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<b>Synopsis: </b>Louisiana’s men’s basketball roster will again be riddled by youth, as the Cajuns welcome eight newcomers to the 2007-08 squad which already featured five returning underclassmen. The Cajuns have only three seniors, each with one year of experience in Cajun Country - Maurice Barksdale, David Dees and Abray Milson. Barksdale returns after sitting out the 2006-07 season to recover from off-season wrist surgery. Last season, five freshmen saw significant playing time including 2007 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Elijah Millsap. The Cajuns could own one of the more exciting backcourts in the Sun Belt Conference. Behind Barksdale, Dees and Millsap, UL also has two other letterwinners and eight newcomers ready to fill in at any time. With the departure of Valentino Hart and Adam James, the key to the Cajuns’ success this season could lie at the post position.
<b>The Frontcourt - Quick Hits </b>
While the backcourt is loaded with young returning players, the frontcourt boasts only three returners - senior Abray Milson (Lafayette, La.) and sophomores Tyren Johnson (Edgard, La.) and Courtney Wallace (New Orleans, La.).
Last season, the Cajuns’ frontcourt produced just 379 of their 2,013 points (18.8 percent). However, UL lost nearly half of that frontcourt point production in the departure of Valentino Hart and Adam James.
Milson, Johnson and Wallace combined for just 199 points in only 844 minutes a year ago. Wallace, who enjoyed the most playing time last season, will be depended on to help solidify the Cajuns’ frontcourt. However, Lee and his staff will not rely on Wallace to carry the load on his own. Milson and Johnson will see a considerably larger amount of playing time.
Milson, the only returning low post player for UL with more than one year of Division I experience, is one of only three seniors on the squad and will be highly depended on at the low post position.
Last season, Milson averaged 2.1 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Milson and Wallace each started eight games a year ago, while Johnson started two. Milson, who spent his freshman season at Utah Valley State College, will face his former school when the Cajuns host the Wolverines in January.
Wallace chipped in 4.0 points and 2.3 boards per game. Johnson added 1.6 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. Wallace was one of three freshmen last season that averaged double-digit minutes
Johnson, Milson and Wallace will be aided by the additions of true freshmen Travis Bureau and Chris Gradnigo and sophomore La’Ryan Gary.
Bureau, a Class 5A All-State selection at St. Amant (La.) High School, averaged 24.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.0 blocks per game in his final prep season.
Like Bureau, Gradnigo, also a Louisiana product, was an All-State (Class 4A) selection as a senior. The LaGrange High star was also a two-time All-District and Southwest Louisiana Most Valuable Player honoree.
The final piece of the Cajuns’ frontcourt puzzle, Gary, was local basketball star coming out of high school. After three years at Lafayette’s St. Thomas More High, Gary transferred to Carencro (La.) High for his senior season, where he averaged 20.3 points per game.
<b> Preseason Intangibles </b>
Youth is Served. Louisiana boasts the third-least experienced team among the 347 NCAA Division I men’s basketball programs. UL has a combined eight letters earned (Eight players having earned one letter each at Louisiana). Eight other schools have fewer than eight letters - College of Charleston (6), Idaho (6), Texas State (7), UALR (7), Louisiana Tech (7), New Mexico State (7), Utah State (7) and Texas-San Antonio (7) - while four schools have a combined eight letters earned - Boise State, San Jose State, Charlotte and Lamar.
A Fresh Start. Despite having 16 players on the 2007-08 roster, Louisiana-Lafayette has just three freshmen on the team this season - Travis Bureau, Chris Gradnigo and Sutton Yanosky. On the hand, the Cajuns will not endure a shortage of sophomores as 10 of Louisiana’s 16 players are sophomores athletically - the most of any Sun Belt Conference team.
There’s a New Assistant in Town. Former North Texas assistant coach Jai Steadman joined the Cajuns staff over the summer. Steadman is familiar with southwest Louisiana as he was an assistant coach at McNeese State in 2004-05.
<b> 2007-08 Schedule Notables </b>
Thirteen home games highlight UL’s 2007-08 home schedule, including four non-conference meetings with North Alabama, UAB, McNeese State and Utah Valley State.
Louisiana welcomes four first-time visitors to the CAJUNDOME - North Alabama, UAB, Florida Atlantic and Utah Valley State.
Year four of the Robert Lee era kicks off in front of the home crowd at the CAJUNDOME against NCAA Division II member North Alabama on Nov. 14. UL then quickly depart for a two-game road swing at Louisiana Tech (Nov. 16) and Oral Roberts (Nov. 20).
UL returns home to face first-time visitor UAB on Nov. 27 before traveling to Knoxville, Tenn., to face the Tennessee Volunteers on Nov. 30. UL’s meeting with the Vols will be the first of two games featuring the Cajuns to be televised this season. The UL-UT contest will be carried by Sports South.
The Cajuns open the month of December on the road at UCF on Dec. 11. UL then returns to the ‘DOME to face McNeese State on Dec. 13. UL opens Sun Belt Conference play at in-state rival Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 16 before embarking on a trans-Pacific flight to Hawai’i to participate in the 44th Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic in Honolulu. The field includes East Tennessee State, Georgia, Hawai’i, Ohio, St. John’s, St. Mary’s and Tulane. UL will be making its seventh trip to the Rainbow State and its first since the 1998-99 season. Louisiana opens the tournament against the hosting Warriors on Dec. 19.
After the Cajuns return to the mainland, UL will host another first-time visitor - Sun Belt foe Florida Atlantic - on Dec. 29.
The new year begins with a pair of home games - Arkansas State (Jan. 3) and New Orleans (Jan. 5). The Cajuns then travel to Little Rock, Ark., to face UALR on Jan. 10, followed by a trip to Denton, Texas, against North Texas on Jan. 12. The Cajuns’ fourth first-time CAJUNDOME opponent and last non-conference test - Utah Valley State College - comes to town for tilt on Jan. 15.
Western Kentucky awaits the Cajuns at home on Jan. 19 before UL hits the road again to face South Alabama (Jan. 24) and Troy (Jan. 27). The Cajuns close out the month of January at home against Middle Tennessee on Jan. 31.
Louisiana then hits the road for a cross-country venture that will begin Feb. 6 at Florida International. The Cajuns then travel to Denver, Colo., to face the Denver Pioneers on Feb. 10. The Cajuns’ game at Denver will be their second televised game of the regular season. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.
UL will then get a brief break from travel to face Louisiana-Monroe at the CAJUNDOME on Valentine’s Day. However, the Cajuns then have to make their final road trip of the regular season to face Arkansas State (Feb. 16) and New Orleans (Feb. 20).
The Ragin’ Cajuns conclude the regular season with three straight home games - UALR (Feb. 23), North Texas (Feb. 28) and Denver (Mar. 1).
The Sun Belt Conference Championship will be held March 9-11 in Mobile, Ala. The first round games will take place March 5 at campus sites.
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