(NSFW)
There's five games left and the conclusion of a three-game homestand on Saturday. And Saturday is a big one, as the Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana come to Boone.
The Cajuns played a game that set basketball back several years Thursday night at last-place Old Dominion, ultimately winning 68-60. Louisiana is 17-9 overall and 9-4 in the Sun Belt, a game back of Troy and JMU and two games ahead of the 5th-place pack at 7-6.
It also marks UL Coach Bob Marlin's return to Boone, a place he hates travelling to. Back in 2019, during a surprise App State blowout of the Cajuns, Marlin got irked at one of the few App State students. This student, Cone Boy, was asking Marlin if he had found his son, Nemo. In the Pixar movie Finding Nemo, Nemo's dad is named Marlin, hence the referennce. Being compared to a clown fish was too much for Marlin, who had security kick Cone Boy out, cementing Marlin's status as a jerk. So if you see any clown fish/Nemo signs on Saturday, that's why.
What does Louisiana do well? They're 3rd in the league in FG% and 1st in 3% at 36.3%, although they don't take a ton of 3s. They also only give up 25.7% from 3. Cajuns are 73.8% from the line, but 12th in rebounding, particularly not great in defensive rebounds.
UL has the Sun Belt's leading scorer, Kobe Julien, at 18.0 PPG and 3rd best rebounder in Joe Charles (9.6 RPG, he gets a block or two and a couple steals a game). Themus Fulks (from Winston-Salem) is 2nd in assists per game at 4.5, so there's three threats right there.
This could be a slugfest. Louisiana is doing the tough Norfolk-Boone road trip weekend, so they might have issues. Sometimes they've only gone 7-deep in a game (their 8th player had 4 minutes at ODU). Their starting five went at least 29 minutes, with Julien going 37 minutes. Comparatively, App only had three players, Tate, Gregory and Spillers, have more than 24 minutes versus Marshall. I think that's part of the reason for App's success - the rotation of players so no one gets worn out, even the struggling Chris Mantis.
What's at stake Saturday? A top four conference win, the first home win versus Louisiana since the 2019 Nemo game, and a chance to all-but wrap up a top-four seed and a double bye. If Arkansas State, Marshall AND Southern Miss all lose on Saturday, it'll outright clinch top four with an App win and a double-bye in Pensacola. That alone is fantastic after finishing 8th last season. But the title is close.
FYI, the women's game versus Georgia State starts at 2:00 p.m., which could affect the later game's start time. But you might as well show up. Get some tickets. Get rowdy on a Saturday. And Go Apps.
