South Alabama vs Louisiana 3/14/19 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

Louisiana has 19 wins but still may need to win the Sunbelt tournament to get to the big dance. They will play South Alabama in the second round Thursday. The Ragin Cajuns beat South Alabama by four at home earlier this year.

Louisiana is 19-12 and 10-8 in the Sunbelt. Louisiana has won its last two, and six of its last eight. South Alabama is 16-16 overall and 8-10 in the conference. South Alabama Jaguars have also won the last two games, and they have won four of the last six.

Both teams like a lot of offense, and struggle on defense. Louisiana is averaging 82 points per game and is giving up 80.8. South Alabama is averaging 73.2 and giving up 72.4. JaKenan Gant leads the Ragin Cajuns with 20.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Gant also has 81 of the team's 122 blocks. Marcus Stroman is averaging 11.3 points and six assists. Louisiana has made 277 three-pointers. Cedric Russell has made 60, PJ Hardy has 51, and three more players have at least 35. The Ragin Cajuns are shooting 34 percent from behind the arc, and 44 percent inside.

South Alabama is led by Josh Ajayi with 16.4 points and 7.6 rebounds. Trhae Mitchell is averaging 14 points and 7.7 rebounds. Rodrick Sikes is averaging 11.9 and Kory Holden is at 10.6. Ajayi is hitting 56 percent of his shots. Sikes has 73 three-pointers and is shooting 46 percent from long range. The team has made 277 threes and is shooting 37 percent.