Four-Game Homestand Begins Saturday for Ragin' Cajuns

[NewsCopy]

  Up first Louisiana College (2-5) 7:05pm

● Louisiana opens a four-game homestand on Saturday, Dec. 13 by hosting Louisiana College at 7:05 p.m., in the CAJUNDOME. It’s the first of four games over eight nights.

● The Ragin’ Cajuns and Wildcats meet for the 129th time in school history, but only the ninth time since the 1967-68 season. This is the first time UL has met LC under head coach Robert Lee.

● Louisiana took time off this week for Fall Semester 2008 final exams which ran Monday, Dec. 8-Friday, Dec. 12. Tonight’s game is the first since last Sunday’s contest at Alabama and only the fourth game in the past 22 days.

● The Cajuns are beginning a stretch where they finish the month of December with six games over 18 days (Dec. 13-31).

● Louisiana is on a two-game winning streak in the CAJUNDOME.

● The Ragin’ Cajuns could possibly welcome two players to the rotation. Emmanuel Adeife and Lamar Roberson, mid-semester transfers last season, will have their eligibility status determined once grades for Fall 2008 final exams are posted.

● This is Louisiana’s final tuneup before Sun Belt play begins. The Cajuns open SBC play on Monday, Dec. 15 vs. ULM and host North Texas on Thursday, Dec. 18.

● Game has a “Louisiana” feel: both teams have 13 Louisiana natives on their roster.

MID-DECEMBER HOMESTAND IS HERE
● The Ragin’ Cajuns will enjoy their longest homestand of the season beginning with the Louisiana College game. From Dec. 13-21 – a span of eight days – Louisiana will host four games in the CAJUNDOME.

● During the homestand, UL opens Sun Belt play on Dec. 15 vs. ULM and plays a second league game on Dec. 18 vs. North Texas.

● The Cajuns are currently on a two-game winning streak in the CAJUNDOME.

SUN BELT PLAY IS ON DECK
● The next time Louisiana takes the court in the CAJUNDOME it will be for a Sun Belt Conference game. The Cajuns host ULM on Monday, Dec. 15 for the SBC opener.

● UL is in its 18th season of competition in the Sun Belt Conference. The Cajuns’ all-time Sun Belt record is 149-104.

● The Cajuns meet the Warhawks in the SBC opener for the second straight season.

● Louisiana is 12-5 in Sun Belt openers. Last season, UL clipped ULM 68-67 in Monroe to end a three-game losing streak in SBC openers.

ALABAMA LEFTOVERS
● Louisiana had its two-game win streak snapped and lost its eighth straight game to an SEC opponent.

● The Cajuns played in Coleman Coliseum for the first time. It was the first meeting between the two schools since December 1962.

● The Ragin’ Cajuns shot a season-low 25.5 percent (14-of-55). The Cajuns performance at the free throw line was also a season-low, 11-of-23 (47.8 percent).

● Travis Bureau reclaimed his spot as the leading scorer – the fourth time this season he’s led the Cajuns. Bureau scored 16 points.

● Colby Batiste played solid defensively. He tied La’Ryan Gary for the team-lead with eight rebounds and posted a season-best four blocks.

● Travis Bureau connected on three 3-pointers. He has now made at least three treys in every game this season.

● Chris Gradnigo competed in his second game of the season. He made a pair of triples in the first half and finished with 10 points.

● Jeremy Barr was plagued by foul trouble. He fouled out in only 10 minutes of action.

THE OFFENSE EXPLODES AGAINST LOUISIANA COLLEGE
● Louisiana has scored at least 96 points in the past five meetings with Louisiana College in the CAJUNDOME and 100-plus in the last two. The Cajuns are averaging 102.6 points in the last five meetings with LC.

● The last time at UL team scored 100-plus? Jan. 29, 2004 @ Western Ky. (W, 110-102).

LAST TIME VS. LOUISIANA COLLEGE (Dec. 11, 2002 in Lafayette – UL won 117-57)
● The Cajuns posted the largest margin of victory in the history of the Cajundome as they cruised to a 117-57 victory.

● A total of 11 Cajuns scored with six reaching double-digits. Laurie Bridges led all Cajuns with a career-high 18 points.

● UL shot 54.3 percent for the game (44-of-81), outrebounded an outmanned Louisiana College 52-20, including 25-5 on the offensive glass, and forced 29 turnovers.

● UL used a 16-0 run to erase an early 2-0 deficit. The Wildcats never threatened from that point on and the lead continued to grow as the half went along, reaching as much as 41 points. The Cajuns led 64-24 at halftime.

● UL outscored LC 53-33 in the second frame and saw its lead grow to as many 64.

SERIES HISTORY (LOUISIANA LEADS 82-46)
● The series dates back to the early stages of the Cajuns basketball program. Louisiana College was a regular on the schedule up until the 1967-68 season. Since then, the schools have met only eight times.

● Saturday’s game marks the seventh trip to the CAJUNDOME for Louisiana College. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 6-0 vs. the Wildcats in the facility.

● The Cajuns have won the last 16 meetings. The Wildcats last win came on Feb. 4, 1963, a 70-61 decision in Pineville.

● This is the first meeting in the Robert Lee Era. The last meeting took place on Dec. 11, 2002, with the Cajuns blasting LC 117-57. UL average margin of victory in the CAJUNDOME is 33 pts.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
It's time for Sun Belt Conference basketball! The Ragin' Cajuns host in-state foe ULM on Monday, Dec.15 in the CAJUNDOME at 7:05 p.m., in the SBC opener for both squads. This is the second straight season that UL faces ULM in the Sun Belt opener.

The Cajuns begin Sun Belt play at home for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

RaginCajuns.com

[RaginFan]

I am looking forward to the upcoming home games.

I think that the Cajuns will play well and turn their young season around. I hope that Coach Lee can put in the effort necessary to lead this team into some postseason action.

I will put aside my emotions for the time and....

[Cajunsmike]

Should be an easy win against LA college... i can remeber in the 02-03 season we beat them 117-57, total blowout... The bunny got two back to back lobs off the backboard that game... "the bunny" AKA Anthony Johnson, for some of you who may not know who i was reffering to... Another good UL team that year loaded with talent, and what happens, we lose the last three games of the year... I wish we would have played better basketball then as well.. We had a lot of headcases from time to time that year... From the players and the coaches..

I hope we sweep these next four home games that would be nice, good needed wins and a good start in conference...

What is needed is for the two transfers to be eligible starting tomorrow night. They can then use that game as a warmup for Monday's conference opener.

[RaginFan]

What is the protocol for teachers and/or the university in posting the athlete's grades? Is it up to when the teacher get to it or is there a set date?

[reddot]

_ What is needed is for the two transfers to be eligible starting tomorrow night. They can then use that game as a warmup for Monday's conference opener. _

I love this time of the year .....the wonder....the possibilities..

I find myself wondering who is possibly playing the next game or maybe the next...or the one after that.....is he a junior or a senior.....two years to play or just a half....I wonder

just poking fun...tis the season

[Big Buds]

_ Should be an easy win against LA college... i can remeber in the 02-03 season we beat them 117-57, total blowout... The bunny got two back to back lobs off the backboard that game... "the bunny" AKA Anthony Johnson, for some of you who may not know who i was reffering to... Another good UL team that year loaded with talent, and what happens, we lose the last three games of the year... I wish we would have played better basketball then as well.. We had a lot of headcases from time to time that year... From the players and the coaches..

I hope we sweep these next four home games that would be nice, good needed wins and a good start in conference... _

No doubt about it Anthony Johnson could get up........good times bro. I think (hope) more is to come, we just need this team at 100%. If we can come out strong in conference and get the ball rolling early, I truly think Feb & March will be alot of fun......who knows?

[Cajunsmike]

I love this time of the year .....the wonder....the possibilities..

I find myself wondering who is possibly playing the next game or maybe the next...or the one after that.....is he a junior or a senior.....two years to play or just a half....I wonder

just poking fun...tis the season

I know you are just kidding about wondering about who will play and when. One thing I don't wonder about is that the team is limited in how far they can go without more talent on the floor. I, like you and others, am wondering about how much of an impact they will make.

[RaginFan2]

_ What is the protocol for teachers and/or the university in posting the athlete's grades? Is it up to when the teacher get to it or is there a set date? _

Not sure about athletes, but the deadline for posting grades (according to ULink) is 8pm Monday. My son only has 2 grades posted so far. Of course, he had 3 finals on Friday, so that takes a little longer for the profs to review and post the grades. Glad to see the 2 basketball guys get theirs posted quickly enough to get a chance to play last night.