MBB: Wesley and Lafayette Sign

[Cajunfanatico]

Best class in school history would be quite a feat considering the players who have come through the program. Guys like Bo Lamar, Roy Ebron, and Fred Saunders had the program ranked in the Top 10 in the early 70's. Andrew Toney was an NBA All Star and a starter on a team which got the ring. Marty Fletcher had a team which went to two NCAA tourneys and pulled several upsets against name teams. Jessie Evans had teams which went to post season play several times. Some of you younger guys may not care but for an old timer like me I appreciate the way the current staff embraces the tradition of the program and the reunion this weekend is an example of that.

We were ranked No. 4 in the country at one point with that team of Lamar, Ebron, Saunders and Peyton Townsend.

Shipley went up to Ohio to recruit a fellow named Ed Ratliff but Jerry Tarkanian grabbed him first and took him out to Long Beach State. Lamar was a team mate of Ratliff's and Shipley was plenty impressed. Imagine a high school team with Ratliff and Lamar on the same squad. LOL

[HoustonCajun]

We were ranked No. 4 in the country at one point with that team of Lamar, Ebron, Saunders and Peyton Townsend.

Shipley went up to Ohio to recruit a fellow named Ed Ratliff but Jerry Tarkanian grabbed him first and took him out to Long Beach State. Lamar was a team mate of Ratliff's and Shipley was plenty impressed. Imagine a high school team with Ratliff and Lamar on the same squad. LOL

Do you remember the Bayou Classic when USL played Long Beach State at Blackham, Lamar vs. Ratliff; Shipley vs. Tarkanian? USL won. I remember Sports Illustrated there covering the game and the tournament. It was a big thing back then. USL also shared the cover of Sports Illustrated. The article said that USL had the only big man, Roy Ebron, who could play with Bill Walton.

[Cajunsmike]

Do you remember the Bayou Classic when USL played Long Beach State at Blackham, Lamar vs. Ratliff; Shipley vs. Tarkanian? USL won. I remember Sports Illustrated there covering the game and the tournament. It was a big thing back then. USL also shared the cover of Sports Illustrated. The article said that USL had the only big man, Roy Ebron, who could play with Bill Walton.

That was the first Cajuns game I ever attended. We may still have been Bulldogs at that time.

[Cajunfanatico]

Do you remember the Bayou Classic when USL played Long Beach State at Blackham, Lamar vs. Ratliff; Shipley vs. Tarkanian? USL won. I remember Sports Illustrated there covering the game and the tournament. It was a big thing back then. USL also shared the cover of Sports Illustrated. The article said that USL had the only big man, Roy Ebron, who could play with Bill Walton.

You bet!!! My skinny butt was there on that hard-as-rock bleacher for the entire tournament. I was a basketball fanatic.

And speaking of Bill Walton, I recall before we were raped by the refs against Louisville, that Wooten said one team he did not wish to play was the Ragin Cajuns. I never saw any explanation as to why he felt that way, but I do recall the quote. Perhaps he felt we matched up too well with them. Had we gotten past Louisville, UCLA was next up. Oh what could have been.

[Cajunfanatico]

And to those who say today that basketball in the South just doesn't matter to fans, I believe you fail to understand just how popular the sport can be........a team just needs to play at the next level, that's all. Not easy, but that's the key. That next level. Get there and Cajun fans would come out of the woodworks.

[Duggie35]

Do you remember the Bayou Classic when USL played Long Beach State at Blackham, Lamar vs. Ratliff; Shipley vs. Tarkanian? USL won. I remember Sports Illustrated there covering the game and the tournament. It was a big thing back then. USL also shared the cover of Sports Illustrated. The article said that USL had the only big man, Roy Ebron, who could play with Bill Walton.

I was there also. I'm not sure those days can ever be duplicated. I also still own copies of both those Sports Illustrated issues.

[CajunAmos]

Do you remember the Bayou Classic when USL played Long Beach State at Blackham, Lamar vs. Ratliff; Shipley vs. Tarkanian? USL won. I remember Sports Illustrated there covering the game and the tournament. It was a big thing back then. USL also shared the cover of Sports Illustrated. The article said that USL had the only big man, Roy Ebron, who could play with Bill Walton.

[ZoomZoom]

Cajuns just need to find the right dealer. One that can steer the ball. Dion might be able to guide him to the right spot

FWIW, the mothership says down to Cal or AZ.

[HoustonCajun]

I often wonder where UL basketball would be today if we hadn't fought the NCAA and taken penalties back then instead of filing the injunction allowing us to play in the NCAA Tournament which led to the 2 year suspension of our program. We had High School All Americans on our team and were loaded.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Yes, but the university failure to embrace sports in a real meaningful way hurt more. Double whammy. Death penalty, and going into a shell.

[HoustonCajun]

Yes, but the university failure to embrace sports in a real meaningful way hurt more. Double whammy. Death penalty, and going into a shell.

Dr. A killed athletics back then, so may not have mattered much.

[ManAboutTown]

I do not buy that “southern basketball is dead” narrative. Lafayette is desperate for something special. If the basketball team would win at a special clip, the town would be rabid.

It’s also another example of why we CANT do something as opposed to setting the tone and being unique. We CAN do something special in basketball here.