University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Positioning for SBC Tourney Spots Begins
2/10/2009 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
GAME CENTER
Date: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009
Location: Monroe, La.
Opponent: ULM (8-15, 4-8 Sun Belt)
Site: Fant-Ewing Coliseum (8,000)
Game Time: 7 p.m.
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com
Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL), 107.9 FM (KRKA)
Game Night Story Lines
● With the Sun Belt standings tightening up and only six games remaining, each game is important to
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● Last week UL posted its first Thursday win of the season vs. FIU. The Ragin' Cajuns look for a second straight Thursday night victory (1-5 this season on Thursday).
● The road hasn't been kind to
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● One game after shooting above 50 percent nearly the entire game and leading from wire-to-wire vs. FIU, the Cajuns had the tables turned on them at
MAKING A MOVE IN FEBRUARY
● Since 2005-06, the Cajuns are 17-8 in the season's final month (1-1 this season).
AHEAD AT THE HALF IS KEY
● Of Louisiana's eight wins this season, seven have come when holding a halftime lead.
THE 500 CLUB
● Chris Gradnigo reached 500 career points at Florida Atlantic. Now two other Cajuns are in the neighborhood of 500 career points.
● Travis Bureau (438) is 62 shy of 500. Randell Daigle (400) is exactly 100 away.
WALLACE MAKING HIS POINT
● Courtney Wallace has shot well for UL in his last four appearances, going 13-of-14 (92.9%) from the floor and averaging 8.5 points.
IMPROVED FREE THROW SHOOTING
● UL has shot above 68 percent each of the last six games ? 93-of-121 (77 percent) is the mark during the stretch. Has helped raise season percentage from 61% to 66%.
THE TRIPLE THREAT
● The combination of Travis Bureau, Randell Daigle and Chris Gradnigo fuel the
● They combine to average 38.6 points of the Cajuns' 67.5 average (57%).
● They combine for 118 three-point field goals made out of UL's 168 (70%).
● Overall shooting percentages: Gradnigo (45.3%), Bureau (43.7%), Daigle (39.2%).
HOME-AWAY BALANCE EVENS OUT IN FEBRUARY
● After playing eight of 11 games on the road prior to February,
● In February, UL plays eight games total with four each at home and on the road.
● The Mean Green completed the season sweep with the victory. North Texas has now swept
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● Courtney Wallace hit all five of his field goal attempts. He posted his second double digit scoring effort in the past four games (15 at MT).
● Travis Bureau posted two assists in a Saturday game for the second straight week.
● Emmanuel Adeife tied a season-and career-high with two field goals made. He also blocked two shots for the fourth time.
● Ryan McCoy tied his season-high with five free throws made.
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LAST TIME VS.
● Travis Bureau broke a 5-all tie with a three-pointer at 18:16 in the first half, kicking off a 15-3 Cajuns' run to open up a 20-8 lead by 14:06.
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● Trailing 30-17,
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● Four UL players went into double-figures, led by Bureau with 18 points.
● The win was the Cajuns' 24th straight over
LAST TIME VS.
● Freshman Chris Gradnigo's three-pointer with eight seconds left in the game gave the Ragin' Cajuns a 68-67 victory.
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● UL would cut the
● Trailing by two points, Gradnigo drained a deep trey to give
BY THE NUMBERS
4 -
4-0 -
12 - La'Ryan Gary needs 12 rebounds to reach 200 career boards
27.1% -
44-24 -
96 - Randell Daigle's number of career three-point baskets made in 43 career games played
128 - Total number of bench points for UL in the last three games vs.
SERIES HISTORY (Louisiana leads 41-16, overall; Louisiana leads 6-3 at Fant-Ewing Coliseum; Louisiana leads 14-13 in Monroe)
● The two schools meet as Sun Belt opponents for the sixth (6th) time.
● This will be the 10th meeting in Fant-Ewing Coliseum (opened in 1971-72). The Cajuns are 6-3 in Ewing Coliseum (1-1 in Sun Belt play).
● The home team has dominated in the series, winning 39 of the 55 games played on one of the school's home courts. UL has won 24 straight in
● Schools split the first 14 meetings (1953-60). Since then, UL has won 34 of the last 43 meetings to take today's commanding 41-16 series lead.
TOURNEY TALK
● Louisiana is currently holding seventh (7th) place in overall Sun Belt standings which determine seeding for the conference's postseason tournament. UL is tied with Arkansas State and Denver, but holds the tiebreaker over both schools.
● Seeds four through eight host first round games. As of today, Louisiana is still in position to host.
● The Cajuns trail North Texas (6-6SBC) by one full game for fifth (5th) place and South Alabama (6-7 SBC) by one-half game for sixth (6th) place.
● The Cajuns are in a precarious position. While they are only one game out of fifth place, they are also only one game ahead of 12th place ULM.
● The No. 3 seed receives a bye from the first round. That currently belongs to Troy (10-3 SBC) which the Cajuns now trail by four games in the loss column with only six games remaining. One more Troy and UALR win combined with a Cajuns loss will mathematically eliminate UL from a bye.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns return to the friendly confines of the CAJUNDOME on Saturday, Feb. 14 for a Valentine's Day meeting with Arkansas State at approximately 7:15 p.m. (depending on the time the women's game finishes). This is the only meeting between UL and ASU this season and could play a key role in determining a host spot in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament.
The game with ASU also starts a stretch where Louisiana ends the regular season hosting three of the final five games.
The Cajuns swept Arkansas State last season (W, 73-63 in CAJUNDOME; W, 65-59 in Jonesboro) and have won nine of the past 11 meetings held in the CAJUNDOME.
