The UC Irvine Anteaters play the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns in the third round of the CIT tournament at Cajun Dome. The game starts at 8:00 pm ET on Wednesday, Mar. 23.
The Ragin’ Cajuns beat Furman 80-72 in the 2. With 17 points and 12 rebounds, Devonta Walker recorded his third double-double this season. The Anteaters, meanwhile, are coming off an 89-86 win over North Dakota in the 1. Mike Best led the team in scoring with 22 points on 9-for-16 shooting.
Luke Nelson has been on a tear over the last five games for the Anteaters, averaging 17.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.6 steals, and 2.8 three-pointers.
Points could be at a premium in this matchup between two of the nation’s best defenses. Louisiana-Lafayette ranks 24th in the nation in defensive efficiency (102.8), while UC Irvine is 12th (98.6). Also, the Anteaters commit the 22nd-fewest errors in the nation (TO% of 18.2%), while the gambling defense of the Ragin’ Cajuns causes the 28th-most (opponents’ TO% of 16.8%).
Notes
Ranked 12th, the UC Irvine Anteaters have one of the top defenses in the country, giving up just 98.6 points per 100 possessions. The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns rank 52nd in offense, scoring 111.7 points in the same number of possessions.
On average, Louisiana-Lafayette has 71.6 possessions per game and scores 1.117 points on each possession. UC Irvine has both fewer possessions (67.2) and scores fewer points during those possessions (1.066).
Louisiana-Lafayette has an average effective field goal percentage of 50.1%. UC Irvine is an underachieving 4-7 when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage.
On average, Louisiana-Lafayette attempts 20.0 three pointers and UC Irvine attempts 16.0. In games where they have 20 or more three point attempts, the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns are 11-8 while the UC Irvine Anteaters have a winning 4-2 record.
UC Irvine ranks 64th in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.25. Louisiana-Lafayette is ranked lower at 193rd with an A/TO of 1.01.
Ranked seventh in the nation, Louisiana-Lafayette averages 41.4 rebounds per game. UC Irvine ranks lower at 126th with 37.0 RPG.
UC Irvine ranks 257th in offensive rebounds, while Louisiana-Lafayette ranks at 46th in defensive rebounds.
UC Irvine is among the best in forcing turnovers, with opponents averaging a TO% of 17.3% (ranked 25th). Louisiana-Lafayette has an 8-10 record SU when its TO% reaches 17.3% or greater.
