Basketball season in Acadiana isn’t just about the dates on a calendar. It's about the Cajundome, the smell of popcorn, and the specific kind of chaos that only happens when a Sun Belt rivalry gets heated. If you’re hunting for the university of louisiana at lafayette basketball schedule, you're probably looking for more than just a list of games. You want to know if this is the year Quannas White turns the corner.
Honestly, the 2025-26 season has been a bit of a rollercoaster. After decades under Bob Marlin, the transition to Coach White—a New Orleans native and former Houston associate head coach—brought a massive wave of hype. People expected immediate fireworks. But as we’ve seen through the first half of the season, rebuilding a roster with eight transfer portal additions takes a minute.
The schedule for the remainder of the season is packed with landmines and opportunities. Whether you're planning a trip to the Dome or checking the ESPN+ listings, here is what the path looks like for the Ragin' Cajuns.
The Gauntlet: Remaining University of Louisiana at Lafayette Basketball Schedule
The turn of the new year hasn't been easy on the Cajuns. After a tough loss to Troy at home on January 10th, the team hit the road for a brutal four-game swing. If you've been following the scores, you know the SBC is basically a knife fight this year.
Upcoming Men's Basketball Matchups:
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- January 17: @ South Alabama (Mobile, AL) - 3:00 PM
- January 22: @ App State (Boone, NC) - 5:30 PM
- January 24: @ Old Dominion (Norfolk, VA) - 6:00 PM
- January 29: vs. Georgia State (Cajundome) - 7:00 PM
- January 31: vs. Georgia Southern (Cajundome) - 3:00 PM
- February 4: @ James Madison (Harrisonburg, VA) - 6:00 PM
- February 7: vs. Central Michigan (Cajundome) - 3:00 PM (MAC-SBC Challenge)
- February 12: vs. Coastal Carolina (Cajundome) - 7:00 PM
- February 19: vs. Arkansas State (Cajundome) - 7:00 PM
- February 21: vs. Texas State (Cajundome) - 12:00 PM
- February 24: @ Troy (Troy, AL) - 6:00 PM
- February 27: @ Arkansas State (Jonesboro, AR) - 7:30 PM
The February 7th game against Central Michigan is a big one. That’s the second leg of the MAC-SBC Challenge. Remember, the Cajuns dropped the first one against Ball State back in November ($64$-$75$), so there’s some pride on the line for the conference standings there.
What’s Happening with the Women’s Team?
Don't sleep on Coach Garry Glasco's squad. Their schedule runs parallel but has its own unique flavor. They just had a heartbreaker against Troy and are looking to bounce back.
On January 17, while the men are in Mobile, the women are in Monroe for a massive "Royal Rivalry" showdown against ULM at noon. If you’re a Ragin' Cajuns fan, Saturday is basically a double-header on your TV or phone. They return to the Cajundome on January 21 to face Coastal Carolina.
Why the Cajundome Atmosphere Matters
Coach Quannas White has been vocal about one thing: he wants 13,000 people in the seats. That sounds like a pipe dream to some, but if you were there for the 85-79 win over ULM on January 8th, you felt the energy. The "Dome" is one of the largest arenas in the conference, and when it's even half-full, the acoustics make it a nightmare for visiting shooters.
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"I do not lie when it comes to recruiting... these guys want to be told the truth." - Quannas White on his coaching philosophy.
The truth is, the Cajuns are middle-of-the-pack right now in the Sun Belt standings. But the university of louisiana at lafayette basketball schedule is back-loaded with home games in February. That’s where the season will be made or broken.
Breaking Down the Key Matchups
The Arkansas State Home-and-Home
The late February series against Arkansas State is going to be pivotal. The Red Wolves have been one of the top teams in the league lately, even making an NIT run last year. Playing them at home on the 19th and then turning around to play them in Jonesboro on the 27th to close the season? That's high-stakes basketball.
The MAC-SBC Challenge
This is the third year of the alliance. It’s sort of a "selection Sunday" lite for mid-majors. The Sun Belt and the MAC are constantly fighting for that "best mid-major conference" title. If Louisiana can take down Central Michigan, it helps the entire conference's NET ranking.
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Practical Info for Fans
If you're heading to a game, things have changed a bit.
- Tickets: Single-game tickets usually start around $22 to $27 depending on the opponent. You can grab them at the Cajundome box office or via the usual secondary sites like SeatGeek or Ticketmaster.
- Parking: It's still the Cajundome. Get there early. If you're an RCAF member, your lot is assigned based on your giving level.
- Watching from home: Almost every Sun Belt conference game is behind the ESPN+ paywall. The season finale against Arkansas State on February 27th is a "wildcard" game, meaning it could potentially get flexed to ESPN2 or ESPNU.
Road to Pensacola
Everything in the university of louisiana at lafayette basketball schedule leads to the Pensacola Bay Center. The Sun Belt Tournament runs from March 3 to March 9, 2026.
In this league, the regular season is just a battle for seeding. We've seen #1 seeds go down in the first round and #6 seeds make a run to the Big Dance. For White’s Cajuns, the goal is a top-four seed to earn that crucial double-bye. Without it, winning four games in four days is a vertical climb.
The roster, led by guys like Christian Wright and the transfers White brought in from the portal, is starting to gel. They aren't the same team that lost to McNeese in November. They're tougher.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Sync your calendar: Mark February 7th for the MAC-SBC Challenge; it’s the last non-conference game and a huge momentum builder.
- Check the Flex: Keep an eye on the February 27th game time; if ESPN picks it up for national TV, the tip-off could shift to 9:00 PM ET.
- Verify the Venue: Most games are at the Cajundome, but always double-check for any late-season double-headers that might move the start times of the women's games.