|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Men’s Basketball: UL Announces Schedule for 100th Hoops SeasonUL Announces Schedule for 100th Hoops Season LAFAYETTE, La. — Fifteen home games, including five against teams that appeared in postseason play in 2011-12, highlight the schedule for the 100th season of basketball for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team. The schedule was released on Thursday. “When putting together our schedule we consider three main categories: The player’s best interest, the fans experience, and preparing our team to compete in the postseason,” head coach Bob Marlin said. “Five home games and five road games vs. postseason teams give our team excellent balance and opportunity to prepare for our ultimate goal. “This schedule will expose our team to different styles of play, challenges, and tough road environments that will prepare us for our 20 game conference schedule. “Our non-conference schedule is going to be difficult, especially considering how young we are going to be. We have a lot of talent and we are going to enjoy working with these guys to help them grow as a team. We think that the more we play, the better we will get. “As we have seen in each of the last two years in the Sun Belt, the team that won the tournament each year didn’t win the regular season. We need to be focused on getting better as the season progresses so that when March comes, we are playing our best basketball,” Marlin added. The 100th season of basketball tips off on Sunday, Nov. 11 with a 4:00 p.m. game at the Cajundome against Oakland, which went 20-16 last year en route to a trip to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. The Cajuns take to the road for the majority of November, sandwiching games at Texas Southern (Nov. 16), Boise State (Nov. 18), New Mexico State (Nov. 23) and Michigan State Nov. 25) around a home game vs. Southern University-New Orleans (Nov. 21). UL returns home on Nov. 29 to open their 22nd season in the Sun Belt by hosting Middle Tennessee (Nov. 29) and traveling to North Texas (Dec. 1). The December schedule includes home games against Lamar (Dec. 11), Robert Morris (Dec. 18) and Duquesne (Dec. 22) and road contests at McNeese State (Dec. 8) and Houston (Dec. 15). Sun Belt Conference play resumes on Dec. 27 at Arkansas State and leads up to the league tourney in Hot Springs, Ark. from March 8-11. Season tickets for the 2012-13 season are currently available by visiting the Ragin’ Cajuns Ticket Central online at RaginCajuns. Ticket prices are $215 for first and second level seats between the baselines, $130 for first and level seats in the corners and $105 for seats on the third level. “As we move closer to the basketball season, we have set an August 31 deadline for priority seat requests,” UL ticket manager Matt Casbon said. Fans who wish to purchase new season tickets, upgrade from their current location, or add additional seats to their current locations, should contact the ticket office at (337) 265-2357 by the August 31st deadline. The allocation of seats will be made according to the level of giving to the 2012 RCAF Annual Fund as of that date. Information regarding the RCAF can be found by visiting RCAF4UL.com or by calling (337) 482-5393. Some notes on the 2012-13 schedule: • UL has 10 games against teams that advanced to postseason play last year, including five against NCAA teams , New Mexico State (Nov. 23), Michigan State (Nov. 25), Lamar (Dec. 11) and two vs. WKU). The Cajuns will also play two games vs. Middle Tennessee (NIT) and once against Oakland (Nov. 11), McNeese State (Dec. 8) and Robert Morris (Dec. 18), each of whom played in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. • Of the 11 non-conference games, six will come against post-season teams, including three at home. They combined to post a 217-151 record in 2011-12, averaging 19.7 wins per team. • With Denver leaving the Sun Belt, the league has gone to a 20-game double round robin schedule. That represents the most league games in school history, with the Cajuns playing each of the 10 other league schools both at home and on the road. • UL will play the earliest league opener in school history, hosting Middle Tennessee on Nov. 29. The earliest league opener prior to this season was in 1999-2000 when UL played Denver on Nov. 30. The games mark the sixth time in the last seven seasons that the Cajuns play league games before Christmas. • The Cajuns may not have much to be thankful for on Thanksgiving as they will face their toughest stretch of the season after the holiday, playing five of the their six games against post-season teams. In order, the Cajuns will play at New Mexico State (NCAA) and Michigan State (NCAA), host Middle Tennessee (NIT), travel to North Texas (18-14 in 2011-12) and McNeese State (CIT) before returning home to host Lamar (NCAA). • Louisiana plays 10 doubleheaders with the women’s team, all coming on Saturdays with five coming in the Cajundome. With expectations high for UL women’s basketball following the hiring of Garry Brodhead as head coach, the twin bills will give UL fans a great opportunity to see the women’s program develop. • The Cajuns will be home over the Mardis Gras weekend, hosting La.-Monroe on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 7:15 p.m. in the Cajundome. • Home games vs. Robert Morris and Duquesne complete the two-game contracts with each school while the game at Houston is the first game of a two-game deal with the Cougars slated to come to UL next season. • The annual Sun Belt Conference Championship will be held from March 8-11 in Hot Springs, Ark. with the winner receiving the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Championship. (The complete schedule is attached in PDF Format. Brian McCann
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
