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Men’s Basketball: Sophomore guard aids UL reversal of fortuneMen’s Basketball: Sophomore guard aids UL reversal of fortune Men’s Basketball: Sophomore guard aids UL reversal of fortune Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • February 16, 2011
UL sophomore guard Raymone Andrews, shown here in a game earlier this season against Middle Tennessee, has helped the Cajuns’ offense be more efficient. Raymone Andrews saw the mismatch and was ready to take advantage. UL’s 6-foot-2 sophomore point guard played last Saturday against Florida Atlantic’s Ray Taylor, a speedy guard who is generously listed at 5-6, 145 pounds. "On Saturday he felt like Taylor couldn’t guard him," UL senior forward Travis Bureau said. "So he told me at the time that he was going to take over and score, and that’s exactly what he did." Andrews scored six of his season-high 13 points in the first nine minutes to give the Ragin’ Cajuns an early boost in a 72-64 upset of Sun Belt It was the seventh straight win for UL (10-14, 7-5 Sun Belt) with Andrews playing a vital role on both ends of the court during that winning streak. Andrews is known more for his defensive ability, but he’s played his best all-around basketball of the season in the past seven games. He had 11 points, six assists and three steals in a 93-88 win over reigning Sun Belt tournament champion North Texas on Jan. 27. On the road against Florida International last Thursday, Andrews had eight points, six assists, three steals and no turnovers in a 72-68 win. He was clutch down the stretch, making 6-of-6 free throws with the Cajuns holding onto a single-digit lead and scoring all eight of his points in the second half. Andrews, a former all-state guard at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, leads the team with 25 steals this season going into Thursday’s home game against Arkansas State (14-13, 8-4). He is also averaging 6.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 20 games (17 starts) for a UL squad that is third in the Sun Belt’s West Division, just a game behind Arkansas State and Denver (12-13, 8-4). Here recently, Andrews has been a team leader — something that has pleased first-year UL coach Bob Marlin "He’s playing with confidence," Marlin said. "He’s shooting the ball with confidence, has made some shots, is making his free throws and is running the team. He certainly feels better about his individual game." This season didn’t start the way Andrews — a starter last season — would have liked. After hurting his ankle in the preseason, Andrews injured his shoulder and missed the season’s first three games. He scored eight points in two of his first four games back, but then Marlin benched him for the Texas College game on Dec. 12, saying that he wasn’t acting like a leader.
The Cajuns lost that day to the NAIA program, 77-74, but they eventually climbed out of that hole with the help of Andrews. Andrews suffered another low after going scoreless and fouling out in a 73-68 loss at Arkansas-Little Rock on Jan. 15. But his season — and UL’s season — turned around after that game with the start of a seven-game winning streak with a 94-62 win over Centenary on Jan. 19. During UL’s winning streak, Andrews is averaging 8.1 points. His biggest impact has come on the defensive end "He’s grown tremendously, and he’s becoming a leader," Bureau said. "At the beginning of the season coach Marlin and the rest of the coaching staff basically told him that he needed to lead the team. He’s taken to it." Marlin added that as Andrews goes, so go the Cajuns. "I’ve tried to express to him about being the head of the snake," Marlin said. "With the way he plays, everybody behind him sees that and picks up on it and plays hard." 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 Rebounders Club Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 22nd…noon, Abacus Station, 510 W. Pinhook Rd….lunch is $13
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