The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin Cajuns recently released their 2005-2006 basketball schedule. The schedule includes a December 13th visit to Ruston to take on the Bulldogs in the first of (what I understand to be) a 4 year home and home scheduling arrangement. I am really looking forward to that game, just as I do every other game between the Cajuns and Bulldogs!
The Ragin Cajuns 2005-2006 Basketball schedule is as follows:
11/18/05 - @ Southern Illinois
11/22/05 - @ Tennessee
11/29/05 - @ Georgia State
12/01/05 - SOUTHERN-N.O. (Game is pending due to Katrina)
12/03/05 - CHARLOTTE
12/11/05 - @ Texas-El Paso
12/13/05 - @ La Tech
12/17/05 - @ LSU
12/22/05 - McNEESE STATE
12/29/05 - @ Nevada
01/02/06 - GEORGIA STATE
01/05/06 - @ North Texas*
01/07/06 - @ Denver*
01/12/06 - SOUTH ALABAMA*
01/14/06 - TROY*
01/21/06 - @ Florida International*
01/23/06 - UNO*
01/26/06 - @ Western Kentucky*
01/28/06 - @ Middle Tennessee*
02/02/06 - NORTH TEXAS*
02/04/06 - DENVER*
02/09/06 - @ South Alabama*
02/11/06 - @ Troy*
02/16/06 - @ UNO* (Not sure of the actual game site as of this time)
02/18/06 - HOST BRACKET BUSTER GAME (TBA)
02/23/06 - ARKANSAS STATE*
(TBA) - ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK*
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
* CONFERENCE GAMES
As you can see, in addition to the Sun Belt Conference schedule, the Cajuns will take on a very rugged non-conference schedule with many of those games being played on the road. However, the good news is that next year, several those schools (including Tech) will be returning the games in Lafayette.
As it turns out, this years schedule (having a bunch of road games) may be a blessing in disguise. I say this because it is beginning to look like the Cajuns will have to play some, if not all, of their home games this season at their old home at Blackham Coliseum. This is due to the fact that the Cajundome is currently being utilized by FEMA and the Red Cross as an evacuation shelter for evacuees from hurricane Katrina. From what we are starting to hear, the Cajundome may not be back in shape to host any other events until sometime in 2006! If that is the case, we won't have to host many non-conference visiting teams in that old, rundown facility and we will then have a strong home schedule in 2006-2007 when we get back to playing in the Cajundome.
In any event, I look forward to our visit to Ruston in January!!!!