Stats tough for UL to live with
Reverse one number on the final box score and Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns could be playing today in the second round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament for the first time in 13 years.
The Cajuns committed 18 turnovers in last Friday's 68-62 loss to Louisville, while forcing just 11 give-aways by the Cardinals.
Since Louisville outscored Louisiana 21-13 in points off turnovers, reversing that 18-11 figure might have done the trick.
There's another number they'd like to flip flop.
The Cajuns made just 10-of-18 free throws, to 18-of-27 for Louisville, furnishing a second area that came up short for the Sun Belt Conference champions.
Louisiana entered the NCAA Tournament doing a good job forcing turnovers and making free throws, so this year's early exit was doubly frustrating.
In NCAA competition, when you're a No. 13 seed like the Cajuns were, you usually have to play a near-perfect game to vault past a No. 4 seed.
The Cajuns weren't perfect, but they clearly belonged on the same court with the Cardinals.
Louisiana outscored Louisville 30-22 in the paint and 13-8 in second-chance points.
The Cajuns also outpointed Louisville 11-4 on fast breaks and 9-4 from the bench.
The score was tied nine times and there were 14 lead changes in the game.
Louisville's biggest lead was 8 points at 23-15 in the first half. It never became the double-digit yawner you sometimes get. Far from it, in fact.
Not exactly what viewers from other parts of the country expected to see.
For a No. 13 to do all those things against a No. 4 that deserved a higher seed is a remarkable performance.
"My guys played great," said first-year Cajun coach Robert Lee. "That's really all I can ask for."
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(Bruce Brown)
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