Louisiana Men’s Basketball to Face Arkansas State Thursday in Sun Belt Confer

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana Men's Basketball returns to the Cajundome following a 29-day absence to face Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Conference home opener at 7 p.m. Thursday. The game will be available to be streamed live on ESPN+.

Last week Louisiana earned a pair of wins in the conference opening weekend with victories over App State and Coastal Carolina. Bob Marlin's squad was shorthanded with only nine players active due to Covid-19 protocols, but were able to secure key performances from a couple of reserves to remain effective and earn the perfect start.

On Saturday, redshirt freshman Kobe Julien buried a game-winning 3-pointer with 5.8 seconds left to give the Ragin' Cajuns a thrilling 65-64 victory over the Chanticleers.

Sophomore guard Durey Cadwell saw extended minutes for the first time in his career and capitalized on the opportunity as he averaged 7.0 points and 4.5 rebounds on the road trip.

Freshman guard Ty Harper scored 12 points in a season-high 27 minutes against the Mountaineers. Harper was an efficient 4-4 from the floor and added three assists and two rebounds to aid the opening victory.

Theo Akwuba returned to the lineup last week following a four-game injury absence. Akwuba ranks fourth in the conference in rebounds per game while his frontcourt pair Jordan Brown is third in the Sun Belt with 8.8 boards per game.

The dynamic duo has Louisiana ranked second in the league with 41.5 rebounds per game.

The Ragin' Cajuns have displayed an up-tempo style of offense this season and are 21st in the nation with 73.0 possessions per 40 minutes according to KenPom.

Since the 2013-14 season, Louisiana has scored 80+ points 130 times which ranks ninth in the country during the span.

SERIES NOTES
Thursday will mark the 84th all-time meeting between the two programs as Louisiana leads the all-time series 56-28. The teams split their four matchups a season ago with each side earning two wins at home.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: ARKANSAS STATE
Arkansas State enters Thursday at 10-3 on the season and is 1-0 in conference play following a 74-56 victory over Georgia Southern on Saturday. The Red Wolves are led by Preseason Player of the Year Norchad Omier who is averaging 15.1 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game. The freshman forward is the only player in the conference and one of just 15 nationally that is averaging a double-double this season.

TRIPLE THREAT
Freshman guard Kentrell Garnett has torched opponents behind the arc this season, the second-year walk-on is second in the nation in 3-point percentage at 53.1% and ranks third in the Sun Belt with 2.6 makes per game.

PLAYER TO WATCH: DUREY CADWELL
Only playing a combined 24 minutes in the opening 10 games of the season, sophomore Durey Cadwell stepped into the spotlight during Louisiana's opening conference weekend and delivered. Cadwell averaged 7.0 points and 4.5 rebounds during the two-game road trip.

LOUISIANA LEGACY
Louisiana's 2021-22 roster features two second-generation talents in Julien and Brown. Julien's father Wayne was with the program from 1976-81 and was a member of 1977 Southland Conference championship team.

Dion Brown lettered for the Ragin' Cajuns from 1980-84 and finished his career as one of the top scorers and rebounders in school history. Brown, a 1984 graduate of UL, earned All-Southland Conference honors in 1982 and was a two-time All-Louisiana selection.

He finished his career with 1,412 points and 926 rebounds (then second in school history) and helped Louisiana to the championship of the 1982 Great Alaskan Shootout where he was named to the All-Tournament team.

The conference contest will tipoff at 7 p.m. and is available to be live streamed on ESPN+

Louisiana Athletics
RaginCajuns.com
PRESS RELEASE

[ZoomZoom]

Love that email today…basically self social distancing for MBB and if someone is in your seat, don’t ask people to move.

This could be fun…last year people got forced from 8 rows off court to nose bleed in a corner. Don’t think much compliance will happen.

[Scott Malkinson]

Love that email today…basically self social distancing for MBB and if someone is in your seat, don’t ask people to move.

This could be fun…last year people got forced from 8 rows off court to nose bleed in a corner. Don’t think much compliance will happen.

Probably only 10,500 open seats

[Cajunsmike]

Love that email today…basically self social distancing for MBB and if someone is in your seat, don’t ask people to move.

This could be fun…last year people got forced from 8 rows off court to nose bleed in a corner. Don’t think much compliance will happen.

I looked at the email to season ticket holders. The way I understand it is you can CHOOSE to move to a socially distanced section. You are not required to move from your normal seats. Masks are also encouraged but not required.

[chiefsfan]

We'll have one player out this week due to an "illness" that has been going through the basketball team of late. We're not clarifying what kind of "illness" it is. He missed the Southern game as well. Its not a starter.

Omier is still dominant, but his minutes are down this year because he's struggled to stay out of foul trouble. (We forget its his 3rd year of organized basketball) Picked up Desi Sills from Arkansas in the portal and he's transformed our defense from being below average to above average. That defense has largely been what has won us games if Omier is on the bench a lot.

We are not a particularly good shooting team, so we usually don't blow teams out. Very good from the free throw line though.

[ZoomZoom]

I looked at the email to season ticket holders. The way I understand it is you can CHOOSE to move to a socially distanced section. You are not required to move from your normal seats. Masks are also encouraged but not required.

I usually have to move folks out my seats. Way I’m reading it is I relocate.

[Boomer]

….What time is the game tonight?

[zeppelincajun]

https://ragincajuns.com/

[Boomer]

https://ragincajuns.com/

….So what time is the game?

[Million$Mullet]

….So what time is the game?

Lol

5 pacific

[RaginDave]

Lol

5 pacific

I think that is 4 Alaskan time right?

[ULvictory]

2 PM Hawaii time