Courtesy: RaginCajuns.com http://www.ragincajuns.com

 

Two Cajuns, J.J. Thomas and Travis Bureau, were rewarded for their efforts on Thursday as they both earned All-Sun Belt honors as announced by the league’s office.

Thomas was named Second Team All-Sun Belt while Bureau picked up Third Team honors.

Thomas, a true freshman, has played in 24 games, starting 20 in his freshman year. He leads the Cajuns with 11.7 ppg and ranks second on the squad with 6.4 rpg. In Sun Belt play, Thomas put up 13.1 ppg and 7.0 rpg and has posted a team-best six double-doubles, including a career-high 28-point, 13-rebound performance against South Alabama. In 15 games, Thomas has scored in double figures, including four 20-point performances. Earlier this season he tallied three-straight doubles, beginning at Arkansas State (16 pts, 10 reb), at UALR (11 pts, 16 reb) and against Centenary (19 pts, 13 reb). The Opelousas native was the Cajuns’ leading scorer in nine games and the team’s leading rebounder in seven games. After scoring 20-plus points in back-to-back games against Arkansas State and Western Kentucky, he was named Sun Belt player of the Week (2/21). During the Cajuns’ 11-game win streak the 6’5" forward is averaging 16.1 ppg and 7.5 rpg.

Bureau closes out his four-year career for the Cajuns averaging 10.2 ppg his senior season. He has shot 49.5 percent form the floor, going 95-of-192, and connecting on 41.1 percent from three-point range (23-56). In league gamesthis season, Bureau has scored 10.2 ppg and 7.1 rpg. This season he tallied his first career double-double and finished the year with four. He set the league’s season-high mark with a 20 rebound effort at South Alabama. In 26 games, Bureau reached double-figures 13 times and pulled down double-digit boards in seven games. He scored a season-high 23 points against UALR with 13 points coming from the free throw line. For the season, the Sorrento, La. native led the Cajuns in points in six games and rebounds in 11.  During UL’s 11-game winning streak, Bureau is averaging 8.8 rpg to go along with 11.1 ppg.

It is the first all-conference selection for both players and the second straight year a Cajun has been named All-Sun Belt. Last season, senior Tyren Johnson earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors and was tabbed the SBC’s Player of the Year.

UALR’s Solomon Bozeman was named the league’s Player of the Year and FAU’s head coach, Mike Jarvis, earned the Joe Gottfried Coach of the Year Award.

The Owls’ Brett Royster was selected as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, while Augustine Rubit of South Alabama was named Freshmen of the Year.

After capturing a share of the West Division title, the Cajuns recieve a first round bye at this weekend’s Sun Belt Tournament. UL will have to await the outcome of Saturday’s first round game between La.-Monroe and Western Kentucky to determine the next opponent. The Cajuns will face the winner in the quarterfinals at 6:30 p.m CT at the Summit Arena in Hot Springs, Ark.

First Team All-Sun Belt Conference
Solomon Bozeman (UALR, Senior, G)
Raymond Taylor (Florida Atlantic, Sophomore, G)
Tristan Thompson (North Texas, Senior, G)
Sergio Kerusch (WKU, Senior, F)
Steffphon Pettigrew (WKU, Senior, F)

Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference
Martavius Adams (Arkansas State, Junior, G)
Chase Hallam (Denver, Sophomore, G)
Greg Gantt (Florida Atlantic, Sophomore, G)
J.J. Thomas (Louisiana, Freshman, F)
James Washington (Middle Tennessee, Senior, G)

Third Team All-Sun Belt Conference
Donald Boone (Arkansas State, Senior, G)
Brett Royster (Florida Atlantic, Senior, F)
Travis Bureau (Louisiana, Senior, F)
Augustine Rubit (South Alabama, R-Freshman, C)
Will Weathers (Troy, Sophomore, G)

Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year
Solomon Bozeman (UALR, Senior, G)

Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year
Brett Royster (Florida Atlantic, Senior, F)

Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year
Augustine Rubit (South Alabama, R-Freshman, C)

The Joe Gottfried Coach of the Year
Mike Jarvis, Florida Atlantic