Cajuns Return Home Looking to Get on Track
Louisiana basketball returns to the friendly confines of the Cajundome to face Nicholls on Saturday. The Ragin' Cajuns look to get on track after going 0-3 at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam.
Christian Wright leads the Louisiana offense at 12.1 points per game. The senior poured in a career-high 21 points in the Paradise Jam opener against Liberty. Mostapha El Moutaouakkil has had a strong stretch as well, scoring 19 points in back-to-back contests and is up to 11.6 points per game on the season.
Louisiana has been one of the country's best at forcing turnovers in the season's first month. The Cajuns are second in the Sun Belt Conference, forcing 14.6 turnovers per game, and are second in the league in turnover margin (2.9). Only twice this season have the Cajuns lost the turnover battle.
Nicholls is coming off a 79-35 win over Mississippi College. The Colonels, picked third in the Southland and one of two schools to receive a first-place vote in the league's preseason poll, are 3-4 on the season. Facing SBC opponents, the Colonels have just two wins in their last 10 including a triple-overtime victory over South Alabama last season.
MEDIA CENTER
Story Lines
• Louisiana looks to avoid their first 1-7 start since the 2010-11 season, the team's first under Bob Marlin.
• Christian Wright led the Cajuns at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam offensively. The senior averaged 16.3 points per game including a career-high 21 in the opening round against Liberty. Mostapha El Moutaouakkil had a strong event as well, averaging 15.3 points and scoring 19 in back-to-back games. Kyran Ratliff also averaged double figures for the event at 10.3 points and twice set a career-high for scoring.
• Louisiana had its best offensive performance of the year on Monday. They scored their most points in a game (86), shot their highest FG percentage (.516), and had a season-high in assists (19).
• Five of Louisiana's eight opponents, including Nicholls, either finished in the top three in their conference's preseason poll or received a first-place vote in their league.
• The Ragin' Cajuns are 30-6 against Southland Conference opponents under head coach Bob Marlin. Louisiana has won 24 of the last 25 against the league dating back to 2015.
• Louisiana is second in the Sun Belt Conference in turnovers forced (14.6) and turnover margin (2.9) per game.
• The Ragin' Cajuns and Colonels face each other for the first time since 2017, a 105-80 victory for the Cajuns. Louisiana has won five straight in the series and scored over 100 points in three of the five contests.
GAME 8 PREVIEW – Louisiana (1-6) vs. Nicholls (3-4)
Date/Time: November 22, 2024 / 2 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, Louisiana
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)
Tickets
RADIO/TV
TV: ESPN+
??Talent: Dan McDonald (pxp), Eric Mouton (analyst)
Radio: KPEL-FM 96.5 / The Varsity Network
Talent: Jay Walker (pxp)
LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: Cajunstats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB | #GeauxCajuns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Louisiana leads, 24-3
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 15-2
In Thibodaux: Louisiana leads, 9-1
Streak: Louisiana +5
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