Miss that same night). Sometimes, you just need to make a change to get the fan base buzzing again.

[CajunProud]

_ Well, I can feel your pain to a certain extent. If you follow college basketball, I'm sure you know that John Brady was ousted last season. I don't think Brady was a bad coach, but it was time for him to leave in my opinion. Having met John a few times, I wish him all the luck at ASU. He was a great defensive coach, but his offensive sets left a lot to be desired. He also made the mistake of shunning the history of LSU basketball, and he burned a lot of bridges in the meantime. I see he's going a pretty good job at Ark St so far and I was hoping to come see him coach in Lafayette (except that LSU hosts Ole Miss that same night). Sometimes, you just need to make a change to get the fan base buzzing again. _

A change is definately needed. The problem with UL is that we don't have the money to make the change like LSU does. I would argue that from the fans perspective, Lee is on the hot seat, but from the administrations point of view, there is not such thing as a coach being on the hot seat at UL. Very sad state of affairs.

[RedBug58]

_ I'm an LSU basketball season ticket holder, and I've had the chance to watch the Cajuns play on two occasions this season. I was obviously in attendance for the New Year's Eve battle between LSU and UL-Lafayette, and I also had the chance to see the Cajuns host ULAR last week. Considering the Cajuns finally got healthy, I both expected and hoped they would win the Sun Belt. So far, it doesn't appear that will be the case, but it's obviously too early to write them off completely. It appears they have a pretty talented nucleus in Gradnigo, Bureau, and Daigle. I was blown away by Daigle's late game heroics in Baton Rouge, but that was obviously somewhat of an aberration. So finally, that brings me to question the coaching of this team. Is Lee close to being on the hot seat? Having seen most of the Louisiana schools play this season, I'm convinced the Cajuns are the most talented behind LSU. I'm hoping the state can send at least a couple of teams dancing this March. I'm new to this site, and I'm sure it has been discussed in the past. Having said that, I'd appreciate any insight. Thanks.

I lived in Lafayette for nearly 10 years, and I've been to my fair share of UL-Lafayette athletic events. My wife was a graduate of UL-Lafayette and some of my best friends graduated from your school as well. _

The Cajuns have more talent individually than LSU. LSU is doing more with the talent that they have.

[bballholic]

_ A change is definately needed. The problem with UL is that we don't have the money to make the change like LSU does. I would argue that from the fans perspective, Lee is on the hot seat, but from the administrations point of view, there is not such thing as a coach being on the hot seat at UL. Very sad state of affairs. _

Speaking of the administration, how are things going since Authement retired? Has the new administration showed any signs of taking athletics a little more seriously? LSU is very fortunate they have a cash cow in football that trickles down to the other sports. Thankfully they didn't have to pay too much money for Trent Johnson because Stanford doesn't pay premium coaching salaries.

[MetryCajun]

_ The Cajuns have more talent individually than LSU. LSU is doing more with the talent that they have. _

We may have more talent 1-12, but they have better starting talent. Thorton or Mitchell would be our best player. Their center is nothing to write home about, but is better than anything we have.
Coaching is not even close.

[HoustonCajun]

_ Well, I can feel your pain to a certain extent. If you follow college basketball, I'm sure you know that John Brady was ousted last season. I don't think Brady was a bad coach, but it was time for him to leave in my opinion. Having met John a few times, I wish him all the luck at ASU. He was a great defensive coach, but his offensive sets left a lot to be desired. He also made the mistake of shunning the history of LSU basketball, and he burned a lot of bridges in the meantime. I see he's going a pretty good job at Ark St so far and I was hoping to come see him coach in Lafayette (except that LSU hosts Ole Miss that same night). Sometimes, you just need to make a change to get the fan base buzzing again. _

You've been to a couple of games, so you see what this team looks like on the floor. We run no offensive sets, it is all standing around until we are forced to put up last second 3 pointers and, of course, no one is in position to rebound because they are all standing around the perimeter. We have no inbounds pass plays. We play poor defense. All in all, this is a very poorly coached team. UL has always been known for having outstanding athletic talent, but I would argue no basketball IQ. That has been true for a number of years. UL has too much basketball tradition for this to be happening. And, as a result, we have dwindling attendance (and lost revenue). All in all, it is like the Baldwin era in football. Some would argue we can't afford to fire him. I would say we can't afford to retain him. If we finally announce the Ragin Cajun Athletic Fund (RCAF) next month as expected, I would hope that would be the start of major changes at UL, among which would be the ability to buy out contracts when things go south as they are in both men's and women's basketball.

[bballholic]

_ The Cajuns have more talent individually than LSU. LSU is doing more with the talent that they have. _

No offense, but I'd have to respectfully disagree with this comment. I don't put too much stock into star ratings, but it's the best evaluation method we have at this time. I don't know a lot about UL-Lafayette recruiting, but I think they would have a hard time matching these ratings (according to Scout).

Tasmin Mitchell- 5 stars
Delwan Graham- 4 stars
Chris Johnson- 3 stars
Marcus Thornton- 3 stars
Garrett Temple- 3 stars
Bo Spencer- 3 stars
Quinton Thornton- 3 stars
Storm Warren- 3 stars
Chris Bass- 2 stars
Dennis Harris- 2 stars (redshirt)
Garrett Green- 2 stars (medical redshirt)


As far as UL-Lafayette is concerned, I was able to dig up the following players:

Wallace- 3 stars
Grady- 3 stars
Bureau- 1 star
Daigle- 1 star


Again, there are "busts" and "sleepers", but this is the best method of evaluating talent unless you have a chance to watch both teams on a consistent basis. It's also hard to compare numbers from the players given the fact they play in much different conferences. Overall, I think it would be a tough task to prove that UL-Lafayette is indeed more talented than LSU.