Take A Knee’s 2009-10 SBC Basketball Preview

UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns

Probable Starters

PG. Ryan McCoy 5’10”  170 Sr.
(7.3ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.1apg)

SG. Randell Daigle 5’10” 173 Sr.
(11.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.1apg)

SF.  Travis Bureau 6’7” 180 Jr.
(12.4ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.0apg)

PF. Chris Gradnigo 6’7” 215 Jr.
(13.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 0.5apg)

C. Courtney Wallace 6’8”  240 Sr.
(3.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 0.1apg)

ULL Certainties:

Experience.  Coach Robert Lee returns 9 seniors and 12 letter-winners, including the return of defensive specialist Brandon Dison (6’6” 170 Sr.) who missed all but 6 games last season with a foot injury.

ULL Questions:

Continuity.  Despite the veteran roster, chemistry seemed to be a major issue as the Cajuns’ struggled to a .500 record.

Lee never seemed to be able to put together the right starting 5 as 12 different players made at least 2 starts last season.  This team has scorers and ball-handlers and defenders and plenty of size all over the floor but failed to get it to translate into victories.  One has to think this is Lee’s last chance to make it work.

A Nice Luxury Would Be:

If Javan Mitchell (6’9” 215 Fr.) and Raymone Andrews (6’2” 175 Fr.) redshirt.

With the experience previously mentioned, it would stand to reason that being able to stockpile these two for the future would be a given… But with Lee on the hot seat and neither the point guard or the post situation solidified, he may be forced to put his two freshmen on display.

This Team is Special If…:

Things finally click for Lamar Roberson (6’8” 210 Sr.).

This kid is a major head case who, by my count, is playing for his fifth school (Houston, UNLV, 2 JUCOs and ULL). But whatever his personal issues may be, there’s no question he has a world of talent.  If he can show some maturity and wisdom in his final year of eligibility, ULL will be loaded at the 2-3-4 spots and could push for the West title.

Email the author: jhemingway.sbc@gmail.com