Coach Bryan Hodgson made it clear he was not pleased with the Red Wolves energy and effort the last time Arkansas State played Louisiana – an 84-77 loss in Jonesboro. “We got punked out. I won sugar coat it. I wish there was a nice way to put it.” summed Coach Hodgson.

It didn’t help that Arkansas State was battling the usual winter bugs. “We had six guys coming off the flu,” said Hodgson. “But I feel were in a much better spot tonight.”

Tonight, the Red Wolves face the Cajuns again, this time on Louisiana’s home turf, where Bob Marlin and his crew is always tough to beat. He brings to the floor the Nation’s sixth ranked three-point defense, a troubling obstacle for the Red Wolves to overcome. Nobody in the Sun Belt puts up more threes than Arkansas State.

“They’re very good,” conceded Coach Hodgson. “It’s why their home record is so good.” The Cajuns have but one loss at home.

The Red Wolves will not only have to overcome the Cajuns’ tough perimeter defense, but also the inside presence of 6’8″, 270-pound forward Hosana Kitenge, who put up a season best 25 points when last the two teams met. The Red Wolves had trouble containing the big man’s physicality.

Another Cajun to contain; Kobe Julian, who averages 18 points per game, the most in the Sun Belt. The hot shooting of Julian is what Coach Hodgson believes contributes to Kitenge’s success beneath the rim.

“They have shooting all around [Kitenge] so we will send some selective doubles,” said Coach Hodgson. “Also try to push his catches out, also we will have Freddy, so guard him with a little more strength at times.”

Freddy Hicks, the 6’6″ 214-pound forward, was unavailable the first go-around. His presence tonight could make a significant difference on both sides of the ball, especially with 6’10” forward Izaiyah Nelson still banged-u[ and possible limited tonight due to injury.

Red Wolves take on the Cajuns at 7:30 tonight.

UPDATE:

Thanks to an electrical mishap (that may or may not have been a dude backing his truck into a power line) the Red Wolves vs Cajuns game has been postponed to 4:00 PM Thursday.

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