A glance at upcoming games illustrates how important this week could be for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns.

Coach Robert Lee's team is tied with Denver atop the Sun Belt Conference Western Division race with a 6-1 league record and UL visits North Texas and Denver on Thursday and Saturday.

When the Cajuns return home, they have four home games in a row against West Division foes South Alabama, New Orleans, New Mexico State and North Texas.

Winning twice this week, coupled with a strong homestand, could all but wrap up the West for the defending Sun Belt champions before a season-ending swing to Arkansas State and Arkansas-Little Rock.

"This weekend is really big for us," said Lee. "If we win these two, it gives us a great chance to win the Western Division."

Louisiana is 6-0 since Orien Greene returned from a broken leg, unbeaten since Denver upended the Cajuns 72-66 in their Sun Belt opener in the Cajundome on Jan. 8. That's no coincidence.

"Our confidence level right now is really high," Lee said. "When Orien is healthy, he's one of the top two players in the league. He gets the ball where it's supposed to be, when it's supposed to be there.

"He also gives us another scoring threat to go with Tiras Wade.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com