NIT

[ManAboutTown]

Look, we have the best basketball team in the state this year. But, we also lost 2 of our last 3 games and failed to win our conference championship. We lost to the last place team in our conference and to Ole Miss who finished last in the SEC and had a 12-20 record. This game is all about perception for UL within the state of Louisiana. We have a chance to beat LSU on their court. We can say we don't need LSU, but we play in one of the worse conferences in the country, a conference with the worse perception in the country. And, in Louisiana, we are second to LSU. This is a great opportunity to go into their den and claim basketball superiority. We already beat them in baseball. Beat them in basketball, too, and we are 2 out of 3 in the big sports. Let's change the perception of LOUISIANA to the rest of the state.

The NIT is calling us Louisiana. ESPN is calling us Louisiana. LSU is not, but might be forced to by the NIT. They know what is at stake. Beat us and they continue with their superiority name game. Lose to us in basketball, at home, and Louisiana has some bragging rights and statewide recognition. Nationally, it will be a LOUISIANA win. Let's take advantage of the opportunity given to us. Wear Louisiana uniforms instead of the candy striper Ragin Cajun unis we have been wearing, like we did in our baseball game vs. LSU. We lost 2 of our last 3 in them, so they aren't bringing us any luck. This game will be viewed all over the state. We need to make a name statement Wednesday night, both statewide and nationally as LOUISIANA. Ragin Cajuns just doesn't do it. This is yet another opportunity on a national stage in a national tournament. If we want to make a name for ourselves, we have to play games like this. We got thrown a lemon. So what? Let's embrace the opportunity.

Mr. D, you can always sell me on the name game. And I can’t disagree with anything you’ve said here. But I’m just so god damned ____ed off with this whole situation. From NCAA stupidity down to the loss to Little Rock on our home floor. Going to Refineryville is no consolation prize to me.

[HoustonCajun]

Mr. D, you can always sell me on the name game. And I can’t disagree with anything you’ve said here. But I’m just so god damned ____ed off with this whole situation. From NCAA stupidity down to the loss to Little Rock on our home floor. Going to Refineryville is no consolation prize to me.

MAT, I understand your feelings. But, what are we to do? This is where we are sent. It tells me we still have a lot of work to do on our perception. I say let's go to Louisiana State, kick ___, and move on. I don't want to see our season end in B.R.

[MetryCajun]

LSU beat Michigan in an early season tournament in Hawaii. They also beat Houston at home. Those were the best non conference wins. As I said earlier, they were very impressive in several home SEC wins late in the year. They generally were beating people out easily in BR while struggling on the road. Even if we were healthy it would have been a challenge playing in their place.

Playing an SEC team at their place is always tough. I wish we had a home game, but we have no leg to stand on since we have zero signature wins. I did not realize LSU had as good a season as they did. With Gant and Stove less than 100% I do not like our chances in this game.

[CajunT]

Thanks. Is your ETD 3 PM?

If I can't get out by that time, I will not go to the game.

[VObserver]

Look, we have the best basketball team in the state this year. But, we also lost 2 of our last 3 games and failed to win our conference championship. We lost to the last place team in our conference and to Ole Miss who finished last in the SEC and had a 12-20 record. This game is all about perception for UL within the state of Louisiana. We have a chance to beat LSU on their court. We can say we don't need LSU, but we play in one of the worse conferences in the country, a conference with the worse perception in the country. And, in Louisiana, we are second to LSU. This is a great opportunity to go into their den and claim basketball superiority. We already beat them in baseball. Beat them in basketball, too, and we are 2 out of 3 in the big sports. Let's change the perception of LOUISIANA to the rest of the state.

The NIT is calling us Louisiana. ESPN is calling us Louisiana. LSU is not, but might be forced to by the NIT. They know what is at stake. Beat us and they continue with their superiority name game. Lose to us in basketball, at home, and Louisiana has some bragging rights and statewide recognition. Nationally, it will be a LOUISIANA win. Let's take advantage of the opportunity given to us. Wear Louisiana uniforms instead of the candy striper Ragin Cajun unis we have been wearing, like we did in our baseball game vs. LSU. We lost 2 of our last 3 in them, so they aren't bringing us any luck. This game will be viewed all over the state. We need to make a name statement Wednesday night, both statewide and nationally as LOUISIANA. Ragin Cajuns just doesn't do it. This is yet another opportunity on a national stage in a national tournament. If we want to make a name for ourselves, we have to play games like this. We got thrown a lemon. So what? Let's embrace the opportunity.

Unless we win Wednesday night, we can't claim to have the best team in the state. Best record? Sure. But you can be sure that a loss Wednesday will make the "best team in the state" claim a source of derision for the know your place folks all over the state. It won't matter to them that we are not at full strength. That will be seen as an excuse.

I don't care what those people think, and I am sure you don't either, but I won't claim to be the best team in the state unless and until Thursday morning I can show off my new tiger skin rug while staking claim to that title.

[CajunVic]

No, I would go that way if I lived south of Lafayette. You certain avoid the afternoon pile up in the construction areas on I-10 if not another daily accident.

Take the Ramah/Mariquin exit right off the basin bridge. Go north about a mile to HWY 76. That is a farm road that will take you east all the way to Hwy 1 in Port Allen - no traffic at all on that road. Go south on Hwy 1 onto the MIss River Bridge and exit off Bridge to Nicholson. The only slow down will be on the bridge. Adds about 3 minutes to the trip and avoid the back up from Lobdell to the bridge. Works all the time.

[Cajun Monkee]

Options to refineryville...maybe 190, or take the BB Hwy and Grande Pointe Hwy to Henderson and get on the Basin Bridge there. Kind of cumbersome but still an option.

All that said, we've made several trips to Lady of the Lake area in the last few months and have always got their on time. Yes, there is construction, but two lanes in both directions are open between here and the Basin.

I'm with MAT. Emmert should just call the FBI and tell them to blow off the investigation, because the NCAA is about money and the NCAA wants to make money in the most efficient way possible. So if it means Pitino and Freeze hire hookes for their players, so be it.

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If Gant cant' go, I'd start Jerekius. I think his game is similar to Gant's. Miller comes in off the bench.

[alum81]

We are going to have to win by a lot. Refs in BR won't let us win a close game for sure.

[sportsfanatic21]

You would think that the NCAA, at some point, would realize that the reason the first two weekends of the tournament are the HUGE money makers that they are, is because of people watching to see upsets. Until Final Four weekend, the allure of that tournament is Cinderella, always has been. CBS and Turner are paying nearly a BILLION dollars to broadcast the tournament.

Why in the world would they not want as many good teams in the field that the average fan doesn't know much about, that have a chance to pull the giant upset?? It just makes no sense. Instead, we get to watch the 9th place team from a conference play the 7th place team from another.

[Ragin4U]

We are going to have to win by a lot. Refs in BR won't let us win a close game for sure.

No doubt and when we do win, they will have some lameass excuse or call it our "Superbowl" or some other BS. I just want to crush them