Tiras Wade's Big Night Unforgettable, Disappointing

[NewsCopy]

As it turned out, the greatest night of Tiras Wade's college basketball career didn't mean much, at least not to him.

``We didn't win,'' said Wade, formerly of Tampa Bay Tech. ``It slipped through our fingers. The whole idea of scoring points is to put your team in the win column. It's disappointing.''

But unforgettable, nonetheless. Wade, a junior guard for the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns, lit up No. 12-ranked and unbeaten North Carolina State for a career-high 37 points, but the Wolfpack prevailed 78-72. Wade, who scored on an array of deep-range jumpers and acrobatic drives to the basket, set a scoring record for the RBC Center, which opened in 1999.

``We had no answer for Tiras Wade; he absolutely killed us,'' said N.C. State coach Herb Sendek, who tried a variety of defenses on Wade, including a shadow by Wolfpack guard Julius Hodge, a preseason first-team All-American.

``N.C. State had some great players,'' Ragin' Cajuns coach Robert Lee said. ``But the best player on the court was Tiras Wade, no question. He carried us. He put us on his back and almost brought us all the way home.''

Wade, averaging 20.1 points and 5.4 rebounds, has been the scoring leader in each game for Louisiana-Lafayette (3-5). After two seasons at East Tennessee State, he transferred with hopes of finding a program that allowed him more offensive freedom.

Mission accomplished.

``Coach Lee gives me the green light and gives me trust as a player and a person,'' Wade said. ``I know I'm going to be a target [of opposing defenses], but I feel like I can handle that kind of pressure. I'm off to a pretty good start here, but we need to start winning some games and that will really make me happy.''

The rest of the story

Tampa Bay Online
By JOEY JOHNSTON

Report Tiras Wade news, milestones
call Joey Johnston (813) 259-7353
e-mail jjohnston@tampatrib.com

[RaginEsquire06]

If Woodfox turns out to be the player he is hyped up to be.....and Wade continues to get better, OoooooooooH Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....I'm Dance'n!


And.....just what if O. Green gets a medical redshirt, UL finds a strong, Dennis Rodman type, defensive minded 6'9-6'10 Powerforward, and James Adams grows 2" and gains twenty more pounds of muscle! What cha' think about that dream SwampHound & Turbine? Is it a possible dream come true?

Come on fella's.....I'm dancing!

[El Sidonio]

I am dancing also. Had a loss like this come late in the season, or even worse in the Conf. or NCAA tourney, I'd be very disappointed. But the fact that our guys rebounded so quickly from Kansas to play like this, it shows that they can do it. They have to positives on their side. As soon as they stop whatever shooting themselves in the foot they're still doing, they'll be ten times more dangerous than they already are.

GEAUX UL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GEAUX CAJUNS!!!!!!!
LET'S GEAUX DANCIN'!!!!!!!!!

God Bless.

[NCAA or BUST]

Tiras Wade is a brite light

[RaginEsquire06]

Regis Koundjia has left LSU....would be nice to have him over here!