The Book: Lady Cajuns 2006-07 basketball

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AUSTIN, Texas - Jeanenne Colbert wasn't overwhelmed by the banners, the television cameras or the news conferences that accompanied UL's first day of NCAA tournament activities Friday. "All of that sunk in the day we saw our name on TV," Colbert said. "Since then, we've been getting ready for Marquette." The time for preparation ends at 1:30 p.m. today when the Ragin' Cajuns take on Marquette in the first round of the NCAA women's basketball championships at the Frank Erwin Center on the University of Texas campus. The 11th-seeded Cajuns (25-8) are making their first NCAA appearance - and their first postseason outing, period - in today's second game. Marquette (25-6), the No. 6 seed, is in its eighth NCAA Tournament but its first since 2004. "Our seniors are the only ones that have been here before," said Marquette coach Terri Mitchell. "For the rest of them, it's new, too. We were brand-new here all those years ago. You have to recognize that once you get here, everybody's hungry." Hunger may not be as much an issue as nervousness, but Cajun co-head coach J. Kelley Hall said he doesn't expect any problems in that area despite the new surroundings and circumstances. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

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And now for something completely different. Prior to Monday night, when UL's Ragin' Cajun women reached the NCAA Basketball Tournament for the first time in school history, the best thing to happen to the program was Kim Perrot leading the nation in scoring in 1990. Any previous spotlight featured individuals - and for good reason. The Cajuns were a combined 44-226 in the 1990s, and before J. Kelley Hall's arrival in 2002 the school had enjoyed just three winning seasons since the program became official in 1971. Today's first-round game against Marquette is UL's first postseason appearance of any kind. "I'm excited for the girls and for the institution," said Abbeville High girls basketball coach Rhonda McCullough, UL's career 3-point leader with 260 from 1987-90. "Coach Hall and his wife (co-head coach Meredith) are a great example that with perseverance and hard work, if you set goals and work hard every day, good things happen to you. The rest of the story Bruce Brown bbrown@theadvertiser.com

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Women at UL began playing basketball in 1904 1902, long before men on campus started playing hoops in 1911. Now, UL's women's team is making its first trip to the NCAA basketball championships. Today, the Lady Cajuns play Marquette in the first round of the tournament. When Title IX legislation was created in 1972 to prohibited sex discrimination at educational institutions that received federal funding, UL's women's team had little money for out-of-town trips. Earlier this week, as the women's team was loading up a bus to travel to Austin for the game, UL assistant athletic director, Sherry LeBas recalled how far the program and all women's sports have come since Title IX. LeBas was a student on campus in the late 60s and began working in the athletic department in 1973. LeBas is the senior administrator over the women's athletic programs. "When I was a student here the women's basketball team drove their own cars to games and they were funded through the recreation department," LeBas said. "It's amazing how much things have changed and amazing to see where they are now. This is a big step for us." The rest of the story Marsha Sills msills@theadvertiser.com

For more information on the very early history of Lady Cajun basketball, click this LINK

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AUSTIN, Texas — What’s not to like if you’re University of Louisiana at Lafayette co-head coach J. Kelley Hall? His Ragin’ Cajuns program debuts in the NCAA tournament as a No. 11 seed against a team from the Big East — the conference that has produced the most tournament teams. “I think any time you can go hunt and not be hunted, that’s the spot to be in,” Hall said. “I’m very grateful to the (NCAA selection) committee we got an 11th seed because it could have been worse. I like where we’re sitting.” For the first time in the 36-year history of the program, ULL will play in the NCAA tournament when the Ragin’ Cajuns (25-8) meet sixth-seeded Marquette (25-6) at about 1:30 p.m. today in the University of Texas’ Frank Erwin Center. “We have to go and take care of business,” UL-Lafayette senior forward Yolanda Jones said. “We’re here to lay it all on the line.” The rest of the story By WILLIAM WEATHERS Advocate sportswriter

[zxyCajun]

Read my post on orientation and you will know where the love is. It is in sealed bottle on the back of the top shelf with no finger prints.

[Turbine]

Got to listen to Stevie P call the game and got to record the 2nd half.

I know it got ugly early with the fouls and all, it really took coach Hall out of his coaching plan. However I just want to say how proud I am of their season.

[gsibille]

Proud is the word. While the anguish really showed on the faces of the women, especially Yolanda Jones, this team has a legacy that supercedes one off game. I don't know the last time I've seen so much heart and determination displayed. Congratulations to coaches and players. It's been uplifting to watch you play this season.

[Zeebart21]

Proud is the word. While the anguish really showed on the faces of the women, especially Yolanda Jones, this team has a legacy that supercedes one off game. I don't know the last time I've seen so much heart and determination displayed. Congratulations to coaches and players. It's been uplifting to watch you play this season.

Absolutely! An amazing year for the Ladies. Looking forward to doing it again next year!

Z.

[CajunCharlie]

[/B]

Absolutely! An amazing year for the Ladies. Looking forward to doing it again next year!

Z.

These young Ladies can be proud of their accomplishments. They will always know that it was they who helped turn the direction of the program. What is there not to be proud of?

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AUSTIN, Texas - The frustration was obvious to all who watched, and thanks to ESPN a lot of viewers got to see UL's anguish in a big way. The Cajuns were halfway through what turned into an 87-58 loss to Marquette in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championships, and the "All Access" cameras saw tempers nearly boil over. Specifically, they saw Cajun senior guard Jeanenne Colbert vehemently letting her teammates know what she thought of UL's first-half performance. "It got heated at the half," said guard Onna Charles. "We were trying to motivate each other, trying to do it in a positive way." What was positive is that Colbert was positively angry, although her comments - not aired since the locker room scenes were video only - were intended to be supportive. She did, though, address many of her teammates by name. "I didn't want to go home," said a still-upset Colbert after the game. "I wanted our team to realize that we belonged here, and we needed to start playing like we're capable of. I didn't want to go down without at least a fight." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com