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LOUISIANA – University of Louisiana’s Director of Athletics David Walker announced the 2007-08 Ragin' Cajuns basketball schedule Saturday.
UL’s men’s team, which finished 9-21 overall a season ago, enters the fourth year of the Robert Lee coaching era, while the women’s program enters a new chapter under first-year head coach Errol Rogers.
<b>Men’s Schedule Highlights</b>
A trip to the 44th Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawai’i, and non-conference contests against UAB, Tennessee and UCF highlight the men’s basketball slate.
“Obviously, this schedule provides a tremendous amount of challenges and opportunities for our team this season,” Lee said. “We have some very difficult non-conference games that will help our young team grow and mature as the season progresses.”
In addition to the Cajuns, the Rainbow Classic field includes East Tennessee State, Georgia, Ohio, St. John’s, St. Mary’s (Calif.), Tulane and host Hawai’i – UL’s first-round opponent Dec. 19.
The Cajuns will play 13 home games at the CAJUNDOME in 2007-08, highlighted by a visit from Interstate 10 rival McNeese State on Dec. 13. Also on the non-conference home slate are North Alabama, UAB and Utah Valley State.
UL opens the season against the North Alabama Chargers on Nov. 14 before playing Louisiana Tech and Oral Roberts on the road. Three days after returning home to face UAB on Nov. 27, the Cajuns travel to Knoxville, Tenn., to face the Tennessee Volunteers on Nov. 30.
On Dec. 11, the Cajuns will make their first trip to Orlando since Jan. 18, 1992, when UL faces the UCF Knights at the new Convocation Center. After a home meeting with McNeese State, the Cajuns look to open Sun Belt Conference play at Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 16 before flying to Hawai’i for the 44th Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic.
“We are excited about the opportunity to compete in such a prestigious event as the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic in Hawai’i,” Lee said.
The Cajuns welcome Florida Atlantic for their Sun Belt home opener on Dec. 29 to close out the 2007 half of the schedule. January begins with back-to-back home conference contests against Arkansas State (Jan. 3) and New Orleans (Jan. 5). After a quick road swing to UALR (Jan. 10) and North Texas (Jan. 12), UL returns home to face Utah Valley State on Jan. 15 and Western Kentucky on Jan. 19.
“I think the Sun Belt Conference has a chance to be a Top 13 league in the country this year because of all the returning talent in the league,” Lee said. “We are very happy to finally get Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee back into the CAJUNDOME.”
UL hits the road again for another brief weekend road swing – this time to South Alabama (Jan. 24) and Troy (Jan. 27), which will be a doubleheader with the women’s team. The Cajuns then face Middle Tennessee at the CAJUNDOME on Jan. 31 before a cross-country trip that will take UL from Florida International on Feb. 6 to Denver on Feb. 10.
Louisiana-Monroe visits the CAJUNDOME on Valentine’s Day before the Cajuns conclude their road schedule with Arkansas State (Feb. 16) and New Orleans (Feb. 20). The Cajuns wrap up the regular season with three straight home games – UALR (Feb. 23), North Texas (Feb. 28) and Denver (March 1).
Lee encourages fans to support his men’s team this year. “Get your season tickets early so you can see a team that will be fast, fun and exciting.”
<b> 2007-08 Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns Men’s Schedule </b>
Nov. 6, Louisiana College (7:05 p.m.); Nov. 14, North Alabama (7:05 p.m.); Nov. 16, at Louisiana Tech (7 p.m.); Nov. 20, at Oral Roberts (7:05 p.m.); Nov. 27, UAB (7:05 p.m.); Nov. 30, at Tennessee (6:30 p.m.)
Dec. 11, at UCF (6 p.m.); Dec. 13, McNeese State (7:05 p.m.); Dec. 16, at Louisiana-Monroe* (1 p.m.); Dec. 19, at Hawai’i (11:30 p.m.); Dec. 21, TBA (Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic); Dec. 22, TBA (Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic); Dec. 29, Florida Atlantic* (7:05 p.m.)
Jan. 3, Arkansas State* (7:05 p.m.); Jan. 5, New Orleans+* (7:05 p.m.); Jan. 10, at UALR* (7:30 p.m.); Jan. 12, at North Texas* (7 p.m.); Jan. 15, Utah Valley State (7:05 p.m.); Jan. 19, Western Kentucky* (7:05 p.m.); Jan. 24, at South Alabama* (7:05 p.m.); Jan. 27, at Troy* (1 p.m.); Jan. 31, Middle Tennessee* (7:05 p.m.)
Feb. 6, at Florida International* (6:30 p.m.); Feb. 10, at Denver* (1 p.m.); Feb. 14, Louisiana-Monroe* (7:05 p.m.); Feb. 16, at Arkansas State* (7:05 p.m.); Feb. 20, at New Orleans* (7 p.m.); Feb. 23, UALR* (7:05 p.m.); Feb. 28, North Texas* (7:05 p.m.)
March 1, Denver* (7:05 p.m.); March 5, Sun Belt Conference Championship First Round (Campus Sites); March 9-11, at Sun Belt Conference Championship (Mobile, Ala.)
* Denotes Sun Belt Conference game | + Denotes home DH with women at the CAJUNDOME
All Times CENTRAL and Subject to Change
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