Louisiana is the reason for the turn in your season.Quote:
Originally quote from a link posted by cajun express
"We didn't come out and give the effort we normally do, for whatever reason,"
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Louisiana is the reason for the turn in your season.Quote:
Originally quote from a link posted by cajun express
"We didn't come out and give the effort we normally do, for whatever reason,"
Sun Belt Conf All
East
Western Kentucky 5-2 12-8
Middle Tennessee State 5-3 10-11
Arkansas-Little Rock 4-3 13-7
Arkansas State 2-5 9-11
Florida International 0-6 6-13
West
Louisiana-Lafayette 6-1 14-6
New Orleans 5-4 12-8
South Alabama 5-4 11-9
Denver 4-4 12-10
New Mexico State 4-4 13-6
North Texas 2-6 7-13
<blockquote><p align=justify>Advertiser-Dan McDonald
LAFAYETTE — It’s an enviable position that Louisiana's men’s basketball squad finds itself at the halfway point of the Sun Belt Conference season.
The Ragin’ Cajuns have played more road games than home games through seven league outings, yet still find themselves three games ahead in the loss column on every team in the Sun Belt’s West Division.
And, the Cajuns open a home stretch in the Cajundome this week, one that will eventually include three games in a six-day period.
“You have to like the position we’re in,” Cajun coach Jessie Evans said. “But we’ve been in this position before. We have to keep taking care of business.”
Louisiana showed that it meant business in a weekend road trip to North Texas and Denver, winning those two games by a combined 46 points. A shockingly easy 89-58 win over UNT on Thursday came two days before the Cajuns led Denver by 23 points in the closing stages on the way to a 95-80 win.
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com
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Even though the Cajun squad scored 184 points in the two wins, it was once again defense that made the two impressive wins possible.
UNT shot only 33.9 percent from the field and turned the ball over 25 times on Thursday. In Saturday’s game, Denver shot 38 percent from the field.
In fact, none of the Cajuns’ last six opponents has managed a 45 percent mark, and the UL Lafayette defense has forced 87 turnovers in four games, an average of almost 22 turnovers per outing.
“We did a lot of good things,” Evans said of Saturday’s win at Denver. “We still have to learn how to play with a significant lead and I wasn’t very happy about that, but the good thing is that we had some cushion to play with.”
UL Lafayette (6-1, 14-6) saw its 23-point lead whittled to seven in the final minute before scoring the game’s final eight points.
The Cajuns had their highest point total of the season against a competitive team (they had scored 117 against La. College and 99 against Alcorn State in blowout wins) in the Saturday win, and did it with two of the team’s three top scorers not even getting into double digits.
Michael Southall was saddled with foul trouble and played only 14 minutes, getting seven points, and Anthony Johnson was limited to eight points in 19 minutes off the bench.
In their stead, Brad Boyd and Laurie Bridges both had 20-point efforts, Bridges coming up one short of a career high.
Antoine Landry had a season-high 13 points and Chris Cameron had 11, after that pair had teamed for only two points in Thursday’s win. They didn’t have to score in that one, since six Cajuns scored in twin digits in the win at North Texas.
“We had a lot of guys step up in both games,” Evans said. “You really need that when you’re going down the stretch in the conference.”
The Cajuns have a full two-game lead over both South Alabama (5-4) and New Orleans (5-4) — ironically, the two teams who will visit the ‘Dome on Thursday and Saturday. Denver (4-4), which returns its visit the following Tuesday in the third game of the homestand, and New Mexico State (4-4) are another half-game back.
“I’ve said all along that this team, if we stay healthy, is capable of some special things,” Evans said. “I just hope the fans come out this week to these games and support these guys after what they’ve accomplished.”
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Who is the MAN? Laurie Bridges is Sun Belt Player of the Week.
http://www.sunbeltsports.org/
<h3>...sweet...
Micahel Southall comes up HUGE in the last 2-3 minutes to help the CAJUNS beat South Alabama 67-60 and go 15-6, 7-1 in the Conference.
WAY TO GEAUX CAJUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :cool:
what a defensive effort by the entire cajun team!!!!!!
<blockquote><p align=justify>Advertiser-Bruce Brown
<b>Cajuns hold off Privateers to run streak to 19</b>
LAFAYETTE — This streaking business is getting harder all the time, but it’s worth the effort.
Louisiana needed overtime to hold off the New Orleans Privateers 79-75 Saturday night before a season-high 8,121 fans at the Cajundome, running its homecourt victory streak to 19 in a row.
Brad Boyd didn’t score until 10:05 remained in regulation, but he finished with 15 including a clinching 5-of-6 free throws at the end of the extra period as the Ragin’ Cajuns improved to 16-6 overall and 8-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.
Sophomore center Michael Southall was a tower of power in the win, playing just short of the full 45 minutes and finishing with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
New Orleans (12-10, 5-6) was led by 2002 Sun Belt Player of the Year Hector Romero, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds but failed to score in overtime.
“The crowd was excellent,” Cajun coach Jessie Evans said. “We fed off of them a lot in the second half, and they played a huge part in this win.
“We weren’t quite sure they were getting their money’s worth, so we played an extra five minutes.”
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/0AE30579-FA88-4B1C-A05E-E8BC49273FA2.shtml">The rest of the story</a><!--
Southall appeared to clinch it for the Cajuns at the end of regulation, blocking a Romero shot and appearing to seal a 65-63 triumph. But his rejection was ruled goaltending and the two teams headed for supplemental action.
“I’m really impressed with Lafayette, always have been,” UNO coach Monte Towe said. “We came in here and played nose-to-nose against what I consider the best team in the conference, and maybe that will give us confidence for the Sun Belt Tournament.”
Towe said the clear difference was Southall.
“I think Southall is a wonderful player,” Towe said. “He’s a factor all over the floor, defensively and offensively. He’s also a wonderful passer. And, he likes to win.”
Southall’s desire to win was evidenced by his play in overtime. After getting his blocked shot disallowed to prompt OT, Southall scored 7 of the Cajuns’ first 9 points in the frame and dished off to freshman Cedric Williams for the other bucket.
“I was really upset that we had to go to overtime,” Southall said. “My teammates kept telling me over and over that they (the Privateers) can’t stop me, and they kept getting me the ball.”
There were plenty of nervous moments for the Cajuns. The Privateers broke a 29-all tie and mounted a 36-29 advantage at halftime. Then, midway through the second half, a 3-point bomb by Kyle Buggs put UNO ahead by 9 at 52-43.
That’s when Boyd finally came alive with a 3-pointer of his own, serving as the flashpoint for a 14-1 Cajun surge that put them ahead 57-53. Boyd’s trey off a Southall screen tied the game at 53, Southall got a tip-in and then a Southall steal led to an Immanuel Washington layup.
Three-pointers by Romero and A.J. Meredith produced a 59-57 UNO lead, but a breakaway drive by Laurie Bridges, coming after Williams forced Romero into a costly turnover, put the Cajuns ahead by 63-59.
A tap-in and 12-footer in the lane by Buggs then knotted it again. Southall slipped the ball to Williams for a 65-63 edge, before the call at the end of regulation.
“At the half,” Anthony Johnson said, “they had the lead and we were playing their game. Once we started playing our game, we picked up the tempo on defense and started running the floor. Then they fell into our hands.”
“Worried?” Southall said. “Worried, no. Concerned, yes. You’ve got to get a little nervous edge to you.”
“We tried to slow the game up a little bit,” Towe said. “I’d like to run more, but we have trouble in transition (UNO finished with 19 turnovers). The game went pretty much the way I wanted it to, until they hit that spurt in the second half.
“I think Southall was the difference, that and our turnovers. Their defense was good. They’re athletic. Part of our turnover problem was probably their defense.”
The Cajuns’ ability to come at the Privateers in waves eventually spelled the difference.
“Nineteen in a row is a lot,” Johnson said. “When we got down by 9, that was a wake-up call for us. You still have to go out and play hard. Ain’t no game given to you.”
Never was that more true than Saturday night.
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<blockquote><p align=justify>A chance to witness <b>19 straight wins</b> at home will get you 8,121 fans at the Cajundome.
This is an all-time top-10 attendance figure at the Stump. In fact it ranks at #10.
It is however only the 4th highest attendance vs. UNO.
Does anyone one know our record against UNO in those well-attended games?
Louisiana is now 9-11 all-time vs. UNO at the CajunDome.
<center><img src="https://forumeus.com/images/avatars/avatar096.gif">
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--John Rowland/The Lafayette Daily Advertiser
UL Lafayette’s Michael Southall, left, battles Nerijus Lisauskus of New Orleans for a loose ball during Saturday’s win.
Working overtime
Cajuns hold off Privateers to run streak to 19.
Bruce Brown
February 9, 2003
LAFAYETTE — This streaking business is getting harder all the time, but it’s worth the effort.
UL Lafayette needed overtime to hold off the New Orleans Privateers 79-75 Saturday night before a season-high 8,121 fans at the Cajundome, running its homecourt victory streak to 19 in a row.
Brad Boyd didn’t score until 10:05 remained in regulation, but he finished with 15 including a clinching 5-of-6 free throws at the end of the extra period as the Ragin’ Cajuns improved to 16-6 overall and 8-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.
Sophomore center Michael Southall was a tower of power in the win, playing just short of the full 45 minutes and finishing with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
New Orleans (12-10, 5-6) was led by 2002 Sun Belt Player of the Year Hector Romero, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds but failed to score in overtime.
“The crowd was excellent,” Cajun coach Jessie Evans said. “We fed off of them a lot in the second half, and they played a huge part in this win.
“We weren’t quite sure they were getting their money’s worth, so we played an extra five minutes.”
Southall appeared to clinch it for the Cajuns at the end of regulation, blocking a Romero shot and appearing to seal a 65-63 triumph. But his rejection was ruled goaltending and the two teams headed for supplemental action.
“I’m really impressed with Lafayette, always have been,” UNO coach Monte Towe said. “We came in here and played nose-to-nose against what I consider the best team in the conference, and maybe that will give us confidence for the Sun Belt Tournament.”
Towe said the clear difference was Southall.
“I think Southall is a wonderful player,” Towe said. “He’s a factor all over the floor, defensively and offensively. He’s also a wonderful passer. And, he likes to win.”
Southall’s desire to win was evidenced by his play in overtime. After getting his blocked shot disallowed to prompt OT, Southall scored 7 of the Cajuns’ first 9 points in the frame and dished off to freshman Cedric Williams for the other bucket.
“I was really upset that we had to go to overtime,” Southall said. “My teammates kept telling me over and over that they (the Privateers) can’t stop me, and they kept getting me the ball.”
There were plenty of nervous moments for the Cajuns. The Privateers broke a 29-all tie and mounted a 36-29 advantage at halftime. Then, midway through the second half, a 3-point bomb by Kyle Buggs put UNO ahead by 9 at 52-43.
That’s when Boyd finally came alive with a 3-pointer of his own, serving as the flashpoint for a 14-1 Cajun surge that put them ahead 57-53. Boyd’s trey off a Southall screen tied the game at 53, Southall got a tip-in and then a Southall steal led to an Immanuel Washington layup.
Three-pointers by Romero and A.J. Meredith produced a 59-57 UNO lead, but a breakaway drive by Laurie Bridges, coming after Williams forced Romero into a costly turnover, put the Cajuns ahead by 63-59.
A tap-in and 12-footer in the lane by Buggs then knotted it again. Southall slipped the ball to Williams for a 65-63 edge, before the call at the end of regulation.
“At the half,” Anthony Johnson said, “they had the lead and we were playing their game. Once we started playing our game, we picked up the tempo on defense and started running the floor. Then they fell into our hands.”
“Worried?” Southall said. “Worried, no. Concerned, yes. You’ve got to get a little nervous edge to you.”
“We tried to slow the game up a little bit,” Towe said. “I’d like to run more, but we have trouble in transition (UNO finished with 19 turnovers). The game went pretty much the way I wanted it to, until they hit that spurt in the second half.
“I think Southall was the difference, that and our turnovers. Their defense was good. They’re athletic. Part of our turnover problem was probably their defense.”
The Cajuns’ ability to come at the Privateers in waves eventually spelled the difference.
“Nineteen in a row is a lot,” Johnson said. “When we got down by 9, that was a wake-up call for us. You still have to go out and play hard. Ain’t no game given to you.”
Never was that more true than Saturday night.
Ragin' Cajuns drop Privateers in overtime
Southhall gets job done late for UL
By Marty Mulé
LAFAYETTE -- Chained by a collapsing UNO defense for most the night, Louisiana center Michael Southall broke free when it counted most: with the game on the line.
Southall scored seven points in overtime as UL overcame a determined Privateers effort to pull out a 79-75 victory Saturday night at the Cajundome.
The Ragin' Cajuns (16-6, 8-1 Sun Belt) have won 19 consecutive home games and sent UNO to its third straight defeat -- and second overtime loss in a week. The Privateers (12-11, 5-6) are 0-9 on the road.
Southall had three points and two rebounds in the first half, and nine points at the end of regulation. But he scored the first seven of ULL's 14 points in overtime.
"My teammates expect me to be a leader," said Southall, a 6-foot-11 sophomore. "It's my job to step up. At the half they told me they'd get me the ball more, and for me to be more aggressive."
It took longer than the usual 20 minutes, but UNO coach Monte Towe admitted, "Late in the game, we had no answer for Southall."
UNO's Nerijus Lisauskas, Victor Brown and Tommy Biggoms, all with help, took turns defending Southall, generally with success. The Privateers out-rebounded the Cajuns 33-25; Southall grabbed only five.
"Our kids put their hearts out on the floor tonight," Towe said. But he made note of his team's 19 turnovers.
"Our margin for error is not very much. We gave them too many opportunities at critical times."
Four Privateers scored in double-figures. Hector Romero scored 20, Kyle Buggs 17, Johnell Smith 12 and Lisauskas 10. UL also had four: Southall, Brad Boyd at 15, Anthony Johnson at 13 and Laurie Bridges at 11.
The first half belonged to UNO, thanks to perimeter shooting and the Privateers' defense against Southall. UNO collapsed as many as three men -- mostly with Lisauskas and, briefly, Biggoms -- on Southall.
UNO led most of the first half, scoring the first four points on free throws by Lisauskas and Romero, then holding the Cajuns at bay until halftime. ULL's main weapon in the first half was Johnson, who hit three 3-pointers in five attempts, keeping the Cajuns from falling dangerously behind.
UL led at 18-17 and 20-19, but the Privateers answered each time. Lisauskas made a reverse layup for a 19-18 lead, and two pull-up jumpers by Johnell Smith put UNO back in front 23-20. A rash of Cajuns turnovers in the last couple of minutes staked the Privateers to a 36-29 lead at the half.
UNO opened a 10-point lead at 43-33 in the second half before the Cajuns charged back behind the outside shooting of Boyd -- UL's leading scorer, who didn't get his first basket until less than 10 minutes left to play.
The game was UL's first overtime contest since Feb. 24, 2001, when the Cajuns beat UNO 86-75 at Lakefront Arena. The last in Lafayette was Nov. 1997, when the Cajuns beat Virginia Commonwealth 77-71 -- in Coach Jessie Evans' first game.
Evans said this was the kind of game that stirs the blood. "It's like a duck on the pond," he said of his feelings during the back-and-forth finish. "Calm on the surface, but paddling like hell underneath."
No discussion about this game? Am I the only one that thinks that this was one of the biggest wins in the history of Cajun basketball? Now I know we didnt beat a spectacular team, but when was the last time 8,000 people showed up to the dome? When was the last time there was a true electric atmosphere there? I dont remember ever going to a game like this one, that's for sure.
Championship teams find a way to get it done!
Go Cajuns!
Darn it CAJUNREBEL you and coach are hard to please. I mean the team, and coach kept coaxing the crowd to get more into the game, recruiting basH, USA game, and baseball series. I barley have enough engergy to read much less post.Quote:
Originally posted by CajunRebel
No discussion about this game? Am I the only one that thinks that this was one of the biggest wins in the history of Cajun basketball? Now I know we didnt beat a spectacular team, but when was the last time 8,000 people showed up to the dome? When was the last time there was a true electric atmosphere there? I dont remember ever going to a game like this one, that's for sure.
Championship teams find a way to get it done!
Go Cajuns!
EXCEPT for that little fault today in baseball it was a great week to be a cajun fan.
I agree the three previous games against UNO where the attendance was in the top 10, were games the Cajuns came away from with a loss.Quote:
Originally posted by CajunRebel
No discussion about this game? Am I the only one that thinks that this was one of the biggest wins in the history of Cajun basketball? Now I know we didnt beat a spectacular team, but when was the last time 8,000 people showed up to the dome?
This win was HUGE, a big win with fans in attendance.
Last Year's regular season finale against NMSU!Quote:
Originally posted by CajunRebel
When was the last time there was a true electric atmosphere there?
That was electric.
I agree with that NMSU game. That was a hell of a game. But I still don't think it compares to last night.
cajun express -- Im sorry, take your time. These posts aren't going anywhere. Baby steps.
One more thing. Why don't they fold down the bleachers behind the student section? There would'nt be much of a problem filling them. The only reason I can see is that they are too lazy to pick up the hockey wall. Is there an "insider" with some "insights" on this?
This is a little dated but interesting
LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE
By The Numbers Marquee Wins Up Next
Overall: 15-6
Sun Belt: 7-1
RPI: No. 84
SOS: No. 157
Marquee Wins
at Miss. State, 79-76
at Charlotte, 68-47
Up Next
Feb. 08: New Orleans (Win 79-75 OT)
Feb. 11: Denver
Forget the NCAAs, the Ragin' Cajuns should be able to crash the Bracket Buster in two weeks. The Sun Belt's best team all year avenged only conference loss with victory over South Alabama -- their 18th straight victory in the Cajundome and fifth straight win overall. Western Kentucky got the preseason nod as team to beat, but injuries have left the Hilltoppers vulnerable even at home in the Sun Belt tournament. The Cajuns lost to WKU in the conference tourney final last year. Michael Southall is playing his best basketball of the season, scoring a career-high 24 against South Alabama, while senior guard Brad Boyd averages over 17 a game.
ESPN Link
<blockquote><p align=justify>Advertiser-Bruce Brown
LAFAYETTE — There are no guarantees.
When Louisiana met the New Orleans Privateers at Lakefront Arena on Jan. 11, the Ragin’ Cajuns figured they’d have Brad Boyd on hand as they tried to rebound from a Jan. 9 road loss at South Alabama.
But coach Jessie Evans’ squad discovered on game day that Boyd had been injured in an automobile accident and would be out of action until he healed.
The Cajuns won 78-71, anyway, and still have yet to lose another Sun Belt Conference contest.
When the Cajuns hosted UNO last Saturday before a season-high 8,121 fans in the Cajundome, they had every reason to expect Boyd would be a big part of protecting a homecourt winning streak that had reached 18 straight games.
They had just dusted off South Alabama 67-60 on Thursday to avenge their lone conference loss, and it was time to keep the momentum going.
This time, Boyd was on the court, but absent from the scoreboard until midway through the second half.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/7AA46836-AE2D-4DE6-9204-E9BAF1EA8FAC.shtml">The rest of the story</a><!--
The Privateers led 52-43 and had the slow pace they wanted when Boyd nailed a 3-point basket for his first points of the night. That hit unleashed a 14-1 surge that electrified the crowd and helped the Cajuns get back on track.
Boyd finished with 15 points, including a 5-of-6 showing at the free throw line in overtime as the Cajuns won their 19th straight with a 79-75 decision over the Privateers.
There are a couple of near-guarantees for this Cajun team, though.
The first is sophomore center Michael Southall, who has emerged as the most feared performer in the Sun Belt Conference with the premature departure by injury of Western Kentucky’s Chris Marcus.
Southall finished the UNO game with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocked shots and 3 steals.
He appeared to have ended the game in regulation with a blocked shot that was called goal tending, then promptly scored 7 of his team’s first 9 points in OT and dished off for the other basket.
The game provided an intriguing matchup with UNO forward Hector Romero, the reigning SBC Player of the Year whose shot Southall blocked at the end of regulation. Romero had 20 points and 10 rebounds, but was pressured into 7 turnovers by the swarming Cajun defense.
“I’m not from here,” Wisconsin product Southall said, “but I know this is a big in-state rivalry. Me and Romero talked during the game, trying to psyche each other out.”
Asked about the block, Southall said, “I tend to agree with the fans. I thought it was a good block, but the win is all I care about.”
The other near-guarantee is that Evans’ Cajuns will play defense and will come at opponents in waves.
If Laurie Bridges fouls out, as he did against UNO, there’s Immanuel Washington to take his place. Sometimes Kenneth Lawrence is the right fit at point guard, at other times it’s Boyd or Antoine Landry.
Then there’s freshman forward Cedric Williams, who showed remarkable composure after picking up his fourth foul with 12:42 left in regulation and still constantly harassing Romero.
Also, foes know senior Anthony Johnson (13 points, 5 rebounds) is capable of taking over a game.
Nothing is guaranteed, but as the Cajuns prepare to host Denver on Tuesday, they look like a team primed to win a Sun Belt title in Bowling Green in March.
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They keep them folded in because of the temporary seats that the pull up right to the baseline. I think that's a better setup because the students are much closer to the court that way.
One more thing. Why don't they fold down the bleachers behind the student section? There would'nt be much of a problem filling them. The only reason I can see is that they are too lazy to pick up the hockey wall. Is there an "insider" with some "insights" on this? [/B][/QUOTE]
Ice Thugs on the death watch, next year we can have those seats removed, add about 200 sideline seats, and in addition pull out the stands for our students.
Jesse thanks for the memories.:) :D :p
Can't wait, that will be great!Quote:
Originally posted by cajun express
Ice Thugs on the death watch, next year we can have those seats removed, add about 200 sideline seats, and in addition pull out the stands for our students.
Yeah, I like how they are closer too. However, if you look at it (and if you removed the wall), you can still fold the bleachers down at least most of the way behind the other temporary ones. I dont know, I don't think thats TOO much to ask is it?Quote:
They keep them folded in because of the temporary seats that the pull up right to the baseline. I think that's a better setup because the students are much closer to the court that way.
<blockquote><p align=justify>Advertiser-Bruce Brown
LAFAYETTE — UL’s Ragin’ Cajun basketball squad will be looking to finish up a highly-successful homestand tonight.
How successful?
If the Cajuns win tonight’s 7:05 p.m. Sun Belt Conference contest against Denver at the Cajundome, they’ll lock up no worse than a number two seed for the postseason league tournament — three weeks in advance.
They’ll also put themselves one win away from possibly locking up the West Division title, something that could happen as early as Saturday when Louisiana travels to meet New Mexico State.
The Cajuns (16-6, 8-1) are comfortably ahead of the rest of the West, with only NMSU (6-4) within shouting distance. The rest of the West all have at least six losses, including the Pioneer squad (12-12, 4-6) that limps into the ‘Dome tonight on a six-game losing streak.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/2D923874-AA65-47E5-8653-8AEE118F911E.shtml">The rest of the story</a><!--
“They’ve had times that they’ve played well,” said Cajun head coach Jessie Evans of the Denver unit. “They started out really well in the conference and they’ve fallen on some hard times since then, but we know they’re going to be a very competitive team.”
The UL Lafayette squad is coming off two more-than-competitive games over the last six days. The Cajuns began the homestand with a 67-60 win over South Alabama, one not decided until the final minute, and then had to go into overtime Saturday before taking a 79-75 overtime win over New Orleans.
Those two wins give the Cajuns a six-game overall win streak and a seven-game Sun Belt streak. The squad has another streak, also, with sophomore center Michael Southall being named the league’s Player of the Week on Monday after teammate Laurie Bridges had claimed the honor one week earlier.
UL Lafayette also has 19 straight home-court wins, the seventh-longest active streak in the country, but Evans said that’s not a motivating factor.
“We don’t talk about that any,” he said, “but it’s odd that the redshirt guys we have on our squad talk about it a lot. They came in at halftime Saturday and got on the guys pretty good, telling them that they didn’t want that streak to end.
“That’s more a testament to how we play at home, and a testament to the fans. They’ve become an active part of our game, and Saturday was a very satisfying win because of the crowd.”
The Cajuns drew a season-high 8,121 fans on Saturday and are averaging almost 6,400 fans per conference home game going into the unusual Tuesday-night contest.
The Pioneers are coming off an 80-68 home loss to Middle Tennessee on Saturday and haven’t won since a Jan. 19 home win over Arkansas-Little Rock. That win gave DU a surprising 4-0 Sun Belt record in a streak that included road wins at both Florida International and North Texas.
Since then, though, the six straight losses include a 95-80 loss to the Cajuns in Denver, a game in which the visitors led by as many as 23 points before the Pioneers cut the margin to seven in the final minute. The Cajuns shot a blistering 68 percent (15-of-22) from the field in the second half of that win.
Denver is led by preseason all-league pick B.J. Pratt (14.5), the third-leading career scorer in DU history. He had a team-high 14 points and six assists in the earlier meeting. Junior center Brett Starkey (11.3), meanwhile, had 11 points and nine boards in that game, and leads the Sun Belt in rebounding with a 10.2 average.
“We tried to concentrate on the guards a little,” Evans said of the first meeting in which UL Lafayette basically started Southall and four guards. “Starkey had some success against us, and he’s going to do that because he’s a very solid player. You have to give Pratt and (Eric) Benzel attention, but you can’t ignore the inside game.”
Southall is looking to wrap up a big homestand, getting 16 points, five boards and six assists against UNO after a 24-point, 16-board effort against South Alabama on the way to the weekly league honors. He also blocked eight shots in the two games — nine, if you count the one he slapped away at the end of regulation Saturday that was ruled a goal-tend and forced overtime.
“That was a big call that didn’t go in our favor,” Evans said, “but we showed a lot of maturity and played extremely well in overtime.”
LAGNIAPPE: Because of time conflicts with baseball, tonight’s basketball game will air on KRKA-FM (107.9) only. UL Lafayette’s baseball game at Northwestern State will air only on KPEL-AM (1420) ... Saturday’s game at New Mexico State is a 9 p.m. (CST) start and will air over the Sun Belt’s ESPN Regional television package, airing on COX 76 on the Lafayette cable ... The Cajuns have never lost to Denver in seven meetings, and all but one game has been a double-digit margin and the average winning margin is 15 points.
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UL’s Michael Southall earns Sun Belt Player of the Week honors.
Does anyone know if this will be broadcast on Cox channel 37 in New Orleans? :confused: