Ul-lafayette

[Censored by Laurie]

A traditional power in the Sun Belt Conference took a huge step backwards last season when the Ragin' Cajuns went 9-21, 7-11 in conference and the second worst record in the SBC. Head coach Robert Lee is paying for the sins of his predecessor, Jessie Evans, whose NCAA violations forced UL-La to vacate the majority of their 2004-2005 season, including an SBC title and NCAA tournament appearance. Since then, the Cajuns have failed to put together a winning record and time may be running out on Lee.

Projected Starters

• PG. Maurice Barksdale 5'11" 188 Sr.
• SG. David Dees 6'3" 194 Sr.
• SF. Elijah Milsap 6'5" 204 Soph.
• PF. Courtney Wallace 6'8" 252 Soph.
• C. Abray Milson 6'9 241 Sr.

Frontcourt: For the Milsap brothers, rebounding is a family tradition. Two seasons ago, Paul Milsap led the nation in rebounding average as a senior at Louisiana Tech. Last season, kid brother Elijah (6'5" 204 Soph.) led the Cajuns on the boards, pulling down 7.3 per contest. The younger Milsap also finished third on the team in scoring (12.4ppg) en route to Freshman of the Year honors in the Sun Belt. Milsap had five double-doubles, seven double figure rebounding games, and sixteen double figure scoring games, including a career best in the opening round of the SBC tourney with 21 against UNT. Milsap's scoring numbers should increase with the departure of Ross Mouton (6'7" 200) and the 17.1 points he contributed, but its his rebounding numbers that have the greatest potential to go up, as the thin UL-La frontcourt may force Milsap into significant minutes at the 4. Courtney Wallace (6'8' 252 Soph.) has the most potential to make an impact up front. Wallace averaged 4 points and 2.4 rebounds in his freshman campaign and should see plenty of PT, no longer sharing time with Val Hart (6'8" 218) and Adam James (6'9" 250). Joining Wallace up front will be senior Abray Milson (6’9” 241). Milson started eight games last season, averaging 2.1 points and 2.0 boards per contest. The remainder of the Cajun front court is very thin. Tyren Johnson (6’7” 182 Soph) saw limited time last season as a freshman and La’Ryan Gary (6’7 205 Soph) is one of four non-qualifiers from the 06 recruiting class who will join the Cajuns as sophomores this season. Gary is expected to help fill the scoring role left by Mouton.

Backcourt: Depth will not be an issue for the Ragin Cajuns’ backcourt, with ten players jockeying for three starting spots. David Dees (6’3” 194 Sr.) returns after leading UL-La in scoring last season and garnering third team all SBC honors. Dees is an aggressive, attacking guard who does most of his scoring inside and rebounds well for his size (17.4ppg, 5.3rpg); his lack of a consistent outside game (25% 3pt%) maybe the only thing keeping him from being a dominant player in the Belt. The leading candidate to replace Rhett Herbert (6’1” 160) at the point is Maurice Barksdale (5’11” 188 Sr.). Barksdale sat out the entire 2006-07 season with a broken wrist after starting 15 games in 2005-06 and leading the team in assists (75) and three point field goals makes (29). Also returning is sophomore Willie Lago (6’0” 176), who was pressed into action early last season with the injury to Barksdale. Lago was steady in 14 starts, averaging 3 points and 1.6 assists per contest. An early candidate for Newcomer of the Year considerations is Corey Bloom (6’4” 185 Soph.). Bloom, a transfer from U of Houston, is an explosive, slashing wing who finishes well, but has limited range. Bloom found few minutes in a crowded backcourt with the Cougars, but should be the first Cajun off the bench this coming season. Three non-qualifiers will look for minutes as well; Randall Diagle (5’11” 180 Soph.), Brandon Dison (6’5” 170 Soph.) and Damon Forest (6’3”180 Soph.). These three, along with La’Ryan Gary were recruited in 2006, failed to qualify, but enrolled at Lafayette without scholarship and will join the team with 3 years of eligibility remaining. Diagle has the best chance to make an impact at the point. The 2007 recruiting class is minimal with the return of these four, and for some reason, includes two more swingmen. Chris Gradnigo (6’6” 200) was a 3 star Rivals recruit and Travis Bureau (6’6” 185) is a local product who will likely redshirt. Walk-on Stephen Dees (6’1” 194 Soph.) rounds out the backcourt.

Overall: This is a very young team…three seniors and no juniors, and because of that Robert Lee may have a bit more leash, but UL-Lafayette fans expect their team to be competing for league titles. This team won’t. Dees, Milsap and Bloom are very talented players, but none have range past the 19’9”. That said, Mouton and Herbett’s shooting ability stretched defenses and allowed Dees and Milsap to get to the hoop for buckets…nobody on the Cajun roster is a proven outside threat so those lanes may not be there this year. Wallace’s numbers should improve, but there is still very little up front. If Lee can keep the core of this team around, and keep his job, the Cajuns will be back near the top in two years.

[untgeorge]

Dang, this was put up when I was out of state and I didn't see it until the last couple of days.

Games between UNT and ULL look like intersquad games: both coaches seem to be trying to do the same things, on both ends of he court. As a result the team with the best big man won. Since Southall's departure that has been Wooden, and one would expect more of the same this current year. But Lee's teams have shown toughness and determination and they could well serve as spoilers this year.

[Cooley]

COACH AND PROGRAM

Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns

Last Season 9-21 (.300)

Conference Record 7-11 (6th)

Starters Lost/Returning 2/3

Coach Robert Lee (Nicholls State '91)

Record At School 25-40 (3 years)

Career Record 25-40 (3 years)

RPI Last 5 years 80-73-51-143-270

Two years removed from consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, no one associated with Louisiana-Lafayette has felt much like dancing lately. Just when the Ragin' Cajuns seemed capable of getting to the top of the mid-major mountain with the likes of Gonzaga and Southern Illinois, they slipped and didn't stop tumbling until they hit rock bottom. The Ragin' Cajuns went 9-21 and finished sixth in the Sun Belt West Division last season. Adding insult to injury, the NCAA slapped Louisiana-Lafayette with sanctions. The probation was punishment for counting correspondence courses toward Florida transfer Orien Greene's academic eligibility in 2004.

The penalty calls for the loss of one scholarship this season and another next season, and ULL also had to cough up 90 percent of the money received in 2004 and 2005 for its NCAA participation. It also had to forfeit all games Greene participated in during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons, including the Sun Belt West Division title in 2004 and back-to-back Sun Belt Tournament titles in 2004-05. ULL's participation in the NCAA Tournament -- first-round losses to NC State and Louisville -- will also be expunged from the record books, and public displays referencing ei-ther appearance, such as banners hanging in the Cajundome, must be removed.

The penalties seem stiff when considering that the NCAA concluded Louisiana-Lafayette cheated unintentionally. ULL officials even commented on Greene's correspondence work publicly in newspaper interviews while he was attempting to gain eligibility. Nonetheless, Lee is just happy to have it all behind him. With a better handle now on sanctions and APR issues, Lee says he feels like the weight of the world has been lifted. It's also nice to have an experienced team again for a change. ''It's like night and day from a year ago,'' Lee said. ''No. 1, we were very inexperienced last year. And we were not as talented as we had been in the past. We're still going to be somewhat inexperienced, but the talent level is getting back to where it was.''

PLAYERS

Lee returns 6-4 senior guard David Dees (17.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and 6-5 sophomore swingman Elijah Millsap (12.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg). Dees led the Ragin' Cajuns in assists (3.0) and free throws (149-of-192, 78 percent). He scored 37 points against Cal State Fullerton. The athletic Millsap was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. The sturdy younger brother of Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap, he led ULL in rebounds and steals (1.3), and probably sweat. ''One thing you know about Elijah is that he's going to play hard every possession,'' Lee said. ''He's not the most skilled guy, but his energy and athletic ability helped him accom-plish all he did last year. I'm excited about his future.''

Lee had to operate without an experienced playmaker last year because Maurice Barksdale missed the season with an injured wrist. Barksdale, a 5-11 senior, averaged 6.7 points and 3.1 rebounds two years ago. But more than numbers, Barksdale should bring a settling presence to the Ragin' Cajuns. The best newcomer very well could be 6-7 sophomore swingman La'Ryan Gary, who sat out last year. Lee said Gary is a natural wing but could also play power forward fre-quently in ULL's up-tempo system. If recruiting interest is a good barometer, the best newcomer in the long run should be 6-6 freshman guard Chris Gradnigo. He averaged around 19 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks last season at St. Louis Catholic (Lake Charles, La.) after averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds as a junior.

An excellent shooter, he signed early after taking official visits to Arkansas and Notre Dame. Lee said he held his breath when he heard Gradnigo, from a Catholic home, was visiting South Bend, Indiana. ''Chris Gradnigo is a high-major talent,'' Lee said. ''I really believe he could be a couple of years away from being MVP of the league.'' Three other sophomores who sat out last season to become academically eligible have Lee optimistic as well. Randell Daigle is a 5-10 point guard from Lafayette and 6-5 Bran-don Dison is a combo guard. Damon Forest, a 6-3 wing, averaged 20.6 points and 6.0 rebounds and was second team all-state at Baton Rouge-Central.

''Randell Daigle is a point guard who can flat-out shoot the heck out of the ball,'' Lee said. Houston transfer Corey Bloom could also contribute. He played in 22 games and started one in 2005-06, Tom Penders' second season in Houston. Bloom, who Lee describes as a spot-up shooter, averaged 1.8 points and shot 25 percent behind the arc (8-of-32). Another experienced guard is Willie Lago (3.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg). The 6-0 sophomore averaged 1.6 assists in around 18 minutes per game last season.

The frontcourt lacks a proven big man. Sophomore Courtney Wallace (4.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg), a 6-8, 250-pounder, averaged 14 minutes and started nine games last season, and 6-9, 245-pound senior Abray Milson (2.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg) yielded limited production despite starting eight games. Lee is high on Tyren Johnson (1.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg). The 6-7 sophomore has essentially changed his body. ''I'm really excited about Tyren,'' Lee said. ''He's up to around 6-8 -- he sprang up a little bit -- and he's put on about 20 pounds.''

ULL could have a tough time with physical frontcourts. The Ragin' Cajuns will try and make big opponents pay by keeping the pedal on the floor. ''I'm concerned about our lack of depth at the five,'' Lee said. ''Our whole plan, offensively and defensively, is about playing very up-tempo. Our strength is going to be the wings and we want to play at a fast pace the entire game. It has been a long two years for Lee. He says the program began losing the spring in its step when the Cajundome was used for people displaced by Hurricane Katrina and the prac-tice facility was used as an impromptu animal shelter. He cautioned that he wasn't trying to use tragedy as an excuse, but said the gravity of the scenes might have weighed on the program far beyond the facilities issue.

Certainly, he can empathize with New Orleans, which has gone through three coaches in as many years. ''If you weren't able to see all of that up close and personal,'' Lee said, ''you can't understand how difficult it was.'' Of course, Louisiana-Lafayette's troubles ran much deeper than that, but Lee appears to be back on course. While ULL is a year or two from the deep, balanced teams Lee once possessed -- 12 of his 15 players are freshmen or sophomores -- the Ragin' Cajuns will be fun to watch and should outgun more than nine opponents. Getting back above .500 doesn't look like a stretch.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

BACKCOURT: A-

BENCH/DEPTH: B

FRONTCOURT: B-

INTANGIBLES: B+