Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a sport-by-sport series looking at how a conference shift to the WAC would affect Louisiana's athletic department. Today: Basketball. Thursday: Other programs.

LOUISIANA La. – Jessie Evans has coached in the Western Athletic Conference, but openly says that the WAC as it currently stands isn’t the WAC he coached in.

That’s why the Ragin’ Cajun men’s basketball coach isn’t so sure that any rumored shift for the UL program into that league is a good idea.

“I like the Sun Belt,” Evans said, “and I think in its good years the Sun Belt is top to bottom just as strong as the WAC. And I know it’s as strong as a WAC without Tulsa, Rice and SMU.”

Those three teams are headed for Conference USA effective in the summer of 2005, leading to speculation of expansion and/or reorganization for both the WAC and the Sun Belt.

J. Kelley Hall’s heard all the speculation, and the Cajun women’s basketball coach is ready for it all to be over with.

“This all comes at the worst possible time, right here at the end of recruiting,” Hall said. “I know teams in some other leagues like the Southland are using it against us and saying our league’s not stable. I know it’s already cost us one kid.”

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com