Game Notes
MOBILE, Ala. – After dropping two games on the road last week in Arkansas, the University of South Alabama men's basketball team returns home to face the top offense in the Sun Belt Conference in Louisiana-Lafayette Thursday night.
Fans can listen to the game on 105.5 FM and WNSP.com or watch a live videostream on USA's Jaguars All-Access subscription service. Updates will also be provided via twitter at @SouthAlaMBK and live stats on USAJaguars.com.
The Jaguars are aiming for their first league win of the season, but it won't be easy against ULL who have a conference-best 11 wins overall (11-6) and are 2-1 in SBC play. USA enters the game with a 6-11 record and 0-4 mark in the league.
"The challenge certainly is to remain positive, stay the course, believe in what we're doing and continue to be together as a team and execute," Jaguar head coach
Matthew Graves. "We just have to continue to keep our head high and know we're doing the right things. It just takes one little spurt to get things rolling in the right direction.
"The biggest thing is to demonstrate that we have toughness and a togetherness as a team. We need to continue to encourage our teammates and keep playing hard and building on the things we are doing well. For example, defensively, we're doing a good job of making it tough for teams to score on the initial shot. We need to keep building on that."
Holding the opposition to one tough shot will be the key Thursday as the Ragin' Cajuns bring in the top scoring offense in the Sun Belt (12th in Division I) and also lead the league in scoring margin (+9.1) and field goal percentage (.476), and rank second in 3-point percentage (.373).
"They are a high-octane, feel-good offense. They've got two guys that average over 20 points per game. You don't see that too often. That's the danger: they can go on a run at any time. You've got to really make it uncomfortable for them from the beginning and don't allow them to get in a rhythm. Once their two main guys get in a rhythm, especially (Elfrid) Payton, he gets other guys involved at such a high rate and they can really go.
Despite the team's rough start, South Alabama's defense still ranks near the top of the conference stat leaders, ranking third in scoring defense (67.9), first in field goal percentage defense (.421) and second in 3-point defense (.344). The Jags have held each of their first four opponents under their season scoring average.
"You have to have a constant awareness. You can't allow yourself to relax at any point because it only takes that one shot or getting to the free throw line that one time for those guys to get excited and get going. You have to remain disciplined each and every possession and focus in on doing your job."
Lousiana-Lafayette is the only Division I school in the nation to have two players averaging over 20 points per game.
Shawn Long pours in 21.3 points per contest, second in the conference and 14th in the nation, and
Elfrid Payton is one spot behind Long in the league at 20.2 per game. Long is also seventh in Division I with 10.9 rebounds per game and Payton is 22nd with 6.1 assists per outing.
"With Payton you have a guy that is really explosive in transition and with his size, at 6-foot-3 at the guard spot, he is a mismatch for a lot of teams. His ability to get the ball in the paint, especially with his left hand, is absolutely outstanding. Getting to the free throw line 10 times a game, he's one of the most efficient guards in the entire country getting fouled.
"With Long, his ability to play on the perimeter, a lot like Aug can, and also go inside and score, proposes the same type of mismatch because you have a versatile big that can play inside and out. We've got to do a great job of getting him off the glass and not letting him feel good early."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
—USA—
