Guest abovetherim Posted February 1, 2008 Report Posted February 1, 2008 By Larry Bodin The Port Arthur News BEAUMONT - Only two Lamar University basketball teams in the past 20 years have jumped out of the starting blocks in conference play with a 5-1 record. A win tonight in the Montange Center over archrival McNeese State would place this year's Cardinal team into that group. One of those two teams that opened conference play with a 5-1 start was Billy Tubbs' final Cardinal team in 2005-06. But you have to go all the way back 20 seasons to Tom Abatemarco's 1987-88 team in the old American South Conference to find the other LU outfit that had such a quick start. Neither of these previous Cardinal teams that began conference on a high note could keep up the pace, though. Tubbs' club lost six of its final 10 league games. Abatemarco's team, on the other hand, failed to win another conference game and finished with a 5-5 ASC mark. One would hope this 4-1 Lamar club is different. Tipoff tonight is 7:05 against a McNeese State team (8-9, 2-3) that has lost three straight in the Southland Conference, after winning its first two league games. But, as LU coach Steve Roccaforte noted, "this is a rivalry game and you can throw out records when these two teams go at it." While MSU is mired in a three-game losing skid, Lamar has played some of its finest basketball of late. With three straight conference victories (two in overtime and two straight on the road), Roccaforte's team finds itself leading the SLC East Division with a 5-1 record. "I feel good about our team because we've been through a lot, including a five-game losing streak earlier in the year," the Port Arthur native, Lamar graduate and second-year Cardinal coach added. "Our guys have two qualities that set them apart from other teams in the past. First of all, we play hard to the final buzzer, no matter whether we're winning or not. "Secondly, we're never out of a ball game, regardless of the score, because of how hard we play." Although LU (10-8, 5-1) hasn't played a game since its rousing 91-82 win at Northwestern State last Saturday, Roccaforte said the week-long layoff hasn't hurt his team. "Our players have had some time to rest their bodies, but still keep their minds focused on what's in front of us, he said. Since McNeese is desperate for a win, the Lamar coach say's he's looking for a battle. "McNeese's Bradley (Jarvis) at the four spot is one of the best players in our league, and 5-10 John Ford is one of the better point guards in the Southland, declared the LU boss.. Bradley, a bruising 6-6, 210-senior from Dallas averages just under 13 points a game and over seven rebounds. Ford, who has been a pain to Lamar in the past, scores nine points a game, averages 3.2 assists, and three rebounds per outing. Besides the talented duo of Bradley and Ford, Cowboy coach Dave Simmons has size in the middle in the form of 6-11, 285-pound senior post Kleon Penn, who averages 3.4 blocks a game. In junior John Pichon, Simmons relies on his 6-6, 212-pound junior from Slidell to pound the boards and score on the inside. In McNeese's last game, also a week ago, the Cowboys lost 57-43 to Central Arkansas. But in that game, Pichon pulled down 17 rebounds and scored 12 points, while Bradley added 12 points and 11 boards in the defeat. "They're big and physical and one of the keys will be keeping them off the offensive boards. And we have to control Bradley and Ford," Roccaforte stated. Lamar comes into the game second in the SLC in scoring at 80.9 (over 85 points in conference play). The Cards rank third in the league in field goal percentage (46.6 percent). On the other hand, LU ranks near the bottom in field goal defense, allowing the opposition to shoot over 48 percent from the floor. Card senior all-SLC performer Lamar Sanders averages 11.7 points a game, 7.4 rebounds a night, and leads the conference in field goal accuracy hitting 65.2 percent of his shots from the floor. Lamar's 4-1 start in the SLC is no fluke, according to its head coach. "This group is close on and off the court," said Roccaforte. "I've told them we have a chance to do some special things. These guys are fun to coach, they enjoy preparing for games, and are very together." LAMAR FACT BOX • When: Saturday, 7 p.m. • Where: Montagne Center (10,080), Beaumont • Records: MSU 2-3, 8-9; LU 4-1, 10-8 • Series: LU leads, 46-37 • Last meeting: LU 75-71 on Feb. 24, 2007 in Beaumont • Radio: KVLI (560-AM) • Probable starters: MSU: John Ford 5-10, Sr. (9.1 ppg, 3.2 agp); roey Larence 6-6, Sr. (5.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg); John Pichon 6-6, Jr. (7.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg); Kleon Penn 6-11, Sr. (6.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg); Jarvis Bradley 12.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg). LU: Lamar Sanders 6-6, Sr. (11.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg); Darren Hopkins (9.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg); Kenny Dawkins 5-9, Jr. (14.6 ppg, 4.5 apg); Lawrence Nwevo 6-8, Jr. (4.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg); Matthew Barrow 6-4, Sr. (8.8 pg, 2.8 rpg) MSU fast fact: Cowboys have defeated Lamar in 9 of the past 12 meetigs, including 3 of the last four. • LU fast fact: Cardinals are in first place in the Southland Conference for the first time since opening league play 5-1 in 2005-06. http://www.panews.com/sports/local_story_032225437.html?start:int=0
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