Ben Ponder G 6-3 200 So. 2nd Year Shreveport, La. (Calvary Baptist Academy

NEWS AND NOTES

c-usa ALL-DEFENSE (x2)

Elite defender Cobe Williams was voted to the Conference USA All-Defensive Team for a second straight season. He is one of only four Bulldogs in program history to receive this honor multiple times.

Cobe Williams 2020-21, 2021-22 Magnum Rolle 2008-09, 2009-10 Speedy Smith 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 Michale Kyser 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15

Since LA Tech joined C-USA in 2013-14, six different Bulldogs have totaled nine All-Defensive Team selections (both are tops in the league).

STEWART C-USA ALL-FRESHMAN

In a college basketball world now littered with transfers, you do not see true freshmen make an immediate impact very often.

Last season, Kaleb Stewart became the fifth Bulldog (all since 2017) to be named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team. That is tied for the most in C-USA since LA Tech joined the league in 2013-14.

Kaleb Stewart 2021-22 Kenneth Lofton, Jr. 2020-21 Anthony Duruji 2017-18 DaQuan Bracey 2016-17 Jalen Harris 2016-17

anytime, anywhere

Since 2013, the Bulldogs have beaten six Power 5 teams, including four from the SEC, all on the road with the exception of the neutral site game against the Ole Miss Rebels.

Team Score Date

Florida State 71-66 March 19, 2013 Oklahoma 102-98OT Dec. 30, 2013 Georgia 79-71 March 22, 2014 Texas A&M 84-72 March 23, 2015 Ohio State 82-74 Nov. 24, 2015 Mississippi State 74-67 Dec. 5, 2019 Ole Miss 70-61 March 19, 2021 LA Tech also opened the 2018-19 season winning 71-58 at Wichita State, a team that had won 72 of its previous 75 home games. LA Tech is tied with Middle Tennessee for the most specialty awards (nine) won in Conference USA since they joined in 2013-14.

2021

Eric Konkol Coach of the Year Kenneth Lofton, Jr. Freshman of the Year

2020

Kalob Ledoux Sixth Man of the Year

2017

DaQuan Bracey Freshman of the Year

2016

Alex Hamilton Player of the Year

2015

Speedy Smith Player of the Year Michael White Coach of the Year

2014

Speedy Smith Defensive Player of the Year Kenyon McNeail Sixth Man of the Year

CRAWFORDS AND WILLIAMS

If you are seeing double with the last name on the jerseys, it is not you. Last season, the Bulldogs had a pair of Williams’ with Terran and Cobe. This season, there is the addition of having two Crawfords with Jordan and Isaiah.

They are just the 10th and 11th pair of Bulldogs to be on the roster at the same time with the same last name. This does mark the first time in program history that there are two sets of the same last name.

20-GAME LEAGUE SCHEDULE

With the departure of Southern Miss, Marshall, and Old Dominion to the Sun Belt, Conference USA went from a 14-team league to an 11team league.

As a result, the Bulldogs will take part in a 20game conference schedule for the first time in program history (had been an 18-game league schedule since 2014-15).

HOMETOWN KID

North Louisiana has seen its fair share of great basketball players. However, it is been rare to have a Bulldog from Louisiana Tech’s hometown of Ruston.

And for the first time since 2008, a Bulldog calls Ruston home in Jordan Crawford. The guard was a four-time state champion at nearbly Simsboro High School.

north carolina duo

The majority of Bulldogs have always hailed from the home state of Louisiana and the neighboring state of Texas. Of course, Florida has been a popular state to pick players from as well over the last decade or so.

This season though, the Bulldogs have the addition of Dravon Mangum and Quandre Bullock, both of whom are from North Carolina.

Prior to this season, there had been only two Bulldogs to have ever called North Carolina home. That has doubled this season.

non-conference success

The Bulldogs produce strong non-conference seasons year in and year out, having tallied at least nine wins in eight of the last 10 seasons.

2021-22 9-3 2016-17 8-5 2020-21 7-2 2015-16 11-2 2019-20 9-3 2014-15 9-4 2018-19 10-3 2013-14 12-3 2017-18 9-4 2012-13 9-3

dominant in c-usa

LA Tech currently has the most overall wins and the most conference wins since joining Conference USA in 2013-14 (records do not include this season).

The Bulldogs victory over USM on Jan. 13, 2022 turned out to be their 100th C-USA victory. It took them only 145 games to get there, the second fastest of any team in league history.

Team Lousiana Tech

Overall Record 209-92

UAB 189-108 WKU (joined in 2014-15) 180-113 Middle Tennessee 172-121 UTEP 147-134 North Texas 154-131 FIU 128-155 Rice 120-165 UTSA 116-166 Florida Atlantic 115-162 Charlotte 114-155

Team Louisiana Tech

C-USA Record 107-51

UAB 100-60 Middle Tennessee 96-62 WKU (joined in 2014-15) 89-51 UTEP 83-75 North Texas 78-78 UTSA 64-94 Charlotte 62-96 Rice 60-98 FIU 59-100 Florida Atlantic 58-96