| Game 31: Little Rock at Louisiana |
| Date |
Saturday, March 3, 2018 |
| Time |
7:00 p.m. |
| Location |
Lafayette, La. |
| Arena |
Cajundome |
| Records |
Little Rock (6-24, 3-14 SBC)
Louisiana (26-4, 16-1 SBC) |
| Watch |
Ragin' Cajun Digital Network |
| Radio |
The Point 94.1 FM |
| Stats |
TrojanStats.com |
| Notes |
Little Rock | Louisiana |
OPENING TIP
Little Rock closes out its 2017-18 regular season with a difficult task Saturday, facing Sun Belt Conference champion Louisiana Saturday, March 3 at 7 p.m. in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Live video and
live stats of the game are available at RaginCajuns.com. Ray Tucker will have the call of the Trojans and Cajuns from the Cajundome on The Point 94.1 FM and online at
KKPT.com, getting underway at approximately 6:45 p.m.
HERE WE GO AGAIN
Little Rock's challenging road schedule continues this weekend as the Trojans will add another state to their growing travelogue. Louisiana is the 12th different state Little Rock has played a road game this season, comprised of Tennessee (Memphis), Arizona (Grand Canyon), California (San Diego), Arkansas (Central Arkansas), Illinois (Bradley), Texas (Sam Houston State), Mississippi (Mississippi State), Georgia (Georgia State and Georgia Southern), North Carolina (Appalachian State), South Carolina (Coastal Carolina) and Alabama (South Alabama and Troy). Â To date, the Trojans have racked up over 11,500 miles traveled on the year, adding over 700 miles this weekend.
TOUGH ROAD TO HOE
Not only has Little Rock's road games taken them across the country, the Trojans have faced some tough challenges along the way. Little Rock's 16 road opponents have a combined record of 274-204 (.573) as 11 of the 16 currently boast winning records. Nine of the Trojans' road foes have registered at least 18 victories, led by Louisiana's 26 victories as Mississippi State (21) and Georgia State (20) have also reached the 20-win plateau. Grand Canyon, Bradley and Georgia Southern have each registered 19 victories with Memphis, San Diego and Sam Houston State each at 18.
PREVIEWING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
2017-18: 26-4 overall, 16-1 Sun Belt Conference (1st), 14-0 at home
Last Three Games: W vs. Arkansas State (85-74), W at South Alabama (88-71), W at Troy (81-76)
Head Coach: Bobby Marlin (Mississippi State, 1981). Eighth season at Louisiana (154-108, .588); 25th season overall (502-274, .647)
LOUISIANA SCOUTING REPORT
The 2017-18 Sun Belt Conference champions, Louisiana enters Saturday's game at 26-4 on the year and 16-1 in conference play, winners of six-straight. The Ragin' Cajuns are a perfect 14-0 at home and are the league's top offensive team, averaging 84.8 points per game and ranking 11th nationally. Louisiana sits atop the league leaders in a handful of other categories, including field goal percentage (47.2%), free throw percentage (76.9%), rebounding margin (+7.4), assists (17.7) and steals (7.6), ranking second in three point percentage (37.4). Four Cajuns average in double figures, led by Frank Brantley's 17.4 ppg with Bryce Washington averaging a double-double at 10.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY
Little Rock and Louisiana meet for the 50th time Saturday as the Ragin' Cajuns hold a 29-20 lead in the all-time series. Beginning in 1978, Little Rock and Louisiana have squared off as conference opponents each year since 1992. The Ragin' Cajuns have had the upper hand as of late, winning the last four meetings between the two, including the 77-63 victory in Little Rock on December 29. The Trojans are 6-16 all-time in Lafayette and are seeking their first win at the Cajundome since the 68-64 win in 2016.
LAST TIME OUT
Little Rock overcame a 10-point second half deficit to pull even with ULM with just under two minutes to play. But the Trojans couldn't get the key baskets when they needed them, surrendering the final four points to the Warhawks in a 48-44 loss at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Both teams struggled from the floor, hitting a combined 30.9 percent, as Little Rock had nine players score, but none more than seven points on the evening.
TROJANS-RAGIN' CAJUNS, PART ONE
Little Rock found itself in an 18-2 hole early against Louisiana in its Sun Belt Conference opener, then cold free throw shooting prevented the Trojans from making a comeback, falling to the Ragin' Cajuns 77-63 on December 29, 2017. Little Rock held the advantage from the floor (46.6%) and from beyond the arc (46.2%), but were out-rebounded by 19 (45-26) while the Cajuns made 20 free throws, compared to just three for the Trojans.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
The four true freshmen on Little Rock's 2017-18 roster haven't had much time to settle into things as all four have been relied upon early and often. The quartet of
Cameron Corcoran,
Jaizec Lottie,
Damir Hadzic and
Kris Bankston have combined to play 1,969 minutes already this season, accounting for 32.4% of the Trojans' 6,075 minutes. The freshmen foursome enter the game Saturday averaging 20.1 points per game, which is 31.8% of Little Rock's offensive production. The freshmen have combined for 55 starts this season as Lottie (204) and Corcoran (196) lead the team in points.
CONTROLLING THE PAINT
One area that has become Little Rock's strength in 2017-18 has been its play under the basket. The Trojans have outscored their opponents 863-726 in points in the paint through 30 games this season, averaging 28.8 points in the key per game and accounting for 45.4% of their offensive production. Little Rock has held the advantage in 20 of its 30 games this season, including a 25+ point differential against Ouachita Baptist (48-20), Norfolk State (38-10) and Ozarks (46-10).
BALANCING THE ROCK
If nothing else, Little Rock's offensive production defines the word "balanced" in 2017-18. Seven different Trojans are averaging between 7.3 and 6.2 points per game, led by
Anthony Black and
Camron Reedus at 7.3 ppg with
Ryan Pippins averaging 7.1 ppg. The freshmen duo of
Cameron Corcoran and
Jaizec Lottie are tied for fourth averaging 6.8 points per game with
Oliver Black (6.3 ppg) and
Ben Marcus (6.2 ppg) rounding out the list as 10 different Trojans have been the team's leading scorer this season.
PLAYING CATCH-UP
In the Trojans' six victories in 2017-18, Little Rock has held the lead for an average of 29:04 and has not trailed at any point in three of the six victories. On the flip side, in the games the Trojans have lost this season, Little Rock has held the lead for an average of 9:12 and has found itself trailing by double digits on 17 occasions. Falling behind has proven costly for the Trojans this season as Little Rock has won just three games this season in which it trailed at any point during the game.
LONELY ROAD
Little Rock continues to search for its winning formula on the road as the Trojans are just 1-14 on the road this season. Over the past two seasons, the Trojans have compiled a 5-23 record on the road and have won just two of their last 22 games away from the Jack Stephens Center. Little Rock is also trying to find its winning touch in the Pelican State, seeking their first win in Louisiana since defeating ULM in the 2016 Sun Belt Conference tournament, earning their historic berth in the NCAA tournament that season.
SHOOTING 70
Like in golf, the score of 70 has become a benchmark for Little Rock this season, just on a different spectrum. The Trojans are 6-2 this season in games where they reach 70 points, including a 5-1 mark in games where Little Rock reaches 71 points. Â On the flip side, Little Rock is 0-22 in games in which the Trojans score 69 points or fewer.
SCATTERED STARTS
Nearly every player on the Little Rock roster has had an opportunity to start a game in 2017-18 with 13 Trojans registering at least one start this season. Little Rock has posted 12 different starting lineup combinations this season, as
Jaizec Lottie has been the constant in the lineup, starting 29 of the Trojans' 30 games this season.
Oliver Black is the only other current Trojan with over 20 starts in 2017-18, sitting at 27 on the year.
BATTLE ON THE BAYOU
Little Rock will remain in Louisiana following Saturday's game, heading east on Interstate-10 to New Orleans for the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Championship at Lakefront Arena. The Trojans have secured the number 12 seed and will face the number five seed in the opening round, tipping at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7.
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