Sun Belt play rises

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This is the perfect place for Louisiana to begin defense of a Sun Belt Conference Western Division championship.

The Denver Pioneers knocked the Ragin’ Cajuns out of last year’s conference tournament and are an impressive 8-4 this season heading into today’s 5 p.m. (Central time) contest at the 2,500-seat Hamilton Gym.

If coach Jessie Evans’ 5-4 Cajuns can win today, they will return to Lafayette with considerable momentum for a three-game homestand against divisional foes South Alabama, New Orleans and New Mexico State.

But, if the Cajuns are going to get an inside track to their third straight West crown, they’ll need to step up their inside game.

Currently, the Cajuns are getting out-rebounded 36.7-33.2 per game. They beat Houston on the boards 34-30 in an 81-67 win at the Cajundome on Jan. 3 in their last action, but need to improve in the paint today.

“Denver has great size on the inside,” Evans said. “They beat Wyoming on the glass Tuesday night in that (63-62) win. Brett Starkey is one of the top inside players in the conference.”

The 6-foot-9, 260-pound Starkey, who postponed medical school for one more year with the Pioneers of coach Terry Carroll, averages 13.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game for Denver.

He had his third double-double of the campaign against Wyoming with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Joining Starkey on the front line are 6-foot-8 senior Carvell McAlister (7.4 ppg, 3.6 rebounds) and 6-foot-8 senior Zeljko Zupic (9.8 ppg, 7.3 rebounds).

Denver boasts a size advantage over the Cajuns, who run a three-guard attack with just 6-foot-11 sophomore Chris Cameron (7.2, 4.6) and 6-foot-6 junior Brian Hamilton (10.3, 6.9) listed on the front line. Six-foot-seven Cedric Williams (10.3, 5.0) is first off the bench underneath.

The Cajuns do have an advantage outside, though, led by the senior trio of Antoine Landry (14.4 ppg), Brad Boyd (13.6) and Laurie Bridges (12.2).

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

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Ragin' Cajuns open Sun Belt play today at Denver

LOUISIANA la. -- Antoine Landry doesn't act like someone who's waited three years to become a starting college point guard.

Since his first game this season, Landry stepped in and has run the University of Louisiana at Lafayette offense with the precision of a veteran.

"I'm now getting used to the pressure of being a starter," Landry said. "The only way you adapt to a situation like that is by playing and the amount of minutes I've been getting are part of that."

Landry will be one of ULL's key factors at 5 p.m. today when the Cajuns open Sun Belt Conference play at Denver University's Hamilton Gymnasium.

Landry is more sure of himself because of his experience.

"My confidence level has been going up, because I've done a better job of producing," said Landry.

Landry scored a career-high 26 points last Saturday when the Cajuns defeated the University of Houston (81-67).

With the win the Cajuns improved to 5-4.

Landry said ULL's win over Houston helped raise the team's confidence level.

"It was a very big win," he said. Houston came in (to the Cajundome) after a big win against LSU.

"We've played a lot of big games on the road this season, so winning one like we did at home did a lot for us."

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By BOBBY ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate