University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Northern Arizona
Men's Hoops Tips Off 2011-12 Season in San Francisco
11/10/2011 7:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Hilltop Challenge Game Notes
GAME CENTER
Date: Friday-Sunday, Nov. 11-13, 2011
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Site: War Memorial Gym (4,800)
Times: 10:30 p.m. CT (Fri) | 10:30 p.m. CT (Sat) | 5:30 p.m. CT (Sun)
Opponents: Friday: Northern Arizona | Saturday: North Dakota State | Sunday: San Francisco
Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL), 107.9 FM (KXHT)
THE HILLTOP CHALLENGE FIELD
Friday, Nov. 11 vs. Northern Arizona
10-11 Record_____________________ 19-13
10-11 Big Sky Record_____________ 9-7 (4th)
Head Coach___________________Mike Adras
Series History_______________ First Meeting
Saturday, Nov. 12 vs. North Dakota State
10-11 Record_____________________ 14-15
10-11 Summit Record____________ 8-10 (7th)
Head Coach_________________ Saul Phillips
Series History_______________ First Meeting
Sunday, Nov. 13 vs. San Francisco
10-11 Record_____________________ 19-15
10-11 West Coast Record________ 10-4 (3rd)
Head Coach_________________ Rex Walters
Series History_______________ First Meeting
Game Night Story Lines
>>> Louisiana tips off the 99th season of competition in school history taking part in the Hilltop Challenge hosted by the University of San Francisco Friday-Sunday, Nov. 11-13 at War Memorial Gym in San Francisco.
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns begin the season on the road for the first time since the 2005-06 season (at Southern Illinois – Nov. 18, 2005).
>>> The Hilltop Challenge marks the first in-season tournament for UL since participating in the Outriggers Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii, Dec. 19-22, 2007.
>>> The Hilltop Challenge is the first of two tournaments that the Cajuns start the 2011-12 season with. Next weekend the Cajuns participate in another three-day event, hosting the Beryl Shipley Classic at the Cajundome.
>>> Head coach Bob Marlin enters his second season as head coach of the Ragin' Cajuns and 19th season overall.
>>> The Cajuns enter the 2011-12 season on an 11-game, regular season winning streak. The streak dates back to last season, starting with a win over Centenary on Jan. 19 at the Cajundome.
>>> Louisiana welcomes back six letterwinners including the top two returning scorers – J.J. Thomas (11.3 ppg in '10-11) and Josh Brown (11.0 ppg in '10-11).
>>> All contests in the Hilltop Challenge mark the first meeting on the basketball court between Louisiana and its opponents.
SEASON OPENERS
>>> Since joining the Division I ranks in 1971-72, Louisiana is 19-19 in season openers.
>>> Louisiana is seeking to snap a three-game losing streak in season openers.
>>> Last season opening victory came on Nov. 14, 2007 vs. North Alabama at the Cajundome (W, 79-67) in the 2007-08 season opener.
CALIFORNIA CALLS
>>> Louisiana makes its first trip to the state of California since the 2006-07 season.
>>> The last game the Cajuns played in California took place on Dec. 20, 2006 vs. Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton, Calif.
TIME TO GET TO WORK
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns did not hold any exhibition contests this season, meaning the Hilltop Challenge marks the first time the team steps on the court for competition in 2011-12.
LOOKING FOR A BETTER START
>>> One of head coach Bob Marlin's goals for the 2011-12 season is to produce a better start than his squad got off to last season.
>>> In 2010-11, the Cajuns were 2-10 through Jan. 1 and sat at 3-14 before the 11-game win streak to end the regular season.
FEAR THE BEARD
>>> In his first season in a UL uniform, J.J. Thomas became known as one of the top freshman in the Sun Belt and a popular icon for the Cajuns fan base inspiring the “Fear the Bear” promotion that even and UL president Dr. Joseph Savoie sporting a faux beard.
>>> Despite missing the first four games, he led Louisiana in scoring and was Top 30 in Sun Belt averaging 11.3 points per game.
>>> Topped the Cajuns with 104 field goal makes, netting five-plus makes 11 times and registered a team-best, six double-doubles.
>>> In Sun Belt play, his average for points and rebounds spiked to 13.1 and 7.0, respectively.
THOMAS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT
>>> J.J. Thomas was named first team Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference during the league's annual Men's Basketball Media Days on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
>>> Thomas was a second team All-Sun Belt selection last season. He became the first Cajuns freshman since Michael Southall in 2001-02 to earn All-SBC honors.
SOMEONE TO FILL THEIR SHOES
>>> Travis Bureau ended his career on high note, averaging 11.5 ppg and 8.8 boards during the 11-game winning streak.
>>> La'Ryan Gary made a significant impact last season, scoring in double-figures in nine games during the 11-game win streak.
>>> This season the Cajuns are looking for someone to step up and replace the production those two players provided.
BROWN IS BACK
>>> Josh Brown battled nagging injuries last season, which limited him to 21 games, but still managed to average double figures scoring and place third on the team in rebounding.
>>> He was the Cajuns' second leading scorer last season at 11.0 points per game despite missing eight games total. Scored double figures in 13 of 21 games played (62 percent).
>>> The Cajuns coaching staff has projected Brown to be an All-Sun Belt performer this season. Provided he stays healthy throughout the season the honors might come his way.
UP NEXT FOR THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
>>> Louisiana opens the home portion of the 2011-12 season Friday-Sunday, Nov. 18-20 hosting the Beryl Shipley Classic at the Cajundome.
>>> The Cajuns welcome Cal State Fullerton, Houston Baptist and Nicholls State for the three-day event.
>>> It's the first in-season tournament that UL hosts since the Louisiana Classics held in December 1992.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
