Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
2019-2020 Overall Rank: #85
Conference Rank: #3 Conference USA
Louisiana Tech won 20 games in 2018-19 marking the sixth time in the last seven seasons that the Bulldogs have eclipsed 20 victories. Head coach Eric Konkol is entering his fifth year at the helm and still searching for his first NCAA Tournament berth. Louisiana Tech hasn’t been to the Big Dance since 1991, when they were members of the now-extinct American South Conference. If the Bulldogs have a chance to get back to the NCAA Tournament, 2019-20 could be the season they do it. Louisiana Tech has a deep and experienced team more than capable of winning the C-USA.
2018-19 Record: 20-13, 9-9
2018-19 Postseason: None
Coach: Eric Konkol
Coach Record: 83-49 at Louisiana Tech, 83-49 overall
Key Departed Players:
Anthony Duruji, Forward, 12.2 ppg
Ra’Shawn Langston, Guard, 7.2 ppg
Anthony Duruji, Forward, 12.2 ppg
Ra’Shawn Langston, Guard, 7.2 ppg
Key Returning Players:
DaQuan Bracey, Senior, Guard, 15.5 ppg
Exavian Christon, Junior, Guard, 12.0 ppg
Amorie Archibald, Junior, Guard, 10.8 ppg
JaColby Pemberton, Junior, Forward, 9.6 ppg
Derric Jean, Senior, Guard, 9.1 ppg
Oliver Powell, Senior, Forward, 6.4 ppg
Mubarak Muhammed, Senior, Forward, 5.7 ppg
Stacey Thomas, Sophomore, Forward, 1.3 ppg
DaQuan Bracey, Senior, Guard, 15.5 ppg
Exavian Christon, Junior, Guard, 12.0 ppg
Amorie Archibald, Junior, Guard, 10.8 ppg
JaColby Pemberton, Junior, Forward, 9.6 ppg
Derric Jean, Senior, Guard, 9.1 ppg
Oliver Powell, Senior, Forward, 6.4 ppg
Mubarak Muhammed, Senior, Forward, 5.7 ppg
Stacey Thomas, Sophomore, Forward, 1.3 ppg
Key New Players:
Xaiver Armstead, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Junior College
Isaiah Crawford, Freshman, Forward
Lance Erving, Freshman, Guard
Kalob Ledoux, Junior, Guard, Transfer from McNeese State
Cobe Williams, Freshman, Guard
Isaiah Crawford, Freshman, Forward
Lance Erving, Freshman, Guard
Kalob Ledoux, Junior, Guard, Transfer from McNeese State
Cobe Williams, Freshman, Guard
Projection:
Louisiana Tech returns all but two rotation players from their 20-win team last year. Top scorer DaQuan Bracey enters this season year as one of the top guards in Conference USA. Bracey averaged 15.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals as a junior. Bracey’s starting backcourt partner Amorie Archibald is also back as a junior this season. Archibald averaged 10.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists last year. An X-factor in the Bulldog backcourt is Exavian Christon who only played in seven games last season. Christon started all seven games, averaging 12.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Christon was arguably the team’s best player when he got hurt and could provide a major boost for Louisiana Tech this season. Derric Jean is in a similar boat, having played only nine games a season ago. Jean was averaging 9.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists before suffering a leg injury. JaColby Pemberton started in 24 of his 33 games, averaging 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Fellow frontcourt member Oliver Powell started all 33 games and averaged 6.4 points and 5.1 rebounds. Pemberton and Powell give the Bulldogs a tough and experienced frontcourt. Mubarak Muhammed is also back as a senior forward who averaged 5.7 points and 5.2 rebounds off the bench last season. Xaiver Armstead joins the Bulldogs as a junior college transfer. Armstead spent two seasons in junior college and averaged 17.1 points last year. Kalob Ledoux is a McNeese State transfer and a former Third Team All-Southland member. Ledoux averaged 14.8 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 36.5% from three as a sophomore. Louisiana Tech will also have three freshmen along with sophomore Stacey Thomas to round out a strong roster. The Bulldogs have their sights set on making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in almost 30 years.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 72.3 (177th in nation, 6th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.7 (72, 5)
Field-Goal Percentage: 43.6 (218, 6)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.7 (114, 8)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.7 (181, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 33.5 (226, 8)
Free-Throw Percentage: 65.7 (322, 12)
Rebound Margin: 0.8 (159, 8)
Assists Per Game: 13.3 (183, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.7 (67, 4)
