Indians dim Ragin' Cajuns' title plans

[NewsCopy]

JONESBORO, Ark. - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns got a harsh lesson in humility Thursday night, dropping an 86-80 game to the Arkansas State Indians and in all likelihood giving away the Sun Belt Conference Western Division title they've held for the last three years.

While the Cajuns stubbed their toes, the Denver Pioneers ripped visiting South Alabama 68-46 to regain a tie atop the West with UL at 11-3.

And, because Denver swept the Cajuns this season, it would take a Cajun win on Saturday at Arkansas-Little Rock and a Denver home loss to New Orleans to make it four division titles in a row.

"Sometimes," coach Robert Lee said, "we think we're a better team than we are.

"I sensed guys were trying to do things they're not supposed to do, or they're not capable of doing. I didn't see a team with the sense of urgency you need if you're trying to win a championship.

"Or," he added, "with enough respect for their opponent."

The Cajuns' lack of focus was obvious in a hit-or-miss first half in which they committed 15 turnovers and received technical fouls on Orien Greene and Tiras Wade for protesting calls to officials.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Too many turnovers, fouls, technicals prove fatal to Louisiana.

JONESBORO, Ark. - Tiras Wade looked like he had lost a 10-round middleweight decision.

He looked tired, and his lip was bandaged from a shot to the mouth.

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns felt like Wade looked after losing 86-80 to Arkansas State here Thursday night before 4,066 fans at ASU's Convocation Center.

As usual, Wade led the Cajuns in scoring with 22 points. And, as has been the case lately, he had trouble with his 3-point shot, hitting just 1-of-9.

But this was not the same Wade.

He had four fouls, one of which was a technical foul at the end of the first half.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[AirBill]

Originally posted by NewsCopy
"Sometimes," coach Robert Lee said, "we think we're a better team than we are.

"I sensed guys were trying to do things they're not supposed to do, or they're not capable of doing. I didn't see a team with the sense of urgency you need if you're trying to win a championship.

"Or," he added, "with enough respect for their opponent."

Y'know, after years of Fletcher and Evans, it's just downright refreshing to hear a UL coach say that. Not since Bobby Paschal has a Cajun basketball coach spoken as truthfully as Lee has here.

I've never been a person who believe that a team somehow needs to lose a game to get their attention, but maybe in this case a step backwards can help us take two steps forward. Now, let's see if he can grab their attention and focus it on UALR, and the tournament.

[shof]

Hopefully it will help for this saturday. Don't want to lay another egg on national TV! This loss definitely hurt any chances for the at-large bid (and I know that is not the goal); but a good outing on the tube saturday can help make up some of that lost ground if needed.
Here's to winning the tournament so we don't have to wonder "if".

[ulfanatic]

Now lets go on a 9 game winning streak!!!!

[RaginEsquire06]

We need a point guard bad!