University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
15 Home Games Part Of 2013-14 Cajuns Hoops Slate
9/6/2013 12:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Louisiana Has Early December Meeting With Defending National Champion Louisville
Contact: Brian McCann
2013-14 Men's Basketball Schedule
LAFAYETTE, La. -- Fifteen home games, including five against teams that appeared in postseason play in 2012-13, and six contests against Louisiana schools, highlight the 2013-14 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball schedule. The schedule was released on Friday.
"We've put together a challenging schedule that will help this program continue to grow," head coach Bob Marlin said.
"We've worked hard to rekindle series against regional rivals resulting in a home-and-home series with Louisiana Tech, a home game against Northwestern State for the first time since 1987-88 and our ongoing series with McNeese State.
"We'd eventually like to play all the schools in the state, including the teams in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, but this schedule is a good start to achieving that goal.
"Our road games at defending national champion Louisville, Arkansas and Baylor will help us prepare for the rigors of the Sun Belt schedule. The challenges from playing in tough road environments like those will be experiences that will make us a better team.
"As we have seen in each of the last three 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 101st season of basketball tips off with consecutive home games against Louisiana College (Nov. 9) and McNeese State (Nov. 12) before taking to the road for four straight games as part of the EA Sports Maui Invitational, none of which will be in Hawaii.
The Cajuns open tournament play with road games at Arkansas (Nov. 15) and Baylor (Nov. 17) before completing tourney play the following week in Conway, S.C., with games against Oakland and either Coastal Carolina or St. Francis Brooklyn the following weekend (Nov. 23-24).
The schedule continues with four straight games against 2012-13 postseason teams as the Cajuns host NCAA participant Northwestern State (Nov. 27) before consecutive road games at Louisiana Tech (NIT) on Dec. 4 and Louisville (NCAA) on Dec. 7. The stretch ends at home against Houston (CBI) on Dec. 14.
The non-conference schedule ends with three more December contests, sandwiching home games against Centenary (Dec. 17) and Central Methodist (Dec. 30) around a Dec. 19 contest at Jackson State.
The 18-game double-round robin Sun Belt Conference schedule opens at ULM on Jan. 4 and Ragin' Cajuns fans will see many changes with SBC.
Georgia State, Texas State and UT-Arlington are new to the Sun Belt this year while FIU, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee and North Texas have left the loop.
The Sun Belt Tournament has undergone a transformation as well. It will be played at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans from March 12-15 with the champion earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
The tournament format has changed as well as only eight of the 10 teams will earn a spot in the tourney with the top two seeds in the tournament will get a bye to the semifinals and only need to win two games to secure the title. The No. 3 and 4 seeds will get a first round bye and need to win three games to claim the title.
Season tickets for the 2013-14 season are currently available by visiting the Ragin' Cajuns Ticket Central online at RaginCajuns.com. Ticket prices are $215 for first and second level seats between the baselines, $130 for second level seats in the corners and $105 for seats on the third level. A Family Pack consisting of five seats on the third level is available for $350.
"As we move towards the start of another basketball season, we want to remind our fans of the priority deadline for season tickets," Louisiana ticket manager Matt Casbon said.
"The renewal deadline and deadline to make priority seat requests is September 16th. Those fans wanting to change location, add additional seating, or upgrade their seats can email requests to ultickets@cajundome.com. The requests will be filled based on 2013 RCAF Annual Fund donor level," Casbon added.
Information on beoming an RCAF member can be found by visiting RCAF4UL.com or by calling (337) 482-5393.
Some notes on the 2013-14 schedule:
• Louisiana will play 11 games against teams that advanced to postseason play last year, including four against NCAA teams and four at home. The Cajuns will host NCAA participant Northwestern State (Nov. 27) along with Houston (CBI) and Sun Belt opponents WKU (NCAA) and South Alabama (CIT) March 2. The Cajuns will play road games at Louisville (NCAA), Baylor (NIT) and Louisiana Tech (NIT), and face Oakland (CIT) in the EA Sports Maui on the Mainland in Conway, S.C.
• Of the 13 non-conference games, six will come against post-season teams, including two at home. The non-conference opponents combined to post a 250-187 record in 2012-13, averaging 17.9 wins per team.
• Louisiana plays 13 doubleheaders with the women's team, including seven at home in the Cajundome. Six of the twinbills will come in Sun Belt play with four scheduled for Saturday's and one on Sunday.
• The Cajuns will be home over the Mardi Gras weekend, hosting South Alabama on Sunday, March 2 at 3:00 p.m. in the Cajundome.
• The Cajuns complete a two-game contract with Houston by hosting the Cougars on Dec. 14. Louisiana also begins a two-game agreement at Louisiana Tech on Dec. 4 with the Bulldogs playing at Louisiana next year.
