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Ragin' Cajuns Men's Basketball 2014-15 Preview: Posts
10/24/2014 9:52:00 AM | Men's Basketball
This is the first in a three-part series, taking a glance at the upcoming 2014-15 Ragin' Cajun basketball team. Louisiana went 23-12 a year ago, claiming the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. They kick off the season this year with an exhibition vs Loyola-New Orleans on Nov. 5 before the official season-opening game on Nov. 14 at home vs Louisiana College.
Returners: Shawn Long, J.J. Davenport, Vieux Kande
Newcomers: Scott Plaisance
LAFAYETTE, La. – Skilled post players are a rare commodity, especially in the college game, but the Ragin' Cajuns will have an advantage at that position almost every night with junior big man Shawn Long back for his third year at Louisiana.
Long is the bell cow of a solid post group for the Cajuns, and gives head coach Bob Marlin a lot of versatility with his ability to score from both inside and outside. He was ultra efficient shooting the basketball as a sophomore last season, hitting .522 from the field and .423 from beyond the three-point line – a rare skill for 6-9, 245-pound player at the college level.
"We feel like Shawn could have been the preseason player of the year, but that's how that goes," Marlin said. "He does a lot of things really well and has worked very hard to get better over the summer and into the preseason, and he has a chance to have a special year."
Long is one of two current players – joined by UC Santa Barbara's Alan Williams – to average a double-double each of the past two seasons. He has pulled in an average of 10.3 rebounds per game in those years, and upped his scoring output from 15.5 points per game as a freshman to 18.6 per game as a sophomore.
Those numbers helped him become a first team all-Sun Belt Conference player a year ago and a preseason first-team selection, one year after being selected as the SBC Freshman of the year in 2012-13.
"We've already had NBA teams come in to see him at practice and that is going to continue throughout the year, as long as he continues to play well and do what he is capable of," Marlin said.
Along with Long, the Cajuns will boast three other players who could see plenty of court time on the block, including senior J.J. Davenport, sophomore Vieux Kande and true freshman Scott Plaisance.
Though just at 6-6, Davenport brings a physical presence to the post for the Cajuns with a 300-plus pound frame. He played in 35 games and made seven starts a year ago in his first year with the program, and was efficient with his time on the floor, averaging 4.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in just 12.1 minutes of play.
Those numbers went up to 5.8 points per game in 14.3 minutes of court time in league play. He reached double-figure scoring three times on the year, all in SBC play, including a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double against UALR.
"J.J. has really worked hard to keep his weight in check, and it is showing," Marlin said. "He plays very hard and positions himself well on the floor. His last week or so has been a really good week of practice."
Kande averaged just 4.9 minutes per game as a true freshman in 2013-14, but showed flashes of his development throughout the year. At 6-8 with long arms, the sophomore from Senegal has continued to improve in the preseason and could see a bump in his minutes in his second year, giving Marlin another option with significant size off of the bench.
Freshman Scott Plaisance rounds out the post corps for the Cajuns, and has shown both grit and skill in preseason workouts. He brings a basketball pedigree to the roster as well, being the son of Nicholls State head women's coach DoBee Plaisance, while his sister Theresa is an all-SEC player at LSU.
But his credentials speak for themselves after a prep career that saw him average a double-double as a junior at New Orleans Country Day when he was named the Louisiana Class 1A Player of the Year.
"Scott had a rough go of it early on in practice, twice needing stitches in the first couple of weeks," Marlin said. "But that shows that even as a freshman he is not afraid to stick his nose in there and make things happen. We feel like he is going to be a really good player for us, not only this year, but in the future."
#GeauxCajuns
2014-15 Season Preview Schedule
October 24 – Posts
October 28 – Forwards
October 30 – Guards
Nov. 3 – Loyola (N.O.) Exhibition Preview
Returners: Shawn Long, J.J. Davenport, Vieux Kande
Newcomers: Scott Plaisance
LAFAYETTE, La. – Skilled post players are a rare commodity, especially in the college game, but the Ragin' Cajuns will have an advantage at that position almost every night with junior big man Shawn Long back for his third year at Louisiana.
Long is the bell cow of a solid post group for the Cajuns, and gives head coach Bob Marlin a lot of versatility with his ability to score from both inside and outside. He was ultra efficient shooting the basketball as a sophomore last season, hitting .522 from the field and .423 from beyond the three-point line – a rare skill for 6-9, 245-pound player at the college level.
"We feel like Shawn could have been the preseason player of the year, but that's how that goes," Marlin said. "He does a lot of things really well and has worked very hard to get better over the summer and into the preseason, and he has a chance to have a special year."
Long is one of two current players – joined by UC Santa Barbara's Alan Williams – to average a double-double each of the past two seasons. He has pulled in an average of 10.3 rebounds per game in those years, and upped his scoring output from 15.5 points per game as a freshman to 18.6 per game as a sophomore.
Those numbers helped him become a first team all-Sun Belt Conference player a year ago and a preseason first-team selection, one year after being selected as the SBC Freshman of the year in 2012-13.
"We've already had NBA teams come in to see him at practice and that is going to continue throughout the year, as long as he continues to play well and do what he is capable of," Marlin said.
Along with Long, the Cajuns will boast three other players who could see plenty of court time on the block, including senior J.J. Davenport, sophomore Vieux Kande and true freshman Scott Plaisance.
Though just at 6-6, Davenport brings a physical presence to the post for the Cajuns with a 300-plus pound frame. He played in 35 games and made seven starts a year ago in his first year with the program, and was efficient with his time on the floor, averaging 4.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in just 12.1 minutes of play.
Those numbers went up to 5.8 points per game in 14.3 minutes of court time in league play. He reached double-figure scoring three times on the year, all in SBC play, including a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double against UALR.
"J.J. has really worked hard to keep his weight in check, and it is showing," Marlin said. "He plays very hard and positions himself well on the floor. His last week or so has been a really good week of practice."
Kande averaged just 4.9 minutes per game as a true freshman in 2013-14, but showed flashes of his development throughout the year. At 6-8 with long arms, the sophomore from Senegal has continued to improve in the preseason and could see a bump in his minutes in his second year, giving Marlin another option with significant size off of the bench.
Freshman Scott Plaisance rounds out the post corps for the Cajuns, and has shown both grit and skill in preseason workouts. He brings a basketball pedigree to the roster as well, being the son of Nicholls State head women's coach DoBee Plaisance, while his sister Theresa is an all-SEC player at LSU.
But his credentials speak for themselves after a prep career that saw him average a double-double as a junior at New Orleans Country Day when he was named the Louisiana Class 1A Player of the Year.
"Scott had a rough go of it early on in practice, twice needing stitches in the first couple of weeks," Marlin said. "But that shows that even as a freshman he is not afraid to stick his nose in there and make things happen. We feel like he is going to be a really good player for us, not only this year, but in the future."
#GeauxCajuns
2014-15 Season Preview Schedule
October 24 – Posts
October 28 – Forwards
October 30 – Guards
Nov. 3 – Loyola (N.O.) Exhibition Preview
Quannas White Media Availability (Nov 28, 2025)
Saturday, November 29
Quannas White Media Availability (Nov 11, 2025)
Wednesday, November 12
De'Vion Lavergne and Milan Mejia Media Availability (Nov 11, 2025)
Wednesday, November 12
Quannas White Media Availability (Nov 10, 2025)
Monday, November 10
