First Basketball Game

[Cajunsmike]

I wasn't around for the Lamar days. My first game was probably the first or second year after the program was reinstated. I remember Ted Lyles and Calvin Crews. Went to more games during the Toney years and even more with Graylin and Dion, et. al. My biggest recollections were games vs. Lamar and Tech and, of course, the run to New York in the NIT. That might be the loudest I've ever heard Blackham. I started doing the TV broadcasts the following year.

1984 NIT second round game against Weber State was sold out and extremely loud as Jay indicated. Game went into OT and was a sweet win as we had lost a close controversial game at Weber earlier.

[fanof71]

Lamar, Ebron, Saunders from the 70's team were guys that people today cannot envision how good they were. I would add Toney of course and Elfrid. All of those guys played pro ball and Elfrid is now in his 7th season of pro ball. If you think that is too many guards, move Dan Gay in place of Elfrid. Dan played pro ball in top European leagues well into his 40's. Both Toney and Lamar were versatile enough players to play either the point guard spot or at the 2. Couple of other favorite players were Graylin Warner and Byron Starks. A guy that may surprise you on my favorites is Bryant Mbamalu. He was a nobody when he arrived and became a leader of an NCAA team simply through work. More recently, I would have Frank Bartley on my list. Was an afterthought at BYU and became Louisiana player of the year here. Now he is one of the top European players and won player of the year in Spain last season. Yes, I have seen some great players through the years.

Agree with all of these, almost think about a 2-deep team. Michael Allen needs to be mentioned too, he was an assassin...

[CajunEXPRESS]

I wasn't around for the Lamar days. My first game was probably the first or second year after the program was reinstated. I remember Ted Lyles and Calvin Crews. Went to more games during the Toney years and even more with Graylin and Dion, et. al. My biggest recollections were games vs. Lamar and Tech and, of course, the run to New York in the NIT. That might be the loudest I've ever heard Blackham. I started doing the TV broadcasts the following year.

My first game was between semesters. Lamar sophomore year. I was looking for something to do, and my friend suggested I go to a game.

[JayWalker]

Agree with all of these, almost think about a 2-deep team. Michael Allen needs to be mentioned too, he was an assassin...

In the last two minutes of the game, Michael Allen was as good as I've ever seen.

[ZoomZoom]

A few of us when we were in high school got in to a game @ '72. Don't remember the opponent, but I was hooked.

First entire game was the first one back off the death penalty (beat Samford). Only missed one game in Blackham after that...2/09/80...Glen Duhon got double T'ed and tossed that night; I missed the game for a family commitment. He was so easily distracted.

Honestly miss the place...roof leaks, nail searches (Bobby and Tubbs), watching for our defense steer opponents to the dead spots on the court deck, the banter with the visiting team (never would be allowed today). A true hell hole, but it was ours.

[Peek a boo]

starting 5 all time- Andrew Toney, Elfrid Payton, Roy Ebron, Bo Lamar, Graylin Warner

I wish we still played in Blackham Refurbished, we will never have that home court advantage in the Cajun Dome

[CajunAmos]

starting 5 all time- Andrew Toney, Elfrid Payton, Roy Ebron, Bo Lamar, Graylin Warner

I wish we still played in Blackham Refurbished, we will never have that home court advantage in the Cajun Dome

No Fred Saunders, or maybe Elvin Ivory?

[fanof71]

Like I said, need an all time 2 deep team, a top 10..

[Policarp]

very young age.....Watched my neighbor and faux cousin Edwin "sparerib" Lawrence vs USL. An amazing experience at Blackham. Dad always called Edwin "sparerib" as when he was growing up as a kid, long and lean you could see his ribs. Funny site to see a 7+ ft guy standing up on an old Minneapolis Moline plowing a field. When standing steering wheel was near his knees.

Can still remember the excitement buzz the day when Coach Shipley was out on the rice field levees looking for Edwin's dad. Same for LSU's Coach Brown.

[Duggie35]

Someone asked me what is the first Cajuns Basketball Game I ever attended. My first one was on December 11 of 1971. It was the finals of the Basketball Bayou Classic. We were actually still the USL Bulldogs at the time. Story of that game is shown below from the Sports Illustrated archives. The article gives you a sense of how special basketball was here at that time. Hooked me for life. Of course you were lucky to see 20 college games a year on TV in those days so going to the games was an event.

https://vault.si.com/vault/1971/12/2...-cajun-country

Anyone else remember their first game ? If so, what do you recall about it?

Mike, I still have a copy of that Sports Illustrated! I started going to watch USL Basketball in 1970-71 when I was still in high school. The battles against LA Tech with Coach Scotty Robertson with Mike Green, Glen Duhon and his McNeese teams with Edmond Lawrence and the Lamar teams led by Billy Tubbs were epic. Watching Bo Lamar drop 30, 40 points a night was unbelievable, and Ebron, Freddie Saunders, "Tree" Loftin, Payton Townsend and the rest of the crew were also special. After the Cajuns came off of probation and the program was reinstated, I remember Ted Lyles was the first to commit to Coach Hatfield and the program quickly got back on track, especially when Andrew Tony arrived. USL Basketball in the 70's and 80's was special.

Because there was no shot clock or 3 point shot, it seems like the game was much "prettier" to watch back then. Not as much one-on-one and more of a team game IMHO.

Thanks for bringing up those memories.

[ZoomZoom]

Mike, I still have a copy of that Sports Illustrated! I started going to watch USL Basketball in 1970-71 when I was still in high school. The battles against LA Tech with Coach Scotty Robertson with Mike Green, Glen Duhon and his McNeese teams with Edmond Lawrence and the Lamar teams led by Billy Tubbs were epic. Watching Bo Lamar drop 30, 40 points a night was unbelievable, and Ebron, Freddie Saunders, "Tree" Loftin, Payton Townsend and the rest of the crew were also special. After the Cajuns came off of probation and the program was reinstated, I remember Ted Lyles was the first to commit to Coach Hatfield and the program quickly got back on track, especially when Andrew Tony arrived. USL Basketball in the 70's and 80's was special.

Because there was no shot clock or 3 point shot, it seems like the game was much "prettier" to watch back then. Not as much one-on-one and more of a team game IMHO.

Thanks for bringing up those memories.

Clear out basketball didn’t exist, was a much more team sport which allowed a player to flourish without turning his teammates into pawns. Can you imagine Alonzo, George or Fig being allowed to call a clear out back then...think they would of found the bench in a hurry. We've had some guys that could throw it down thru the years, but those guys were special.

I won't get on the ESPN killed non P-5 soapbox, but it was great to be nationally known in basketball. Kind of like baseball a few years back. We're still known in baseball, just not in the way we were 5-10 years ago.

[IHateLaState]

Lamar, Ebron, Saunders from the 70's team were guys that people today cannot envision how good they were.

I try to explain to my kids about how good those teams were but it is really hard to put into context. I have an article from in SI where they said one of the ONLY teams with a chance to beat UCLA (in those days NOBODY beat UCLA) was "tiny South West Louisiana" and they talked about Lamar etal.

I started going to games in the late 60's on campus but I remember best the 1971 - 1973 teams ( i was in high school then and we would show up at Blackham around 3 to make sure we would get in) as the most entertaining basketball I have ever seen. The finals of the Bayou Classic were.... well Classic.

If the 3 point line was in place Bo would probably still be the highest scorer in NCAA history. If I recall correctly there was no shot clock and that was why we lost in Houston in 1973 (Kansas/Kansas St ??) No racial intents here but they had a bunch of technically sound white boys who just passed and passed the ball after walking down the court. Our guys wanted to run

Great memories