University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Begins 2008-09 Season Saturday
11/13/2008 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
GAME CENTER
Date: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008
Opponent: Louisiana Tech (0-0)
Site: CAJUNDOME (11,550)
Game Time: 7:05 p.m. CT
Television: None
Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL), 107.9 FM (KRKA)
Game Night Story Lines
? Louisiana tips off the 96th season of competition in school history Saturday, Nov. 15 hosting in-state rival Louisiana Tech in the CAJUNDOME.
? The Cajuns start the season at home for the third straight season. Tonight's game is the first of 15 regular season contests at the CAJUNDOME.
? Head coach Robert Lee enters his fifth (5th) season as head coach of Louisiana and his 13th season overall with the program (began as assistant in 1996-97).
? UL has won 10 of its past 11 home openers ? only loss during streak was to
? Louisiana begins its 24th season in the CAJUNDOME. The Cajuns hold a 219-87 all-time record in the facility (79-26 last 10 seasons).
? Louisiana opens the regular season after having played two (2) exhibition contests. UL topped
? The Cajuns and Bulldogs are meeting for the fourth and final time in the current four-game series which began in 2005-06. The home team has won each time.
? Louisiana meets a Division I foe in a regular season opener for the first time since the 2005-06 season (at
SEASON OPENERS
? Since joining the Division I ranks in 1971-72,
? Louisiana has won six of its last eight season openers.
? Louisiana is 3-1 in season openers under Robert Lee.
HOME, SWEET DOME
? The 2008-09 campaign marks the 24th season of Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball at the 11,550-seat CAJUNDOME.
? In the past 10 seasons,
? The Ragin' Cajuns are 18-4 in home openers at the CAJUNDOME.
WE'VE GOT EXPERIENCE NOW
? Last season the Ragin' Cajuns fielded one of the youngest rosters in the nation with 10 sophomores, three freshmen and only three seniors (13 underclassmen). Fast forward to this season and the Ragin' Cajuns' roster is loaded with one (1) senior and 10 juniors (11 upperclassmen).
HOMEGROWN TALENT
? The Ragin' Cajuns roster will have a homegrown feel again this season. A total of 13 players from the state of
? Louisiana has three players from Lafayette ? Colby Batiste, Randell Daigle and La'Ryan Gary.
LOUISIANA GREAT RETURNS AS ASSISTANT COACH
? The Cajuns welcome a new assistant coach this season as former
? Starks played for
LAST TIME VS.
? Louisiana pulled to within a point, 55-54, with 2:38 remaining in the game, but a 9-2 run by Louisiana Tech put the game out of reach for the Cajuns.
LAST TIME VS.
? David Dees scored six points in the final three minutes to help UL post a 65-60 victory.
? Trailing 57-55,
EXHIBITION TIDBITS
? La'Ryan Gary topped 20 points twice (25 vs. Millsaps/21 vs. UT-Tyler).
? Chris Gradnigo, recovering from a minor ankle injury, did not play in either game.
? The Cajuns posted 14 blocks and collected 20 steals. Tyren Johnson had nine (9) steals; Travis Bureau posted six (6) blocked shots.
? Newcomers Colby Batiste, Jeremy Barr and Ryan McCoy saw their first action in a UL uniform. Barr averaged 7.0 points and Batiste averaged 5.0 points.
The Ragin' Cajuns face former Sun Belt-and American South Conference-rival Lamar on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7:05 p.m., in the CAJUNDOME. It's the first meeting between the two schools since Dec. 14, 1999.
