The Creighton Bluejays are off to a 2-0 start under new head coach Greg McDermott. Wednesday night’s game could be historic if the Bluejays win against Louisiana. A new Creighton head coach has not started his tenure 3-0 since the 1920-21 season, when two coaches accomplished that feat in the same season.
Louisiana you ask? Is that some Division II school? Let’s clear up some of the confusion. Before this season, Louisiana was known as Louisiana-Lafayette. They are a member of the Sun Belt conference. And like the Bluejays, the Ragin Cajuns have a new coach as Bob Marlin takes the helm.
To help shed some light on the name change and other things you might want to know about the Ragin’ Cajuns, we talked with Joshua Parrott, the Louisiana beat writer for The Daily Advertiser.
White & Blue Review: Just like the Bluejays, Louisiana is also adjusting to a new coach in Bob Marlin. What was the reason for the change and what does he bring to the program?
Joshua Parrott: The university declined to renew the contract of Robert Lee after he went 80-100 over six years. It was time for a new direction. After a national search, the Cajuns hired Bob Marlin away from Sam Houston State. He got a bump up to $275K in base pay per year. Marlin helped take Sam Houston State, which hadn’t had a winning season in Division I basketball, to the NCAA Tournament twice and reached the 20-win mark six times. He demands a business-like approach from his players. They’re asked to play hard, play defense, play physical, and play together.
WBR: When I looked at the schedule and saw Louisiana on it I wasn’t exactly sure who that was, but then saw that the University used to be known as Louisiana-Lafayette. What is the story behind the name change?
JP: I’ve been here in Lafayette for three years, so I’ve heard most of the history. The university’s athletic programs want to be known as Louisiana. It’s picked up some steam across the country, including in Miami and other major markets. It will become more widespread as the school’s athletic programs continue to win.
WBR: Louisiana has four returning starters, but lost Tyren Johnson who seemed to lead the team in all major categories this season. Who will be the players to fill that spot? Where will Louisiana land in the Sun Belt this year?
JP: Johnson and the team’s second-leading scorer, senior forward Chris Gradnigo (transferred to Coastal Carolina), are gone. But a solid nucleus of guards and forwards return, including five seniors. Guard Randell Daigle averaged 11.5 points per game as a junior and was a preseason third-team all-conference pick. Forward Travis Bureau saw his scoring dip to 6.2 ppg last season while dealing with a hip injury but has started strong this season. Junior guard David Perez actually leads the team in scoring right now in his first year after leaving Centenary College. (He’s immediately eligible as Centenary undergoes the multi-year reclassification process to Division III.) Junior guard Josh Brown, a transfer from Odessa College, is the other main scoring threat.
This should be a balanced group offensive. The Cajuns will be at their best when they have at least three guys score in double figures. I expect them to finish third in the Sun Belt’s West Division behind North Texas and Arkansas State, but Marlin should get this program back to the top of the league within the next year or so.
WBR: Last Friday the Ragin Cajuns opened their season at home with a loss against New Mexico State. Was that expected? What hurt them the most?
JP: While the Cajuns return Daigle and Bureau and added some talent in Perez and Brown, they lack a true offensive threat in the post. The inside guys haven’t produced much other than junior forward Scottie Farrington (10 ppg). Farrington isn’t going to score much. New Mexico State had a solid inside game and its guards played extremely well that night. The Cajuns are without their starting point guard for the last three-fourths of last season as sophomore Raymone Andrews (shoulder) is hurt. That’s hurt depth in the backcourt. I think the Cajuns can win 15 or 16 games but need Andrews back as soon as possible to provide more depth and have to receive increased production from their post guys.
WBR: The game against Creighton starts a road trip where the Ragin’ Cajuns play four of the next five on the road. Does the school usually have trips like this during the non-conference season? Was there anything special that led Louisiana to setup a game with Creighton?
JP: The Cajuns usually have a few money games every year. They played in Hawaii a few years ago. They went to Louisville and LSU (45 minutes up the road) last season and Alabama, Tennessee, and LSU the year before that. Budget issues have limited their non-conference road trips more recently. They also play at Houston on Nov. 23 and at UCF on Dec. 15. Marlin had a tough time getting teams to play them due to his track record. The only connection that I know of between Marlin and Creighton was with Dana Altman. Marlin worked on Altman’s coaching staff at Marshall in 1989.
WBR: So far, what are your impressions of Louisiana and where they are headed?
JP: The lack of depth at point guard and inside is a concern. Daigle needs Andrews to help shoulder the load and allow him to play off the ball. Andrews is also one of the top defenders in the Sun Belt, and Daigle just isn’t at that level defensively. Bureau, Perez and Brown form a strong trio of scorers. Farrington will continue to get more playing time as long as he produces because no other post players are doing anything.
They’re moving in the right direction. They just signed four guys in the fall, including three in JucoJunction.com’s national top 150, so the future should be bright. Marlin should get things going again sooner rather than later.
WBR: What is your final prediction?
JP: I don’t think the Cajuns have an answer for [Kenny] Lawson inside, but Bureau, Brown, and Perez will definitely make things interesting. Creighton rarely loses at home, so I think the Bluejays hold on in a close one with the Cajuns missing Andrews. Wouldn’t shock me, though, if the Cajuns find a way to keep it close and win at the end.