2023–24 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team

2023–24 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
Record19–14 (10–8 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaCajundome
Seasons
2023–24 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Appalachian State 16 – 2   .889 27 – 7   .794
James Madison † 15 – 3   .833 32 – 4   .889
Troy 13 – 5   .722 20 – 12   .625
Arkansas State 11 – 7   .611 20 – 17   .541
Louisiana 10 – 8   .556 19 – 14   .576
Southern Miss 9 – 9   .500 16 – 16   .500
Georgia State 8 – 10   .444 14 – 17   .452
South Alabama 8 – 10   .444 16 – 16   .500
Georgia Southern 8 – 10   .444 9 – 24   .273
Marshall 7 – 11   .389 13 – 20   .394
Texas State 7 – 11   .389 17 – 18   .486
Louisiana–Monroe 6 – 12   .333 11 – 19   .367
Coastal Carolina 5 – 13   .278 9 – 22   .290
Old Dominion 3 – 15   .167 7 – 25   .219
† 2024 Sun Belt tournament winner

The 2023–24 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Ragin' Cajuns, led by 14th-year head coach Bob Marlin, played their home games at the Cajundome as members of the Sun Belt Conference. They finished the season 19–14, 10–8 in Sun Belt play to finish in fifth place. As the No. 5 seed in the Sun Belt tournament, they defeated Coastal Carolina in the second round, before losing to Arkansas State in the quarterfinals.

Previous season

The Ragin' Cajuns finished the 2021–22 season 26–8, 13–5 in Sun Belt play to finish in a tie for second place. As the No. 2 seed in the Sun Belt tournament, they defeated Georgia Southern, Texas State, and South Alabama to win the tournament championship.[1] As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 13 seed in the East region.[2] Then they lost to Tennessee in the first round.[3]

Offseason

Preseason

Preseason Sun Belt Conference poll

The Ragin' Cajuns were picked to finish in fifth place in the conference's preseason poll.[4] Redshirt junior Themus Fulks was named to the preseason All-SBC First Team.[4]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish Team (1st place Votes)
1 James Madison - 176 (7)
2 App State - 159 (2)
3 Old Dominion - 154 (1)
4 Southern Miss - 148
5 Louisiana - 136 (2)
6 South Alabama - 129 (2)
7 Marshall - 119
8 Troy - 91
9 Arkansas State - 84
10 Texas State - 72
11 Georgia State - 69
12 Coastal Carolina - 59
13 Georgia Southern - 42
14 ULM - 32

Roster

2023–24 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Themus Fulks 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) RS Jr North Davidson HS
Dodge CC 		Winston-Salem, North Carolina
F 1 Joe Charles 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Carencro HS Carencro, Louisiana
G 2 Michael Thomas 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Jr Hamilton Christian Lake Charles, Louisiana
G 3 Chancellor White 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Foster HS Richmond, Texas
F 4 Kobe Julien 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) RS Jr Madison Preparatory Baton Rouge, Louisiana
G 5 London Fields 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Tupelo HS Tupelo, Mississippi
G 10 Blake Butler 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Jeffersontown HS
East Mississippi CC 		Louisville, Kentucky
G 11 Isaiah Crawford (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) RS Fr Archbishop Shaw HS New Orleans, Louisiana
G 12 Giovanni Nannucci 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr South Guilford HS Greensboro, North Carolina
G 13 Brandon Hardy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Zachary HS Zachary, Louisiana
G 20 Christian Landry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr St. Thomas More HS Lafayette, Louisiana
G 22 Kentrell Garnett 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Jr Catholic HS Donaldsonville, Louisiana
F 23 Kyran Ratliff 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) RS Fr Booker T. Washington HS
Shaun Dumas Academy 		New Orleans, Louisiana
G 30 Vinny Sigona 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) So Prestonwood Christian Academy Plano, Texas
F 34 Hosana Kitenge 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 270 lb (122 kg) Jr Charnwood College
Three Rivers CC 		Crawley, England
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: 17 November 2023

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 30, 2023*
7:00 p.m. 		UT Tyler W 80–57 
  –      –      –    Cajundome 
Lafayette, LA
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
7:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		Youngstown State W 72–62  1–0
  20 – Fulks   10 – Charles   7 – Fulks  Cajundome (2,078)
Lafayette, LA
November 11, 2023*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Toledo
MAC-SBC Challenge 		L 78–87  1–1
  25 – Fulks   10 – Charles   5 – Fulks  Savage Arena (4,290)
Toledo, OH
November 15, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Louisiana Christian W 107–56  2–1
  20 – Garnett   11 – Ratliff   7 – Fulks  Cajundome (1,849)
Lafayette, LA
November 20, 2023*
4:00 p.m., FloHoops 		vs. Wright State
Gulf Coast Showcase quarterfinals 		L 85–91  2–2
  23 – Charles   9 – Charles   3 – Fulks  Hertz Arena (213)
Estero, FL
November 21, 2023*
12:30 p.m., FloHoops 		vs. Buffalo
Gulf Coast Showcase Consolation 2nd round 		W 68–60  3–2
  30 – Julien   10 – Charles   3 – Thomas  Hertz Arena (231)
Estero, FL
November 22, 2023*
12:30 p.m., FloHoops 		vs. Long Beach State
Gulf Coast Showcase 5th place game 		W 92–82  4–2
  20 – Butler   10 – Charles   5 – Thomas  Hertz Arena (176)
Estero, FL
November 27, 2023*
7:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		Loyola New Orleans W 78–54  5–2
  19 – Julien   7 – Kitenge   3 – Ratliff  Cajundome (1,565)
Lafayette, LA
November 30, 2023*
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Samford L 65–88  5–3
  29 – Julien   6 – Julien   4 – Fulks  Pete Hanna Center (1,471)
Homewood, AL
December 9, 2023*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Louisiana Tech L 67–72  5–4
  26 – Julien   9 – Julien   6 – Fulks  Thomas Assembly Center (2,474)
Ruston, LA
December 13, 2023*
7:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		Eastern Kentucky W 73–62  6–4
  21 – Fulks   10 – Charles   4 – Fulks  Cajundome (1,417)
Lafayette, LA
December 17, 2023*
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at McNeese L 72–74  6–5
  19 – Garnett   8 – Charles   4 – Fulks  The Legacy Center (4,300)
Lake Charles, LA
December 22, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Rice W 84–67  7–5
  19 – Julien   16 – Charles   5 – Fulks  Tudor Fieldhouse (2,232)
Houston, TX
Sun Belt Conference regular season
December 30, 2023
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Marshall L 61–75  7–6
(0–1) 		 11 – Tied   13 – Charles   2 – Fulks  Cam Henderson Center (4,248)
Huntington, WV
January 4, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 19 James Madison L 61–68  7–7
(0–2) 		 17 – Garnett   15 – Charles   3 – Fulks  Cajundome (2,349)
Lafayette, LA
January 6, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Coastal Carolina W 85–77  8–7
(1–2) 		 22 – Charles   14 – Charles   6 – Fulks  Cajundome (2,383)
Lafayette, LA
January 10, 2024
7:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Troy L 73–79  8–8
(1–3) 		 20 – Julien   9 – Kitenge   4 – Fulks  Trojan Arena (2,798)
Troy, AL
January 13, 2024
2:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Arkansas State W 84–77  9–8
(2–3) 		 25 – Kitenge   7 – Kitenge   7 – Fulks  First National Bank Arena (2,681)
Jonesboro, AR
January 17, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Texas State W 86–68  10–8
(3–3) 		 18 – Julien   10 – Charles   10 – Fulks  Strahan Arena (2,858)
San Marcos, TX
January 20, 2024
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at South Alabama W 88–79  11–8
(4–3) 		 24 – Julien   11 – Kitenge   4 – Fulks  Mitchell Center (2,991)
Mobile, AL
January 26, 2024
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Arkansas State
Rescheduled from January 25th 		W 81–75  12–8
(5–3) 		 21 – Julien   10 – Charles   5 – Fulks  Cajundome (1,874)
Lafayette, LA
January 28, 2024
12:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Texas State W 66–46  13–8
(6–3) 		 23 – Fulks   13 – Charles   3 – Garnett  Cajundome (1,392)
Lafayette, LA
January 31, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Louisiana–Monroe W 80–72  14–8
(7–3) 		 19 – Tied   11 – Charles   4 – Fulks  Cajundome (1,668)
Lafayette, LA
February 3, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		South Alabama W 80–60  15–8
(8–3) 		 18 – Kitenge   15 – Charles   3 – Tied  Cajundome (1,873)
Lafayette, LA
February 7, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Georgia State L 69–78  15–9
(8–4) 		 28 – Julien   11 – Charles   4 – Fulks  Cajundome (1,613)
Lafayette, LA
February 11, 2024*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Bowling Green
MAC-SBC Challenge 		W 86–60  16–9
  17 – Fulks   10 – Kitenge   3 – Tied  Cajundome (914)
Lafayette, LA
February 15, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Old Dominion W 68–60  17–9
(9–4) 		 14 – Julien   17 – Kitenge   6 – Fulks  Chartway Arena (5,265)
Norfolk, VA
February 17, 2024
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Appalachian State L 73–85  17–10
(9–5) 		 23 – Kitenge   13 – Kitenge   4 – Fulks  Holmes Center (6,587)
Boone, NC
February 22, 2024
7:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Louisiana–Monroe L 59–66  17–11
(9–6) 		 16 – Kitenge   16 – Charles   4 – Fulks  Fant–Ewing Coliseum (1,467)
Monroe, LA
February 24, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Southern Miss L 71–82  17–12
(9–7) 		 26 – Charles   7 – Charles   6 – Fulks  Reed Green Coliseum (4,845)
Hattiesburg, MS
February 28, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Troy L 73–87  17–13
(9–8) 		 21 – Julien   8 – Charles   2 – Kitenge  Cajundome (1,418)
Lafayette, LA
March 1, 2024
7:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		Southern Miss W 77–61  18–13
(10–8) 		 16 – Charles   14 – Charles   3 – Tied  Cajundome (5,011)
Lafayette, LA
Sun Belt tournament
March 7, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		(5) vs. (13) Coastal Carolina
Second round 		W 80–66  19–13
  25 – Julien   10 – Charles   4 – Tied  Pensacola Bay Center (882)
Pensacola, FL
March 9, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		(5) vs. (4) Arkansas State
Quarterfinals 		L 62–89  19–14
  15 – Tied   6 – Charles   2 – Thomas  Pensacola Bay Center (2,059)
Pensacola, FL
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
E=East.
All times are in Central Time.

Source[5][6]

References

  1. ^ "Sun Belt Men's Championship: Louisiana-Lafayette come up clutch late to take down South Alabama". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, a 13-seed in NCAA Tournament, will face Tennessee in March Madness". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "Louisiana 55-58 Tennessee (Mar 16, 2023) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "James Madison Tops Sun Belt Men's Basketball Preseason Poll". sunbeltsports.org. October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  5. ^ "2023–24 Men's Basketball Schedule". Ragin' Cajuns Athletics. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "2023-24 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Men 's Schedule and Results". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 17, 2023.