Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Men’s Basketball Players to Watch This

Looking for a few good men’s basketball players to keep an eye on for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns? Here are a few names to keep in mind!

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns is the men’s basketball team that represents the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, Louisiana. The school’s team currently competes in the Sun Belt Conference They are led by Head Coach Bob Marlin and play their home games at the Cajundome.

The Ragin’ Cajuns have appeared in three NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournaments Their first appearance came in 1972 as a member of the Southland Conference They defeated Marquette in the first round before losing to Memphis State in the second round. Their second appearance came in 2005 as a member of the Sun Belt Conference They defeated Iowa State in the first round before losing to Texas Tech in the second round.Their third appearance came in 2014 as a member of the Sun Belt Conference They defeated Creighton in the first round before losing to Baylor in the second round.

Men’s Basketball

The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s Basketball team is set to begin their 2019-2020 campaign this month. After a successful season last year that saw the Cajuns win 23 games and reach the NCAA tournament expectations are high for this year’s squad. Here are three players to keep an eye on this season.

1. Javon Lawson

The 6’7″ forward is entering his junior season and is coming off a year in which he averaged 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game He is one of the team’s best shooters and is expected to be one of the leaders on this year’s squad.

2. Cedric Russell

The 6’4″ guard is also entering his junior season and is coming off a great year in which he averaged 14.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while shooting nearly 41% from three-point range He is one of the best all-around players on the team and will be counted on to provide leadership both on and off the court this season.

3. Marcus Stroman

The 6’7″ forward is a transfer from Drexel University who will be eligible to play immediately this season. He was named to the Colonial Athletic Association’s All-Rookie Team last season after averaging 11.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 50% from the field. He should provide a big boost to the Cajuns’ frontline this season and could be one of the team’s top scoring threats.

Players to Watch This Season

1. JaKeenan Gant- Gant was named the Sun Belt’s preseason player of the year and rightfully so. The 6’8″ forward from containment Georgia averaged 16.9 points and 8 rebounds a game last year, winning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year as well. He has a chance to be one of the best players in conference history and will be instrumental if the Cajuns want to make a run at the NCAA Tournament

2. Andre Stringer- Stringer is a 5’9″ guard who doesn’t back down from anyone, no matter how big they may be. The senior averaged 10 points and 3 assists per game last year and will be looked to as one of the team’s leaders this season.

3. Elfrid Payton- Payton is a 6’3″ guard who is an excellent defender and an improving offensive player He averaged 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game last season as a sophomore and will need to continue to develop his offensive game if the Cajuns want to make noise in the NCAA tournament

5 Key Players

The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team is set to begin their season on November 6th against Mississippi Valley State Here are five Key Players to Watch This Season

1. Cedric Russell
The senior guard is coming off of a terrific junior campaign in which he averaged 16.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He will be counted on to provide leadership and scoring again this season.

2. P.J. Hardy
Hardy, a junior guard, is another player who will be counted on to score for the Ragin’ Cajuns. He averaged 10.5 points per game last season and will look to improve upon that this season.

3. Jakeenan Gant
Gant, a senior forward, is a experienced player who will provide leadership and defense for the Ragin’ Cajuns. He averaged 6.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season and will look to build upon those numbers this season.

4. Mylik Wilson
Wilson, a sophomore guard, saw limited action as a freshman but should see an increase in playing time this season. He is a talented player who has the ability to score and defend at a high level.

5. Justin Miller
Miller, a freshman forward, is one of the Ragin’ Cajuns’ top recruits from this past offseason. He is a versatile player who can score inside and out and should see significant playing time as a freshman

The Newcomers

The Newcomers
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s Basketball team will have several new faces this season, as the team looks to rebound from a disappointing 2018-19 campaign. Here are three newcomers who could make an impact for the Cajuns this season.

(*) Bryce Washington, a 6-7 forward from New Orleans, was one of the top junior college prospects in the country last season. He averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per game for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and should bring a much-needed scoring punch to the Cajuns’ frontcourt.

(*) Josh Nicholas, a 6-10 center from Australia, is another big body that the Cajuns hope can help them on the glass. He’s still adjusting to the American game but has shown flashes of potential in practice.

(*) Cedric Russell a 6-4 guard from Baton Rouge is one of the most talented perimeter shooters in the state of Louisiana. He’ll have a chance to earn significant playing time as a freshman, and could be a key piece for the Cajuns in years to come.

The Veterans

As the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team prepares for the upcoming season there are a few players who fans should keep an eye on.

One of those players is seniors Bryce Washington and Justin Miller. Washington was named the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year and is coming off a season in which he averaged 15.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Miller is also a key veteran presence on the team, and he will be looked to for leadership this season.

Another player to watch is junior JaKeenan Gant, who was named to the preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team. Gant averaged 12.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season, and he will be a key player for the Ragin’ Cajuns this year as they look to make a run at the conference title

The X-Factors

There are a few key players that will be looking to make an impact for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team this season. Here are a few of the x-factors that could make or break the season for Louisiana.

#1. Jay Wright
Wright is a shooting guard who can provide a spark on offense when he’s on the court. He’ll need to be more consistent with his shot this season, but if he can knock down some key threes, he’ll be a valuable asset for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

#2. Cedric Russell
Russell is an explosive guard who has the ability to take over a game with his scoring. He’s also a good defender, and he’ll need to use his aggressive style of play to slow down opposing teams’ top scorers

#3. Justin Miller
Miller is a big body in the post who can provide some much-needed rebounding and defense for Louisiana. He’ll need to be more aggressive on the glass this season, and he also has to be cautious of foul trouble.

The Sleeper

Desmond Williams (6’5”, G): Williams was a key piece in the Ragin’ Cajuns’ Sweet Sixteen run last season, and he will look to build on that momentum in his junior campaign. A tough and hard-nosed defender, Williams also has a knack for hitting Big Shots He averaged 9.4 points per game last season and will be counted on to provide some scoring punch this year.

The Breakout

As the season rapidly approaches, many are wondering which Ragin’ Cajuns will make the biggest impact this year. Here are three Louisiana men’s basketball players to keep an eye on during the 2019-2020 campaign.

First on the list is sophomore guard P.J. Hardy. Hardy made a name for himself last season as a three-point specialist, averaging nearly two makes from beyond the arc per game. Hardy also showed his scoring prowess in limited minutes, averaging 7.5 points per contest. Look for Hardy to take on a larger role this season as he looks to prove that he can be a consistent scoring threat at the collegiate level.

Another player to watch is redshirt senior center Justin Miller. Miller, who stands at 6’11”, provides a much-needed presence in the post for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Miller only played in 13 games last season due to injury, but he averaged nearly four points and three rebounds in his limited minutes. If Miller can stay healthy, he could be a key piece for Louisiana this season as they look to make noise in the Sun Belt conference tournament

Lastly, keep an eye on junior guard Marcus Stroman. Stroman was one of Louisiana’s most improved players last season, more than doubling his scoring average from his freshman to sophomore year. Stroman also proved to be a versatile defender, averaging nearly one steal per game while also providing solid minutes off the bench. With another year of experience under his belt, Stroman could be poised for an even better junior campaign as he looks to help lead the Ragin’ Cajuns back to the NCAA tournament

The Wildcard

The Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team is a bit of a wildcard this season. After losing Key Players from last year’s team, they will be relying on some new faces to step up and fill the void. Here are a few players to keep an eye on this season:

-Freshman guard/forward Jaylen Johnson looks to be a breakout star in the making. He hasshown great potential in the preseason and will be counted on to provide a spark for the team offensively.

-Sophomore guard P.J. Hardy is another player who will be looked to for production on the offensive end. He showed good improvement last season and will need to continue that trend if the Ragin’ Cajuns want to compete at a high level this year.

-Junior forward Jakeenan Gant is one of the most experienced players on the team and will be counted on to provide leadership both on and off the court. He is also a very talented player and should be one of the top contributors for the Ragin’ Cajuns this season.