Sun Belt play rises

<blockquote><p align=justify>This is the perfect place for Louisiana to begin defense of a Sun Belt Conference Western Division championship.

The Denver Pioneers knocked the Ragin’ Cajuns out of last year’s conference tournament and are an impressive 8-4 this season heading into today’s 5 p.m. (Central time) contest at the 2,500-seat Hamilton Gym.

If coach Jessie Evans’ 5-4 Cajuns can win today, they will return to Lafayette with considerable momentum for a three-game homestand against divisional foes South Alabama, New Orleans and New Mexico State.

But, if the Cajuns are going to get an inside track to their third straight West crown, they’ll need to step up their inside game.

Currently, the Cajuns are getting out-rebounded 36.7-33.2 per game. They beat Houston on the boards 34-30 in an 81-67 win at the Cajundome on Jan. 3 in their last action, but need to improve in the paint today.

“Denver has great size on the inside,” Evans said. “They beat Wyoming on the glass Tuesday night in that (63-62) win. Brett Starkey is one of the top inside players in the conference.”

The 6-foot-9, 260-pound Starkey, who postponed medical school for one more year with the Pioneers of coach Terry Carroll, averages 13.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game for Denver.

He had his third double-double of the campaign against Wyoming with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Joining Starkey on the front line are 6-foot-8 senior Carvell McAlister (7.4 ppg, 3.6 rebounds) and 6-foot-8 senior Zeljko Zupic (9.8 ppg, 7.3 rebounds).

Denver boasts a size advantage over the Cajuns, who run a three-guard attack with just 6-foot-11 sophomore Chris Cameron (7.2, 4.6) and 6-foot-6 junior Brian Hamilton (10.3, 6.9) listed on the front line. Six-foot-seven Cedric Williams (10.3, 5.0) is first off the bench underneath.

The Cajuns do have an advantage outside, though, led by the senior trio of Antoine Landry (14.4 ppg), Brad Boyd (13.6) and Laurie Bridges (12.2).

<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/339BAFD2-6EDD-43BE-9F42-93FA7C2343A6.shtml">The rest of the story</a>

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com
<!--

Added to the package is Auburn transfer Dwayne Mitchell (11.3, 3.8, 15 steals), whose play has been marked by often spectacular dunks and momentum-changing defense.

Bridges and Mitchell will be crucial figures in controlling Denver’s Erik Benzel (16.0, 47.1 percent 3-point shooting) and fellow junior Rodney Billups (10.0, 4.8 assists).

“Billups is one of the top point guards in the league, and Benzel and Zupic are both good shooters,” Evans said.

The Pioneers are used to the Hamilton Gym surroundings, while it may take some time for the visitors to adjust.

“It won’t affect us,” Landry said. “As Coach says, the court is 94 feet long and the basket is 10 feet high, wherever we play. The only difference with different arenas is depth perception. If we concentrate, we’ll shoot well.”

The Cajuns lead the overall series 8-1, with the only setback that 72-68 score in last year’s Sun Belt quarterfinals. It promises to be a combative matchup.

“Our chemistry is good right now,” Cameron said. “Everyone knows who’s going to be there each day. Once we found that out, it brought us closer together. People see who shoots the ball well and who’ll rebound the ball, so we know our roles.

“We have more assists than turnovers, and that proves how well we’re playing as a team.”

Cajuns (5-4) at Denver (8-4)
Today, 5 p.m. (CST), Hamilton Gym, Denver, Colo.

RADIO: KPEL-AM (1420) and KRKA-FM (107.9), 4:30 p.m. pregame. TELEVISION: none.
PROBABLE STARTERS:
UL LAFAYETTE — F Brian Hamilton (6-6, 185, Jr., 10.3, 6.9), C Chris Cameron (6-11, 256, So., 7.2, 4.6), G Antoine Landry (5-11, 170, Sr., 14.4, 2.4), G Brad Boyd (6-6, 195, Sr., 13.6, 2.2), G Laurie Bridges (6-4, 206, Sr., 12.2, 5.8)

DENVER — F Carvell McAlister (6-8, 210, Sr., 7.4, 3.6), F Zeljko Zupic (6-8, 215, Sr., 9.8, 7.3), C Brett Starkey (6-9, 260, Sr., 13.3, 8.1), G Rodney Billups (5-10, 150, Jr., 10.0, 2.0), G Erik Benzel (6-1, 175, Jr., 16.0, 4.0)

NOTES:
Cajuns lead series 8-1 and are 4-0 in games at Denver, but the one loss was in the last meeting when Pioneers won 72-68 in quarterfinals of last year’s Sun Belt Tournament . . . Denver has won four in a row, and the Pioneers’ 8-4 start is the best since DU moved to Division I and the best since a 10-2 start against a Division II schedule in 1995-96.

NEXT:
Cajuns open three-game homestand vs. South Alabama Thursday, 7:05 p.m., Cajundome; Pioneers at North Texas Thursday, 7 p.m.
-->

<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Ragin' Cajuns open Sun Belt play today at Denver</b>

LOUISIANA la. -- Antoine Landry doesn't act like someone who's waited three years to become a starting college point guard.

Since his first game this season, Landry stepped in and has run the University of Louisiana at Lafayette offense with the precision of a veteran.

"I'm now getting used to the pressure of being a starter," Landry said. "The only way you adapt to a situation like that is by playing and the amount of minutes I've been getting are part of that."

Landry will be one of ULL's key factors at 5 p.m. today when the Cajuns open Sun Belt Conference play at Denver University's Hamilton Gymnasium.

Landry is more sure of himself because of his experience.

"My confidence level has been going up, because I've done a better job of producing," said Landry.

Landry scored a career-high 26 points last Saturday when the Cajuns defeated the University of Houston (81-67).

With the win the Cajuns improved to 5-4.

Landry said ULL's win over Houston helped raise the team's confidence level.

"It was a very big win," he said. Houston came in (to the Cajundome) after a big win against LSU.

"We've played a lot of big games on the road this season, so winning one like we did at home did a lot for us."

<center><p><a href="http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/011004/spo_cajuns001.shtml">The rest of the story</a>


By BOBBY ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate <!--

ULL faces an 8-4 Denver team that has won winning four of its last six. The Pioneers beat Wyoming 63-62 on Tuesday night at Magness Arena. Denver is 5-1 at home this season.

For the second straight year ULL and Denver won't meet at Magness because the Pioneers' hockey team has a game scheduled there against Minnesota-Duluth.

ULL coach Jessie Evans said the Cajuns' play against Houston and on the road during December has given his team encouragement.

"It's a good way to start conference play on a positive note," said Evans.

Landry averages a team-high 14.4 points, while senior guard Brad Boyd is next (13.6 points per game).

Boyd was held without a field goal against Houston, but Evans isn't worried.

"(Brad) is the one who runs this team, and when he's not scoring, he does so much else for us," Evans said.

"We attack this as team basketball and Brad understands that. He knows that sometimes you have to spread the wealth."

Also scoring in double figures for ULL are guard Laurie Bridges (12.2 ppg) and forward Brian Hamilton (10.3).

Center Chris Cameron has a 4.6 rebound average along with scoring 7.2 points per game.

Hamilton is the team rebounding leader (6.9), while Bridges has 5.8.

Denver's probable starting lineup includes three players averaging double figures.

Senior center Brett Starkey is scoring 13.3 points per game and pulling down 8.1 rebounds.

Denver's backcourt includes guards Erik Benzel (16.0 ppg) and Rodney Billups (10.0).

The Pioneers also start a pair of 6-foot-8 forwards in Carvell McAllister and Zelijko Zupic.

Zupic (9.8 ppg) and McAllister (7.4 ppg) are both seniors.

-->