I hope Lee turns things around and it is possible. But think of the really good coaches that Cajuns have faced in past, such as Tim Floyd and a few others. These great coaches found a way to get things done. Remember when UNO won American South with no one taller than 6'5? There are other examples out there..., as I don't want to sound like a Floyd fan, which I am not, but he just comes to mind because that is a great coach that proved it year in and year out at all levels of college.
I don't recall any long lasting great coaches who did not figure out ways to win, except for perhaps if the cupboard was totally bare when they first took a job, but here that cannot be said this season. There are at least 2 players on the team that will get a serious look by pro teams, at least overseas. A great coach would find a way to win after stumbling around for a few games.
Bringing up the Floyd example again, look at how his team responded after being blown out by Oral Roberts and another smaller school to open season, as somehow Floyd got the young and undermanned Trojans to win game after game and go on a long winning streak, including wins over major opponents.
Why does Lee get a year or two or three to lose (if indeed that ends up happening over the next few years)? Why can't this coaching staff find a way to be competitive with the group of players that are here now, as there is some decent talent no doubt? How can a team that blew out Oral Roberts and pretty much outplayed LSU when starters were in, manage to lose very badly to back of the pack Sunbelt teams at home? This team has shown flashes, but Lee does not seem to know how to keep things together at this point, as the team appears to have no confidence at all and does not expect nor know how to win.
If Ryan Francis had signed with the Cajuns, something tells me he would not be having as good of a year that he is having under a coaching staff that has helped him adjust to major college basketball, after he looked lost the first few games. Barksdale was heavily recruited by Maryland, but he can't play?
If Lee turns it around through a year or two of learning how to adjust and getting his type of players in then I guess that is good for long term, but a great coach would not need so much time to get a bunch of talented players to play at least .500 ball in the Sunbelt.