Ragin' Cajuns could become very dangerous when it counts

[NewsCopy]

To a man, the members of UL's men's basketball squad know that Tuesday's game was one the Ragin' Cajuns should have won, and let slip away. For the rest of us, we now know that the Cajuns can win a lot of games by the time this season ends, their current 1-3 record notwithstanding. It only took the first half of Tuesday's eventual 78-72 overtime loss to Alabama-Birmingham for those on hand at the Cajundome to realize that this team has a chance at success - something that wasn't the case last year. The Cajuns took on a much more athletic team and played takeaway most of the night. UAB had 14 turnovers by halftime and topped the 20-TO mark early in the second half on the way to 27. That's five more than any UL opponent from all of last season. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[CajunCherokee]

I agree. But it counts now. The way we lost on Tuesday night was disgusting.

[ULtimateCajun]

I hated to see us lose that game. We had the lead pretty much the entire game but when UAB took the lead somewhere between the 3-2 minute mark we seemed to panic. We were still trying to run the ball down court, forcing shots and trying to score quick when we should have slowed it down a bit. I do have to give it to UAB, with our being down and having no post presence they guarded the perimiter extremely well at the end of the game and in the OT. I know this was a should have won but I'll attribute this loss to our youth.

[rhineaux]

_ I hated to see us lose that game. We had the lead pretty much the entire game but when UAB took the lead somewhere between the 3-2 minute mark we seemed to panic. We were still trying to run the ball down court, forcing shots and trying to score quick when we should have slowed it down a bit. I do have to give it to UAB, with our being down and having no post presence they guarded the perimiter extremely well at the end of the game and in the OT. I know this was a should have won but I'll attribute this loss to our youth. _

HAS to be attributed to our youth. If they'd have beaten us by 15 or something, then you have other problems. It comes down to the fact that at the end of the game, when it was close and it was "nut-cuttin'" time, the elder team with more experience got the W.

I can't say that I believe that there will be too many more of these. If there are, then somebody needs to beat the crap out of those players and tell them to toughen up. It happens a few times, its youth. It happens over and over again, its a lack of balls and lack of toughness, and probably a lack of fire.

[Just1More]

_ I hated to see us lose that game. We had the lead pretty much the entire game but when UAB took the lead somewhere between the 3-2 minute mark we seemed to panic. We were still trying to run the ball down court, forcing shots and trying to score quick when we should have slowed it down a bit. I do have to give it to UAB, with our being down and having no post presence they guarded the perimiter extremely well at the end of the game and in the OT. I know this was a should have won but I'll attribute this loss to our youth. _

Robert Lee really needed this win for his psychi... more than the fans and the players. I am going to look at the silver lining... they hung close with a very good UAB team. They are not where they are going to have to be with fundamentals... good shot selection, free throws, and playing to each other's strengths down the stretch. I think they will rebound from this loss, perhaps moreso than the win would have done for them. This team has all the opportunity in the world to give the SBC all it handle, if they stick with their coaches.

[leeman]

I really like our young guard Daigle.. man is he quick and can handle the ball well. I think he will be the man running the offense in the near future. also, gradnigo is coming along nicely. he played almost the entire game against uab. he needs to work on his quickness and alertness. sometimes it looks like he is daydreaming in slowmotion out there. they will be fun to watch grow with this team....

[J-Town Cajun]

_ I really like our young guard Daigle.. man is he quick and can handle the ball well. I think he will be the man running the offense in the near future. also, gradnigo is coming along nicely. he played almost the entire game against uab. he needs to work on his quickness and alertness. sometimes it looks like he is daydreaming in slowmotion out there. they will be fun to watch grow with this team.... _

I thought Gradnigo played a wonderful game. His work ethic was way better than I expected. Here is his line:

15 Gradnigo, Chris f 5-11 2-4 2-2 2-2 4 2 14 1 0 3 0 29

5/11 shooting, 2/4 3's, 2/2 FT's, 4 boards, 14 pts., 1 asst., 3 blks., and 29 min.

Daydreaming I think not.

[lcitsh]

I'm glad that so many of you are optimistic about this team. I, on the other hand, will be a little more analytical where they are concerned. There are individuals on this team that need to understand their role, as leaders and as followers. This needs to be David Dees' team. Doesn't mean he needs to be the leading scorer, but I think he needs to look more to shoot than he is right now. He also needs to help out more on the boards.
My opinion: they lost this game because they played team ball for the first 38 minutes, then started to play as individuals, trying to go 1 on 1, shooting while being covered, instead of setting screens, making the extra pass, getting the ball to the open man. I heard Robert say on his radio show Monday night that he was going to put the best 5 on the court to start the game, because they were starting slow at the beginning of each half, and that's why they were falling behind. Now those who are playing the best need to make good decisions at winning time, and execute those winning decisions. Can they do it? Ask me again in 4 games.