LOUISIANA La. – All of the preseason talk has centered on who’s not eligible, not available and not around for the start of Louisiana's basketball season.

Three returnees – regulars Michael Southall and Cedric Williams and backup Chris Williams – are sidelined with academic difficulties and won’t play until early December at the earliest. Ditto for Florida transfer Orien Greene, who sat out all last season.

Auburn transfer Dwayne Mitchell doesn’t have the academic woes, but his year of residency to regain eligibility also has him sitting out for the handful of games the Ragin’ Cajuns will play prior to the end of the fall term.

It leaves the Cajun squad short on depth heading into Tuesday’s nationally-televised season opener at Georgia Tech in the first round of the Owens Corning Preseason NIT Tournament.

Would the Cajuns be a better team and a better bet against the Yellow Jackets if that quintet was available? Without question.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com