UALR Gameday: Trojans should be wary as Louisiana-Lafayette visits

BURN THE HORSE

Louisiana-Lafayette (9-10)
vs. UALR (8-11)
7 p.m. tonight
Jack Stephens Center
Vegas says: UALR by 3
UALR has opened 5-0 in Sun Belt Conference play, including 4-0 on the road. The old saying is that if you split on the road and win all your home games you’re likely going to win the division. UALR already has its home split but has seven home games remaining. And in a year when Sun Belt road teams are winning 69 percent of the time, winning those seven home games won’t be an easy task.

It continues tonight as Louisiana-Lafayette (9-10, 3-2) visits UALR at 7 p.m. at the Jack Stephens Center.

Louisiana-Lafayette’s five games have all come against the East Division, making this their first West Division game.

Another interesting thing to keep an eye on. If this Tweet from Louisiana-Lafayette Coach Bob Marlin is accurate, the Ragin's didn't get into Little Rock until late last night. This was sent a little before 11 p.m. on Wednesday.


BTH Keys to Victory
1. Really Rebound. UALR has been really good in rebounding some of the time and really bad at other times. They got away with a poor rebounding effort on Saturday against Arkansas State. It’s difficult to see a path to victory tonight for the Trojans if the Ragin’ Cajuns dominate the glass. Louisiana-Lafayette has some size and outrebound their opponents by 2.6 for the season.

2. Point Power. We saw the value of UALR point guard D’Andre Williams when he was out on Saturday. Louisiana-Lafayette also has a solid point guard in Raymone Andrews. Andrews has four inches of height on Williams, but Williams is as quick as anybody in the Sun Belt.

3. Super Stalemate: We’ve seen a lot better game from UALR’s Michael Javes of late. And Will Neighbour is progressing after his shoulder injury. But Louisiana-Lafayette is big on the inside and they can score. J.J. Thomas isn’t even starting right now and he’s a front-line player in the Sun Belt. Kadeem Coleby is a load to deal with on the inside. And Darshawn McClellan put in 28 on Saturday against FIU. UALR needs to fight Louisiana-Lafayette’s bigs to a stalemate.

4. Free time: Louisiana-Lafayette went to the free throw line 53 times in Saturday’s victory over Florida International. That can’t happen tonight. Ragin’ Cajuns opponents get to the free throw line more than they do and UALR needs to exploit that tonight. And when they get there, UALR has to make them. The 7 of 14 effort on Saturday against Arkansas State won’t cut it tonight.

Vegas, baby
UALR is a three-point favorite tonight in Las Vegas, essentially the home-court advantage. This is only the second time this season UALR has been installed as a favorite.

Predictions

  • Jeff Sagarin (13-5): UALR 74, ULL 71
  • Omni Rankings (9-4): UALR 67, ULL 62
  • CBS Sports line (12-6): ULL 69, UALR 68
  • The Sports Network (11-7):
  • Real Time RPI: (10-8): UALR 75, ULL 69
  • Combination: UALR 71, ULL 68