Nicholls basketball will host a “Red Out” event when the Colonels face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi tonight in Stopher Gym. Dubbed “Stuff Stopher,” the men’s and women’s teams are asking fans to come dressed in red as they hope to set a new attendance record for the games at 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively.
Fans who donate blood at United Blood Services in Thibodaux were given a free “Red Out” t-shirt for the event.
The game will be part of a welcome home stand for head coach J.P. Piper’s team, who have spent the majority of winter on the road.
“We only had one game in Stopher Gym in all of November and December,” Piper said. “It is nice to be home.”
Hopeful to get an inspiring atmosphere for his team, Piper looks forward to tonight’s game as a homecoming in a packed gym.
“I am excited,” Piper said. “Hopefully we will get a good crowd, and get students out and energy in the building.”
“I think the bigger our crowd is, the more competitive edge we get,” sophomore point guard, Shane Rillieux, said. “We can rely on the crowd to throw the opponents off.”
Piper has seen firsthand the dynamic that an active crowd can have on a game.
“We were at Northwestern last Thursday night and school started there, so they had a tremendous crowd with great energy,” Piper said. “Our guys got heckled and razed by their students. It is a great college atmosphere.”
“Chanting ‘air ball’ or whatever students want to do, and hopefully we will have the band in here making noise,” Piper said. “We are looking forward to a fun evening.”
Though the team failed to pick up many wins early in the season, both Piper and his players feel the tough road schedule has helped them coming into conference play. The Colonels overall record stands at 4-12, but the team has a .500 record in conference with two straight home games including tonight’s “Stuff Stopher” event.
“I think what we did in preseason has helped us win on the road,” Piper said. “If we can get some at home and a few more on the road, then we’ll be in good shape.”
“It’s been rough,” Rillieux said. “Almost every game in December we have been on the road, but I think that helped us prepare.”
The combination of heading back to class and moving into the conference schedule makes for a different tone, according to Piper.
 “It is a mixed bag because we don’t have to worry about anything but basketball,” Piper said. “It is fun for the month of December and January when we only have to practice, eat and play ball. Now the downside is that we are the only ones around. There is no one in the dorms or on campus. It’s good to get back in that part of the season where they have class, which is an additional strain on their time, but we will hopefully have some energy in the building both home and away.”
To get ready for the 4-12 Islanders, the Colonels have been focusing on defense, which, according to Rillieux, can lead to offense.
“Our best offensive game has been in transition,” Rillieux said. “Once we get stops, it is easier for us to get in transition, and that is what we are good at.”
Along with their performance, the team will look to stay healthy as the season continues after being plagued with injuries. Sophomore forwards Sam McBeath and Lachlan Prest both had to undergo surgery, while freshmen guard T.J. Carpenter suffered a shoulder sprain, though he is expected to return.
“If we can get healthy and keep our group intact, then I’m excited for the stretch run,” Piper said.