Men’s Basketball: Lee finds right two-guard combo

McCoy’s ball handling skills allow Daigle to have more open shots

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • January 7, 2009

Robert Lee remains confident in Randell Daigle’s ability to handle the basketball for the UL men’s basketball team. But the fifth-year head coach would rather have him shooting the ball whenever possible.

That’s helped Lee decide to put Daigle and another point guard – either Ryan McCoy or Willie Lago – on the floor together this season as much as possible. Doing so gives the Cajuns another ball-handler on the floor, which allows Daigle to look more for his shot.

With two playmakers capable of getting to the rim on the court at the same time, opposing defenses must spread out more than usual. If the defense sags into the lane on a strong drive to the basket, a quick kick-out results in an open shot for Daigle or sophomore sharp-shooters Travis Bureau or Chris Gradnigo.

"It makes the other teams have to guard more than just one point guard," Daigle said. "I can also shoot the ball, which is an advantage. If McCoy or whoever is in there can’t get the ball, I can just go and back him up instead of having to wait for someone to come off the bench."

UL (5-8 overall, 2-1 Sun Belt) has gone with the two point-guard look since Daigle’s return to the lineup against Tennessee on Dec. 29. The Cajuns are expected to do so again at 7 Thursday night at New Orleans (6-8, 2-2).

Daigle, who missed the season’s first 10 games with a broken right hand, scored 16 points and hit four 3-pointers in an 89-62 loss at Tennessee.

The Cajuns went with two point guards again against LSU two days later and nearly pulled the upset on the road in an 81-79 loss. Daigle burned the nets for a career-high 24 points and tied a personal best with five 3s.

In Saturday’s 63-62 win over Denver in double overtime, Daigle made only 3-of-11 shots. But the junior had eight points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals. McCoy and Lago went scoreless in a combined 15 minutes, but UL’s five-guard lineup spread the floor enough for La’Ryan Gary (15 points) and Gradnigo (14) to post season-high point totals.

Daigle has emerged as one of the league’s top scorers and outside shooters despite standing only 5-foot-10. So far this season, the former Northside High standout leads the team in points per game (16) and 3-point shooting percentage (.556).

McCoy, a junior transfer from Midland (Texas) College, is more of a pass-first guard but has been inconsistent all season. He is first on the squad in assists (30) and is fifth in points per game (8.1).

Lago, a junior, is second on the team with 18 assists and played more than McCoy against Denver because of his defensive intensity.

"Having (two point guards) out there is a matter of not having Randell have to over-handle the basketball," Lee said. "Randell is a guy we want away from the ball a lot because we want him to get more shots.

"So we think Ryan or Willie gives us a better opportunity to get Randell and Travis and Chris more shots if Randell is not the guy handling the ball the most."

Daigle considers himself a shooting guard in a point guard’s body, but he’s more than willing to do whatever he’s asked to do. That includes sharing the ball – and the floor – with another point guard.

"It makes us better and balances the team," Daigle said. "With two point guards out there, everyone else just follows our lead."