Men’s Basketball: Devin Butts was suspended for Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns basketball game vs UL Monroe

Tim Buckley, The Advertiser, Feb. 13, 2021

UL lost 72-66 to UL Monroe on Thursday night without redshirt freshman shooting guard Devin Butts, who according to a team spokesman was suspended for an undisclosed disciplinary reason.

The Ragin’ Cajuns (13-7, 7-6 Sun Belt) also were without usual starting point guard Brayan Au for a second straight game due to a lingering knee injury.

UL coach Bob Marlin did not specify the length of Butts’ suspension.

“He’s gonna be out for a minute," Marlin said. "We’ll see. We’ll see how he responds.”

UL and ULM play again Saturday in Monroe at 4 p.m..

Being without the two cost UL down the stretch as the Warhawks (4-15, 2-10) snapped their 10-game losing streak at the Cajundome.

“We (weren’t) as deep as usual,” senior guard Cedric Russell said, “so more guys had to play more minutes.”

With Au out for last Saturday’s loss at Arkansas State, Butts – a transfer from Mississippi State – got his second start of the season. He’s the Cajun whose steal and layup with 0.4 seconds remaining gave UL a 74-73 win on Jan. 30 at Texas State.

Watch:Devin Butts, UL basketball steal a game at Texas State

Butts is averaging 6.4 points per game this season. He’s hit four or more 3-pointers three times, including six when he scored a career-high 22 points in a Jan. 1 Sun Belt Conference-opening win over Texas State.

With Au and Butts both out, UL opened its third straight loss with midseason addition Ty Harper – a freshman guard from Norcross, Georgia, and Santa Clarita Christian School in California – making his first start as a Cajun and combo guard Mylik Wilson handling the point.

The Cajuns trailed 34-21 at halftime after shooting 27.8 percent (10-for-36) from the field, including 2-for-10 from 3-point range. UL guards Harper (2-for-7), Wilson (5-for-13), Russell (5-for-15), Kentrell Garnett (1-for-4) and Michael Thomas (0-for-2) finished a combined 13-for-41.

Russell Harrison led four Warhawk scorers in double figures with 17 points.

LAGNIAPPE

Marlin said backup point guard Trajan Wesley and guard Durey Caldwell, both out with injuries, will not play this season.

But he said forward Kobe Julien, who also hasn’t played this season due to knee issues, that also cost much of last season, will return before the end of the season. Marlin said Julien is limited in practice and on a minutes restriction. 

More:What to know about Cajuns point guard problem before UL Monroe game