Hooping it again (Evans suspends 2)

<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Michael Southall, Cedric Williams suspended.</b>

LOUISIANA La. — Two of the key components of Louisiana’s men’s basketball squad weren’t on hand Saturday morning when the Ragin’ Cajuns opened fall drills, but head coach Jessie Evans downplayed their importance.

“I’m not concerned with the guys that aren’t here,” Evans said after the Cajuns worked out for nearly three and one-half hours Saturday morning. “We’re more pleased with the guys that have taken care of their business on and off the floor, and we’re not going to dwell on the others.”

Juniors Michael Southall and Cedric Williams were not at the opening practice. Evans said the two were suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules.

“It’s things they have to take care of,” Evans said. “I expect them to be back when they take care of their business off the floor.”

The rest of the 13-member squad went through the lengthy opening session, one that’s become almost old-hat to the veteran members of the squad.

“Coach has his system, and it’s pretty much the same,” said senior guard Brad Boyd, the leading scorer from last year’s 20-9 team. “Some of the new guys are used to a different system and they had to stop and teach some today.”

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com <!--

“The first practice, there’s a lot of talking,” said senior guard Laurie Bridges. “It takes a while to get a feel for everything. We’ll get better and have more intense, hard practices once we get into it a little more.”

The squad doesn’t have as much time as in normal seasons to find that improvement and intensity. Saturday’s workout opener was exactly one month in advance of the season opener Nov. 18 at Georgia Tech in the Preseason NIT.

“I like it that way,” said Evans. “It emphasizes the fact that we must take care of details and be conscious of what the coaches are saying and teaching, and then do it on the floor. It does provide a sense of urgency, but it makes you see why the things we’re doing are important.”

“It’s shorter, but it lets us have something to aim for,” said Boyd. “We’ll be more prepared early, since we’ve got to come out quick and show what we can do.”

The Cajuns won their second straight Sun Belt Conference West Division title and grabbed their second straight NIT berth, but lost their last three games in 2002-03, including a one-point loss at UAB in the NIT first round.

“I’ve been waiting for today ever since that game,” said Bridges. “I thought we were a better team. We just didn’t make baskets when we needed to. We should have won that one.”

Bridges is part of Evans’ group of versatile perimeter players that he’ll count on during the early part of a season that begins with a Nov. 6 exhibition game against Delta State.

“I like versatile players and we have a lot of them,” he said. “We know we have to get better, but I’m impressed with a lot of our guys who are listening and receiving coaching well. We have a ways to go, but we also have time to get there.”

LAGNIAPPE: The squad wrapped up Saturday’s practice with a brief scrimmage, first team to 20 points, and that segment was error-filled. “Now can you see why we’re not ready to go full-court,” Evans told the squad during that session … Going through his first practice was East Tennessee transfer Tyrus Wade, who will redshirt this season … Senior squadman Scooter Owens missed Saturday’s practice with an illness … The Cajuns will work out again at 9 a.m. today at Blackham Coliseum and begin regular weekday workouts Monday at 4 p.m.
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