If there is one piece of advice I can give you, have a roster when you head to the CajunDome for Louisiana's opener against Loyola on Tuesday.
The Cajuns will suit up nine new players, a couple freshman, a few transfers, a guy who missed last season with an injury and the junior college additions. Wednesday, during the team's media day Bob Marlin was excited to talk about those guys, especially Dou Gueye.
Gueye, pronounced GUY-yay, might be one of the lesser know commodities on this team. But that shouldn't last long.
The 6-foot-9, 220 lbs junior forward had offers from Arkansas, Seton Hall, East Carolina and Oklahoma State, but landed in Louisiana. Marlin said the Cajuns benefited from conference rules that wouldn't allow a one-year JUCO player to transfer in.
Gueye is originally from Senegal, he was playing for his national team when he was recruited to play in Japan for Hachioji Academy, a Japanese high school. From there, he played his freshman collegiate season at Takushoku University in Japan where he averaged 28-points, 14-rebounds. He was named the national player of the year.
Wednesday, Coach Marlin spoke highly of Gueye's versatility as a scorer and rebounder. Marlin even drew a comparison between his defense and that of former Louisiana guard Jonathan Stove.
"He's an excellent perimeter defender at 6-foot-9. He can really sit down and defend people the way Jonathan Stove could for us," Marlin said.
Gueye came to the states as a sophomore playing for Daytona State, a junior college in Florida. Last season he averaged 11 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists for coach Brock Morris who rejoined the Cajuns coaching staff this season too.
"It's been a really good experience," Geuye said. "I've learned a lot about it (basketball.) I've been in Japan for almost 5 years, I'm really happy to be here."
"I don't think there is a ceiling on his game, with how he plays. He's everywhere. He rebounds, hustles, scores. And to cap it off, he's a great teammate," added junior forward Jalen Johnson.