University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Thursday, March 7
Pensacola, Fla.
2 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
Coastal Carolina
Fifth-Seeded Cajuns Open SBC Title Defense Against Coastal Carolina
3/6/2024 4:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Louisiana looks to become the first SBC Tournament repeat champions since Georgia State in 2017-18, 2018-19
PENSACOLA, Florida – The defending Sun Belt Conference Champion Louisiana men's basketball team begins their title defense against Coastal Carolina at 2 p.m. on Thursday at the Pensacola Bay Center.
Three Cajuns were named to the All-SBC Team on Monday. Kobe Julien landed on the second team while Joe Charles and Hosana Kitenge each earned a spot on the league's third team.
Julien finished second in the league in scoring at 17.2 points per game. The junior became the 51st player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau on February 7 against Georgia State. Charles led Louisiana in double-doubles with 11 while averaging a double-double in conference action at 12.1 points per game and 10.7 rebounds. Kitenge closed the year strong, finishing second on the team in points (13.7) and rebounds (7.6) in conference action while recording five double-doubles.
Coastal Carolina comes in off a win on Tuesday over ULM, 75-71. Freshman Jacob Meyer poured in a career-high 32 points in the win. That victory snapped a four-game losing streak to close the regular season for the Chanticleers. John Ojiako earned All-Conferenece Third Team honors after leading the league with 17 double-doubles and rebounds with 312.
The winner advances to face Arkansas State with tip-off scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday from Pensacola.
Story Lines
• Louisiana enters the Sun Belt Conference Championships as the No. 5 seed for the fourth time in program history and the first time since the 2018-19 season. All-time Louisiana is 1-3 as the fifth seed.
• The Ragin' Cajuns have had great success in Pensacola. Over the last three seasons, they are 7-2 in Pensacola, winning the championship last season. They have reached the semifinals in each of the last three years.
• Louisiana has won at least one game in the SBC Championships in nine of the last 10 seasons, with 2018-19 being the last one-and-done in the postseason.
• The Cajuns and Chanticleers meet in the SBC Championships for the first time. Louisiana is 7-2 all time against Coastal Carolina including an 85-77 victory on January 6 in the Cajundome.
• Joe Charles had a monster game against the Chanticleers. He became the fourth player since 1996 to record at least 22 points, 14 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 three-pointers, 3 assists, and 3 steals in a single game, joining Mike Daum (South Dakota State, 2019), Xavier Cooks (Winthrop, 2018), and Jake Stephens (Chattanooga, 2022).
• In the team's season finale against Southern Miss, head coach Bob Marlin became the first coach in Sun Belt Conference history with 150 wins in conference action.
GAME 32 PREVIEW – Louisiana (18-13, 10-8 SBC) vs. Coastal Carolina (9-21, 5-13 SBC)
Date/Time: March 7, 2024 / 2 p.m.
Site: Pensacola, Florida
Arena: Pensacola Bay Center (10,000)
RADIO/TV
TV: ESPN+
??Talent: Matt Stewart (pxp), Nate Ross (analyst)
Radio: KPEL-FM 96.5 / The Varsity Network
Talent: Jay Walker (pxp)
LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: Cajunstats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB | #GeauxCajuns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Louisiana leads, 7-2
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 4-0
In Conway: Louisiana leads, 3-2
At Neutral Sites: First meeting
Streak: Louisiana, +1
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Season tickets are available by visiting the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome, or by purchasing by visiting Account Manager. For more information call the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome at (337) 265-2104.
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
For the latest on Louisiana Men's Basketball, stay tuned to RaginCajuns.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (RaginCajunsMBB).
Three Cajuns were named to the All-SBC Team on Monday. Kobe Julien landed on the second team while Joe Charles and Hosana Kitenge each earned a spot on the league's third team.
Julien finished second in the league in scoring at 17.2 points per game. The junior became the 51st player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau on February 7 against Georgia State. Charles led Louisiana in double-doubles with 11 while averaging a double-double in conference action at 12.1 points per game and 10.7 rebounds. Kitenge closed the year strong, finishing second on the team in points (13.7) and rebounds (7.6) in conference action while recording five double-doubles.
Coastal Carolina comes in off a win on Tuesday over ULM, 75-71. Freshman Jacob Meyer poured in a career-high 32 points in the win. That victory snapped a four-game losing streak to close the regular season for the Chanticleers. John Ojiako earned All-Conferenece Third Team honors after leading the league with 17 double-doubles and rebounds with 312.
The winner advances to face Arkansas State with tip-off scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday from Pensacola.
Story Lines
• Louisiana enters the Sun Belt Conference Championships as the No. 5 seed for the fourth time in program history and the first time since the 2018-19 season. All-time Louisiana is 1-3 as the fifth seed.
• The Ragin' Cajuns have had great success in Pensacola. Over the last three seasons, they are 7-2 in Pensacola, winning the championship last season. They have reached the semifinals in each of the last three years.
• Louisiana has won at least one game in the SBC Championships in nine of the last 10 seasons, with 2018-19 being the last one-and-done in the postseason.
• The Cajuns and Chanticleers meet in the SBC Championships for the first time. Louisiana is 7-2 all time against Coastal Carolina including an 85-77 victory on January 6 in the Cajundome.
• Joe Charles had a monster game against the Chanticleers. He became the fourth player since 1996 to record at least 22 points, 14 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 three-pointers, 3 assists, and 3 steals in a single game, joining Mike Daum (South Dakota State, 2019), Xavier Cooks (Winthrop, 2018), and Jake Stephens (Chattanooga, 2022).
• In the team's season finale against Southern Miss, head coach Bob Marlin became the first coach in Sun Belt Conference history with 150 wins in conference action.
GAME 32 PREVIEW – Louisiana (18-13, 10-8 SBC) vs. Coastal Carolina (9-21, 5-13 SBC)
Date/Time: March 7, 2024 / 2 p.m.
Site: Pensacola, Florida
Arena: Pensacola Bay Center (10,000)
RADIO/TV
TV: ESPN+
??Talent: Matt Stewart (pxp), Nate Ross (analyst)
Radio: KPEL-FM 96.5 / The Varsity Network
Talent: Jay Walker (pxp)
LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: Cajunstats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsMBB | #GeauxCajuns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Louisiana leads, 7-2
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 4-0
In Conway: Louisiana leads, 3-2
At Neutral Sites: First meeting
Streak: Louisiana, +1
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Season tickets are available by visiting the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome, or by purchasing by visiting Account Manager. For more information call the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome at (337) 265-2104.
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
For the latest on Louisiana Men's Basketball, stay tuned to RaginCajuns.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (RaginCajunsMBB).
Players Mentioned
Quannas White Media Availability (Oct 20, 2025)
Thursday, October 30
Quannas White Media Availability (May 4, 2025)
Monday, May 05
Quannas White Introductory Press Conference
Sunday, March 16
Derrick Zimmerman Media Availability (Feb 24, 2025)
Monday, February 24
