Erath native recalls reaching NCAAs with Ragin' Cajuns

After winning the Sun Belt Championship in New Orleans, the University of Louisiana at Louisiana at Lafayette will be among 68 schools dancing when the NCAA basketball tournament starts this week.
The Ragin’ Cajuns (23-11) are the No. 14 seed and will face No. 3 Creighton University this Friday in San Antonio. Tipoff is set for 2:10 p.m.
Abbeville High product J.J. Davenport will likely see some time in Friday’s tourney opener. The junior scored seven points and pulled down six rebounds, including three offensive boards, in Sunday’s 82-81 overtime win over Georgia State in the Sun Belt title game.
A fellow Vermilion Parish native can relate to how Davenport and the rest of the Cajuns will feel when the lights shine bright on the big stage. Rhett Hebert, a ‘03 Erath High graduate, was a member of the Cajuns hoops teams that made back-to-back tourney appearances, including the school’s last in ‘05.
“It’s a feeling that is hard to describe,” Hebert said Monday morning. “It’s just a different level of excitement to go to the tournament.”
Hearing your team’s name called during the selection show simply represents the return on months of hard work.
“It’s a long season,” Hebert said, “from the first day of individual workouts, to the start of practices, through the season and to the conference tournament. It’s a long grind. Once you get to the (NCAA) tournament, you reflect on all of the ups and downs you have had to get to that point.
“I remember it being a great feeling.”
Those feelings can be multiplied greatly when it comes to playing in the NCAA tourney, one of the most watched sporting events each year.
“A lot of guys embrace playing on the big stage because they are able to show their talent,” Hebert said. “They know that everybody is watching. It’s always fun to play on that level against the best competition.”
The Cajuns will see plenty of that on Friday. Creighton is led by Doug McDermott, one of the most prolific players in NCAA history. The senior forward ranks fifth Division I scoring list, with 3,105 points. He comes into this game averaging nearly 27 points a game.
Hebert said his advice for the current players is to not get caught up in numbers or rankings. The Cajuns were competitive during the two appearances when Hebert was a member, including a 61-52 loss to No. 3 North Carolina State in ‘04 and a 68-62 defeat in ‘05 to No. 4 Louisville, a team that eventually reached the Final Four.
“I think every team that makes it to the tournament is probably playing its best basketball,” Hebert said. “Pretty much any team that makes it has a good chance of an upset. Every year there are always Cinderella teams.
“There’s no reason to think that you cant’ win.”
Hebert will definitely be rooting for a victory this Friday. Family, including 10-month-old daughter, Scarlett, and oilfield work life have limited the amount of time Hebert has been able to keep up with Cajuns.
“I have made a few games and I always like to be around the program,” Hebert said. “I think (head coach) Bob Marlin and his staff have done a very good job. I think they have a good chance of beating Creighton. I think it will be a good matchup. San Antonio is not too far so there should be a good crowd. I will not be able to make it but I will definitely be cheering for them.
“It’s been a while since they have made it and the excitement is back in town.”