Coach Robert Lee changes scheduling {i-camera}

[NewsCopy]

New coach unveils a different approach

LOUISIANA La. — The first evidences of a change in the University of Louisiana men’s basketball head coaching office are already being noticed.

One year after playing two fewer games than allowed, new Ragin’ Cajun head coach Robert Lee confirmed on Thursday a full 27-game schedule that now includes just one non-Division I opponent.

And if Lee gets his way in the near future, there will be no non-Division I foes on the Cajuns’ 2004-05 schedule.

The most recent development is that reigning Missouri Valley Conference champion Southern Illinois will visit the Cajundome on Jan. 5 instead of hosting Division II Delta State.

“It just happened on Monday,’’ Lee said. “(UL assistant) coach (Bill) Pope talked to Southern Illinois, which also has a new coach. Southern Illinois just felt like it had enough home games and that this might be a good enough mid-major matchup that somebody might pick it up on TV.’’

The Cajuns will then return the visit next season in Carbondale, Ill.

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Kevin Foote
kfoote@theadvertiser.com

[miamicajun]

Who in their right mind scheduled Delta St. in the middle of the season?

I agree with Coach Lee. We need to get all of the patsies off the schedule, which will make the team better and get the fans excited.

I am also happy about having some top mid majors on the schedule. The top mid majors need to play each other more. Lamar, Rice, S. Illinois, La Tech. These are all solid mid major programs. N.C. St. and most likely LSU is of course nice as well.

All we are missing is the Arizona type game of last year, but we will again be invited to those tourneys from time to time.

Evan

[cajun tom]

I will be buying basketball season tickets this year. I was glad to see Coach Lee will be signing a four year contract.