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Men’s Basketball: A perfect 10Men’s Basketball: A perfect 10 Men’s Basketball: A perfect 10 Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • February 24, 2011
The reality finally hit Travis Bureau at the beginning of the week. Another chapter of his life is nearly over. After four years as a member of the UL men’s basketball team, Bureau will play his final home game for the Ragin’ Cajuns (12-14, 9-5 Sun Belt) at 7:15 p.m. today against Denver (13-14, 9-5) in the Cajundome. Fellow seniors La’Ryan Gary and Randell Daigle will also be honored during a pre-game ceremony. There’s even more meaning for the game as UL is still in the running for the Sun Belt’s regular-season title, the league’s West Division crown and a first-round bye in the conference tournament, which is March 5-8 in Hot Springs, Ark. The Cajuns have also won nine straight games, tied for the nation’s second-longest active win streak with Morehead State behind George Mason (13). They are currently tied atop the West Division with Denver and Arkansas State (15-14, 9-5) going into the final week of the regular season. "It’s going to be very special," Bureau said. "This is going to be our last game in the Cajundome, and what better way than to go out trying to win 10 games in a row on Senior Day?" Bureau, Gary and Daigle have endured a number of ups and downs as Cajuns, including winning a division championship, dealing with a coaching change and experiencing a rebirth under first-year coach Bob Marlin. A pair of former local prep standouts, Gary (St. Thomas More and Carencro) and Daigle (Northside) sat out the 2006-07 season at UL to restore their academic eligibility. As non-qualifiers, they were not allowed to practice or play that season. In the 2007-08 season the trio played a vital role in the Cajuns winning a share of the Sun Belt’s West Division title. Daigle led the team in assists (76) and 3-pointers made (61) and was third in scoring (8.5 points). Gary started 24 games, led the squad in field-goal shooting (51 percent) and averaged 7.4 points. Bureau sat out the first seven games as an expected redshirt before stepping into the rotation and averaging 7.5 points in 22 games. Expectations were high in the 2008-09 season, but the Cajuns finished 10-20. Bureau made a team-best 61 3s and was second on the club in scoring (12.4 points). Daigle missed the first 10 games with a hand injury but still finished as the team’s third-leading scorer (11.3 points). Gary averaged 6.9 points and four rebounds before suffering a career-threatening knee injury in the final game of the season. Last season UL went 13-17 in the program’s final year under coach Robert Lee. Gary served as a student coach after undergoing knee surgery. Daigle had a breakout year with career highs in scoring (11.5) and 3s made (68). Bureau was nagged by a hip injury and averaged only 6.2 points and 3.3 rebounds. After a 3-14 start this season, the Cajuns have won nine straight games. Bureau is averaging 10.5 points and 6.9 rebounds and shooting 50.6 percent from the floor. Gary has played through knee pain to average a career-best 9.3 points and 2.9 rebounds. Daigle leads the team in assists (65) and 3s made (39) and is averaging 8.9 points. Back on Jan. 27, Daigle became the 39th Cajun to reach the 1,000-point mark. Bureau, with 932 career points, is within striking distance of joining that exclusive club. The Cajuns can secure at least a share of the Sun Belt’s West Division title and a first-round bye for the conference tournament by beating Denver tonight and UL Monroe on Saturday in Monroe. Gary isn’t sure what it will be like to walk off the court in the Cajundome for the final time after today’s game. "I’ll probably be at a loss for words," Gary said. "I had a good career here. It’s going to be kind of heartbreaking (tonight)." Marlin has coached Bureau, Gary and Daigle for only one year, but that’s been more than enough time to establish a strong connection with those players. "They mean a lot to me," Marlin said. "I love those guys, even though I don’t agree with them every time and they know that. They’ve meant a lot to this program. I hope that we have a great crowd come out and support them and send them off the right way."
Senior nightIn women’s basketball, the Cajuns (11-16, 4-10) will play their final home game of the season at 5 p.m. today against Denver (17-10, 9-5) in the Cajundome.
UL will honor its three seniors — Jasmine Barnes, Teurlings Catholic grad Lyndra Bell and D’Mya Clay — prior to the game. Those three players have combined to score 1,746 points in 341 games for the Cajuns. Barnes is second on the team this season in scoring (10 points) while shooting a team-best 54 percent, Bell is third in scoring (8.9 points) and Clay is averaging 4.3 points. "They came here when I got here," said UL coach Errol Rogers. "Jasmine has really evolved into a pretty good basketball player. D’Mya is just now starting to become a good player. I’ve always thought Lyndra could be a very good player, and she’s had a very good year so far. We’re going to miss these three ladies very much." Rogers hopes to welcome back junior forward Mercedes Johnson, who missed Saturday’s 69-49 loss to Western Kentucky due to illness. Johnson leads the Cajuns this season in scoring (14.6 points) and rebounding (6.4). Athletic Network Footnote: Click here for the photo gallery of the Jan. 21-22, 2011 Basketball Reunion Click here for the January 18, 2003 Basketball Reunion Click here for the Nov. 1-2, 2001 Shipley Basketball Reunion
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