The Book: 2002-2003 Basketball (Ragin'Cajuns)

[NewsCopy]

Advertiser-Bruce Brown

JONESBORO, Ark. — Dickey Nutt isn’t surprised that Louisiana coach Jessie Evans is eager for his Ragin’ Cajuns to play Nutt’s Arkansas State Indians tonight.

The Cajuns ride a wave of momentum into the 7:05 p.m. contest at the 10,563-seat ASU Convocation Center after clinching the Sun Belt Conference West Division title with last Saturday’s 69-58 win at New Mexico State.

“I enjoy playing in Jonesboro,” Evans said. “They have great support there, and the fans really get on you.”

“I’m not surprised that Jessie’s looking forward to coming here,” Nutt said. “He’s got a great team.”

UL is 18-6 overall and a league-best 10-1 in Sun Belt play. The Cajuns also own a commanding 36-14 lead in the all-time series with the Indians.

Arkansas State is struggling at 11-13, 4-7, but battled evenly before losing 69-63 at Western Kentucky last weekend.

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[Cajun1997]

average home attendence for 2002-2003 season=5,313
up from 2001-2002 season=3,836 not bad at all
still 2 home games left to make it better!

[Rebel02]

We can all expect that number to rise with the game against WKU. Lets get that number over 6000.

[NOCajun]

I had a class and a meeting tonight so I didn't get to listen to any of the game. CAJUNS lose 84-72 to ASU. Someone PLEASE tell me what the hell happened!!! :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[NewsCopy]

Arkansas State ends eight-game winning streak.

JONESBORO, Ark. — Louisiana may be champions of the Sun Belt Conference’s Western Division, but the Ragin’ Cajuns didn’t play like it Thursday night.

The Cajuns looked like a team that was content with their lot in life and dropped an 84-72 contest to the hustling Arkansas State Indians before 5,209 fans at the ASU Convocation Center.

“This loss tells us that we’re 18-7 and 10-2, and if you’d told me before the season we’d have that kind of record, I’d have probably taken it,” coach Jessie Evans said.

“We’re not bad. But, the conference is like that. If you’re not on your ‘A’ game you’re not going to win. I think the guys understand that now.”

The Cajuns had won nine SBC games in a row before meeting an ASU team that was coming off a solid 69-63 loss at East Division leader Western Kentucky last weekend.

“This win is huge, because they’re the No. 1 team,” said ASU coach Dickey Nutt, whose Indians improved to 12-13 and 5-7. “I guarantee you they (the Cajuns) wanted to win the game.”

“A lot of guys on our team weren’t focused,” said Cajun senior Laurie Bridges, who torched the Indians for a career-high 26 points. “I don’t know the reason for that, but we weren’t playing together like we usually play.

Advertiser-Bruce Brown

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[Crowley Cajun]

I agree that this is upsetting, but let me try to spin it in a positive note. No, you don't ever like to lose, but we were on a 8 game winning streak. And remember, these are still young kids. Even though they won't admit it, the pressure of having to keep the streak alive had to be building. I would rather lose one now, than keep this streak going into the tournament, then lose. As of right now, we have tomorrow and the NCAA tournament. In the SBC tournament, if you lose, there is no tomorrow, and there is no NCAA. We'll only have the NIT.

I just visited the HilltopperHaven board. Oh yeah. Some of them are just yucking it up that we lost. That's ok. I guess that we'll just have to start another winning streak. Then, they can just yuck it up all they want as they sit in front of their TV's while they watch us in the Big Dance.



Geaux Cajuns!!!!

[NOCajun]

Thanks, Crowley, I needed that!!

[Cajun Express]

You know how it feels when you finish that last final. You just don't give a damn about next semester. That is what happened. These young men began to think they had already won something by being the first team in America to lock up their division. So what happens, they do not listen to the coach. So much do they not listen he grounds three starters. They could not possibly have had a good practice week. I had a feeling they would believe they had to do nothing.

Don't let the score fool you, we lost and we loss because we had too many turnovers and missed too many free throws. Of course we let them build the final score by fouling and they are good free throw shooters. :confused:

[Turbine]

Originally posted by cajun express
You know how it feels when you finish that last final. You just don't give a damn about next semester. That is what happened. These young men began to think they had already won something by being the first team in America to lock up their division.

Big Time apropos analogy.

[NewsCopy]

Cajuns vow to be ready for UALR after Thursday’s loss.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — If a 72-64 score doesn’t grab your attention, how about 38-7?

The Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans made 15 shots in a row here Thursday night, ripping off runs of 17-0 and 11-0 to mount a staggering 38-7 first-half lead over visiting New Mexico State.

A still impressive 44-27 halftime score followed, and then the Trojans of coach Porter Moser had to hang on to win 72-64 and improve to 16-10 overall and 7-5 in Sun Belt play.

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns didn’t need much to get their attention after Thursday’s 84-72 upset loss at Arkansas State broke their nine-game Sun Belt win streak, but if they did then UALR’s antics would do the trick.

“We’ll be in for the fight of our lives Saturday night in Little Rock,” said coach Jessie Evans, whose squad meets the Trojans at 7:05 p.m. at the 18,000-seat ALLTEL Arena.

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

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