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

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Advertiser

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - There are several reasons that Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun basketball team is stepping out of Sun Belt Conference play and heading for New England at such an odd time of the season.

According to Cajun coach Jessie Evans, there are 55,000 reasons.

That's the guarantee - $55,000 - that the UL program is reported to be receiving for tonight's 6:30 p.m. (CST) intersectional game between the Cajuns and the Providence Friars.

However, if the Cajuns (10-5) play as they have through most of their last six games, the host Friars may wind up with more than they paid for when the teams square off at the Dunkin' Donuts Center (formerly the Providence Civic Center).

The Cajuns have won five of their last six games, and all but one of those have been on the road including Saturday's 78-71 victory over New Orleans, during which the visitors had a double-figure lead most of the final half.

They'll put that streak up against a Friar squad that is 8-5 on the year but 2-1 against the rugged Sun Belt Conference. Providence dropped an 81-67 decision at Villanova on Saturday, but has won seven of its eight home games this year.

"They're a typical Big East team," said Evans. "They've got pretty good size, with a 6-4 point guard and everybody else 6-7 to 6-9. They're going to be plenty physical, but our big guys are also going to have to defend on the perimeter against these guys."

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Louisiana's basketball squad shot better and rebounded better than Providence's Friars here Wednesday night, but didn't do either one well enough to overcome an error-prone performance.

The Ragin' Cajuns committed 18 turnovers - 10 more than the Big East Conference Friars - and Providence made that possession difference count in taking a 67-58 victory at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

The Friars (9-5) trailed the Cajuns 34-33 at halftime, but outscored the visitors 13-2 in the first four and one-half minutes of the second half to take the lead for good in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.

Louisiana (10-6) shot 43.1 percent (22-51) from the field compared to the Friars' 41.0 mark (25-61) and held a 35-32 rebound advantage, but ball possession became the telling factor as the Cajuns wrapped up a four-game road swing by losing for only the second time this season after leading at halftime.

"We just can't turn the ball over like that," coach Jessie Evans said. "We're turning it over for no apparent reason.

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Advertiser-Dan McDonald

LAFAYETTE - It's the big round building off Congress Street with the white roof.

Members of the UL basketball team may need even more detailed directions to find the Cajundome Saturday night.

The Ragin' Cajuns, fresh off a 67-58 loss at budding Big East Conference power Providence on Wednesday, return to Sun Belt Conference play at 7:05 p.m. Saturday against a depleted Florida International team.

When they do, it'll be the first home appearance since Jan. 2, and the second in a full 31 days.

"It'll be good to get home," said Cajun head coach Jessie Evans after Wednesday's game. "It seems like we've been on the road the whole season."

Actually, UL (10-6, 2-1 Sun Belt) has been on the road in all but one game since a Dec. 18 win over Bethune-Cookman. The only Cajundome appearance since then was the Jan. 2 81-74 win over New Mexico State in the conference opener.

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Advertiser-Dan McDonald

LAFAYETTE - Over the last two days, Jessie Evans has probably been preaching to his team that there aren't any soft touches in the Sun Belt Conference.

Under normal circumstances, there shouldn't be, but Florida International may come as close as anybody in the league right now.

The Ragin' Cajuns (10-6, 2-1 Sun Belt) host a struggling Golden Panther team tonight at 7:05 p.m. in the Cajundome, opening a streak that includes seven home games in the Cajuns' last 12 regular-season outings. Tonight's game is also the first Saturday night home game of the season for the Louisiana squad.

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Advertiser-Dan McDonald

LAFAYETTE - Louisiana's backcourt was already beaten up and short-handed enough. That group didn't need for Saturday's Sun Belt Conference basketball contest against Florida International to deteriorate into a war.

The Ragin' Cajuns found themselves in one of their most physical battles of the season on Saturday, and the 64-51 win was more one of survival than anything else.

"We didn't expect it to be that physical," said junior guard Antoine Landry, who was forced into a lead role with the absence of backcourt mates Brad Boyd and Kenneth Lawrence. "They caught us off guard early."

The visiting Panthers, also feeling short-handed pains after head coach Donnie Marsh dismissed two players from his squad this week, didn't back down after falling behind by as many as 14 points at halftime.

In fact, FIU turned up the physical play, scoring the first 11 points of the second half to make it a three-point game.

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Advertiser-Bruce Brown

LAFAYETTE - Brad Boyd was in street gear, still sore from a serious auto accident he endured last weekend.

Kenneth Lawrence was in California, tragically called home by the death of his infant daughter.

Despite an absence of backcourt starters, though, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns withstood yet another challenge in this unusual campaign Saturday night when they dispatched Sun Belt Conference foe Florida International 64-51 before 6,010 fans at the Cajundome.

The Cajuns won their 16th straight game in the 'Dome, improving to 11-6 overall and 3-1 in the Sun Belt, while FIU fell to 6-11, 0-4.

"Without Brad, I felt I had to step up and make shots, and without KJ (Lawrence) I had to handle the ball more," said senior guard Robert Jupiter, who nailed 5-of-8 3-point baskets for a team-high 17 points.

"Everybody on this team can play more than one position."

"Without our starting backcourt, we were missing 22-23 points and a great deal of leadership," coach Jessie Evans said. "Plus, those two do 85-90 percent of our ball handling, so we knew it would be tough tonight."

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[Turbine]

LOUISIANA

Cajun Dome

MTSU

71 65 Michael Southall came to play

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Advertiser-Dan McDonald

LAFAYETTE — The figures bear it out ... UL's basketball team plays better in front of more people.

The Ragin’ Cajuns have played in front of crowds of more than 3,000 11 times in 16 games this season, and have won nine of those games.

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Advertiser-Dan McDonald


LAFAYETTE — Louisiana's men basketball team has had an entire week to prepare for tonight’s Middle Tennessee contest.

Now, the Ragin’ Cajuns have another reason to sit up and take notice of the opposition for the 7:05 p.m. Cajundome battle, after the Blue Raiders pulled off another Sun Belt Conference shocker Thursday.

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[Cajun1997]

Cajuns pick up a big win in front a good crowd. Thanks to Guru for inviting me to the game, I had a great time. Look forward to the next one. GEAUX CAJUNS!!!!!!!

Louisiana 71
Middle Tennessee 65

[NOCajun]

Michael Southall scores a season high 23 points and Brad Boyd comes off the bench to score 18. The CAJUNS were miserable from the foul line, but forced MT into 26(I think) turnovers. This win puts them in sole posession of first place in the Sun Belt Western Division.

WAY TO GEAUX CAJUNS!!!!!!!!

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Southall, Gunn, and the ref.